Mineral sunscreen is Safest But it Turns Out I'm Allergic to It
Even though I'm old enough to remember when everyone baked themselves in the sun all summer to get as tan as possible, sunscreen is now a vital part of my skincare routine. Skincare companies have even made it even easier for us by actually putting broad spectrum sunscreen in our face lotions. How great is that? One easy step to moisturizing and protecting our skin! The system was working great because everyone who wanted sun protection (and maybe even those who didn't necessarily want it but got it anyway) felt good knowing our faces were protected against sun damage and skin cancer.
Then 2019, a very small research study showed that some chemicals in sunscreens are absorbed into your bloodstream, instead of sitting on top of your skin. OK, that's something to consider, but I wasn't really surprised by that information. I mean, it makes sense that anything we rub into our skin is going to be absorbed into our body to some extent. But in 2021, an alarming report came out that some sunscreens were being recalled because they contained a known cancer causing ingredient called benzene. Then it was announced that products made with octocrylene "can naturally degrade into the chemical benzophenone, a suspected carcinogen that can interfere with key hormones and reproductive organs." (Yalemedicine.org) *Record scratching* Wait, what???" The stuff I use to prevent skin cancer may actually cause cancer?? Now they had my full attention.
I dove headfirst down the rabbit hole, and I learned the only sunscreens that don't absorb into your skin are mineral-based (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). They sit on top of the skin and work by deflecting the harmful rays. You probably remember that time because suddenly mineral sunscreen became THE thing. I went through all of my moisturizers and makeup, searching the list of active ingredients. Mineral sunscreens are apparently the safest, and my dermatologist told me "no one is allergic" to it, so I decided to use them exclusively. What could go wrong? Well...
It seems that I am allergic to mineral sunscreen, at least the skin on my face is. I kept noticing bumps on my face that looked sort of like an acne breakout, but they itched and appeared very quickly like a rash. I tried several different brands, including baby formulas, because I thought it might be the other ingredients causing my reaction. It still could be that, I suppose, but changing products didn't make a difference. At its peak, my face (especially along my jawline) itched so bad and I couldn't stop clawing at it. Also, my face was covered in rough patches of extremely dry skin. My Clinique gentle face wash and moisturizer seemed to soothe the rash, but nothing could make those dry patches of rough skin go away. And since I'd been working in a school and wearing a mask at work every day, I couldn't be 100% sure what was causing it.
A visit to my doctor ruled out a fungal infection, and he gave me a 30 day prescription to reduce inflammation on my skin, along with a strong recommendation stop using any products (splash with cool water only) until my skin settled down. Also, importantly, I had stopped teaching by this point, so I wasn't wearing a mask every day like I had been at school. The skin on my face slowly settled down, but the rough patches were still there. After a couple of weeks with no rash, I hesitantly tried washing my face very gently with the mild cleanser to see if the rough, dry-looking skin would go away. It seemed to help! So I held my breath and applied my gentle moisturizer again, and (thankfully!) my skin was OK.
This went on for about two more weeks, and all was well. But, as a blonde with fair skin, using sunscreen isn't optional. I had been getting by wearing hats and staying inside as much as possible, but that's not a realistic solution. Plus, I've been wearing sunscreen for years, so something had to work. My dermatologist told me it's better to go back to my old sunscreen (not mineral-based, but also not one with benzone) than to go without it. So that's what I did. I went back to my Clinique Work Out Make Up with SPF 40, and it worked great for me. My face was smooth and rash-free during our vacations, and as a bonus the makeup is sweat-resistant and stays matte all day. (NOTE: This is not a paid endorsement for Clinique; I truly use and love their products and I pay full price for them. I am not benefitting from mentioning them in this article.)
Now this might be controversial (or stupid), but the other day I tried the CC cream with mineral sunscreen just one more time, to see if it really was the cause of my problem. Hoo-boy, was it ever!!! As I write this blog article, my face is so angry and I'm really kind of angry with myself. I wish I was the type of person who could just leave well-enough alone, but I just had to know for sure. Well now I do - and so do you. So don't let anyone tell you that you can't be allergic to mineral sunscreen, because anyone can be allergic to anything. You know your body and your skin better than anyone, so pay attention to what it tells you. Are you able to use mineral sunscreen? Have you ever had a similar experience with any type of product that is supposedly "non-allergen" and "for all skin?" Tell me about it in the comments!
留言