About Allergies: Don't Get Burned By Sunscreen Allergy

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies Summer is nearly upon us, with those hot sunny days and warm nights. Time for spending more time outdoors, at the beach or in the pool. Along with sun exposure comes the need to use sunscreen to prevent sunburn and long-term sun damage. But with the increased use of sunscreen comes the potential for an unintended reaction -- sunscreen allergy. Sunscreen has the potential to cause contact dermatitis to many of the active ingredients. This leads to any itchy, bumpy, red rash where the sunscreen was applied. Topical steroids are often helpful to treat the rash, but the culprit sunscreen should then be followed. This may prevent the ability of a person to spend time in the sun due to a fear of using sunscreen. However, there is a way to find out which chemical caused the reaction, and which sunscreen may be tolerated. Finding the right sunscreen can result in having saf e, healthy sun exposure this summer! Sunscreen Allergy Over the past 20 years, the dangers of sun exposure have been recognized, from sun-damaged skin to skin cancer. As a result, the use of sunscreens has become a routine part of our daily lives. This has led to various allergic reactions to the chemicals found in sunscreens. Most of these allergic reactions represent contact dermatitis. See More About:  contact dermatitis causes  evaluation of contact dermatitis  cosmetic allergy Which Sunblocks Can I Use With Sunscreen Allergy? The physical blocking agents have not been reported to cause contact dermatitis. These agents include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and tend to come in heavier creams that do not absorb well into the skin. For this reason, some people do not like to use these agents, as they are less cosmetically pleasing. However, sunscreens containing these chemicals are a good choice for people with allergy to sunscreens, or those with the concern of developing an allergy to sunscreens. See More About:  allergies  allergist  allergy testing Other Skin Reactions From Sun Exposure In my practice, I often encounter people who think they have a sun allergy. With exposure to sunlight, they experience symptoms such as itching, hives or burning. Some have visible rashes while others don't. Some have a medical condition which makes them more sensitive to sunlight; others are using various medications or topical agents that cause a reaction on the skin when exposed to sun. Allergies Ads Allergies Skin Allergy Allergy Treatment Food Allergy Hives Allergy Symptoms Featured Articles Insect Allergies Anaphylaxis Allergy Shots and Drops (Immunotherapy) Alternative Therapies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergies Glossary of Terms Information on the Most Common Allergy Medications   More from About.com Best Places to Live in America One of the nicest aspects of living in the U.S. is the ability to choose from a huge variety of climates and lifestyles. More> Birth Control Myths & Facts How much do you know about birth control types, sex myths and pregnancy? Can you identify the myths verses the facts? More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement