sudden allergic reaction in 3yo DD

[meep]

I have just got back from my local children's hospital after dd2 (age 3yo) had an allergic reaction to something at nursery. The only new things she's been exposed to have been sunscreen and playing in a new bit of garden ground which used to have giant hogweed in it.

Her face puffed up, she had bright red blotches over her eyes and cheeks and her eyes closed up. She was very hot and upset. It happened yesterday - then worse this morning. Both times it calmed down with piriton.

Has anyone seen this reaction from sunscreen alone? I think nursery use Boots Soltan, which I know is one of the ones that can make children react. However she wasn't wearing it today - it was a Banana Boat one.

The docs said it could have been either the sunscreen or the giant hogweed.

So - She is off nursery until Monday - and I will need to try her with a decent hypo-allergenic sunscreen. Has anyone got any good recommendations?

I'm allergic to all sunscreens, even hypo-allergenic ones. So yes, it might well be the sunscreen :)

Sometimes putting an emollient cream on before the sunscreen can stop reactions.
Has your DC been rubbing sunscreen into eyes? Keeping sunglasses on and sunscreen away from the area round the eyes will reduce that.
I don't know about the hogweed though.

I think she had rubbed it in her eyes yesterday - supposedly had a cry then did the eye rub, then eye started streaming.

Panda - do you just stay covered up?

will try the emollient cream (we have loads) and sunglasses to help.

really don't want to have to keep her dosed up on piriton all summer!

Let us know how it goes.

Yes I just have to cover up and stay out of strong sun. Luckily I hate sitting in the sun anyway. I still try out new sunscreens when I see them in the hope of finding one I can use. :)

Reporting back. Tried her with Proderm mousse today and there was no reaction whatsoever. Hooray. I suspect the giant hogweed or Soltan was to blame. At least we are not confined to a summer indoors. Just need to see what happens at nursery on Monday.

My DD rears very badly to Soltan

Reacts not rears

Dd1 used to react a little bit to Soltan when she was younger and it makes me itch. Nasty stuff!

I'm really allergic to suncream, Banana Boat and Soltan being the worst!