[AAK]

I can't believe I took this long to clue in. Here is my story. Every June (except when she was a baby) My now 5 yr dd would break out in a rash starting with her face and moving downward. Ped. said allergy, but didn't know what. Last year I realized that it happened the morning after our first "sunscreen" day. So I looked at the labels and tried to figure out which ingred. were the problem. Never really got that figured out but found that if I used lower spf sunsreen, that we didn't have the problem. For the most part, I actually don't use much sunscreen unless we will be in the sun a LOT or by the water, etc. My girls haven't ever had a sun burn (even though this dd is blond).

This year I used the lower spf and she broke out again. So, now I am at a real loss. I guess she is more sensitive at the beginning of summer. Or maybe she reacts more if I put it on her face, I don't know.

I want to find a good chemical free sunscreen that I can use for when we are camping and stuff. If I can't, I think I might use zinc oxide on her face and reg. stuff on her arms since her face seems more sensitive. The zinc oxide just seems to thick to be realistically used all over the body.

Any ideas? I already am good at naturally protecting her with hats, time management, etc.

Amy

 

[KateMary]

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I think sunscreen makes my dd's eczema flare up. I try to just avoid the rashing arms and wear long sleeves but I don't want her to burn on top of her rash, if that's possible! I am interested in hearing any good natural sunscreen suggestions. I have one from the natural food store but not sure the brand...

 

[erikaa]

california baby products makes sunscreen that is chemical free and meant for sensitive skin! it's also free of nut oils, soy, gluten, and some other stuff! you should check it out! i've seen it online for sale at lots of places, you can google it!good luck!

 

[circlemama]

2 things have helped our situation...

1. I purchased a stinger suit for my dd. It's a full length arms and legs swimsuit, I ordered it off the internet from Australia. I only have to sunscreen face, hands and feet.
2. I use vanicream sunscreen, has no chemicals, the SPF15 has no chemicals and the SPF35 has very little. You can get free samples sent to you,
www.psico.com The company name is psi and they carry items that are free of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, lanolin and formaldehyde.

 

[deliarose]

This is just a thought...is she allergic to all lotions? My DH is allergic to any cream, lotion, deodorant,etc. Whatever is in that base, that is what causes him to break out. He even breaks out if I have it on, but all natural products w/o chemicals are ok for me to use. We have used the oil sunscreen by Coppertone. HTH!

 

[MamaMonica]

We use the stinger suits as well and sunhats to avoid sunscreen as much as possible.

 

[circlemama]

MamaMonica,
Where'd you get your stinger suit? I had to order from Australia. I would love to pick up a few more.
Circlemama

 

[wendy1221]

Wow, I can't believe your ped never suggested sunscreen allergy. Sunscreen allergies are extremely common. I just took my ds in for an outbreak of contact dermatitis that just wasn't going away (wanted to make sure that's what it was) and the first thing the NP suggested was sunscreen. Hmmmm...

I've been meaning to get those little suits for my 2 boys. I don't like them getting to much sun, but at the same time, sunscreens are pretty toxic themselves, so I don't like lotioning them up. I strt buning in 10 min, so we've just been avoiding going outside other than early morning/late evening.

Could you also let me know where you got the suits? I got some solarveil and I was going to make them, but that solarveil is so scratchy. Are the suits less scratchy? THey look smooth.

 

[bell bottom blues]

You can increase the natural SPF of your daughter's skin just by managing what she eats. I first heard of this awhile back when I was reading something about the advantages of lycopene, the antioxidant in tomatoes. It said that a woman increased the SPF of her skin from a very low number to a very high number in just one day, from eating a bowl of tomato soup.

I thought that was interesting, but last summer, I tried it for myself.

I'm extremely fair, and used to wear SPF 45 all year round. It was the first thing I put on my face, before any makeup, and in lieu of moisturizer, every morning. Even so, I would literally get a minor red sunburn just by walking across a parking lot without a hat on a hot summer day. I just figured I was so fair, and had to wear a hat all summer. I never went to the pool.

After I had a baby, I just wasn't going to be bothered by all that. I didn't use a sunscreen at all, and I wanted to enjoy being at the park on nice days, and taking my kid to the pool, and just concentrate on giving him a good life. I did, however, eat really healthy. My favorite restaurant had a house soup that was tomato-based, and I ate a dark green lettuce salad most everyday and lots of green veggies all summer.

And...I probably spent 2-3 hours in the sun on lots of days...without a sunscreen...and just got the barest of color on my skin.

I also asked my naturopath what she recommended for a sunscreen, and she too said she preferred to handle it with what she ate.