Infant Sunscreen and Eczema

Updated on December 03, 2009
T.C. asks from Dover, DE
34 answers

Do any of you moms have suggestions on good sunscreen for sensitive skin? My 9month old has eczema and many cremes and lotions cause breakouts. I use Cetaphil cleanser and lotion on a regular basis- everything else caused breakouts. Now that summer's here, we'll be outside a lot so my baby needs a super gentle sunscreen. I've tried Coppertone for babies and that caused a rash. Then I tried Banana Boat for babies which was a little better. Any suggestions before I spend a fortune buying all different kinds?

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E.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi Trisha,

My daughter also has eczema and Keratosis Pilaris. The best lotion that works for her skin condition and is very, very effective in blocking the suns rays is Blue Lizard. With her I either use the baby or sensitive skin formula. Both work great and she has never had a problem with either. My whole family uses it. You can usually find it at CVS, or online at dermstore.com

1 mom found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from Dover on

My friend works at a dermatologists office she gave me aveeno sunscreen for my son who has eczema also. He does real well with it!

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K.M.

answers from Atlanta on

My pediatrician recommended Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen for my daughter. It uses Oxide to block sun. They have sensitive and baby formulas and no issues with anyone in my family and we all have sensitive skin. I found it at CVS, Wegman's, Rite-Aid. Good luck!!

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S.P.

answers from Washington DC on

First, check with Doctor, and then you can also try the "spray on" Neutrogena SPF45. I have a 6 years old with eczema and the spray is lighter, so less irritating.
Good Luck!
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I have exactly the same problem and have also been through many many sunscreens. First thing I was told by my doctor is that all the baby stuff is actually less sensitive then some adult sunscreen because of all the dyes (to make it pink) and fragrances (to make the nice baby smell). Throw these out. Adult sunscreens are the way to go. Two things that work for me: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer spf 70 with helioplex oil free and Aveeno Active Naturals SPF 30 FACE (I buy the face one since it is more sesitive and use it all over my son's body). The best is one that Eucerin makes. The only disadvantage I have found with that one is that it is only spray and you must apply a lot and often. It is not waterproof. Anyway hope this helps. My WaterBaby loves the pool/beach and I do not know where I would be without these sunscreens.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.K.

answers from Washington DC on

I did a lot of research on this because my son who is 15 months also has extremely sensitive skin. Also, the amount of harmful chemicals in baby products (especially sunscreen) is scaring the cr*p out of me. Currently I am testing 3 products based on a cross reference with the Cosmetic Safety Database (http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com), SafeMama.org, on other mother's recommendations, and checking with my pediatrician.

• Blue Lizard Sensitive Skin is good, but very thick and a little hard to apply, but it works really well and was recommended by my pediatrician. My neighbor's daughters are VERY fair and she swears by it. It is my backup sunscreen right now.

•California Baby SPF 30 is really good so far and not as thick as Blue Lizard.

• A new one, TruKid which is completely natural is WONDERFUL, easy to spread and smells great. My 6 year old son calls it "the good sunscreen". You definitely need to watch and reapply. You can order it online and there is a coupon code on SafeMama.org.

Good luck! Coppertone has been the WORST for us. Also, my pediatrician said to not apply anything over 30 SPF, because those contain extra irritating chemicals.

T.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Trisha,
I'd suggest sunscreens that are not sold at the drug store or mainstream grocery. Check out My Organic Market. They have a health and personal care section with products that have less harmful chemicals; and contain more natural ingredients. Eczema is related to the liver not being able to metablize all of the toxins in the body. There are also plenty of cleansers and lotions there that will not aggrevate or cause breakouts. There is also a great company called MiEsssence. They have personal care products that are free of dyes, perfumes, and are extremely clean. They are available through distributors.
Feel free to email me if you want more info. on this issue. L.

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T.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I use Aveeno for Babies. It seems to work. My daughter does not have eczema but she is sensitive to the sun.

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N.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi, Trisha, Has anyone ever talked with you about Melaleuca? All of their products are manufactured with health, safety, and prevention in mind. Yes, they have wonderful, gentle & safe sunscreens, as well as 350+ other superior, cost-effective products! Please check out saferforyourhome.com, melaleuca.com, and http://www.thewhycircle.com/nkboecker. Please let me know if I can be of any further help. Good luck! :) N. B.

