Are You Allergic to Sunscreen?
Am I really allergic to my sunscreen or is it the sun???
Over past couple of decades we have seen increasing danger from our powerful sun and its UV rays to cause sunburns and skin cancer. That is why it is so very important to have maximum protection that includes selecting a sunscreen that is effective and safe.
“Suspicion of allergy to sun blocks are not uncommon concerns of patients”, according to David E. Cohen MD, MPH Director of Allergic, Occupational, and Environmental Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. If you have a sunscreen reaction it can occur anywhere the lotion is applied. Rarely, you may even have an allergy to the sun itself!
So, who is most likely to be allergic to their sunscreen?
First, those exposed to sun on a regular basis, allergic persons (i.e eczema), people who work outdoors, as well as women as they are more likely exposed to cosmetics that contain sunscreen. Sunscreen allergy is estimated to be about 1% of all skin allergies. Some of the more common triggers may be from the fragrance and/or preservatives in a sunscreen lotion.
There are 2 types of sunscreens; one is a “chemical absorber” that acts as a sponge to block UV radiation from affecting skin. Whatever product you ultimately choose, a simple allergy patch test can identify if you are allergic or will react to the agent chosen. “Patch testing would be helpful in distinguishing the specific item that may be causing the allergic reaction”, according to Dr. Cohen, “when a chemical sun block allergy is suspected, physical sun blocks that contain titanium or zinc may be helpful”.
Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine. He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. No information in this blog is intended to diagnose or treat any condition.
Tags: allergies, sun, sunscreen
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Bannan Boat’ s spray sun block. I’ll break out about 2 days after putting it on, but the funny thing is that it gives a bad rash around my arm pits, not where I applied it. So far other major brands have not affected me, and I do stay outside a lot.
Hi, thank you for your post in advance. I have roseacea and also classified according to dermatological scales as a Fitzpatrick 1 perhaps 1.5. For the laymen, its burns always and freckled. Type two is burns often, progressing onto type 4 whom all type 1’s hate. The olive skin who tan at the drop of a hat as is the secretary of our medical office.
For a few years, I have heard about M*****tan, (full name redacted as not to encourage use) amongst many people. So after hearing it was in phase 3 trials with rare ocular disease and also because I met a beautiful woman on the internet (had a deadline to be cuter).
I purchased with my scientific lab registered with the FDA for research purposes, a batch of the peptide for research purposes *cough cough*
I am meeting the woman in 12 hours as she flies in from Australia. I have never been tanner in my life after 9 days of taking it. The main problem I have and may curtail use is… wait for it… inappropriate erections!.
Ugggggghhhh, not good in scrubs. Even thinking of the Detroit Tigers and how they play can’t quelch it. So that, having been desensitized to the human body. Breasts are just fatty tissue to me that get in the way, but have been the point of a rare awkward conversation about how I am not going to give up my career mixed with….”… you dont have what I aint seen 5000 times” only for tactifully said.
That gets me by, but if I have an erection b/c of the m)))))))tan then, well, I dont think, well you know the rest.
So wondering what the good doc thinks of off label use to thicken the dermis and provide tanning given that african-americans get skin cancer and fractional percentage of those who are FP-1 or 2’s.
Also, a bit of a glimpse of the cause and effect relationship of UV radiation and specifically melanoma. What’s the buzz on that> an ER doc suggested that it was a low correlation if at all which flies contrary to current thinking.
My results of the Mt experiment, desparate to increase appearance for true love. Have been great. Having never been able to get a tan even after weeks and months of tanning visits as a youth.
All I got was red with some brown and highly accentuated, what I did not know. That had multiple patches of vitiligo. The condition of Michael Jackson and others who have no pigmentation (color) in certain areas.
Those areas have resurfaced, but with freckles in them and a more slightly darker purple appearance rather than the brown tan surrounding skin.
I am rather interested in the effect as I had taken Trisoralen and Oxsoralen in the past with limited success and more for cosmetic reasons as well.
My experience is what led me to this blog. I dont want to promote a product that is not FDA approved and such misspelled the name even though it is stage 3 and recently approved for fast track approval and over a decade of research.
Anyhoo, what the heck was this blog about? I have rambled too long to remember
Brothabill
Yes, I get small bumps on my skin from last year’s sunscreen that has “gone bad” and from oxybenzone a recent additive to the oil free sunscreen I had been using. Now, I have to use Waterbabies for sensitive skin. And, generally, I try to stay out of the sun for very long.
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