Sunscreen

[hapi2bgf]

Does anyone know of a gluten-free sunscreen that can be purchased at a regular store like a Wal-Mart?

What does everyone use for sunscreen? Please list the brand names. I used to use BullFrog stick and the original version, but that was before knowing about my celiac disease. Is Bullfrog safe??

Thanks!

[lauradawn]

I don't know if it's safe or not, but if you call the company you could find out very quickly.

[plantime]

I use a wide-brimmed hat and a long sleeve shirt. Guaranteed gluten free, and they do not have to be reapplied every hour!

[debmidge]

Dear Hapi

Obviously you don't live in NJ. It's been raining here and/or overcast for weeks. Seriously, when you know what sunscreens are gluten-free, please share with the rest of us.

Deb

[plantime]

Fruit Of The Earth Block Up! Plus dry Sport spf30 with Aloe Vera water and sweat resistant

water, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, PEG-8, cetearyl alchol (and) ducetyl phosphate (and) ceteth-10 phosphate, aloe vera gel, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), extracts of: chamomile, lemon peel, cranesbill, calendula, sage, burdock, balm mint, black walnut; DEA cetyl phosphate, propylene glycol & methlparaben & propylparaben & diazolidinyl urea, acrylates/C10-30 acrylate crosspolmer, disodium EDTA, fragrance.

It will never touch my skin, as I am severely allergic to chamomile and sage. Reading that list, I suggest putting on thin cotton clothes, or staying in the house!

[plantime]

I bought it at Wal Mart for my son, who informed me later that he has no intention of using "that sissy-baby stuff." I told him I was worried about him getting sunburned, and he said "I have to wear my shirt while I am working!" He doesn't take it off except to swim, but he figures he'll be too busy working at his job, on his car, and helping with the house remodeling. Wish I had kept the receipt!

[hapi2bgf]

The only safe sunscreenI have found so far is Nuetragena's Healthy Defense. BUt I think they are cancelling that line of products. Plus it runs about $7 a bottle and it is not a huge bottle.

Please call and verify first.

The option of wearing a hat and long sleeves doesn't cut it for me. I burn VERY fast. I used to tan using BullFrog's 36. Great stuff. I never burned using it. I live in Georgia and spend the summer doing outside activities so I need some real proection.

I will post if I find anything else.

[plantime]

Besides gluten, what else can you not have in a sunscreen or lotion? In reading the labels, I have not found gluten listed in the sunscreen I bought, or the cocoa butter lotion I use. You just have to read the labels!

[Jo Ann]

My grandson has used Mary Kay sunscreen for years without any problem, and he tans beautifully. The CSA/USA Cooperative gluten-free Commercial Products Listing of Aug. 2002 lists the following contact re Mary Kay products: Nicole Geerts, Consultant, e-mail: nicolegeertsmk@aol.com. She has researched the ingredients and will share a gluten-free list of MK products. Good luck in the sun!

[travelthomas]

At my winter home in Mexico, I use Banana Boat, Faces Plus Sun block, SPF 23. I wash my hands after I put it on my face, and wear a hat, and long sleeve shirt. I don

[bigapplekathleen]

Hi everyone,

As I approach my 1 year anniversary of being gluten-free, I have another issue to deal with:

which sunscreens are gluten-free? I have always had bad reactions to common sunscreens, so would always resort to Neutrogena. However, I can no longer use their makeup, so was wondering about the sunscreen.

I will be in the sun A LOT this summer.

And one other big question - I saw some posts here about salicylic acid causing itching in people with DH. My scalp is SO itchy when I use shampoo with that ingredient. I never knew why. Is that information accurate?

Thanks everyone,

Kathleen

gluten-free since Aug 2003 (except for episodes of contamination)

Dairy-free, corn-free, multiple food allergies

Diagnosed celiac, suspected DH

[lovegrov]

If you're asking which ones are gluten-free, I know Banana Boat is.

richard

[Thomas]

any others?

