Children w/Sensitive skin -sunblock recommendation

aveggiegirl

aveggiegirl

Cathlete
I'm not sure if it is eczema or just sensitive skin (or are they the same??), but it seems like every time I put sunblock on my daughter this year, she has dry patches on on her face and arms the next day. Her arms (the insides, where you bend your elbow, get red and become itchy. Sometimes she gets red around an eye or two. This is also the next day. I've been using Neutrogena Healthy Defense daily moisturizer, untinted with SPF 45 on her face and Coppertone Sport, continuous spray on the rest of her body. At first I thought maybe it was because I was mixing the products, so I just used the Neutrogena on her face but the same thing happened. I'm pretty sure I used these products on her last year.

Can anyone recommend a sunblock to use for my daughter? I liked using the daily moisutrizer with the spf because it doesn't leave the face greasy.

Thanks.
 
I use the Neutrogena Baby Sunblock lotion and stick. The sunblock is physical, rather than chemical. Look for zinc and titanium oxide rather than oxybenzone for sensitive skin.
 
Used to sell Arbonne, still LOVE the products! I use the Arbonne Baby Sunblock and love it...It works, period.

MJ
 
This is all info i came across in search of a safer sunscreen for my baby. i am not an expert by training, only a layperson who did my own research. it is possible to find chemical-free sunscreens but they are not always available at mainstream stores. more likely found at health food or other stores carrying a lot of natural products or online.

the most common yucky ingredients in sunscreens (so you should try to avoid):

paba- many products now advertise they are paba-free, DEF can cause rashes!

benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate)- linked to hormone disruption

parabens (on the ingredient list starts with butyl-, ethyl-, methyl- or propyl-): its pretty hard to avoid parabens in childrens sunscreens that are readily available at chain pharmacies and supermarkets, you really have to look at the ingredients as these are in practically everything. also hormonal concerns.

padimate-O and parsol 1789 (avobenzone): it is believed that when absorbed into the skin this chemical damages DNA because the sunlight causes it to become reactive. i may not be describing this quite right, sorry. but it sounds pretty nasty.

the ones easiest to find (neutrogena, coppertone, banana boat, aveeno, etc) have the most yucky stuff in them. someone already mentioned that zinc and titanium dioxide are good physical sun barriers. just know that these are not absorbed in the skin the same way (hence they are a physical barrier) and so are a bit thicker and may leave streaks on the skin, clothes, child stroller, etc.

sunscreens without all this bad stuff that you might be able to find:

california baby- they have a few products. target actually carries this brand online and in stores. the others listed here i think you would only find at a store with lots of natural products (or online).

badger balm
jason natural
trukids

hope this helps

wendy
 
Wendy, when you talk about "hormonal concerns" I have a question. I'm 48, very pale and wear 50spf sunblock. My issues with sunblock are two-fold: 1) The higher the spf the greasier. I used Coppertone Sport and switched to a Target brand. Both are supposed to be non-greasy but neither are. 2) Is it just me, or is wearing sunblock supposed to make you hot; so hot I feel physically ill (like my body is wrapped in plastic garbage bags in 90 degree heat and I may pass out hot)? I hate to go without because I don't like the way sun exposure messes with the texture of my skin but I always put it on the exposed areas before driving to work and those are the areas (neck, chest, arms, thighs) that get so darn hot.

So when you mentioned hormones, could this stuff be messing with me on a hormonal level? I'm not sure what about all this I can attribute to sunblock, the heat, or hormones (maybe approaching menopause)? But really, something isn't right with me.
 
I have the same problem as your daughter, except it isnt just with sunscreen. I can't use anything that is scented, I can't use antibacterial soaps either. So if I have to go to the bathroom in a public place, later on in the day my hands are so itchy.

What I have to use is Cetaphil. The soap, facial cleanser, and the moisturizer with sunscreen. The SPF 15 one works really well, not too greasy. They have come out with an SPF 50, but I haven't used it yet. Cetaphil is the only thing I can use consistantly.
 