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H.P.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi Trisha- My son has very sensitive skin. He had a reaction to the Banana Boat and I tried Aveno for babies- it's working great! The Aveno line (soap, lotion) has worked for us!

Good luck (and stay cool!).

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J.M.

answers from Richmond on

Hi Trisha,

I have a 3 year old with TERRIBLE exzema. We have struggled with it since he was born. I have tried all different sunscreens and I have to say that I swear by Aveeno. I would stick with the lotion, though, because the spray seems to irritate his skin for some reason. It isn't cheap (about $9 for a 16 oz tube), but well worth it. Good luck!
J.

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M.K.

answers from Washington DC on

Try www.arbonne.com. It is an all natural product and many of my friends have used it for years on their children with sensitive skin. I have just ordered it for my 14 week old son. It is reasonable in price too. Good luck.

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J.K.

answers from Norfolk on

Trisha,

I have tried many, many sunscreens as my son has the same issues with eczema. The one that I have found to work best is California Baby. It can be difficult to find so I order it online. i use a lot of their products as they are all natural and seem to cause less skin irratation.

good luck!

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N.B.

answers from Norfolk on

I work for a dermatologist and we recommend Aveeno products for sensitive skin. They do have a suncreen that is formulated for babies. I hope this works out for you.

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E.V.

answers from Roanoke on

I know of a company that sells products that do not interfere w/my son's eczema. He was very bad at the age of 7 months and cetaphil, aveeno and even the prescribed steroid creams did not help him. I finally joined a company called Melaleuca, which has a lotion called Renew. This was a life-saver. Not only that, but they have eco/environmentally friendly cleaners and laundry products and I can even use the scented versions of these w/no effect on his skin! They make a sunscreen called "sun shades". You might be able to check it out on ebay first to try it, and it if works, then you could consider joining the company! (also try the renew...its AMAZING!) If you are interested in signing up w/Melaleuca, please email me at ____@____.com can also check out their website (if you buy w/out being a member it is much more expensive!) www.melaleuca.com. I have used avon's skin so soft on my boy w/eczema, but it is not for babies. He is 2. The sunshades by melaleuca does not say for babies, but all of their products are super gentle! They have great baby wash/shampoo/bubble baths for kids too! It is just a great company especially if you don't like the harsh smells that make asthma act up when you are cleaning and want eczema friendly products, too! Good luck! And contact me if you want to join Melaleuca...any moms are welcome to email me! Thanks, E.

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E.F.

answers from Washington DC on

California Babies (can get at Wegmans, health food stores & at their site online) and Arbonne (need to find a representative, I think you can do that online) have both worked for us.

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A.P.

answers from Washington DC on

Maybe you can speak with your doctor about any sunscreens that they recommend for children with eczema.

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A.L.

answers from Norfolk on

I have a 15 month old girl with the same problem and I have been told to use Aveeno for baby but I have not been able to find it. I heard that it works really good with sensitive skin

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Q.F.

answers from Washington DC on

My daughter also has eczema so to avoid break outs and b/c I felt she was too young for sunscreen, I used physical elements as protection like cotton/linen long sleeve and pant clothing, shades and hats. But I am told that mustela is a good brand. Also here are some good guidelines for your sun protection review:

Use a water resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to 30 that provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.

Other characteristics of the best sunscreens and sunblock for young kids include that they are hypoallergenic and fragrance free and come in a form that is easy to use on your child, whether that means it is a gel, lotion, spray, continuous spray, etc., so that you will actually use them.

Apply enough sunscreen to protect your child.

Use sunscreen even if it is cloudy outside. Clouds don't absorb all of the UV radiation that may harm your child.

Avoid sun exposure when the effects of the sun are the strongest, which is usually from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Use physical protection, including clothing, such a hat with a 3-inch brim, lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and/or a stroller, tent, umbrella or tree.

Encourage your children to wear sunglasses that protect against ultraviolet rays.

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J.S.

answers from Norfolk on

I know you already have this is your responses but it always feels better when you hear it from mulitple people. I have heard Aveeno is great and it was recommended by a nurse as well! Its not as expensive as some but it is great for sensitive skin and easy to find!

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L.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Trisha,

I have a possible solution that will definitely help.

In most store bought brands, there are a lot of unnecessary chemicals/synthetic ingredients that seem to be causing our skin to react badly.

