6 Year Old with Sensitive Eyes

This is a tough one, because even if she didn't have sensitive eyes, her eyes might be irritated by sunscreen. I know mine are, and my eyes are not particularly sensitive to anything else. And if she's wearing sunscreen, she will most likely get it in her eyes as she sweats, and it melts down her forehead. Maybe you could try getting her to wear a visor with a terrycloth interior band, or just a stretchy terrycloth athletic headband. If you changed it often enough, it might help catch the sweat and sunscreen that is melting down her forehead into her eyes. When I'm going out into the sun for a while, I wear my visor with no sunscreen on my forehead. This is probably not a good idea for a little girl, though.

I've got a ton of allergies and I'm blonde and very fair skinned so I've had sensative eyes all my life too. I would also suggest having her tested for allergies and having her wear sunglasses. Even when it's overcast it can be very bright out and will really hurt my eyes.

But definitely whatever you do don't stop putting sunscreen on her.

I would try to rid your home of toxic chemicals found in the everyday products you currently use. Even baby shampoo sometimes contains formaldehyde! YUK!!! Visit www.switchingstores.info and contact me and I will help you convert your home to better safer products.

I am the Queen of allergies - I have trouble with sunblock too - many brands give me hives.
Have her wear a sun hat and sunglasses - the glasses may help prevent some of the junk blowing in the wind from getting in her eyes. Keep a bottle of saline drops to rinse her eyes if she does get a problem and make shure she washes her hands after she puts on sunscreen.
I finally found Aveeno Positively Radiant Anti-Inflamatory daily face lotion works for me - no fragrace or odor to make my eyes water and as long as I put it on my face but not on my eyes and then wash my hands - I'm fine all day even if I sweat and some drips in my eyes.
It's in a peach colored bottle - the green one works too but can give me a rash if I'm in the sun too long.

Kari,

Lots of good replies. If she has sensitive eyes, she probably also has sensitive skin. Keep using sun screen, just don't put it close to her eyes (ditto for adults when applying creams around the eye area as it tends to 'creep up' with the passing hours). I use a cotton pad to apply creams on my son, which facilitates the application. Are you putting sun glasses on your daughter? I've understood that up to age 12 a good pair of sun glasses is like 'sun screen' for the eyes, and kids eyes 'burn' easier than adults up to age 12. I know it's not always easy to keep sun glasses on a kid, but if she knows it will help her, she'll surely cooperate. It will help for wind, too. Ditto for swimming ... see if you can find goggles that are anti-UV. Otherwise, why don't you go see an optometrist who can prescribe you drops to lubricate her eyes (and check them out, too). Remember, protect your kids eyes like you do their skin; you're on the right track to be caring about this important matter. Good luck.

Hi Kari, did you find any solution for your daughter's eye problem?
What kind of buisness do you have?
A..

Hi Kari,

I would have your daughter tested for allergies. My son had an extensive test done where he was tested for an allergic reaction to several different stimuli. The test isn't the funnest because they rub a little bit of each stimuli on his skin and it starts to itch pretty bad, but they can't scratch it. I found that he was allergic to every tree and grass. The good thing was I able to rule out some things (cats, dust etc). During allergy season he takes a claritin a day and is fine.

I hope that helps!

It sounds to me like she might be chemically sensitive. The sunscreen story particularly points to that. I have been very chemically sensitive all my life and it's unpleasant at the least and traumatizing at the worst in situations such as encountering wet house paint and then not being able to breathe afterwards. If she is reacting to products with chemicals like sunscreens - that's not really considered an allergy, nor would and "allergist" recognize it as such. They only consider foods, animals, and weeds/pollens as "allergies" and they only test for and treat those things. But many people are highly sensitive to chemicals especially because we are exposed to so many of them on a regular basis - house cleaning products, home remodeling products, etc. Try this sunscreen: Eco Lani - the only active ingredients are micronized titanium and zinc oxide. It's the only one I use. Other drug store brands are loaded with questionable chemicals. It is all organic ingredients, nanoparticle free, hypoallergenic, coral reef safe, paraben free, and somewhat water resistant. If you are in the water for more than 15 minutes you really need to re-apply. But if you are just in the sun it is great. You can get it at Rainbow Grocery in SF or possibly online or at other "health food" stores. If you find that you can apply this to her and she does not get watery eyes - she's chemically sensitive - which means that you need to change all of her body care products (start shopping at Rainbow Grocery in SF or a similar health food store). If this is the case I can tell you the list of products I use that are about as pure as it gets, and they work just fine. They are just a little more expensive. Aubrey Organics is a good line to check out. But I like the Eco Lani sunscreen better than the Aubrey Organics sunscreen. I researched this for years - I'm happy to share my results with you - you can send me a private message. You will also need to protect her from any home remodeling things, wet house paint (even if it is latex), paint strippers, wood stains, all that kind of stuff. And you will probably want to change your cleaning products. Fortunately there are a lot of "natural" cleaning product brands out now: Biokleen, Earth Friendly, etc. Don't use bleach on her clothes. Get Earth Friendly's "Ecos" Free and Clear liquid laundry detergent for her clothes. The way to treat chemical sensitivity is to avoid the chemicals and use natural products.

hi Kari. Does she have a very fair complexion? I am a redhead with very pale skin and eyes and everything irritates my eyes as well - sun, wind, creams, everything so I can relate. I used to hate wearing sunscreen when I was a kid because it stung my eyes. Luckily my mother got a job with Estee Lauder and we started using their sunscreens and my eyes stopped hurting. Now I use Clinique's Cityblock which I also use on my 2 year old. It's a little pricey but if you only use it on her face it shouldn't be too bad.

The other recommendation is polarized sunglasses. I live in my sunglasses all year round. They help with sun, wind, pollen, everything. I love my sunnies.

I really feel for your little girl. It's really horrible to have sensitive eyes but there are ways to make life easier. I'm on my iPhone so I can't write much but if you have any other questions feel free to contact me. I've been there. Good luck.

D. x

Hi Kari,

I have terrible itchy eyes from alergies. I have since I was little (I couldn't even walk into a candle or soap shop) but it's even worse now that I live in Sacramento.

I have found that that antihystemine eye drops you can get over the counter work pretty well. I put them in in the morning and a few times throughout the day (just before going outside etc).

Hope this helps.

T.