WASHINGTON — Before heading outside on a glorious weekend, most of us will reach for some sunscreen or bug spray. But these products — which are designed to keep us safe and prevent damage — are troublesome for some people.
Those with sensitive skin need to take care when looking for formulas that will prevent irritation while still providing protection.
Sunscreen seems to be the more problematic of the two, perhaps because it is used far more often.
Dr. Rachel Schreiber, an allergist in Rockville, Maryland, sees a fair number of reactions to sunscreen, and advises patients with sensitive skin to look for products that fall into the category of “physical blockers” — ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
“Zinc oxide is the kind of sunscreen that lifeguards used to wear and they would paint their noses white,” Schreiber said. “That sunscreen now comes in a micronized particle so it can go on clear.”
Bug spray containing the insecticide DEET — recommended to ward off mosquitoes — presents a different set of challenges.
Unlike sunscreen, which needs to be reapplied multiple times a day, spray with DEET should only be applied once daily. And since it is designed to be lethal for insects, it pays to take extra precautions.
Schreiber advises it should only be used on exposed skin and clothing surfaces, and never on skin that will be covered.
“If you are getting your child dressed in the morning you don’t want to put bug spray all over them and then put their shorts and top on,” she said. “That is not the way we want to do it because it actually can create toxic levels of the bug spray.”
While she says she doesn’t see a lot of problems in her medical practice related to bug spray, this year could be different because we may be using a lot more of it, thanks to awareness of mosquitoes and Zika.
And Schreiber notes that those with serious concerns about DEET have a more natural alternative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved oil of lemon eucalyptus as a bug repellent for anyone over the age of three.
