My four year old son seems to have developed an allergy to the sunscreen I am applying on him. He gets these little tiny bumps all over his body. The first time it happend it didn't phase him and so I ignored it and it finally went away. This time after two days of being in the sun and using sunscreen he has just patches of little bumps and with red patches (Hard to explain in writing) and this time he says it itches and is ouchy. I put some aloe vera on it and it seemed to help a little but I can tell he is still uncomfortable but he hates taking medicine so I haven't given him benedryl to see if that would work. I am using Banana Boat spray sunscreen for kids (which is what I think is causing the rashes). It says it is pediatrician recomended but it doesn't say hypoalergetic or anything.
Does anyone know of a good sunscreen for kids that is hypoallergetic or have had this problem and can guide me in the right direction? Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks moms!
J. B.
Gosh I love this site and this community of moms! You are all so wonderful.
Thank you all for all the great advice and personal stories. I am going to try a few different suggestions. I am going to go with trial and error and see which one works the best. Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and information I now know where to start and now have a little guidance. I really appreciate it!!! :)
Hi J. ~
We use the Arbonne baby sunscreen. It is also what I use on my face when at the beach. It is designed for sensitive skin and it is an SPF 30+. I'd be happy to drop off or send you a sample for you to try.
Hi,
My kids and I are all super-sensitive (my poor, patient husband!) -- I, in particular, seem to be allergic to the most inconvenient things. I learned early on with my kids to become an avid reader and transcriber of ingredients. I know by heart which sunscreen active ingredients work best for my kids, which fail miserably and which ones irritate their skin. I don't look at brands anymore, I look at active/inactive ingredients. Fyi, my sister sells melalueca and has loved it for years... but it irritates my skin awfully. She and her family are fine with it, though.
Trial, error and a notebook to record it all are the only tools I've found that really work. It's all so individual. Even within the same family!
But above all, bring this up with your doctor; he may well have some valuable input -- plus it's something you want in your child's records, so sensitivities/allergies can start to be compiled in his chart. As I understand it, one never knows when a benign sensitivity will cross that invisible threshold into full-blown allergy. It's nothing to stress about, but it's not something to ignore, either. Better to have it all written down somewhere.
Good luck!
:-)
Both of my kids ages 3 and 18 months have trouble with lotions and sunscreens. My 3 year old used to always cry and say "it burns" with any kind of lotion until our allergist recommended Vanicream. It is for sensitive skin and contains no dyes, lanolin, formaldehyde etc. It has worked wonders for my youngest's eczema and my 3 year old doesn't run and hide from the lotion bottle anymore!! You can get it from any pharmacy but they usually have to order it for you. I always order mine from target without any trouble. They also carry a sunscreen that is SPF35. The only thing is that I can't put it on their faces because it isn't tear-free. Blue Lizard is also good. You can find it in most drug stores. They have a formula for kids and I use it on their faces. I just think it is a little thick and harder to rub in.
Good luck!
K.
It could definitely be a reaction.... just take a look at all the toxic chemicals in that product. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=64785
I use non-toxic products and love our line of sunscreen. Here is the link http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.productDetail&...
Let me know if you'd be interested.
Also, watch this informative video on toxins and children.
http://www.ToxicFreeFamily.net
We use SolBar. It hypoallergenic and comedogenic. Our previous pediatrician recommended for my kids when they were infants. We use the white bottle with the blue and pink label (there are different types of Sol Bar).
check out this website:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1
you can look up sunscreens that are free of harmful irritants and safe to use for you & your family.
i hope this helps!
I've had the same problem with spray type sunscreens. I use the Neutrogena with helioplex on my kids and it works great.
J.,
We have been using the California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion. It has another type that includes a bug repellant also, but I haven't used that one. You can get it at Mothers Market and some of the drugstores. It is a little pricey ($20 +/- for a tube), but I think it is totally worth it. It is organic non chemical sunblock, it has no Octyl Methoxycinnamate (some sort of chemical that isn't good), PABA free, and best of all for you...hypoallergenic. Hope this will help your little guy!!
My friend is alergic to sunscreen and the one kind that she is able to use is Aveda. She also says that Coppertone Baby is good too (she hasn't had an alergic reaction) but she does say that she only keeps the sunscreen for one year, then tosses and buys new. Hope this helps.
California Baby has worked very well for us. It's available at Target and online.
good luck
I used to get bumps on my lips from using chapstick with SPF in it (though it never itched and they weren't red). What you are describing though sounds like heat rash. I just took my daughter to the doctor because I noticed she had the same red patches and she was scratching and saying "itchy". The doctor said it was heat rash and to use vaseline after a cool bath. Good luck!
I'm allergic to Banana Boat so I want to say that's it. What you're describing is exactly what would happen to me.
Have you tried No-Ad? It's an awesome sunscreen with no additives. You could also try Coppertone for babies or Arbonne makes a great baby sunscreen. You could contact me or any of the other consultants on here.
Most sunscreens are just chemical toxins - and to think we librally smear them on our children on a daily basis. Try the natural orgainc sunscreen from One Group that is actually healthy for anyone in the family. Go to www.balancedvitality.mionegroup.com and order the reflect Outdoor Balm. You will love it and so will your children.
K.
J.,
My mom has allergies to ALL sunscreen because of the chemicals. She now uses transparent zinc oxide on the advice of her dermatologist. She found it at a sporting goods store. She says it works well and hasn't had a problem since.
M. T.