[celiac3270]

Important question as summer is here:

Does a Celiac with out DH need to wear a different sunscreen? If so, why?

Thanks for answering a rather simple question.....

-celiac3270

[lisabarella]

If a sunscreen has gluten in it and you apply it to your skin then it can be absorbed through your skin. For example, when you are in the sun, you absorb vitamin D through your skin and right into your blood stream (from what I understand). So, the same concept applies with other things that touch your skin. Call Banana Boat. I believe that they have an oil free sun block - Banana Boat Sport - it is spray on. Not sure if it is gluten free, but you could check. 800-723-3786. Hope that helps.

[tarnalberry]

actually, I think gluten is too large, molecularly, to be absorbed into the skin and make it into the blood stream. I do know that vit D is not "absorbed". Rather, the energy of the ultraviolet light component of the sun's light causes a chemical reaction which produces vit D in the skin. that's why constantly wearing sunblock has an effect on your vit D levels.

[celiac3270]

So for one who doesn't have DH, confirming that a sunscreen is gluten-free is not important? (although I will try, anyway).

[tarnalberry]

lol... sorry, didn't mean to imply that! :-)

I still avoid it whenever possible because - just like a little kid - things get in the mouth. It gets on your hands, on your face, and it can get in your mouth without you even thinking about it. So I still do my best to avoid it, but really, aside from "lotiony, let's add wheat germ oil to this to sound froo-froo on a sunblock label", I haven't seen any sunblock that looks remotely a problem...

and while I'm certain about the vit D thing, don't quote me just yet on the skin absorbtion. I'm 97% sure of it, (based on what I've read online, in medical journals, and my understanding of bio-chemistry), but that's not good enough for me to risk it...

[celiac3270]

I still avoid it whenever possible because - just like a little kid - things get in the mouth. It gets on your hands, on your face, and it can get in your mouth without you even thinking about it.

Yep, that's why I would try to avoid it, anyway.....

-celiac3270

[dana-g]

I have it straight from Danna Korn (author of Wheat Free, Worry Free) that gluten is too large a molecule to be absorbed through the skin. I don't mess around with any products that contain gluten, though, when there are adequate substitutes without it. Why risk accidental ingestion? On an emotional level, I just don't like having the stuff in the house! Out of sight, out of mind, and I have gluten on my mind enough!

[celiac3270]

So far it seems as if people are asking a lot of questions about "is this sunblock gluten-free?", but we still don't have a lot of gluten-free products mentioned in this thread. Somebody mentioned some Neutrogena thing and Banana Boat was brought up twice.

If you're asking which ones are gluten-free, I know Banana Boat is.

richard

Richard, Banana Boat has multiple variations: some for "general protection", some "for kids", some "sport" varieties.....etc. Which of these are gluten-free? Thanks...

-celiac3270

[lovegrov]

Last I heard ALL Banana Boats were gluten-free. I believe someone on another list just confirmed that, in fact.

I don't think there's any question at all about the absorption thing; we do not absorb gluten through our skin. But if I'm putting it all over my skin I know a little is going to get into my mouth.

richard

[bigapplekathleen]

Products absorbed through the skin will not cause a celiac reaction (though many people have other allergy issues to deal with). Even in people with DH, skin products containing gluten have no effect. The only concern with suncreen is the possibility of getting it near the mouth or on hands that will touch the mouth. The major celiac experts say that skin products should not matter EXCEPT in the possibility of accidental ingestion.

(I am concerned about sunscreens because of the possiblity of touching my mouth after application and my reactions are very severe.)

Kathleen

diagnosed celiac - Aug. 2003

gluten-free since Aug 2003

[flagbabyds]

I use coppertone and I break out whenever I touch

gluten and coppertone and bananna boat work fine for me

[celiac3270]

I'm using Banana Boat now...used to use Coppertone, but just wanted to be extra careful, since Coppertone wasn't mentioned....no issues w/ Banana Boat...thanks again, Richard

-celiac3270