Suntan lotion allergy

[Selket]

We are going to WDW in less than 2 weeks and my son just had a significant reaction to suntan lotion a few days ago with full body hives. He also has type 1 diabetes, asthma, and food allergies (he is 9) - and the allergic reaction did a number on his blood sugar!

I will contact his allergist for help but anyone here with a suntan lotion allergy? Can it be anaphylactic? I'm afraid to try different lotions in case I get the same response - he was miserable plus his BG was hard to control from almost 48 hours afterwards.

I think he will be really resistant to wearing long sleeves - the special SPF clothing - though I know he might have to. I am looking at an alternate way of park touring that allows for us to take advantage of evening EMH - sleeping late and staying up really late (which is fine for all of us).

I'm open to suggestions!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Was this the first time you've tried this particular brand? Maybe it contains an ingredient you already know he's allergic to but didn't notice on the label before? I'm just trying to think of a possible reason why he had the reaction that could make it easier to think of trying a different brand.

I once had a scary reaction to a sunscreen (whole leg swelled, breathing got difficult) so I do know how scary it is to consider using any brand afterward. It was a sunscreen my MIL bought for me without asking and we were newlyweds and at that time I wasn't about to question her about it since I still wanted her to like me (I got over that need eventually but that's a whole other thread for another board). I hadn't realized that it contained PABA. It turns out I'm HIGHLY allergic to PABA. So few sunscreens use it any longer so I'm now at the point where I can comfortably put it on without getting scared though I do also check for brands that don't contain any of our food allergies as well. I will admit though that even though I figured out pretty quickly that it was the PABA, I was still terrified to try any sunscreen for several years. It was kind of irrational but that was a scary reaction. We were taking a Disney vacation at the time (kind of ironic considering the site where we're discussing this) and luckily we were at the condo by the pool when it happend rather than in a park. If we had been in a park where my meds and a shower weren't right there, I likely would have been treated to an ambulence ride and a visit to an ER.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I can not recall what it was, but there is something in some brands that my son has issues with. We use one that is made by aveno and it works well, but I would talk to the doctor first because your child had such a reaction. I do hope that you can find something that will work.

 

[POOHsie]

OP needs to understand what the allergy was that her DS suffered from with the suntan (sunscreen?) lotion. It would be torture to suggest long sleeves in Central Florida. Unbearably hot. I think the allergist should suggest sunscreen products that would work for him.

 

[Eeyore5]

Has he reacted to other liquid products such as liquid soap or lotions? Parabens can cause a reaction and are in most liquid soaps and lotions. I get paraben free sunblock at a natural food store.

 

[Mama Who]

Maybe a natural mineral based sunscreen would work for you? They're pricey and have a tendancy to make you look a little... well... blue... but I have a friend who swears by them for her kids.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Try this...All suntan lotions come with zinc oxide or titanium oxide as the spreading agent. I cannot use the titanium oxide ones because I am allergic to titanium, so I obviously use the zinc oxide ones.

My doctor told me to try CVS pharmacy brand suntan lotion. It works very well, and I don't have any reaction at all to it.

I hope you can settle your suntan lotion problem. We all really need the product in Florida, and it would be a shame for your young one to have to have reactions to several more products.

I hope this helps you.

 

[livndisney]

A word of caution, he may react to others lotion if it was a contact reaction. You may want to be careful at WDW as people spray suntan lotion in lines, on buses, while waiting for parades, in closed in bathrooms and almost anywhere else. We have had to leave lines/areas to avoid others spraying lotion.

I know you mentioned long sleeves, have you considered a long sleeve rash guard shirt with SPF? DD wears hers all the time. When she gets hot we find a water area or dump water on her. The shirt helps keep her cool until it dries. It also help protect her skin from others lotion.

 

[Selket]

Don't worry about suggesting something as I won't run out and start spraying him with 50 different types of suntan lotion - it helps to get some different perspectives on it.

I did contact the allergist and she got back to me today wanting to know the ingredients in what we used and she says she will suggest some lotions to me. She also said to try them on a small patch of skin and see what happens. I haven't heard back with her recommendations yet.

She did say the next reaction could be worse - so I do want to be careful. I have epi-pens and so forth but I don't want to go there of course.

We have always used Neutrogena sensitive skin on his face and I don't think the few hives that came up on his face were from that - so I may try that lotion first if the allergist agrees.

He hasn't reacted to other soaps or lotions, etc.

 

[jskaarup]

My ds has this very same problem with sunscreen. I order him Vanicream and it is hypoallergenic with no titanium dioxide. He is allergic to many preservatives, especially those in lotions and soaps.

Good Luck!

Jackie

 

[ratlenhum]

My son has has many health issues and allergies and we finally found a sunscreen that doesn't make him break out or act psychotic when applied.

