Last weekend it was hot, and I dutifully slathered up with Neutrogena's 30 SPF supposed non-allergenic sunscreen. I used it on both days of the weekend. Next day, the undersides of my forearms (where the skin is delicate) were intensely itchy, and when I scratched, they got rather bumpy. It turned out that everyplace I used sunscreen on both days (but not on face/neck, which I did only 1 day) has been itching intensely ever since. It's the worst on the insides of my arms and legs--really, an unending desire to scratch until it bleeds. Now, 5 days later, it's no better. Could it have been the sunscreen, or the sun itself? (My mom says sometimes intense sun can give her an itchy reaction.) I am mystified! What can I do to make this awful itch go away, and how do I avoid it next time?
Hi everyone and thanks for all the advice. I agree, it's hard to tell whether this is a reaction to sun or sunscreen. However, in retrospect I lean toward it being the sunscreen, even though it was supposed to be hypoallergenic. I don't often use sunscreen because I hate being hot and stick to the shade anyway, and as it turned out, on this particular weekend I didn't have to be in the sun as much as I had feared. So it wasn't really more sun than usual; the difference was the presence of sunscreen.
Aveeno with hydrocortisone didn't really help--that's what I used the first couple of days, without success. On the advice I got here, I did take Benedryl--just a single dose overnight. The next day, the itching on my arms did seem less but I was hung over all day from that single dose, so I didn't repeat. Is it just the passage of time, or did the Benadryl finally start to conquer it? Again, hard to tell but I am happy to have less itch and I will definitely avoid that sunscreen! (I'm going to swipe my kid's California Baby.)
Thanks again for helping me consider all the possibilities! I may try to time a few more doses of Benadryl to chase the leg itches away. I think maybe 4 pm instead of 11 pm; last time I was dozy until mid afternoon!
Yes, the same thing happened to my mother in law. I bought her a sunscreen with titanium dioxide and she had no reaction to it. You may also consider using something like California Baby. I'll forewarn you that these products are on the pricey side, but it's worth it if you're protected and not having an allergic reaction.
Sunscreen can absolutely cause a reaction with your skin especially if it has a lot of chemicals in it, which most of them do. Have you tried Arbonne's line of sunscreen? If not, and you're interested in pure, safe and beneficial skincare, give me a holler and I can send you a free sample. I have many friends who swear by it and won't put anything else on their skin or their childrens'!
:)Y. Golemo ____@____.com
Sounds like a reaction to the sunscreen. I'd toss that one and find a new kind! As for helping it feel better now, benedryl, oatmeal baths, and generally keeping cool (if possible) will help. It sounds like you broke out with hives and if so, scratching will only agravate the problem. A sun allergy is extremely rare and would have shown up earlier in your life.
Also, do you take any regular medications? There's quite a few that can cause a reaction with sun exposure. Hormonal drugs (cyclenes) are well known for this.
Yes, some people can be allergic to the sun. Call your doc and see what he sees. Don't use the sun screen or go out into the sun until you see him/her.
total allergic reaction to the sunscreen. try a different one next time. we use banana boat baby spf 50 for us and the kids. if you continue to have allergic reactions to sunscreen you may be allergic to the screening chemical. my sister has that problem.
Take some Benedryl for the itching and Aveno makes an oatmeal bath that is wonderful for that. I get hives from intense sun...they last about a week or so and the itching is so bad I could easily go insane just trying not to scratch. It could be the sunscreen or the heat its hard to tell...my guess is it was the heat if you used a hypo-allergenic sunscreen
Just the other day my sister and I were comparing notes...both of our sons came down with rashes from sunscreen in the last week or so and the sunscreens were different brands. (We actually decided not to go on a trip to the beach so our son didn't have to sit in the carseat with a rash on his back for an hour plus.)
We used cortisone cream over a few days and it has helped. This is the second time it's happened. Good luck, and I hope you stop itching soon!
If the bumps you get are translucent, watery, puffy or blistery-looking, they are probably hives, which are a classic allergy symptom. They could be from the sun, the lotion, or even from clothing with traces of laundry products rubbing against your sweaty skin.
