Many people with contact dermatitis react to fragrances or certain preservatives in sunscreen. How can I avoid a reaction to sunscreen?įinding out the ingredient that’s causing your reaction and using a sunscreen that doesn’t contain that ingredient is the best way to avoid having a reaction. If you suspect that sunscreen is causing irritation to your skin, stop using it and contact a specialist. Noticing irritation in the area that you apply sunscreen is a warning sign of contact dermatitis.
It usually occurs on the face, arms, chest, and neck.
If you observe that your skin looks sunburned after using sunscreen, this is a clue that you may have photocontact dermatitis. Some individuals experience an interaction between sun exposure and certain ingredients in sunscreen that causes the skin to react and become irritated. Photocontact dermatitis accounts for a very small percentage of contact dermatitis. Fragrances and preservatives in sunscreen and other skin care products are the most common culprits in allergic contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis involves an overactive immune response that results from contact with an allergen on your skin. It’s possible to have a skin allergy to any material or substance, including ingredients in sunscreen. People with eczema have an outer layer of skin that doesn’t function normally, making it very sensitive. You’re at a higher risk of having irritant contact dermatitis if you have a history of eczema. This type occurs when you have a nonallergic sensitivity to any of the ingredients in sunscreen. Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common form of dermatitis. There is a number of types of contact dermatitis, and in this blog, allergy specialist Ulrike Ziegner, MD, of Riviera Allergy Medical Center in Redondo Beach, California, explains what they are and how they can be linked with sunscreen. The first step, however, is finding out which ingredients may be causing your reaction. If you have contact dermatitis, and a particular sunscreen triggers a reaction, you must avoid using that specific product and switch to a sunscreen that’s safe for your skin. At other times, you may notice skin irritation hours after using sunscreen. Some reactions can occur immediately after applying sunscreen. Skin reactions to sunscreen can be the result of an allergy or sensitivity to one or more ingredients.