allergic to sunscreen!??!!!

[andrealynn]

You might want to switch to a sunscreen with physical blockers instead of chemical, and see if that helps.

[aMrsin09]

Can you try a vitamin free one? I'm allergic to sunscreen with the A, E & C combination (makes my eyes and face swell up)

The Ocean Potion brand ended up working for me.

[water*drop]

This is going to sound really weird, but are you on BCP? When I was on hormonal birth control I had horrible reactions to sunscreen that contains benzophenones. The reaction was worse on some BCPs than others, and it actually went away after I stopped taking BCPs altogether. I figured out that the benzophenones were the culprit in the sunscreen while I was still on the BCPs, but I didn't actually put two and two together about the BCPs also being an issue until after I stopped taking them years later and realized that I didn't react when I had to borrow a friend's sunscreen.

This site has more information on photoallergic and phototoxic reactions:
www.skincancer.org/prevention/are-you-at-risk/photosensitivity-a-reason-to-be-even-safer-in-the-sun

[bostonmichelle]

I discovered last year that I'm allergic to a certain ingredient I believe it is the the same ingredient as water drop said. I am going to have to start looking soon for one without those ingredients. I figured it out by trying different sunscreens and found one without that ingredient.

[shorewife]

Agree with pp's. Physical sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and benzophenone is a chemical one if that is in fact the culprit. Fascinating - please let us know what happens.

[lb2006]

I am allergic to PABA - so i have to be sure to buy a sunscreen that says PABA-free. I would swell, etc if i used one with. I hope you get some answers soon!

[Brit]

If you put the sunscreen on other areas, do you get the itching in those places too?

[Susie]

One of my friends' H is allergic to sunscreen. I forget which ingredient it is, but it's in, like, all of them. There's one really pricey one that he uses that doesn't have it, and otherwise he is a connoisseur of lightweight, sun blocking clothing.

He is training for a 70.3 this year and has previously done a marathon and various other endurance races, so it can be managed with training.

[jordylee]

In the meantime while you're figuring out the sunscreen stuff, what about getting a lightweight SPF long sleeved shirt? It won't protect everything, but that + hat is a good start while your skin is sorting itself out.

[sadlebred]

I third the light sunblock shirt. If you have a short sleeve shirt you can use, Google "Arm Coolers." They are like arm warmers but are made of white, lightweight material.

[shorewife]

Apr 30, 2014 9:46:04 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

Thanks guys. I cannot imagine wearing anything to cover my arms when running in heat. I think I'd rather stay a hermit if it came to that. I researched a bit online and I am going to try the physical sunscreens. Does anyone know if they are labeled "physical sunscreen" or do I have to look for the specific ingredients?

And to whoever asked, I only put sunscreen on my legs, arms, and shoulders and those are the itching areas. I haven't tried putting it anywhere else. It might be possible that it's the sunscreen plus sun combination and not the sunscreen alone. But I know for sure it's not just the sun because if I don't wear sunscreen I'm totally fine. I have a sunscreen stick I use for my face and I haven't had any itching on my face at all.

I will by the physical sunscreen and then bring it up to my doctor. It's so weird I never had a problem all my life and now I do. I was very deficient on B12 and have to take supplements and thought maybe that was the cause but when I eliminated, it wasn't. It could also be the b12/sunscreen combination. Ugh…I've put way too much thought into this.

Look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide only as the active ingredients.  A lot of baby sunscreens use these.  Neutrogena is one I believe.  And stay away from 'clear' claims on these products as the FDA is currently reviewing their status as there is some debate whether they can be absorbed into the skin.  As un-pretty as it looks, that slightly blue-ish tinge is good here!

[aMrsin09]

what's the difference in ingredients between the sunscreen stick you use for your face and the sunscreen you use for your body?
Have you tried using face sunscreen on your limbs?