Sunscreen rash can be caused by an allergic or irritant reaction to the lotion’s ingredients. To avoid it, choose a brand without irritants, track the source of the rash, and ensure it’s from the sunscreen. Zinc oxide-based sunscreens are best for those allergic to active ingredients. Inactive ingredients like fragrances, preservatives, and nut oils can also cause a rash. Allergy testing may be necessary to determine the cause of the rash. It’s important to determine if the rash is caused by sunscreen or another product.
Getting a rash from sunscreen can be almost as unpleasant and unpleasant as getting a sunburn, and should be avoided if possible. A sunscreen rash is usually caused by an allergic or irritant reaction to one or more ingredients in the lotion and can lead to itching, burning, or redness of the skin and hives. To avoid getting a rash from sunscreen, look for brands that don’t contain irritants, trace the source of the rash with medical assistance, and make sure that the rash is truly from the sunscreen and not from another factor.
Many of the more common ingredients in sunscreens can cause rashes and skin irritation. Some of the active ingredients, such as para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are known to cause allergies in some people. Ingredients that end in “benzphenome” or “salicylate” may also be active components of sunscreen that could cause a rash. Choosing a zinc oxide-based sunscreen is usually the best option for people who are allergic to the active ingredients in sunscreen; While zinc oxide doesn’t fuse into the skin as well as other types of sunscreen, it’s rarely linked to allergies and provides adequate sun protection.
In addition to the active ingredients that make a sunscreen work, several additional inactive ingredients can also cause a sunscreen rash. Fragrances, preservatives, nut oils, and artificial ingredients like parabens can all be responsible for an allergic reaction. Nut, fruit, flower, and spice ingredients are all commonly used in sunscreen and should be avoided by anyone with allergies or sensitivities to a specific substance. Some sunscreen companies offer a fragrance-free or natural-ingredient formula that may be suitable for those with certain allergies.
To track down exactly what’s causing a sunscreen rash, you may need to visit a doctor for allergy testing. Allergy testing for skin reactions is often done through a patch test, in which small patches of skin are treated with potential irritants and monitored for a reaction. In some cases, a blood sample may also be taken and used to test for specific allergic reactions. If switching brands or formulas still causes a rash from the sunscreen, allergy testing may be a good idea.
Finally, it’s important to determine whether a rash is truly caused by sunscreen or could be occurring due to another problem. Some people have an inherent sensitivity to the sun, which can cause skin rashes when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Others might develop rashes from a different cosmetic product, such as a new soap, shaving cream, or moisturizing lotion. Determining whether sunscreen is a cause of a rash is a trial-and-error process; a person may want to try sitting in the sun for a short time without sunscreen to determine if a rash is occurring, or shower without any additional products, then apply sunscreen and see if the rash appears suddenly. Allergy testing can also be a good way to figure out which products may be causing a rash.
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