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  • 2017-05-19 (xsd:date)
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  • Is Banana Boat Sunscreen Causing Burns in Children? (en)
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  • In May 2017, Rebecca Cannon, a Canadian woman, published a series of posts on Facebook, describing the second-degree chemical burns her 14-month-old daughter Kyla purportedly suffered after Cannon sprayed her with Banana Boat Kids SPF-50 sunscreen. Photos accompanying the posts appear to show significant burns, blisters and swelling on her daughter's face. Cannon, who lives in the Newfoundland and Labrador province, recounted the experience in an interview with CBC on 9 May 2017: In a Facebook post two days later, Cannon said: The episode resembles another from 2016, which also attracted some media attention. In May 2016, Virginia resident Jennifer Bradford Sayers posted an account of her sons' experience after purportedly using the Banana Boat Kids SPF-50 aerosol spray. The post was accompanied by several photos appearing to show significant burns, blisters and swelling to Liam's face. We have no reason to doubt the veracity of either Rebecca Cannon and Jennifer Bradford Sayers's accounts. There are no obvious implausibilities, logical gaps or incidental inaccuracies that would indicate their stories might be exaggerated or untruthful. That said, however, we obviously cannot verify the sequence of events described in both accounts, nor confirm that what is shown in the photos is, in fact, the result of what both women claim — that is, the application of Banana Boat Kids SPF-50. Banana Boat Kids SPF-50 is approved by the Skin Cancer Foundation. However, the FDA advises that Spray sunscreens should never be applied directly to your face. The FDA also says that certain chemicals in sunscreens can provoke an allergic reaction, when exposed to sunlight on a person's skin, and that this can result in sunburn-like symptoms, a rash or other unwanted side effects. However, an FDA spokesperson told us this is rare: We got an expert assessment from Dr. Joyce Teng, Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, who reviewed the photos posted to Facebook by both Rebecca Cannon and Jennifer Bradford Sayers: Dr Teng said both sets of photos appeared to show severe examples of allergic contact reaction to the sunscreen, and added: Banana Boat Kids SPF-50 was one of a range of Banana Boat Ultra Mist products withdrawn from the market in 2012, due to a potential risk of product igniting on the skin if contact is made with a source of ignition before the product is completely dry. In a statement, Edgewell Personal Care, the company that manufactures Banana Boat products, told us this was done out of an abundance of caution after an issue with the delivery system of the affected products, specifically the size of the spray valve opening, was reported. They added: Currently marketed Banana Boat products have a different valve and remain safe to use as directed. In relation to concerns that the children's sunscreen spray may be causing burns, the company said: (en)
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