Guide on allergies in children and sunscreens

Earlier this summer, my 1 year old son spent a miserable afternoon. It was hot, he was cutting a bunch of teeth and his older brother had accidentally hit his face with a paddle (#momoftheyear). So, I spent his hours chalking, his watery eyes and redness at the height of it all.

But a few days later, it happened more intensely this time: his eyes became red, he burst into hives and he was clearly uncomfortable. I called his pediatrician's office, and they said it was like he had some sort of reaction to the sunscreen I had just covered with his skin. Duh.

Now that summer is in full swing, sunscreen is especially important for children who spend a lot of time outdoors (although the American Academy of Pediatrics says the first and the best line defense against sun damage is to cover yourself with clothes and to avoid the sun hours of maximum intensity from 10 am to 4 pm).

But if your child does not seem to tolerate sunscreen, what should a parent do? We asked the experts to detail some of the basics.

Generally, there are two types of sunscreen reactions: irritation-type reactions and severe allergies.

They look like irritation-type reactions: the skin may sting and turn red or rash, and your child may look very uncomfortable. "Many sunscreens can be very irritating, especially for children with eczema or sensitive skin," said Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, dermatologist responsible for the Atopic Dermatitis Study in America's Foundation for Cancer. asthma and allergies. "It is not uncommon to get a burning and burning sensation."

True allergic reactions tend to be rarer, although, according to Silverberg, there is no reliable data on allergy to sunscreens. They may show up in a manner similar to an irritation reaction or seem to come a few days after the fact, by pushing into small blisters that Dr. Scott Norton, a dermatologist of the National Children's Health System, describes like looking like poison ivy. . Other times, people experience what is called a photoallergic rash, which is triggered when the sun interacts with a particular ingredient in sunscreen.

The experts said parents might not care whether their child's reaction is an irritation reaction or a true allergy if the results are noticeably the same: a child who is clearly uncomfortable whenever and # He puts on sunscreen.

But if it's a recurring problem, doctors will I want to understand what's causing it because allergic reactions can get worse as the person is exposed to a particular irritant. So, in the end, these distinctions can make the difference from a medical point of view.

First, parents should be reassured that unlike peanut allergy, sunscreen allergies (or irritant reactions, as the case may be) are not life threatening.

"None of these is catastrophic," Norton said. Boring and potentially painful, yes. But not serious.

This does not mean that they should not be taken seriously. Silverberg and Norton both said it was a good idea to contact your child's pediatrician if this happened. If you follow these tips, be sure to take the sunscreen (or sunscreen) that you used so that the pediatrician can examine the active ingredients.

Both derms recommended that parents consider using physical sunscreen rather than chemical sunscreen for children who seem to have a problem. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin – and absorb sunlight – and contain active ingredients such as oxybenzone and avobenzone. (Recent studies suggest that they are absorbed into the skin at higher levels than expected.)

Physical sunscreens, on the other hand, rest on the surface of the skin and deflect the rays like a shield. They contain active mineral ingredients, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which is what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends to people with sensitive skin.

In addition to the active ingredients of any physical or chemical sunscreen, everyone has their own administration vehicle – basically, all the other ingredients – and they could ultimately be the cause of your children's problems. (And the word "natural" on the products is not regulated at all.) The key? Stay simple, simple, simple, said Norton.

"I would avoid products that claim to be" natural "and contain a lot of botanical products," he said. "It's a real challenge for the dermatologist when you're looking at products containing 10, 20, or even 30 different botanical agents."

Once again, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that when it comes to sun protection, the first defense should really be covered with protective clothing and hats and stay away from the sun when it is the most resistant.

"We do not recommend becoming vampires and never go out during the day. Obviously, it will happen, "said Silverberg. "But as far as possible, avoid this intense exposure to the sun when it's the strongest – from 11:00 to 15:00. – definitely help. Hats can be particularly important for young children who seem to tolerate the sunscreen quite well to the arms and legs, but who are more sensitive to it when it is applied to their face. (A new nuisance for you, because my little guy is a champion of hat removal.)

And keep in mind that sunscreen reactions, whether irritation or severe allergies, may change over time. Babies tend to have much more sensitive skin than older children. Your child may become too tall. Or it could be the kind of thing that sticks to their skin (and maybe even gets worse) over time. Everyone is different, so experts recommend consulting a health professional.

"If you've used a few sunscreens and your child reacts to them," said Silverberg, "is it probably time to take a patch test and see if it reflects an allergy? Sensitive skin? Or something else?"