Do you suffer from dry skin and eczema irritation?
Are you able to find relief from particular creams and lotions?
Is a good sunscreen one of the hardest things to find?
It can be incredibly hard to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays at the best of times, let alone when sunscreen only contributes to your eczema irritation.
However, with all the knowledge we have regarding the dangers of the sun, it’s important to protect your skin at all times.
Even eczema-prone skin should be covered in sunscreen when heading outdoors.
Finding an appropriate sunscreen that offers both protection and moisturizing qualities can be difficult. It’s even harder when it involves children, toddlers and babies.
This article uncovers three of the best sunscreens for eczema sufferers, regardless of age.
They’ll have you out about and enjoying the sun, totally irritation-free!
Why Is Eczema Affected by the Sun?
If you have ’photosensitive eczema’, your skin will be very sensitive to light and you should ignore the information below and talk to your doctor about taking supplements!
Eczema can often be made better by sunlight, for a number of reasons. Sadly, this hasn’t been proven to be objectively beneficial, which is worth remembering.
Despite having the same condition, our skin and bodies all react differently in different situations.
We all know that the sun provides us with essential Vitamin D, which is responsible for producing certain chemicals within our bodies.
Vitamin D has many benefits, such as promoting healthy brain function, as well as supporting bone growth.
It can also help our bodies to produce certain chemicals more efficiently, such as the protein ‘cathelicidin’.
You might not think this is important unless you’re bulking up, but it can really help improve the condition of your skin!
Cathelicidin works to prevent any bacteria build-up, as well as protecting your already-sensitive skin from infection.
Spending more time in the sun helps our bodies produce lots of this protein; hence the condition of our skin can improve through more exposure to the sun.
Remember to stay safe in the sun by wearing a high SPF sunblock and staying hydrated. If you want to take supplements on top of this, check with your doctor first!
What To Look For When Buying Eczema Sunscreen?
Sunscreen is super important for everyone, regardless of how lovely and golden you might go on holiday.
For those with eczema, please be extra safe in the sun. It can be really helpful for some skin conditions, but make sure you’re taking safety precautions!
You want to look out for zinc oxide sunscreens. These tend to be more mineral-based and are kinder to sensitive skin.
Chemicals are often absorbed into the skin itself, which can be itchy and can worsen the condition. Mineral sunscreens are not, helping your skin stay calmer whilst still protecting it.
They also work by enabling rays of sun to bounce off the skin without damaging it. This keeps you cooler and less uncomfortable than other sunscreens.
Being hot and sticky isn’t fun for anyone, but it can aggravate eczema even more.
Luckily, zinc oxide sunscreens will keep you feeling fresh and protected. Stay as natural as possible. Avoid added fragrances and excessive chemicals as these will irritate your skin.
Try different products until you find something that works. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to skincare!
Best Sunscreen For Adults With Eczema
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion for Face, Body and Hands + SPF 15
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion combines an excellent treatment for eczema alongside a fantastic sun protection product.
The lotion is ultra-moisturizing and works to heal the skin from underneath.
It’s six times more nourishing for the skin than glycerin.
It helps prevent irritation caused by eczema and several other skin allergies.
The inclusion of SPF 15 makes it an effective sunscreen in its own right.
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion is the best sunscreen for eczema prone skin.
That’s due to the fact that it’s a treatment lotion for eczema first, and a sunscreen second.
This doesn’t affect the quality of the sunscreen. However, you can find sunscreens that have a significantly higher SPF rating.
These may be more suitable in sunnier climates and for children, especially those that love playing in the water.
The problem then arises is that these sunscreens are often thick, greasy and hard to apply.
Not to mention that they can cause further irritation to eczema sufferers.
pros & cons
The lotion is suitable for use on not only adult skin, but also that of children and babies.
This is mostly because the sunscreen element is plant-based, not mineral-based, and therefore extremely low irritant.
However, adult users appear to be the target consumer group.
Many parents often prefer to use a higher SPF content in order to give their children a higher level of protection.
The name ‘shielding lotion’ indicates its intense and specific purpose.
Unlike other creams, lotions and sunscreens, the lotion creates a barrier on your skin to help seal in the moisture and protect your skin from outside irritants and chemicals.
By doing this, it allows your skin to heal from the inside and strengthen its natural barrier to help create an eczema lotion that actually works.
This barrier is super helpful in a sunscreen product as it’s not affected by the sweat that’s so often associated with wearing sunscreen in warmer weather.
conclusion
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion is ideal for everyday use as the non-greasy formula won’t leave your skin feeling shiny and sticky.
It works effectively under make up and won’t clog your pores, meaning that it will provide comfortable protection against the sun’s harmful rays.
This means it could be one of the best sunscreens for eczema skin as it can provide regular, daily treatment.
You’re more likely to use a treatment that leaves your skin feeling healthy and nourished, than one that’s thick and uncomfortable to wear.
The price, whilst higher than ordinary sunscreens, is much lower than most other eczema-specific sunscreens.
The size of the bottle is large. That means it will last a significantly long time, even if it used all over the body on a daily basis.
