suncream - getting it on, finding one that lasts, plus eczema

[FiveStar]

Hi does anyone have any top tips that work for getting suncream onto their reluctant children in the morning before school/ nursery so that we are not always massively late for school and children are not screaming about it?

It takes a while as I have one nearly 5 year old son and 3 year old twin girls to get cream on (as well as everything else), and by the end of last summer we almost had the suncream issue cracked ...now we have to start all over again (son already outside a lot in v hot sun at school who won't reapply it at lunch time) but they are all even more difficult about it this year! Stickers, bribes etc not working. In the end I resort to just doing it despite son screaming (daughters also fuss but they usually give up once I start) but realise this is not a good way to go as it is making it into a long running battle of wills. My sister has had a form of skin cancer and I have explained to son in non-scary terms why we have to wear the cream, but it is just a big stress to get the stuff on.

Also can anyone recommend a long lasting cream that will last for enough hours to cover school day and is not really sticky/ greasy?

Also (final one honest) one of my girls has terrible eczema and I am wondering if anyone has found a suncream that actually helped with this rather than aggravated it.

Many thanks

To be honest, I'm in a similar position. I am going to talk to school about them reapplying suncream at lunchtime and also encouraging the children to wear hats. I would really hope that school would support this - it's so important.

With regard to longer lasting cream, the last couple of years I've used the pouches as the cream is thick, but not sticky. It also aggravates their eczema less than others. As it's not runny or sticky maybe it'll be easier / quicker to apply.

I know it becomes a battle of wills but, as we all know, there are some issues that are non-negotiable. With my children I just stand my ground, ensure I win each time and finally they'll give in and co-operate (this can take months btw).

Good luck and I'll also be following for advice given by other parents.

My ds1 doesn't get eczema, but he does react to most suncreams. He doesn't have a problem with Sunsense, it isn't greasy, smells really fresh and nice (but isn't scented), rubs ito the skin incredibly easily and was recommended by a dermatologist when I told her my son had incredibly fair, sensitive skin and an allergy problem with suncreams! It's the only suncream I've ever found that isn't unpleasant or difficult to put on and doesn't leave a greasy sheen on the skin afterwards. It wouldn't solve your problem re the hating having the stuff put on, though, except to the extent that it does go on easily, but with my ds I found the specifically described "all-day" suncreams were more likely to upset his skin and tool longer to apply, so couldn't go for that option, anyway.

Spray-on suncreams work for some people as a means of getting the cream on more quickly, but they've never done it for me, as I don't see how you can avoid spraying bits you aren't supposed to. You can get spray-on creams that aren't white, though, so they do disappear into the skin shortly after spraying without also having to be rubbed in. Most of this type start out coloured initially so that you can see where they've landed, then fade to clear. I've seen them in Australia and they probably do them over here, too.

At this time of the year, I prefer to make sure my ds wears a legionnaire's sun hat with an SPF 50 (ie one with a flap at the bag to protect the neck as well as the face), rather than putting suncream on him - however careful you are, I don't see how you can avoid suncream ending up in your eyes when you sweat and that always makes my eyes sting and water like crazy, so would rather not inflict it on my child until later in the year, if possible.

ps meant to say "legionnaire's sun hat... with a flap at the back..."!

Thanks for these replies. Had a breakthrough with ds this morning as I told him his school had sent an email to parents saying the children have to have suncream put on before school in the morning and must wear a hat. He wasn't keen on a hat with a flap over the neck so I didn't bang on about that and just focused on getting the cream on and he actually just let me! Hooray! Hat is in his bag so hopefully the teacher will make him wear it at playtime. Thank God for school edicts! It occurred to me that I could just make up rules from school if he obeys them this well!

With the eczema issue we are awaiting a dermatology appointment so if I get any top advice on suncreams from the consultant I'll post it.

Rabbit stew I havent' seen Sunsense in the shops - where do you get it?

I usually buy Sunsense online, I've bought it on Amazon in the past or from John Lewis.

Hi, Fivestar,

I have found it in the Boots pharmacy next to the GP's surgery in the past (I think from what someone else said that you can actually get it on prescription if you have a severe problem with the sun?!). However, I tend to get it online via Amazon. They also do a great suncream for the face that I use, because every other suncream I've ever put on my face has resulted in streaming, red eyes by the end of the day, so it's great to find something I can use!

Have you tried Bergaderm? Its actually now called Proderm but my bottle still says Bergaderm on it!

I had a problem 2 summers ago with my DS who is now 5 coming out in a rash with every single suncream that I tried...he looked like he'd fallen in stinging nettles it was that bad. Somebody recommended I try Bergaderm and haven't had a problem since. Its actually especially for people with excema and its really really good. Its a mousse like you'd use on your hair and it lasts 6 hours...and it really does last that long. I used to put it on him before nursery at 8.30 and he'd literally be outside all day in the sun and wouldn't burn at all. The highest factor it comes in in factor 30 but thats has been high enough.

