Vancouver, British Columbia mother, Patrizia Fitch, told the Canadian Press that her 12-year-old son was left with severe blisters after applying the sunscreen while on a school trip to a beach in the city. Fitch reported the injuries to Health Canada.
Health Canada spokeswoman, Renelle Briand said the agency had reviewed the company’s test results and did not identify any problems. However, Health Canada is now doing their own testing of the product, according to CTV News.
Banana Boat sunscreen first came to the public’s attention in Canada in May this year after three mothers complained about their babies suffering burn injuries after the product was applied to their skin. One mother, Rebecca Cannon, 32, of Newfoundland, Canada, applied the product to her 14-month-old daughter’s cheeks three weeks ago.
Rebecca says, “Her face gradually throughout the day got pinker. I thought it was just irritated from (using) a different sunscreen, so I took her home and gave her a bath,” Cannon says. “When she woke up the next day she was really swollen and blistering, so I took her to the ER.”
The Banana Boat sunscreen product label says it is safe for babies over the age of six months. According to
WebMD, the Emergency Room doctors consulted with a pediatric dermatologist who said the caustic burn was perhaps, caused by something in the sunscreen.
From the three cases in May to the present, the number of complaints about Banana Boat sunscreens received by Health Canada has jumped to 139. Cannon also reported her complaint to Edgewell, the company that owns Banana Boat. They sent her a check for $10.
In a statement to WebMD, the company says their “products undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety and quality before they’re put on the market. They said all their products have a neutral pH, which means they can’t cause chemical burns.”
Photoallergy — What is this?
Alok Vij, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, thinks Kyla’s reaction was something called a photoallergy. It is caused by chemicals in the product reacting with sunlight, creating an allergic reaction. “It’s not very common, but sunscreens are a common cause of that reaction,” he says. The company acknowledges that this is possible.
“For some, a sensitivity to a product ingredient can be triggered or exacerbated by the sun and result in a photoallergic skin rash or sunburn. In more severe cases, blistering may also develop. A dermatologist can also advise on appropriate treatment,” it says in a written statement.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was also asked about any complaints they had received regarding blistering and burns after people used Banana Boat sunscreen. In an email statement, the FDA said it was aware of a number of severe allergic reactions after using sunscreen products.
The FDA also pointed out that this is why people are advised to first test the product on a patch of skin before applying it all over the body. Parents need to be aware, according to experts, that a sunscreen is actually the last line of defense against UV rays.