I'm a perpetually itchy person, so have sought solutions for years. If you can't get the itching to subside in other ways, you might want to get a cheap little tube of a homeopathic remedy called "Histaminum." It works almost instantly for me after just a couple of little pellets under my tongue. Works great for hay fever, too, with no side effects whatsoever. And if it doesn't work, you're only out $6 or $7. These are available at New Seasons, Whole Foods, or similar stores.
Benedryl.
If it's an allergic reaction, you're having a histamine response...so you need an anti-histamine.
The benedryl should knock the reaction on it's butt, but you may have to continue to take it for a few days. Be forewarned...antihistamines tend to make people very very sleepy. You can kind of power through them, but it's not easy. It's also safe to take benedryl even if it ISN'T an allergic reaction...it's the main sleep ingredient in Tylenol PM and other OTC non-habit forming sleep aids. Like I said, biggest side effect is sleepiness.
Other things to do, to help sooth your skin in addition to the benedryl;
- Warm oatmeal baths
- Hydrocortisone cream (ahem, check the label. it may NOT be okay to use hydrocortisone and benedryl together. I don't have them both in front of me though, and don't remember off the top of my head...so as always with meds...check that label)
I'd also lay $50 on the sunscreen being the culprit. Sun allergies are not only super rare...but you're having the strongest reaction on parts of your body THAT GET THE LEAST sun. Which would indicate a contact dermatitis. Or heat rash...but since you're saying itching, not stinging...I'm laying my money on an allergic reaction.
Good luck!!!
I get that reaction to the sun. If the itching is in the most exposed places like the tops of your arms, the top of your chest, etc then it is probably the sun. If it is worse in places that almost never saw the sun, like the underside of your arms, then it is probably the sunblock.
The one and only time I've ever been to Hawaii I spent three days in bed sleepy on Benedryl because of an allergic reaction to the sun. I'd never had a problem before and thought it could have been the sunscreen which I'd also never had a problem with. The doctor just said allergies can change and maybe it was a combo of my birth control (which I'd also never had a problem with) and the sun. I feel for you, that was my worst vacation ever!
It sounds like you have heat rash...I get it on the inside under part of my elbows and on the backs of my knees. You can try an anti-itch cream, such as hyro-cortizone. But, other than that just try to either keep that skin covered or don't stay in the sun that long. When I'm out I just try and stay in the shade so I don't get too hot. We have an air conditioner (window type) inside to help me from getting too hot inside.
Good Luck!
Give your daughter a baking soad bath. This will help with the itch and discomfort. Fill the tub with warm, not too warm water and dissolve a handful of baking soda in the water and let her soak. This will help with the itch. She could be allergic to the sun or something in the sunscreen or she could have developed an allergy to some food. For after the bath, aloe gel, the green goop. Slather her down with it. When she gets up in the morning, give her another baking soda bath. If you truly believe that this is an allergy, give her children's benadryl. The antihistamine will relieve the itch as well. When you wash your clothes, double rinse them to make sure all the laundry soap residue is gone. To make sure that this happens, add a 1/4 of white vinegar to the first rinse cycle. This is a great laundry practice any way, it keeps your clothes nice and bright, and it helps to retain the fire retardant properties of your daughter's pj's and other night wear.
Here's to pain-free, itch-free days!!!
Check out EWG's information on Sunscreen:
http://www.ewg.org/whichsunscreensarebest/2009report
I myself don't use sunscreen - even though I am a Caucasian woman, because I myself have allergic reactions. However, they usually disappear in 2 - 3 days. My allergic reactions include the hardening of the skin, severe itching. It's now at the point where a lot of sunscreens, just the smell of them makes me nauseated. I try to be wise now with the sun - I don't go into it until after 2:00 pm, and then only for a couple of hours.
You may want to try a little tester of other brands on a little spot on your arm before putting it on completely, next time. Some brands I'm not allergic to, but I've just decided with all of the naturopathic information about sunscreens, and all of the chemicals they put in those, I'm better off eating a lot of fruit, putting Vitamin E on my skin afterwards and being careful not to burn.
The other thing I do, is if anything suspicious is on my skin, I go to the dermatologist and have it burned off immediately, with a special Q-tip and dry ice. It's relatively painless, and better safe than sorry. I've burned off itchy spots and spots that don't seem to completely heal.
yeah i have had heat rash before. it is so ichy. try taking benadryl and soaking in a bath of backing soda or an oatmeal bath. if that does not work after a couple of days, go see the dr.
