Sun cream allergy

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and has any recommendations.

DD is nearly 10, and I have tried an awful lot of sun creams on her over the years. Every one has brought her out in hives on her trunk and thighs. It is really itchy and uncomfortable for her, and stops her from sleeping. Piriton reduces the itching slightly, but it seems to take days to clear up.

I phone the GP this morning, as my friend gets sun cream on prescription for her ds with eczema. I was told that, as DD does not officially have skin condition, they will not prescribe sun cream for her. I now have an appt with a different GP to get her referred to the hospital for a skin patch test to see exactly what she's allergic to. This appointment won't happen until the winter.

When I asked what I was supposed to do this summer I was told "you need to keep her out of the sun". Great! Luckily we are not going abroad this summer, and DD has olive skin, so I am going to invest in lots of UV blocking swimming tops, a big floppy hat, and keep her out of the midday sun.

I have spent hundreds of pounds on creams over the years, but am wondering if there's something I've missed. Does anyone have a child with a similar issue that they've found a cream for? I used Riemann P20 last summer, and she didn't seem to react to it - but this summer she is doing. Grrr!

Have you tried Simple?

Jason's- available in holland and Barrett. It's sulphate and parabsn free.

Lovea
Green people
Lavera

Google vegan sunscreen.

My little boy is the same, after trying a lot and spending a fortune and getting nowhere I now suspect that it's the sun/hot weather itself rather than any lotions. It's a nightmare, right now he is a real mess just now but how do you keep a 3 yo locked up indoors in this weather! I have heard good things about Avon skin so soft range though if you haven't tried it yet, it's next on my list.

The green people one was the only one DD didn't react to.

This year though she seems to have outgrown the allergy at 12 after using some at a friends and not having any reaction at all.

Jasons and green people do a mineral sunblock which has worked a treat on DD2 who has been allergic to any suncream we have tried.

Some alternative suggestions here

There are a few threads and suggestions in the allergy section too.

Sadly, it is very difficult to determine which ingredient to avoid as culprits could be either chemical, petroleum derivitaves, zinc oxide etc or natural ingredients like sesame seed oil, aloe Vera etc.

Thank you :) She doesn't have any food allergies, but seems to react really badly to having anything rubbed into her skin! Strange.

Have ordered some Green People and will give it a go :) It's never a total disaster, as DS has the hide of a rhino, so if DD is allergic, I can just use it on him.

I'd also recommend Green People. I seem to remember it was started by a mum who needed products without nasties in for her son who had eczema. Something like that. Anyway I use their sun cream and it has mineral rather than chemical sun blocking ingredients which are much less likely to irritate skin.

my DD reacts to everything except boots own Soltan

Can you write to companies and ask for a sample? (Cheeky I know but worth a try?) You could patch test each.
Ambre Solaire a nightmare
Nivea and Boots once ok here
What about Liz Earle? (She designed her range as she had skin problems. )
Poor her!

The only sun cream dd doesn't react to is the Aldi own brand

Ambre solaire put her in hospital when she was 3 as her face swelled so much she couldn't open her eyes

Sudocrem sunscreen mousse works for us. Awful reaction to others, no problems with this. You can get it from boots etc, no having to order it.

Oooh thanks Tracey, will try that one next, as she as never reacted to Sudocrem itself - it's about the only thing I can rub into her skin.

Ultrasun is the only one I use- brilliant for sensitive skin.

Have you tried P20? I cannot wear sunblock on my face as I end up with a completely red and swollen face (cannot open eyes) but P20 seems not to affect me. It's quite expensive, but does last forever.