Skin Reactions

Updated on June 23, 2008
S.R. asks from Lake Dallas, TX
14 answers

I have a 4 year old girl with sensitive skin. I thought that she was having reactions to sunscreen in the past. I would apply sunscreen before swimming and later that night her face and ears would be red splotchy and bumpy. I thought it was the sunscreen so I switched to aveeno baby, the same thing happened. I asked her Dr. she said to try blue lizard I bought it ($10 a bottle) I used it one weekend at my aunts house no rash. Then we went swimming yesterday and used it on her face, I used the less expencive stuff on her body. that evening her face was red and blotchy. She woke up at 3 am and said she was itchy eveywhere. I gave her benadryl and sent her to bed. Well she has little bumps all over her, they don't really look like hives more like goose bumps. I'm not sure what else to try I can't keep her in all summer and she can't go without sunscreen. We have been to an allergist before she said she has no allergies. Has anybody else had this problem

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M.T.

answers from Dallas on

My daughther had the same thing with her face. I started her on the Save Face from Arbonne and she responded great. Both her and I have sensitivities to fragrances. We also have a ABC baby sunscreen. My clients like it and I haven't heard any complaints. I have two clients with baby eczema and use the ABC line and love it. I would love to help you. Thanks M.
www.m3vno.myarbonne.com
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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

My neice had the same problem. We realized that when she would sweat and get really hot after the application of sunscreen, she would break out. She did this at the swimming pool and at the beach. She has very sensitive skin. So we found that if we make her take breaks before getting too hot and wash her face, she did fine. It is a strange thing. I think when she sweats, the chemicals gets into her pores or something. We even used hypoallergenic, and all kinds of sunscreen. So it could be sensitivity to sun, sweat, and other things combined. Good luck!

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K.M.

answers from Dallas on

just some advice on the blue lizard . . .Blue Lizard is a brand. not all of their sunscreens are chemical free. They make one that - is it is the one labeled "for sensitive skin." The Blue Lizard for kids is exactly the same sunscreen as the one for sensitive skin just in a different bottle. Those two are just a physical sunscreen and therefore are often reccomended for those with sensitivities. The normal blue lizard is both a chemical sunscreen and physical. I think the bottles to the normal one and the sensitive look very similar so thought I would mention it in case that is it.

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

My son is sensitive to sunscreens too, even ones that say they are hypoallergenic. However, we tried Bert's Bees Sunblock and it is great. It is all natural. The only catch is that it is not water resistant, so you do have to reapply often if she is swimming a lot. It does still work in water. We haven't had any issues with it washing off too fast yet. I also just recently bought one at Babies R Us called Baby Avalon Organics, which is also only Titanium Dioxide. I think California Baby Sunscreen is teh same stuff too. Try one of those. Good luck.

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C.N.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter is 5 and has had similar bumps during the summer. I don't think it is so much the sunscreen as the combination of sweating, heat and perhaps sunscreen or pool water. It doesn't always happen but the longer we are out the more likely. I have found that giving her a shower when we get home (lukewarm) without soap or something that will not irritate her helps a lot. Hope this helps!

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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

Maybe the reaction is to something else, is it always after swimming? Those pool chemicals are harsh.

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

Are you sure its the sunscreen? Are you putting lotion on her after swimming? Could she be allergic to something in the pool water like chlorine(sp)? My son did the same, but it turned out to be the lotion I put on him after being in the sun.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Are you sure its the sunscreen??? It sounds like it could be the chemicals in the water. You said she did not get a rash when at your aunt's house. Did she swim at her house? Maybe your aunt uses different chemicals than the pool you usually take her to.
I would research allergy safe chlorine brands or alternatives.
If it's a community pool you are taking her to, talk to the person in charge and see if you can convice them to switch to copper ionization. http://www.intec-america.com/products/Pools.asp

http://www.intec-america.com/resources/Chlorine-Allergy-d...

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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

One of my kids has this reaction to all sunscreens, even the so called hypoallergenic ones. Also, he showed up negative on allergies too. I go ahead and use the sunscreen, but I don't leave it on for any lenth of time. I immediately wash him down thoroughly with soap and water in the shower. With him, he only reacts when he's had the sunscreen on for over an hour. I limit his sun exposure as well.

I haven't done this yet, but I would recommend talking to a dermatologist. They may have a better brand recommendation. I've been meaning to do this myself, but we just had a move and we're still settling in.

K.
Mom to 3

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

I do the same thing. Go natural... it is pricy but much more comfortable. I have yet to react to on from my healthfood store. I also change them up and use something different each time I run out. That may help keep me from developing more sensitivities by limiting the length of exposure to a certain set of ingredients.

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

S.,

Please email me; I have some great suggestions for you; my daughter and I both have extremely sensitive skins; eczema, allergies, suffer from sunburn, etc. and we know get our soap, laundry detergent, lotion, etc. from a wellness company and it's been SO helpful and unbelievable results!!

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A.R.

answers from Albuquerque on

One of my boys had reactions to chlorine in pools. Turned out he has execma, and he ended up using a prescription cream when the break outs got heavy. We had to lower the amount of chlorine we used in the pool. He is able to get in a salt pool without any issues.

Good luck, it can take a while to figure out what is causing the rashes.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter has been taking swim lessons twice a week, and since summer has started we have been swimming a lot. She and another boy from her swim class broke out and got really itchy. The boy's mother took him to a doctor (his was more severe than my daughter's), and he said the chlorine is so drying. He recommended a quick rinse off (no soap, no soaking bath) after swimming and applying lotion several times a day. He said to use the soap on non-swim days, when their skin isn't already so dried out. This advice helped clear my daughter's skin.

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