Sunscreen allergy, does anyone suffer?

[pseudonymity]

I had a horrendous reaction to a sunscreen once (it was a Boots No.7). It was so bad I had to see a dermatologist, and it was my entire body, as I had put the sunscreen all over. It took about a month to recover.

Since then I've patch tested a few sunscreens and had the reaction, including sunscreens that were marked 'sensitive' (Soltan sensitive e.g.) the reaction only happens when the skin is exposed to the sun, I think it's something to do with the way chemical sunscreens change the surface of the skin.

I was happily using Simple Suncare but they've gone and discontinued it.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I want high UVA protection in particular.

[TheToadLessTravelled]

Same problem for me. Nivea was especially bad. Only one I have has luck with recently is the garnier clear pump spray bottle one. I use SPF 40 or 50 and its fine.

When I had the allergic reaction I was told it was partly uv allergy and to take antihistamine tablets to help the itchy bumps settle.

[ZaraW]

Yep same thing here, I get huge angry boils on my face if my skin takes a dislike to sun lotions. I now use Nuxe and it works well.

[pseudonymity]

Thanks guys, I'm just so nervous about trying anything new, besides the cost of having to try out different products. I think I'll go to Boots and put a couple of testers on my arm and sit in the sun.

[MyBootsAreMuddy]

Dd1 used to get terrible angry dry blotchy patches with most sunscreens but we have found that she is ok with one called Ultrasun (the family Obe as the active one gave her a slight rash). She was a also ok with two brands from New Zealand which we use when visiting my family (a cancer society one and sun sense).

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Ds does. The only one which he can use is P20. It's a reaction to the chemicals in it, lanolin I think.

[Walnut8]

The aussie cancer council one (for sensitive skin) is one of the only ones I can use (might be similar to the NZ one you are talking abut MyBoots). Sunsense and Ultrasun also good (are they easy to get in the Uk though?).
Is it just a reaction to chemical sunscreens? Because there are a lot of mineral/physical ones out there (ie use zinc or titanium oxides)

[pseudonymity]

I'm just guessing that it's the chemical sunscreen to be honest. I'm not generally allergic to things on my skin.

[UnMasterChef]

I get it only with Soltan, I'm fine with ambre solaire or Nivea although I do tend to go for the lighter spray ones now.i saw a pharmacist in Greece when I was having a reaction to Soltan and she said she saw a lot of people having a reaction to it, no idea why

[GobblersKnob]

My son is very allergic , we use Green People now.