Sunscreen for eczema children: Top tips

Summer: the time when all kids (not just the itchy ones) get covered from top to toe in white gloop! The sun is really important in the creation of essential Vitamin D, but it also emits harmful UV rays and dries out the skin. With the skin’s moisture gone, eczema is more prone to flare up and the inevitable scratching can open up old (or new!) wounds. Sunscreen can be a convenient way to restore skin moisture at the same time as protecting your child from the sun. However, harsh chemical ingredients could make the situation itchier. We share our sunscreen tips for eczema children, including a guide to understanding the label on your sunscreen.

• Sun screens use two types of ingredients to stop the sun getting to the skin: chemical or mineral sun blocks. Mineral sun block ingredients are typically kinder on eczema skin.
• Test new sunscreens in a small area for 24 hours before using them on the whole body. It is important that the tested area is exposed to the sun because chemical sun block ingredients break down into other chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin.
• Apply emollient at least 30 minutes before you apply any sunscreen. This will minimise any diluting effort of the emollient on the sunscreen. Try to avoid reapplying sunscreen when you are on a sandy beach. Having a sand/sunscreen mix rubbed into delicate, eczema-prone skin can really hurt!
• Don’t rely on sunscreen. Avoid the sun during the heat of the day, use brimmed hats and UV blocking clothing as well. Babies should be kept out of the sun.

Types of sunscreen (and what they mean for eczema)

Some minerals such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, act as a physical sunblock. They reflect UV rays so that they aren’t able to penetrate the skin. Sunscreens can be made by adding these mineral powders to a cream. In the past, these sunscreens left the characteristic white sheen to the wearers but modern processing has been able to reduce the particle sizes so that now they are not nearly as obvious.

Sunscreens can also contain organic chemicals, with names such as avobenzone or oxybenzone. Instead of physically deflecting UV light, these molecules absorb UV radiation through their chemical bonds. As the bonds absorb UV radiation, the components of the sunscreen slowly break down and release heat.

The key difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens is that chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin whilst those containing minerals sit on the skin and act as a barrier. The mineral formulations often work better for eczema kids as the active ingredient aren’t absorbed into the skin. This means that they have less opportunity to irritate. In addition, the mineral formulation reflects the light rather than converting it into heat. As a result they are often much more comfortable for children whose eczema is aggravated by heat. The vast majority of sunscreens for children have either chemical or combination formulations. However, it is possible to find mineral-only sunscreens.

Which is best for eczema kids: Mineral or chemical sunscreen?

For school-going children, mineral sunscreens have the advantage that they don’t need to be reapplied as frequently. This is because the mineral particles don’t break down in the same way as the chemical-based sunscreens. As result you can apply them at the beginning of the school day and be reasonably confident that your child will be protected throughout the day.  The downside of mineral-based sunscreen is that they can leave their trademark white sheen on the skin. Personally, I find this really useful it highlights the bits I‘ve missed on my wriggly and impatient offspring. The kids are not so convinced.

As with all things eczema, what works for one person may not work for the next. It’s worth patch testing new sunscreens in a small area for 24 hours before using them on the whole body. If you are using a chemical or combination formula make sure that the area you test is exposed to light so that the chemical sunscreen ingredients are broken down and you can be sure that your little one is not allergic to the by-products of the light to heat reaction.

Things to watch out for when applying sunscreen on eczema-prone skin

• Try to apply emollient at least 30 minutes before you apply any sunscreen. This will minimise the drying effect of the sun without diluting the sunscreen.
• Avoid going out in the sun immediately after applying emollient. This is because any oily residue can make the skin more susceptible to burning.
• Avoid thick and greasy sunscreen because too much oil can feel really uncomfortable and itchy. Sunscreen with a creamier, thinner texture usually bodes well for eczema children because it is easy to rub in and doesn’t leave too much excess oil on the skin.
• Avoid fragranced sunscreen for eczema children, as the fragrance additives can be irritating
• If you can, avoid applying sunscreen anywhere it could get mixed in with sand. Having a sand/sunscreen mix rubbed into delicate, eczema-prone skin can really hurt! Consider investing in a UV sun-suit or wetsuit for your eczema child if you’re planning a beach holiday.
• If you are using a chemical or combination sunscreen for the first time – keep an eye on your child’s skin for any reactions to new chemicals forming as the light-absorbing chemicals break down.

Other sun protection solutions for eczema children

No one wants to deny their child the right to play in the sun. But as well as sunscreen, you should take extra precautions with your child when out in the heat:

• Make sure your child wears a hat to prevent sunburn on the scalp and dreaded sunstroke. Consider buying a UV sun-suit to minimise the need for sunscreen.
• Dress them in light and loose clothing
• Avoid the sun at peak hours (usually around late morning to late afternoon)

Understanding the label and ingredients on your sunscreen lotion

One look at the ingredients list on any sunscreen is enough to have even the most diligent label checker throwing up their hands in despair. So many unfamiliar chemicals with long, unpronounceable names! And to make things even more complicated most of those chemicals can be known by 2 or 3 different names. We’ve divided the most common sunscreen ingredients into those with a low risk of skin irritation and those known to cause problems more frequently. That said, as with everything eczema, even the low-risk chemicals can cause problems for some people. However, if you steer clear of the higher-risk ingredients you’ve got a good chance of avoiding sunscreens that could irritate your eczema child’s skin.

Low risk sunscreen ingredients

Common sunscreen ingredients that can aggravate eczema

• Benzophenones – also known as oxybenzone, Eusolex 4360, methanone, Uvinal M40, diphenylketone and any other chemical name ending with ‘-benzophenone’ . These chemicals are great for protection against UV rays but the sun converts them into smaller chemicals that can irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. These chemicals are the most common cause of allergies to modern sunscreens.
• Parabens – listed as methylparaben (E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216), butylparaben or heptylparaben (E209) and any other chemical name ending in -paraben. These preservatives can trigger eczema flare-ups and are found in many mainstream brands of sunscreen.
• MCI/MI (methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone) – these are the cosmetic preservatives that hit the news around 5 years ago. They have been linked with such a large increase in eczema and dermatitis that the EU has announced its intention to restrict their use and many cosmetics companies are already reformulating their products to reduce or exclude them.
• Methyldibromoglutaronitrile – yet another snappily named preservative that has been shown to cause allergic reactions, especially in eczema sufferers. This chemical has now been banned for ‘stay-on’ products in the EU but is still used in other parts of the world.

Want to know more about sunscreen allergies? This article from Medscape is a really good place to start.

Tried and tested for 2025: Sunscreens for eczema kids

Sunscreens are expensive and with so many options it’s tricky to know where to spend your money. To make your life easier, we’ve rounded up a selection of the well-known, readily available sunscreens designed for children with sensitive skin and asked our itchy kids what they think of them. To keep the comparisons fair, we’ve only tested creams. Most of these brands have sprays and roll-on versions available but these will necessarily have slightly different formulations to the lotions tested here. We’ve included RRP comparisons, but it’s often possible to find substantial discounts both online and instore.

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Here at ScratchSleeves, we don’t just share our experiences of bringing up an eczema child and favourite allergy-friendly recipes, we also manufacture and sell our unique stay-on scratch mitts and PJs for itchy babies, toddlers and children. We now stock sizes from 0-adult years in a range of colours. Visit our webshop for more information.