As temperature soaring, along with your body skin becomes dry due to dehydration. To beat the heat we take nutritious and water rich diet. Likewise to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, you must wear sunscreen creams that help to maintain pH level of the skin.
Studies show that regular use of sunscreen cream reduced the risk of various skin ailments in summer. However, in few people ingredients in these sunscreen products may not go well. Sunscreen allergy results in heat rashes over the skin.
As you might know, that sunscreen products include chemicals to block UV rays from damaging the skin. Notably, ingredients like para-aminobenzoic acid, oxybenzone, avobenzone in the product may trigger allergic reaction.
Sunscreen Allergy
Symptoms of this allergy may vary based on its severity. However, common signs of sunscreen allergy include rashes, blisters, redness and inflammation. Experts identify this allergy as two ways: contact allergy where reaction appears after a couple of days after application or contact photo allergy, where symptoms appear when your sunscreen cream applied skin gets exposed to sunlight.
You can experience allergic reaction when ingredient in the product comes in contact with your skin, or it may take 2-3 days to show signs. Your immune mistakes ingredients in sunscreen cream as harmful substances and releases histamines to combat them, which results in mild to severe allergic reactions.
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itching
- Fluid filled blisters
are few common symptoms of the allergy.
The skin part where you applied the cream will turn to red color if you’re allergic to its ingredients. That is why you must patch test before using any new or chemical incorporated products. I personally, recommend natural sunscreen oils to protect the skin. You can use this essential oils raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil, olive oil and almond oil.
It’s not only the chemicals; your skin may be allergic to fragrances and preservatives used in the cream. If you’re allergic to beauty products then you must stay away from them and select certain natural ingredients that can go well with your skin.
Diagnosis
You can’t confirm about the ingredient that triggered allergic reaction. For that you must visit dermatologist or allergist. Only, after patch testing with individual component irritants can be confirmed.
Based on the level of infection, dermatologist prescribes you the medication.
It’s not important that every blister implies sunscreen allergy rash. Obese people may develop heat rashes due to friction between loose skin folds. There are different causes of heat rash.
So if you’re using sunscreen and get heat rash don’t panic discuss with doctor to conclude about the irritant.
- To prevent sunscreen allergy, it’s recommended to stop using the cream. This is only easiest way you can combat allergy. But, what can replace them?
- As mentioned above, you can try natural ingredients like olive oil or almond oil. Topically apply any of these oils before going to bed. Other alternative can be titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Dermnetnz.org says that these two substances don’t trigger allergic reaction and proven to be effective at protecting skin from UV rays.
- Don’t spend too much time under sun and wear wide hat while going out.
- Avoid using harsh soaps and face wash.
- Use organic sunscreen creams that can go well with your skin.
- Drink enough water, which improves your skin’s over all functionality.
Anti-histamine and cortisone creams can relieve you from itching and inflammation. Consult dermatologist to treat sunscreen allergy completely.