Expert tips on sunscreen for eczema patients from Dr. Joseph Lam
Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) often receives questions about sunscreen for eczema patients. To address this, ESC turned to Vancouver-based pediatrician, Joseph Lam, MD, FRCPC, for some guidance and his best tips on sunscreen use.
Protect yourself from the sun
Dr. Lam provides sensible recommendations: “Clothing and a wide-brim hat are perfect sun protection for everyone. When you’re outdoors, look for a shady spot. Staying out in the sun, sweating, and overheating can make your eczema worse. You really want to avoid having too much UV exposure as this can cause quite a few problems later on.”
Mineral sunscreens or chemical sunscreens, what’s best?
Dr. Lam tell us, “Should you use physical blockers (mineral sunscreens) or chemical ones? In fact, both are safe and work well, so it’s up to you. Some eczema sufferers find mineral sunscreen less irritating because there are fewer ingredients, but even the mineral ones are mixed into a cream or lotion that have the potential to irritate skin. If you do find that almost every sunscreen irritates your skin, make sure that your eczema is under good control and the skin isn’t irritated and broken down. If the skin is inflamed, even a cream without sunscreen can make it sting. Sunscreen should not be applied to broken or open skin, and it’s a good idea to test a small patch of skin with the sunscreen first before applying it to large areas of skin.”
“The best sunscreen is the one that gets on your skin”
Dr. Lam shares some advice that works with his own family: “If you have teenagers or children in the house, you’ll get less resistance to sunscreen if you use one that looks good and feels good on their skin. Younger kids are typically fine with most products but test it on their inner arm before you apply it all over. One of the triggers to avoid is fragrance. If a sunscreen is heavily fragranced it can make your child’s eczema worse.”
As always, be sure to consult your health care provider for recommendations that are specific to you or your child’s specific condition.
The good news is people with eczema can still enjoy the summer!
Eczema Society of Canada thanks Joseph Lam, MD, FRCPC (Pediatrics), for his volunteer contribution to this educational content.
Disclaimer: Information provided in this resource does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool. The information is up-to-date at time of publication. All medications, interventions, and treatment plans have risks and benefits, and it is important that individuals discuss their or their child’s specific health care needs with a qualified health care professional.
May 2024
