Sunscreen with antioxidants efficacious in children with atopic dermatitis, diverse skin

Key takeaways:

• No children experienced erythema, dryness, peeling or edema after 4 weeks of using the sunscreen.
• Parents of the children highly rated the sunscreen including its lack of white cast.

Children with diverse skin types with atopic dermatitis-prone skin did not experience any adverse events when using a sunscreen formulated with antioxidants, according to a study.

“While sun protection is important for children with eczema and AD-prone skin, many sunscreens can cause skin irritation due to their formulations,” Hawasatu Dumbuya, PhD, director of clinical research and medical affairs for La Roche-Posay USA at L’Oréal USA, and colleagues wrote. “Selecting the right sunscreen for children with AD is crucial.”

While dermatologists recommend children with eczema or AD-prone skin use fragrance-free and hypoallergenic sunscreens that are broad spectrum, there is no guarantee that the skin will always respond well to the formula. As a result, Dumbuya and colleagues set out to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a hypoallergenic SPF 50 sunscreen (Anthelios Gentle Lotion Kids Sunscreen, L’Oréal) in ethnically diverse children with a history of AD.

A total of 45 children aged 3 to 12 years were analyzed in the study, 26 of which had Fitzpatrick skin types I to III and 19 with types IV to VI. The sunscreen contained a combination of an antioxidant complex of Cassia alata leaf extract along with vitamins and glycerol and a nonallergenic combination of sunscreens with SPF 50.

Results showed that none of the patients experienced erythema, dryness, peeling or edema at the beginning of the study and after 4 weeks of sunscreen application.

Parents were also asked to complete a questionnaire about the performance of the sunscreen, rating characteristics of the product on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

When asked to rate if the sunscreen applied evenly and did not feel sticky, all parents assigned a 4 (n = 6 and 3, respectively) or 5 (n = 39 and 42). Similarly, a majority agreed that the product applied smoothly, did not leave white marks and did not feel greasy, with only two or fewer people rating the sunscreen as lower than a 4 in these respective categories.

Of note, the authors observed that the sunscreen did not leave a white cast on children with skin of color.

“Sunscreens along with innovative antioxidant mixtures would complement each other and help protect the sensitive skin of these children from the harmful effects of UV radiation, reducing the risk of exacerbating their skin condition,” the authors wrote. “By incorporating sunscreen into a comprehensive sun protection routine, parents and caregivers can contribute to the overall well-being of children with AD and help them enjoy outdoor activities safely.”