Because its a mousse it goes on really easily and when its on it actually doesn't feel like you've got suncream on at all...no stickiness. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough-only problem is I have to buy it online as cannot find it round here anywhere but thats a small price to pay for how good it is!

I've been able to get Sunsense on prescription for my DS who my GP knows has a history of eczema. I had previously spent an absolutely fortune tyring out different brands only to have him react badly, or slowly develop an intolerance. Thankfully, it's now completely free!

Found I just have to remember if I'm doing extra washing to get suncream off at the end of the day, I need to do extra moisturising too. But the Sensense has worked really well for us. Can't help with the issue of them wriggling away I'm afraid, found mine are becoming less reluctant with age though.

I also get the sunsense cream on prescription for my 5 year old DD with excema. Like Throm I also spent a fortune trying differant creams but the sunsense really does not aggravate her skin and is the best we have tried. Definetly worth asking your GP for it.

I use Lavera (Holland and Barrat) or Lovea Bio .Both are free of unnecessary chemical/additives and my daughter who has eczema/allergies is fine with either.

I also have problems with school, we have to apply before school, they aren't allowed to take sunscreen in. Schools argument is that there are all-day creams available, but they are full of chemicals and I don't want to use them. It's doing my blummin' head in.

Bergaderm really, really, really hurts if it gets in the eyes which is why I stopped using it when DS was a wriggly toddler. He sobbed and screamed for over 20 mins when he rubbed a little into one eye once. I was using up the remainder of the bottle myself until one day when I sweated and the sweat carried a little of it into one eye (which is how I know just how uncomfortable it is).

DD aged 6 has eczema, I find boots own make SPF 50 in big orange bottle really good and moisturising for her skin. However a couple of years ago her skin wasn't too bad and I bought aftersun for the first time again boots own brand but she was allergic to it.

A little off the subject but have you tried Halos n Horns bath and hair products?

Hi Wandaa no we don't use anything at all in bath as it aggravates both twins' skin. We just wash them with aqueous cream which has seemed to help to a small degree

Am going to ask GP about getting sunsense on prescription to try. thanks

Our GP gave our daughter a prescription for E45 suncream. It's not particularly easy to apply but doesn't irritate her skin at all.

Just by way of update...we got Aveeno on prescription from GP (not as suncream but for eczema) and it has been like a MIRACLE - after 2 years of unending eczema it is almost gone on dd1 (touch wood). So the suncream isn't affecting her so much and I haven't asked for sunsense yet. Still having battle with ds over suncream but just battling on! No magic answer yet!

Schools will not apply suncream to children, and recommend you do it before dropping off at school. Obviously not all suncreams last 6 hours, except for ONCE by Boots. This lasts 8 hours and is fab. My daughter has eczema and its fine.

Proderm/bergaderm now renamed (again!) the sun mousse and available online from website of same name. I use it on my 3, one of whom has eczema which is not aggravated by it, and it is the only one I have found which works for 6 hours even when they swim just before home time. Sun sense also recommended but does not last long enough, the older ones keep a roll on in their school bag as very easy to apply.

Schools will and do apply suncream provided parents give written permission.

Ours won't in reception. But DD can apply her own anyway, but they're not allowed to. Our school is fab, this is the only area they fall down on

Hi all,
Ive got a problem with sun cream for my son Max. Ive noticed mentions of Sunsense lotion but could you please let me know which type they do a few different ones.
Thanks going away in two weeks so need to get something sorted for him

My school refused to apply suncream to DS who came home with burnt ears after the recent spell of sunshine.

He has Developmental Coordination Disorder and low muscle tone which means coordinating and spraying or squeezing is a nightmare, even if he remembers.

I explained this but was told 'we are not allowed to put cream on children'.

I asked politely if they could squeeze or spray and point it at him then and he could rub it in.

Better the kids burn than someone gets accused of improperly touching them. Ridiculous.

Hi, I don't know about eczema to be honest, but use P20 which is really excellent for staying on all day and is super water-resistant (so perfect for hot holidays). You only have to put it on once, and it lasts all day easily, it's not sticky either. It is quite expensive though, but I can easily put it on in the morning and be confident that they won't burn at all.

Hi, we have used both the Lavera and Sunsense and both have been good for our dd who has eczema.

Also, Sunsense do their product in roll on form which dd is happy to apply at school. Available on Amazon. I leave it in her tray in the classroom. At 5 I don't expect her to be responsible for anything, but I have drummed into her how important it is to re apply her sunscreen.