http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/

You have a chemical allergy which could get worse with each exposure. I have this too.

You have to look very specifically at the ingredients. Go for Badger (available at Whole Foods) with only non-nano zinc oxide. Most of the physical/mineral sunscreens should be safe, however I've gotten to the point where I react even to the titanium dioxide versions. It's worse than being sunburnt!

This can be a tricky allergy to pin down because often an element of this is exposure to light. So if you put on a "bad" sunscreen and then don't go out that day, you won't know it until you try again and do get exposure.

I'm very fair and have had melanoma so I slather that mineral screen on even though it makes me look like a geisha. I also wear an SPF-infused rash guard jacket from Coolibar over my swimsuit top. It saves me from having to find a buddy to do my back when I take my daughter to the pool. I even bought "swim leggings" because I use up so much sunscreen on my dang legs. My mother said they looked silly so I haven't worn them much.

Sorry for your chemical allergy. Keep an eye out for oxybenzone in chapsticks and cosmetics.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:I'm allergic to whatever is in neutrogena sunscreen. Doesn't hurt going on, but I end up with a very itchy rash that lasts a week. These products are full of chemicals.

Me, too!!! The weird thing is that I use it every summer, but this year it burned the skin on my face and gave me rash on my neck. I'm trying to find something else with natural ingredient that doesn't leave a white film. No luck so far.

There may be an ingredient unrelated to the physical sunscreen that is burning you. Have you tried a different brand?

I'm allergic to whatever is in neutrogena sunscreen. Doesn't hurt going on, but I end up with a very itchy rash that lasts a week. These products are full of chemicals.

Have you tried baby sunscreen? We use badger baby on all of us in my house...

The ingredient Avobenzone makes my eyes burn. I don't know if that fact is of any help but I try to buy sunscreens without it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 'physical sunscreen' that works, but you have to keep reapplying frequently and it's just not very practical. Regular sunscreen stings when I put it on and makes my skin peel - does this happen to anyone else?

Do you mean it says that on the package, or you have found that to be the case?

Applying a physical sunscreen once in the morning works for me, even when I'm going to be outside all day long. My face doesn't get red or burned, and I haven't gotten any additional or darker freckles, doing it this way.

OP here - re physical sunscreen - I do burn if I don't reapply frequently

Thanks for some of the ideas! I'm glad I'm not alone, I'll test some of these out. I like to wear it everyday even if I'm not planning to be outdoors much - but not if it turns me red

My daughter has the same problem. Banana Boat baby with zinc oxide works.

Yes, chemical sunscreen does the same thing for me. I use "mineral fusion" physical sunscreen and put makeup (with physical sunscreen) over it. If I'm going to be outside a lot, I also take a crushable SPF hat.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 'physical sunscreen' that works, but you have to keep reapplying frequently and it's just not very practical. Regular sunscreen stings when I put it on and makes my skin peel - does this happen to anyone else?

Do you mean it says that on the package, or you have found that to be the case?

Applying a physical sunscreen once in the morning works for me, even when I'm going to be outside all day long. My face doesn't get red or burned, and I haven't gotten any additional or darker freckles, doing it this way.

I asked my derm about putting sunscreen versus lotion first, and she said sunscreen always goes on first.

I have that problem. Chemical sunscreen, even some baby or sensitive ones, burns my skin when I put it on, especially if I've had a little sun already or if I'm hot and sweaty. I've since read a lot about chemical sunscreens, and have decided that I will not use that stuff ever again.

I use Badger Waterproof Sport sunscreen, and the time to reapply is exactly the same as most waterproof chemical sunscreens, or 80 minutes. It does go on a little bit white, but if you're really trying to avoid the sun, it works and stays on in the water. It can actually be a little hard to wash off!

Have you tried putting skin lotion on first and then sunscreen over that? I find that some sunscreens do irritate my skin (some will cause me to break out) and putting skin lotion on first tends to prevent that. A light layer rubbed into the skin and then the sunscreen on over top of that.

I have a 'physical sunscreen' that works, but you have to keep reapplying frequently and it's just not very practical. Regular sunscreen stings when I put it on and makes my skin peel - does this happen to anyone else?