This makes Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion excellent value for money and the best sunscreen for eczema-related irritations.
best sunscreen for children with eczema
TruKid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen
Finding the best sunscreen for kids with eczema is no easy task.
Children like to run around and sweat, play with water, and are constantly wiping their faces.
Add to this the fact that their skin can often be quite sensitive to irritation.
Products like sunscreen often exacerbate the problem.
TruKid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen offers high protection from the sun as it’s an SPF 30 broad spectrum sunscreen.
This means that it provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays at quite a high rating.
That’s ideal for kids who love to spend time outdoors.
It’s a physical sunscreen that contains both zinc oxide and titanium oxide to form an instant protective barrier.
This means that you’re able to apply it to your child and allow them to run around outside immediately.
You don’t need to ensure they wait 20 or so minutes for the sunscreen to react and create a barrier, as is the case with chemical sunscreens.
If your child is prone to eczema, TruKid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen will not cause further irritation. It’s all natural and free from gluten, parabens, and phthalates.
It also helps with moisturizing and nourishing your child’s skin by containing natural ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut and jojoba oil.
Retaining moisture is key to helping alleviate the irritation and itchiness that’s often associated with eczema.
pros & cons
The TruKid brand is not just specific for children, toddlers and babies will also benefit from using the sunscreen. It’s perfectly safe to apply on their young and sensitive skin.
Adults can also apply the sunscreen which eliminates the need to buy multiple types of sunscreen for the whole family.
However, it may be best to only use the sunscreen on kids, toddlers and babies who suffer from eczema as it’s quite high on the price scale and in a very small tube when compared with other eczema-appropriate sunscreens.
Another great aspect of TruKid Sunny Days Mineral Sunscreen is the fact that it’s environmentally friendly.
The bottle is made from BPA-free plastic. You’re not just protecting your children’s skin, but also the environment, as the tube can be recycled after you’ve finished with it.
Some consumers may find the sunscreen a little thick and difficult to rub in, but this can also be an indication of how protective it is.
The thick consistency can make it difficult to wear on a regular basis under make up. It may feel a little sticky.
However, this shouldn’t have an impact when using it on children so it’s only a minor issue.
In fact, the thick consistency can provide a good indication of where you’ve applied the sunscreen. This helps to avoid missing any spots, therefore providing total coverage.
conclusion
The scent is a child-friendly orange, which is perfect for kids and toddlers, but may be a little off-putting on babies or adults.
However, the main target consumers of the sunscreen are kids. It’s important not to let your own, adult preferences get in the way of an effective sunscreen for your kids.
If your little ones suffer from eczema, this is one of the best sunscreens for toddlers with eczema.
best sunscreen for babies with eczema
Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 60
Babies have delicate and sensitive skin.
This can be problematic when they’re exposed to the sun, but even more so if their already sensitive skin is prone to eczema.
Neutrogena is a known and trusted brand in the skincare industry.
Their knowledge and expertise have combined to create a sunscreen that’s extra gentle, tear-free, fragrance-free, and designed specifically with the needs of babies and toddlers in mind by dermatologist.
pros & cons
The high SPF rating, along with the fact that it’s a broad spectrum, physical sunscreen, makes it the best sunscreen for babies with eczema.
It offers long-lasting protection from both UVA and UVB rays. The SPF rating of 60+ is higher than most other sunscreens, even those designed for ‘normal’ skin.
This is particularly important for use on babies’ skin as they are far more susceptible to the sun’s damage than adult skin.
Being a physical sunscreen means that it instantly creates a protective barrier. You don’t have to wait for a chemical reaction to happen before protection occurs.
The non-oily formula is perfect for use around water.
Just be sure to reapply it every two hours and immediately after towel-drying to ensure you’re giving your children and babies the maximum protection possible.
The Purescreen technology that’s used in Neutrogena’s Pure and Free Baby Sunscreen Lotion is unique to the Neutrogena brand.
It’s been awarded a Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association.
This in itself goes a long way in saying that it’s the best sunblock for eczema, regardless of the age of the user.
It’s non-greasy, although it may leave you or your child with a slightly whiter than normal complexion. It may not be appropriate for use under makeup or concealer.
However, this small factor isn’t an issue when using the lotion on small children or babies.
In fact, the thickness can often help you see where you have applied the sunscreen so you don’t miss a spot!
conclusion
When compared to other sunscreens that have been designed with eczema sufferers or children in mind, it’s relatively cheap.
The large bottle is bigger than many other sunscreens making it quite good value for money.
However, it’s slightly more expensive than many other, ordinary sunscreens. It should be reserved for eczema sufferers and small babies only.
final thoughts…
Eczema can be painful, unsightly and cause incredible discomfort.
Children and babies in particular find it hard not to itch at the affected areas, often making the irritation worse.
Sun can also cause further irritation, not to mention a plethora of other nasty side effects on your skin and that of your child.
Finding the best sunscreen for eczema is necessary to provide both protection from the harmful sun and relief from unpleasant eczema.
This article has helped you do just that.
Whether you’re looking for a sensitive, yet effective lotion for yourself, or a small child or baby, you now know what to buy.
The only job you have to do is apply the sunscreen regularly, enjoy the outdoors and benefit from the results!
