Another Sunscreen Question!

I have a son who is almost seven months old and also suffers with eczema. I tried the Waterbabies but he had a really bad reaction. Then my husband and I tried the Banana Boat Tear-Free Baby Sunblock and he hasn't had any problems. It is a bit on the pricier side but it works for me.

Hi K.,
Sorry if someone might have mentioned this already but only have a minute and wanted to make the following suggestion. Have you looked into UV protective clothing? I am getting that this year for all my kids. I hate putting any chemicals on their skin ( though have for many years, just never thought of this alternative before!). Now that I have a 7 mo old, I bought some UV 50 protective swimwear/clothing that he can swim and play in and I will only have to worry about his hands and lower legs. It dries really fast too.
Just something to consider. Good luck.

Try No:Ad Baby it is the only sunscreen that doesn't seem to make my girls (who also have very sensitive skin) cry if they rub it in their eyes. Plus, it is inexpensive, so it is worth a try.

Try products by The Wellness company. There are products for the eczema as well as Sun screen. Most medicated lotion will not clear up eczema, but the Renew Lotion will. The company also manufactures a mineral sunblock. Only changing the laundry detergent and bar bath soap will help to with the eczema.

Here is one moms product experience:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My son, Gage, suffered from eczema from the time he was a baby. I spent a fortune trying to find something that would work for him. I figured he'd have to deal with it forever - using creams, lotions, etc.
to just help with the symptoms. Then I converted my home and started using the ReNew on his skin. Within two weeks, his eczema cleared up and we haven't had a problem since. He was 4 yrs old when I found Melaleuca. I was in shock to see how quickly it worked and how effective it was. I, also, realized that the chemicals I was using before were aggravating the problem. So, thanks to Melaleuca, no more eczema for him plus no more skin allergies for my daughter, Jordan.

Angela R
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's one of many. This company has had Earth Day every day for 23-years making safe green health and wellness products.

Request info here http://livetotalwellness.com/mykid or call me at ###-###-####.

Hi K. -

One Step Ahead has clothes that actually block out the sun. I would try these and try to keep your baby shaded as best as possible. Also, the organic sunscreens like Avalon Organics don't penetrate into the skin they sit on top. So you may want to try those.

Any time you put a product on your child you want to make sure that it is safe. Have you ever tried the baby products from Arbonne? They have outstanding products that are pure, safe & beneficial. They are all botanically based, ph correct, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, formulated without animal products or by-products, formulated without dyes or chemical fragrances and do not have any mineral oil. To learn more go to www.naturesintention.myarbonne.com. I hope you find this help. I will offer you a 25% discount for trying the product.

M.

Hi K.!!I highly recomend "Mustela" it has 100%mineral sunscreen,and is hypoallergenique,it is a little pricey,but it is for sensitive skins, i paid $15.00 for a little tube,but i only use it on his face and ears head,ect...they also have a skin care line, bodywash,creams,and maternity line too!!You should check it out.I got mine at a store called Magic Beans,but I think they sell it at Whole Foods actually maybe even babies rus??Not sure tho!!I tried Aveeno w/my son and his skin got red,personally I think Aveeno is overrated!!I havent had any luck w/them!!Oh-your baby can still get sun even when they are in the shade so be very careful!!I found that out last summer!!My guy was only 6wks old last July so I didnt put block on him and had him in the shade and he got a little burn on his face!!I felt soooo terrible!!So just an fyi!!Good Luck-let us know what you try,I love "products"so keep me posted!!-J.

I have actually tried several for the same reason - I REALLY liked the neutragena one someone mentioned BUT it wasn't waterproof so not good for an active boy in the summer time. What I liked about that one better than the others was that it went on more smoothly.

What you want to look for is fragrance free AND chemical free. the active ingredients should be ONLY titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.

A couple other brands we used are bullfrog - which can be bought at shaws and just about any other store. It's 8.99 for a 4 oz tube. I liked that one a lot too, but didn't like the container, the cap had a tendency to break and then it'd be all over. You can get bigger bottles online too. I think onestepahead.com sells it. Bullfrog does have chemical sunscreens so just make sure you pay attention to what kind you get.

A less expensive one we tried at the end of the summer and he didn't break out was Ocean Potion All Natural sunblock for kids. It is not fragrance free and has a kind of odd berry odor to it that I actually liked. But like I said it didn't bother his skin. This one was 5.99 for a 5 oz container at Rite Aid - but I bought it when it was free after rebate. Only problem is it's not on the brand's website so it might not be available anymore.

Hope that helps - good luck!

hi K.,
exzcema can be very challenging. have you heard of arbonne products they are botanically based products that are fabulous. their baby care line has a baby wash lotion and a sunscreen the is very effective on babies. i have four children and my son who is ten has many allergies including exzcema and it really keeps it under control. check out my website www.myurbeautiful.myarbonne.com. I'll offer you from mamasource 20% off their products. if your are interested email me at ____@____.com good luck K.

I like the all natural ones like Burt's Bees and Badger. But also wanted to let you know that a little sun can be good for skin conditions - not getting burned, of course, but just some exposure.

If you keep him in the shade, and keep him fairly covered up with clothing (of course til it hits 90degrees), why the need for so much sun screen? I know my son has excema, mainly on his thighs, so I avoid the sun screen going on those spots. I dont know if your son gets it all over. Perhaps if you just put a very light coating of sunscreen on him, and still keep him in the shade and covered.
Best of luck to you!!!

my baby had the same problem the past 2 summers, she still has eczema, but not as bad. I never found anything that worked! Yesterday I bought Banana Boat Baby Tear Free spray mist with avotriplex...didnt see her eczema get any worse, so you could try that...