California Baby!! The stuff is awesome. This is the one we use. It is expensive and we got through 2-3 tubes a summer but it's so worth it.

http://www.californiababy.com/no-fragrance-spf-30-sunscreen-lotion-2-9-oz.html

 

[Selket]

California Baby reminds me of the Neutrogena Sensitive skin one we have always used on our faces - it has the titanium dioxide - it does have fragrance though.

My guess is that he is not allergic to the TD but to some other ingredient. It looks like the Cali Baby one might be more water resistant which would be great in the pool.

I will keep Vanicream in mind if we need to look at ones without the TD ingredient. The spray that made him break out had a lot of ingredients starting with the words "octi" or "octo" so I wonder if the octinoxate ingredient in vanicream is related?

I think you need a degree in chemistry to read these labels!

 

[autismmom1]

I second California Baby products. My son had a reaction to Coppertone sunscreen once (just a topical reaction), so I tried California Baby....you can get it online or save the shipping and get it in the baby section at Target.

 

[disfan07]

I'm severely allergic to parabens and lanolin (and a few other chemicals....but nothing 100% conclusive yet) and I only use vanicream. My allergist does not want me going near anything else.

It's paraben, lanolin, fragrence and preservative free. I use vanicream sunscreen and vanicream lotion everyday.

Did the allergist mention doing patch testing? If his reaction was that severe, I'd be very surprised if the allergist would not want to do this

 

[Selket]

Did the allergist mention doing patch testing? If his reaction was that severe, I'd be very surprised if the allergist would not want to do this

Well - she suggested that I patch test the sunscreen we try next but she did not suggest patch testing in her office. He has had other allergic reactions and this wasn't as bad as peanut - but worse than his reaction to penicillin.

I went to Target and looked at sunscreens and most that have titanium dioxide also have zinc oxide. Seems like the Neutrogena sensitive is the only one that has JUST the titanium dioxide as the active ingredient. I realize it could be an inactive ingredient he is allergic to of course.

We have a pool party for my husband's work we are supposed to go to this afternoon too - I guess I will just try a bit of the Neutrogena and see if that causes a problem. I got a swim shirt with short sleeves but that covers most of his body now - just lower arms, below the knees and face need suntan lotion.

 

[cmesq61]

I do not have severe allergies, but since developing MS I am terribly allergic to sunscreen, frighyfully sensitive to the sun, and love WDW. Great combo. I've determined it's the PABA. I use only Neutrogena for babies, which is also fragrance free. Seems to be the only thing I can tolerate. Also, for some reason, the reactions I a\had were all worse with aerosol sunscreens.

 

[Selket]

The sunscreen he reacted to was an aerosol so that could have been an issue.

We did go to the pool party yesterday and I patch tested a bit of the Neutrogena sensitive skin on him beforehand and he had no reaction to it at all. We used it at the pool with no problems except a bit of redness on his cheeks where we should have applied some additional after awhile.

I'm just happy to have something that works! Would be better if it was the stuff that was more water resistant for the pool.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and I'll continue to monitor the thread if anyone else has ideas on sunscreen for us!

 

[shellcruiser]

My mother is extremely allergic to several sunscreen agents. We continue to test products. 2 products I have seen mentioned in some medical sites are vanicream and blue australian (? or australian blue) - not sure about the second one and can't find it in stores. Some of the more common active ingredients with know reactions are PABA (includes Padimate A and Padimate O), oxybenzone, any benzophenones, avobenzone, octocrylene , diphenylketone. I would appreciate any other input for products that the allergist "likes".

 

[livndisney]

The sunscreen he reacted to was an aerosol so that could have been an issue.

We did go to the pool party yesterday and I patch tested a bit of the Neutrogena sensitive skin on him beforehand and he had no reaction to it at all. We used it at the pool with no problems except a bit of redness on his cheeks where we should have applied some additional after awhile.

I'm just happy to have something that works! Would be better if it was the stuff that was more water resistant for the pool.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and I'll continue to monitor the thread if anyone else has ideas on sunscreen for us!

I suspected as much. You may really want to be careful at WDW with other people spraying sunscreen. He may react to their sunscreen.

 

[MedicGoofy]

OP----you mentioned that your son has food allergies??? What might those food allergies be?

Think of those allergies then look at the labels again and at the INactive ingredients in the sunblock.

My sister in law can NOT use sunblock, suntan lotion or any kinds of lotion. She has multiple food allergies and if any kind of lotion has used the foods that she is allergic to, she breaks out in horrible rashes, she becomes SOB, and usually ends up at the ER for medical treatment. Because she is absorbing it through the skin, her usual Benadryl treatment followed by Epi just doesn't cut it.

It's the sunscreens that smell so pretty or the ones that say 'natural' ingredients that tend to be her worst problems.

Maybe not for your son. Could be something totally different. Everyone is different right. BUT worth a thought. Since it doesn't seem to be the active ingredient.

Hope you figure it out Enjoy your trip!!!