Thank you everyone! You have all been so helpful and nice. You are the Best people.:)

Shannon_B - Thanks for the tip about the Cetaphil. I'm going to get some of that, too. Come to mention it, I think I remember seeing Cetaphil in the hospital when I had both of my girls.

Wendy - Thank you for the wealth of information. I'm printing out your post so I can take it with me to the store. I had no idea how bad these "good" products could be for you. :mad:

MJ - Thanks for the information about Arbonne. I never heard of the name before but I'll loook into it. It must be good if you are still using it.

fit_fairy - I always wondered what they meant by PABA free. Now I know.:)

Gmonkey and hiitdogs - Thanks again for your quick responses!
 
SirenSongWoman said:
Wendy, when you talk about "hormonal concerns" I have a question. I'm 48, very pale and wear 50spf sunblock. My issues with sunblock are two-fold: 1) The higher the spf the greasier. I used Coppertone Sport and switched to a Target brand. Both are supposed to be non-greasy but neither are. 2) Is it just me, or is wearing sunblock supposed to make you hot; so hot I feel physically ill (like my body is wrapped in plastic garbage bags in 90 degree heat and I may pass out hot)? I hate to go without because I don't like the way sun exposure messes with the texture of my skin but I always put it on the exposed areas before driving to work and those are the areas (neck, chest, arms, thighs) that get so darn hot.

So when you mentioned hormones, could this stuff be messing with me on a hormonal level? I'm not sure what about all this I can attribute to sunblock, the heat, or hormones (maybe approaching menopause)? But really, something isn't right with me.
Click to expand...

I'm totally guessing here, but I think that the most simple answer would be that "sport" sunblocks are typically waterproof and perhaps the waterproofing ingredients also hinder the gas exchange in the pores of your skin? Our bodies cool ourselves via sweating, and bringing opening the blood vessels, which makes us look flushed, so that the blood can cool via exposure to the skin.

I think that sunblock is vital to skin health, but sometimes, we really just need to seek shade and use a misting fan to cool off.
 
Stacey D,

i am sorry to say i don't know the answer but if guessing i would agree with gmonkey. i am just a consumer of information out there and it can be interpreted in so many different ways. of course, the cosmetics and personal care products industry feel these things are safe and the fda has not stepped in to disagree. when it comes to my kids, i tend to err on the side of caution regarding chemicals and i have seen enough in question to be concerned. i have not read about estrogen concerns in adults, only children, but then i wasnt looking for that in particular. here are some links i found useful:

http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/04/21/safe-sunscreens/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabens

plus the link from jess/calvillo.

sorry i cant help more!

wendy
 
Eucerine

Hi there - I haven't read the replys (cause I'm supposed to be working ;) ) but I wanted to chime in and tell what I have recently found.

Eucerine makes a sunscreen that is free from the chemicals found in most sunscreens.

My personal experience is that it is the only form of sunscreen my hubby can use. Everything else actually burns his skin (leaves red blisters, etc.)

Maybe this will work for y'all.

Tami :)
 
GMonkey said:
I'm totally guessing here, but I think that the most simple answer would be that "sport" sunblocks are typically waterproof and perhaps the waterproofing ingredients also hinder the gas exchange in the pores of your skin? Our bodies cool ourselves via sweating, and bringing opening the blood vessels, which makes us look flushed, so that the blood can cool via exposure to the skin.

I think that sunblock is vital to skin health, but sometimes, we really just need to seek shade and use a misting fan to cool off.
Click to expand...

Okay, this makes sense. I need to find a good non-waterproof sun block. And I'm going to look into non-chemical alternatives. I wear a lot of the stuff and price, unfortunately, is always a concern. That's why I end up getting the easily-available cheap stuff.

The only sun exposure I get is when driving around on my off days and driving to and from work. Unfortunately, I'm so pale I burn even on those short little sprints. I can actually FEEL the damage happening.
 
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