With the summer sun out in full force, moms are quicker than ever to coat their little ones in sunblock in an effort to protect their delicate skin. But unnervingly, sunblock itself could burn kids. A mom in Alabama named Amber Reece says her daughter Sydney experienced this firsthand.
Reece told WHNT News 19 that back on Mother's Day, she applied Banana Boat SPF 50 stick sunscreen to her 11-month-old daughter's face, under her eyes, and across her nose. Just minutes later, the little girl's skin started to turn red, Reece says.
When it continued to peel and scab, Reece brought Sydney to her pediatrician, who told the local news station that what happened here was a very rare occurrence -- a "photo allergic reaction" -- seen in less than one in 10,000 people. She also said the reaction could've been triggered by too much sun exposure and not necessarily the sunscreen.
Still, it's not hard to see why Reece is skeptical and upset by what happened. Any mom would be!
What's more, Sydney's not alone. Moms have reported little ones developing itchy, red rashes from different sunblocks. It's discouraging, considering that we're using these products to protect our kids' skin. But just as with any cosmetic product, children obviously can have an adverse reaction to the chemicals in sunscreen.
For that reason, moms would do well to check out the Environmental Working Group's website and research "safe" sunscreens that are better for little ones' sensitive skin. Reading online reviews from other moms could help, too.
Once you do bite the bullet and buy a new block, experts recommend moms “spot test” the product on kids (simply by putting a dab on a small area, like their hand) and waiting a few minutes to watch for an allergic reaction to the product. For little ones whose skin is particularly sensitive, protective clothing and staying out of the sun may be even better.
Because clearly, as unnerving as it is, it's possible sunblock could end up doing the opposite of what it's meant to. And moms who find themselves in Reece's shoes do have a recourse: You can contact the FDA and submit an "Adverse Event" report.
Has your child ever had a bad reaction to sunblock? How do you test it before applying?
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Image via Stevielee/Flickr