Has anyone had a severe allergic reaction to the new Piz Buin? And a warning to you all NOT to buy it (or not to use without doing a test first)

[CountessDracula]

I bought some Piz Buin factor 30 all day suncream recently. They have changed the recipe and advertise it as "with helioplex" on the front. This is in fact oxybenzone and avobenzone - something that lots of people appear to be allergic to.

My whole face has puffed up like a pig! I have a massive rash on my arms and neck - basically everywhere I applied the cream.

I have googled this and LOTS seem to have similar problems.

here are some examples

check the various piz buin lotions - loads of people have had problems. None of the other suncreams on here have anywhere near the number of reviews, let alone complaints.

I have reported this to Johnson & Johnson who are "investigating"

Meanwhile I have done a bit of research and found some evidence that people with sulfa drug allergies should not use this suncream (I have this). It appears on some old documentation that I can find from the US for the Neutrogena products over there that state they "contain helioplex". Oddly this is no longer on the documentation over there. And no mention made of it here either

I just wanted to warn you - it is on special offer at them moment (bogof in many places) and so many of you may buy for your summer holidays. I don't want you all ending up looking like pigs on the beach!

The old Piz Buin was bad enough... I've always been sensitive to suncreams, but Piz Buin has always won hands down for the itchy, spotty rash. I've never swelled up, though!

Thank you so much for posting. That is what I bought for my holiday, I've just checked the bottle. I'll try it now before I go, if I dare! Hope you get better soon.

oh my god, just read your link.

Oh good I'm glad I've reached someone who has bought it!

It is gradually going down but I am on a high dose of steroids and taking piriton every 4 hours grrrr

OTOH for those which have no reaction to the ingrediants Piz Buin all day suncream is v v v good.

Hope you are on the mend CD

yy that is why I said do a patch test!

Last year on holiday I covered my eldest dd in high factor Piz Buin as where we were it was very hot and really didn't want her to burn. However towards the end of the holiday she started to get a slight rash, by the time we got back it was everywhere, especially bad on her face. Nothing made it better and she couldn't go back to school as it was so bad. I took her to the Drs and they prescribed steroids, but the rash still took quite a while to clear up. Definitely not using Piz Buin ever again!

My dh also had a severe rash from a suncream made by 'Banana Boat' factor 15. I always thought Banana Boat was really good so maybe they have changed their formula too.

Hi, I developed a shocking rash to Pi Buin in June 2009 and contacted Johnson & Johnson who advised that it must be the helioplex, which was a new ingredient. I'd used the product for years before that without problem. It took a good 3 weeks for the rash to disappear completely. There is an entire forum on Trip Advisor about it. I can't believe they still sell the product.

DS1 reacts to the 'old' Piz Buin - itchy spotty rash all over. Thanks for the warning and hope you're feeling better.

My tip of the summer is Ultrasun which none of the atopic males in my family have reacted t., and which really seems to last all day.

I get hideous rashes from oxybenzone.Had to have steroid cream after a reaction to a chanel cream with it in years ago.It is horrible stuff.I stick to physical blocks now and avoid chemical screens.

Actually I retract what I said about doing a patch test

I am never using sunscreen with oxybenzone in again for any of my family after reading a bit more about it!

eg this

Looking at the long list of people who've had very extreme reactions,on the review site linked to by Countess Dracula,I'm amazed that no-one is sueing,there would be a good case for compensation Countess,I would imagine,going by the shocking number of serious complaints.Call watchdog now!

I have a massive rash on my face and neck - basically everywhere I applied the cream. worst holiday i ever had :(
all in pain. dont even know what to do. i

Note that this thread is from 2010.

netsergey Have you taken antihistamine/used antihistamine cream/seen a doctor?

I know the thread is 3 years old - but I'm wondering if the piz buin all day factor 30 is the reason why hubby covered in rash right now :-( was looking on google for a sensitive piz buin that a friend back home just recommended and came across this. First thought was heat rash....but the rash is everywhere ( other than lower legs) that the said sun cream has been applied. Started afternoon of day 2 of hols, today is day 3 and terrible!!! Had hay fever tabs and smothered in aloe Vera gel. Currently he is asleep with a wet towel around his body to try and soothe. Looks like I'm ditching the piz buin tomorrow! Kids are fine, they had another brand on. I seem to have escaped ( so far) but not taking any chances.

I used Piz Buin 1 day Factor 10 this holiday and came out in the terrible itchy rash and spots described. Had to take antihistimines all my holiday to make it bearable so I could get some sleep. After 3 weeks it has only just started to calm down. Have used for years with no reaction whatsoever up until now. It had the doctors scratching their heads too. As soon as I got back to UK and stopped using it the skin slowly calmed down slowly and I have just stopped using the antihistimines and stopped using anti itch cream. I will be waiting for them to change the formula before I ever use it again, but having been put through this episode I don,t know if I shall ever risk it again. Hawaian Tropic is my next chose so I will stick with that in future.

it was on watchdog last week. we all used it on holiday with no issues and it worked very well

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74/features/piz-buin-sun-cream-irritation