- Sunscreens protect our skin from sun damage. However it can also cause skin problems.
- Besides being sold commercially as sun-blocking agents, they are also incorporated into numerous cosmetic products, like lipsticks and facial foundation.
- Sunscreens can cause irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and also photo-allergic contact dermatitis. Photo-allergic dermatitis differs from allergic contact dermatitis, as the rash occurs only after the skin comes into direct exposure with the combination of the allergic substance and sunlight.
- All chemical sunscreens have the potential of causing photo-allergic dermatitis. Physical sunscreen, like titanium dioxide, does not cause this problem.
Source :Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland
National Skin Centre. Singapore