True or false: can you be allergic to sunscreen?

Although rare, allergic reactions to sunscreen are possible. Itching, redness, spots, etc. can occur and cause significant discomfort. So how can you continue to protect yourself from the sun, and especially from ultraviolet rays, without having to worry about allergies?

As long ago as 1997, Nathalie Chevallier (from the University of Grenoble-Alpes), in her pharmacy thesis, highlighted an ‘incidence of side effects from sun filters in 1% or 2% of the general population’.

Chemical filters and aluminium

The culprits? Perfumes, preservatives and sun protection agents can be the cause of these unpleasant allergies. Recently, it was a chemical filter that caused two cases of contact allergy: bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol-methoxyphenyl-triazine (Tinosorb S or BEMT). In children, ‘previously sensitised by early childhood vaccinations’, other contact allergies to aluminium, present in the composition of mineral sun creams as a texturising agent, have also been reported.

"Hello doctor?

Do you feel concerned? Don't hesitate to turn to your doctor, the first step being to make a diagnosis that will confirm or refute the allergy. Then, real investigations will be carried out to pinpoint the allergen in question. Your pharmacist may also be able to help you in this in-depth search by consulting the composition of the product and pointing out the potential risks. If the allergy is confirmed by your doctor, you will then be advised to use appropriate sun protection.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source : L’Indépendant - Illustration : ©Unsplash)