Hi K.~
Check out your local health food store for safe sunscreens. At my store we carry sunscreens by Alba that are very popular with local Moms. There are also many other companies that make them as well. I'm sure you'll find something that will work well for you. If you go online and find a product that you want to try most health food stores will make an effort to special order it for you if they have access to that line of product. Good Luck!

My son has eczema and I keep him out of the sun as much as possible, but as another person mentioned...a little sun is good for the skin and it's true. I try not to bring him out in the hottest, strongest sun part of the day without being covered up but the past few days it has been hard because it's so nice out! I have tried almost every sunblock on the market and not much luck. I have just ordered California Baby's sunscreen stick and a bottle of their lotion to try. I use their other products on him (lotion and babywash) so I'm hoping this will be a product I can use on him sparingly when we are out in the sun. Also, you can buy summer clothes that are an equivalent of 50 spf...have you thought of doing that? Hope this helps :-) Good luck.

Hi K.,
I am an independent consultant for Arbonne International. I would be more than happy to send a sample of our baby line to you... it has a sample of the baby sunscreen in it. I would just need your address information. If you do not already know, Arbonne is a botanical based product company that does not have any artificial fragrances or chemicals. Our baby line also does not have any nuts! Let me know if you are interested and I will put a sample in the mail on Monday!

Good Luck!
Pam

My son (who is now almost 3) had the same problem when he was a baby. The allergist recommended we get a sunscreen that was PABA free. That did seem to help. His eczema is now almost non-existent, and we are able to use regular sunscreen.

As for Aveeno - I did discover (through my allergist) that many of their products contain EGG - though not on the ingredients list. If your child has an egg allergy (as mine does) Aveeno is the worst thing you can use!

Maybe this will work for you too.

C.

I would inquire by your physisian the possability he could be allergic to the sun at all. The sunscreen we use is from a company I work with and I have exzcema as well. It worls very well for myself as well as the skin lotion. If you are interested let me know. You can order it without being a member.

Hi,

My daughter who is now 6, was the same & still is the same! Very sensitive skin, w/ excema breakouts. Poor sweetie, still gets it bad on her arms, right at the creases, where they bend. We have always used Neutrogena Sensitive Skin, sunblock lotion, spf 30. That's the only one that works & doesn't make her breakout. Btw, her excema is from her asthma related allergies. Hope that helps!

D., SAHMom of 6yr girl & 3yr old boy.

Have you tried the Kiss My Face Sun Spray? It comes in a little orange/yellow bottle. It's really light and all natural. We love it! SPF 30 (might come in higher spf). My friend's little boy was about 6 mos last summer and had exzema on his face and head and she used it with no problem.

I heard that Blue Lizzard Australian Sunscreen is great for sensitive skin/exema. I have seen it at CVS and Ballani Maternity in Warwick:

http://www.bellanimaternity.com

I'll pass along to you the same that I told the other mom. I've been using a mineral based sunscreen from Melaleuca that has been wonderful for my family & my sister, whose 3 children all have eczema, has also been very happy with it. It hasn't bother the eczema at all. She also uses their skin care products called Renew to help & it's been fantastic! One of her kids has been completely cleared up & the other 2 is almost completely gone as well! You can go to saferforyourhome.com for more information or I'd be happy to help you!

Hi K.,
I wouldn't use anything but Arbonne on my children. It is plant based, no nut ingredients, and as gentle on the skin that I've ever seen. Very sensitive adults with Exzema use it and it with the rest of the baby care has taken the Exzema away. I would love to send you a Free Sample so you can see the change in your baby's skin for Free. Let me know if you would like a sample and I will send it out Monday morning. I am listed in the mamasource businesses and give 20% off the first order. I know you'll love it. Check out my website www.seethedifference.myarbonne.com L.

I agree with the idea of covering up vs coating with sunscreen. There are many, many "rash guards" out there...fabric with SPF 50...that is made into tshirts, shorts, pants, etc. for kids. I actually recently bought some for my kids at Target, but I've also seen them in the One Step Ahead catalog. I know that won't help the face, but maybe a hat will...along with limiting the time in those peek sun hours 10a-3pm. It might be different next summer when he's moving around a lot more and napping less, but his skin might respond differently to sunscreen a year from now. Good luck.

I agree that checking out your local health food store is a good option. The sunscreens there will be more natural, even if they are not perfect. If you can't get to a health food store, see if you can find Jason brand products at Shaws or another major grocery chain. It's another "natural" brand but it's a little more mainstream. I've got pretty sensitive skin and so does my friend and it works on us.

Hi K.,
My son has sensitive skin and our dermatologist recommends Blue Lizard. It has very little in it and the baby/sensitive stuff worked really last summer when my son was only 6/7 months. We now use the Sport on him and his skin doesn't seem to get worse with it and it works really well at keeping him from burning. Good luck!
C.

if your son is sensitive i would say to try an all natural sunscreen. the very very best is dr. hauschka. it is probably worth the price (about 30 bucks!)to not see your little one break out since he's so young. it spreads very easily and will probably last you all summer.

My 6 month old nephew has very sensitive skin and his dermatologist recomended nutrigena sensitive skin sunscreen and he hasnt had any issues with it.