However, for some people, applying certain types of sunscreen can also cause a skin allergy. Sunscreen allergies tend to be uncommon, according to Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, but if you’re prone to skin allergies or concerned that sunscreen is irritating your skin, here’s what to do.
Understand the Ingredients in Your Sunscreen
There are two types of sunscreen: chemical sunscreen and physical, or mineral, sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens are carbon-based compounds, also known as organic molecules, explains Dr. Zeichner. They protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light by absorbing the energy and preventing it from passing through. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the chemical sunscreen ingredients that have been found to most commonly cause allergic reactions in the skin are oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), dibenzoylmethanes, cinnamates, and benzophenones. Other ingredients like PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) have also been shown to cause allergic reactions but are rarely used in sunscreen in the United States. Sunscreens known as physical, or mineral, sunscreens are free of organic (aka chemical) ingredients, explains Zeichner. They contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide combined with zinc oxide to block UV light. Mineral sunscreen is quite effective and tends to be less irritating than chemical sunscreen, says Zeichner, but it may be more difficult to spread on the skin and may leave behind a white or ashy appearance. Mineral sunscreen is recommended for young children, because they don’t have the chemical filters that are more likely to cause skin irritation or allergies, adds Zeichner. Choosing between a chemical or mineral sunscreen is a personal preference, but don’t trust any of the natural or homemade sunscreen recipes you might find on the internet. A study published online in May 2019 in the journal Health Communication warns that these DIY options, which tend to include ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, zinc, beeswax, olive oil, carrot oil, raspberry oil, lavender oil, and avocado oil, may offer insufficient UV protection and increase your risk of developing skin cancer compared to using commercially available sunscreens.
Signs and Symptoms of a Sunscreen Allergy
There are two ways a sunscreen allergy generally appears: as a contact allergy or contact photoallergy, according to Anna Feldweg, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in allergy and immunology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. With contact allergies, Dr. Feldweg explains, “You get a rash where the product is applied.” But in a contact photoallergy, the reaction is due to an interaction between sunscreen chemicals and sunlight, “so you get the rash where the sunscreen was applied but only once the skin has been exposed to the sun,” she says. A sunscreen allergy may appear when you first start using a sunscreen, or it can develop after years of sunscreen use. You might experience an allergic reaction immediately or several days after applying the sunscreen. According to Zeichner, these are some signs of a sunscreen allergy:
Red skinItchingSwellingRashBlisters that are filled with fluid
Other symptoms may include:
HivesRaised bumpsBleedingScalingPain
Learn the Risk Factors for a Sunscreen Allergy
If you have a history of eczema or other allergies, you may be more likely to develop an allergy to chemical sunscreen, and the ingredients may elicit a true allergic reaction through your immune system, says Zeichner. If you have generally sensitive skin or a condition like rosacea, chemical sunscreen ingredients may be directly caustic to your skin, he adds. You may also be at an increased risk for a sunscreen allergy if you’ve had contact dermatitis with other products or if sunscreen allergies run in your family.
Check for Allergies by Doing a Patch Test
Patch testing is a process during which specific ingredients are applied to the skin and left in place for 48 hours to determine whether you develop an allergic reaction, explains Zeichner. You can do a patch test at home by applying sunscreen to a small area of skin to make sure you do not develop a reaction.
How You Can Prevent a Sunscreen Allergy
If you know which ingredients you’re allergic to, you can select sunscreens that don’t contain these ingredients and avoid getting a reaction, says Zeichner. If you have a known history of skin allergies or sensitive skin, stick to mineral-only sunscreens to avoid a potential reaction, he suggests. Zeichner recommends Neutrogena Sheer Zinc, which is a zinc-oxide-only formula that’s appropriate for all skin types and is unlikely to cause a skin reaction.
How You Can Treat a Sunscreen Allergy
If you develop a sunscreen allergy, immediately clean your skin, says Zeichner. If necessary, you can use over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone to calm the inflammation (in less severe cases, you can just leave it alone or apply a bland moisturizer, he adds). Stay out of the sun until your skin has healed, as sun exposure can exacerbate an existing allergic reaction, says Zeichner. This may take a few days.
When to See a Doctor About a Sunscreen Allergy
If you think you have a sunscreen allergy and you have any systemic symptoms (such as fever, chills, nausea, or difficulty breathing) or blistering, open, or raw skin, or if you’re treating your reaction and it isn’t getting better, you should visit a dermatologist for evaluation, says Zeichner.
Other Possible Risks of Using Sunscreen
A preliminary study published in May 2019 in JAMA showed that chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed through the skin, producing blood concentrations that surpass the threshold established by the Food and Drug Administration. But the study authors conclude that additional research is needed to determine the effects of absorption of sunscreen ingredients into the bloodstream and warn that people should continue to wear sunscreen. Plus, the study has some limitations, says Zeichner. “In the study, high levels of sunscreen were applied to 75 percent of the body,” he notes. “In the real world, consumers do not apply as much sunscreen as they should and they do not typically reapply every two hours. So it’s unclear whether there is absorption with everyday, real-world use. We need more data to understand this issue fully.” Currently, there’s no data showing that sunscreen use is associated with harmful health effects, and based on what we know today, the benefits of wearing sunscreen in protecting the skin against skin cancer and premature aging outweigh the potential risks, Zeichner adds. “If anyone is concerned with the use of chemical-blocker sunscreens, mineral options that contain zinc oxide alone or in combination with titanium dioxide are a great option.” Out of an abundance of caution, pregnant and nursing women may also want to consider using mineral sunscreen, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Summary: The Importance of Sunscreen and Sun Safety
Wearing sunscreen is an important part of protecting the health of your skin, so if you’re allergic to a chemical in sunscreen, your doctor can help you find one that doesn’t contain that chemical. In addition to sunscreen, people with sunscreen allergies can also use the following methods to protect their skin from the sun, according to Zeichner:
Avoid the sun between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.Wear sunglasses with UV protection.Wear a wide-brimmed hat.Wear sun-protective clothing labeled with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), which means it has been proven to protect the skin from UV rays.
Additional reporting by Jennifer D’Angelo Friedman.