The wellness company I represent, Melaleuca (to learn more go to www.melaleuca.com)has a very "affordable" line and safe line called Sun Shades with 4 products that promote long term skin health and offer broad spectrum coverage. Additionally, there is another intensive skin therapy that is clinically proven to be more effective with skin issues like eczema than the popular store bought brand. Each summer it seems I have more and more families calling due to this same issue. It really makes me wonder about those products on the shelves....

If you'd like more information, feel free to contact me via my site: www.MakeMoreGreen.com or call me at ###-###-####.

All my customers get 30-40% off retail plus $100 of free products!

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M.R.

answers from Roanoke on

I used to use a product from California Baby (I think they have a website)

good luck!

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A.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I make a line of organic body products. annabellaknits.etsy.com I h6ave both sunscreen and eczema balm. Both really great and natural.

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R.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Try going to the organic or whole foods section of your grocery store,and look for an organic sun screen.Or chemical free sunscreen.I had issues with my daughters skin last summer and we had to use one with out all the chemical stuff.It works great and you don't need to use alot because it's thicker.

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Y.L.

answers from Richmond on

Definitely buy one of the natural sun screens as opposed to the regular ones. I like California Baby but any brand that's natural would probably be ok.

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A.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi Trisha, have you heard of Arbonne? A 28 year old company that formulates over 400 products in Switzerland and manufactures them in the US. Arbonne has a wonderful line of skin care products for babies and others with sensitive skin. It is recommended for eczema and psoriasis. The line includes a great sunscreen SPF 30+. Arbonne is only sold through Independent Consultants like me. The products are botanically based, vegan, contain no mineral oil or animal by-products. And, since the products are not sold retail, they contain less than 1% preservatives. If you'd like more information, please feel free to contact me. You can also visit my website at www.wholelifewellness.myarbonne.com
I hope to hear from you.

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H.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi, Trisha. Have you tried Aveeno Baby? IT's fragrance-free, waterproof and helps prevent moisture loss. It is SPF 55. It says that it's "mild as water." I've been using it on my twin girls and it seems to work pretty well.

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E.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I just had a discussion with my mom about this b/c one of my girls is sensitive to sunscreen. My little sister had problems with sunscreen, also. So, my mom went to the store and applied "test lines" on my sister's arm of about 7 different kinds of sunscreen. She shopped for about 30 minutes which gave her skin time to react. For her, Neutrogena Sensitive worked. So, I just bought it and it has been the first kind NOT to leave a rash. That being said, my eczema child (who has never ever had a bad reaction to sunscreen) broke out in a horrible, itchy rash. Goes to show what works for one won't work for another.
Good luck!

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D.P.

answers from Cincinnati on

yes http://www.switchingstores.com/fourply
they have a lotion that cleared my little son's eczema
as well as sunscreen plus they have almost 400 items to choose from and they are all natural and eco friendly....you go on this website and get free info like I do,as it can't hurt! Good luck!!

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T.B.

answers from Norfolk on

hi. my sister has a 2 1/2 year old that is allergic to all the lotions and stuff for babys skin, and i have brothers and sisters that have eczema. she got started selling arbonne, which is all botanically based skin and beauty products. these products have been used by all the kids and it clears them up and doesnt cause any breakouts. they have a line of baby products, that doesnt cause breakouts. here is her cell number, i would get in touch with her and ask if there is a product that would be good for your baby. ###-###-####--her name is kristen. if you call let her know that T. (her sister) gave you the info. i hope this helps.

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K.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Buy Aveeno Baby SPF 50! It is pricey, but works very well! My daughter is the same way! Very sensitive, eczema, cetaphil, aquaphor, all of that goodness... :) We had a huge break out when she was 9 mos old. She is now 2.5. I have been using Aveeno Baby since! Hope this helps!

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A.B.

answers from Charlottesville on

Trisha,
Have you talked with a doctor to see what is causing the eczema first. My son had the same problem and was sensative to milk. Once we put him on soy milk, he no longer had eczema. Then the sunscreen won't be an issue.
A.

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S.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

My family and I all have sensitive skin and we use skin so soft products from Avon. We also use their bug spray, as the other brands cause my son to break out in hives. Aveno also works well. We use the aveno lotions and body wash. Good luck!!

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