Sunscreen Allergies

Sunscreen allergies have become more prevalent over the past 20 years, as the widespread manufacturing of chemical sunscreens has grown substantially. This type of allergy is the most common type of photoallergy in North America.

High Risk Categories

• People who are at a higher risk of developing a sunscreen allergy are females who use cosmetics with sunscreen, people who have eczema and anyone with damaged or broken skin.

Causes

• There are two chemicals in sunscreen that contribute to allergic reactions: para-aminobenzoic acid, which is rarely used in sunscreens anymore, and padimate A and O.

Statistics

• Less than 1 percent of all cases of allergic contact dermatitis are a result of sunscreen allergies. However, doctors have seen an increase in such allergies in the past 10 years.

Diagnosis

• Typical symptoms include itchy skin, a visible rash, or redness and irritation of the skin. Anyone who suspects they may be allergic to sunscreen should visit a doctor to receive a skin patch test. This will diagnose any sunscreen allergies and pinpoint specific chemicals that are causing the allergic reaction.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent an allergic reaction, throw out any sunscreens that have expired, or contain hypoallergens. Before applying any sunscreen on large areas of skin, perform a small self skin patch test to ensure it does not contain any ingredients that may cause a rash.