Allergies Skin Allergies Allergic Reactions While at the Beach Sun, Water, Smoke, Insects, and Sunscreen By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our editorial process Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD on March 25, 2020 linkedin Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a focus on allergic skin disorders, asthma, and other immune disorders. Learn about our Medical Review Board Corinne Savides Happel, MD Updated on September 17, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Sunscreen Allergies Allergy to Sunlight Allergic Rashes From Swimming Barbecue Allergy Allergies to Insect Stings While time spent at the shore is a joy for most people, others may experience allergic reactions while at the beach. Despite the ocean breezes keeping the pollen further inland, other causes of allergies may still be present at the beach. Uwe Krejci / Getty Images Sunscreen Allergies The growing concern over skin damage and skin cancer has led most people to use sunscreen before spending a day at the beach. This increased use of sunscreens has lead to the development of allergic reactions to the chemicals found in sunscreens. Most of these allergic reactions are contact dermatitis, a poison oak-like rash that occurs on the skin within hours of sunscreen application. This reaction can occur anywhere the substance is applied onto the body, although it tends to be more common in the areas of the body with the most exposure to the sun. Contact Dermatitis Evaluation and Diagnosis Allergy to Sunlight Many people complain of various skin symptoms with prolonged exposure to sunlight, such as itching, hives, or burning and stinging of the skin. Some people have visible rashes while others have no rash. Certain people with underlying medical conditions (such as lupus or porphyria) are more sensitive to sunlight. Others are using various medications (such as certain high blood pressure medications) that cause a reaction on the skin when exposed to the sun. Sun Allergies and Reactions Allergic Rashes From Swimming The act of swimming can also lead to allergic reactions, and the cause of this reaction depends on whether the swimming occurred in a freshwater lake or the ocean. Swimmer's itch occurs when people swim in water contaminated with parasites. Generally, swimmer's itch occurs in freshwater, where aquatic birds and snails are likely to live. These animals serve as carriers for the parasite. When this parasite enters the human skin, it causes an irritating allergic rash as it dies. Seabather's eruption is a different type of allergic rash that occurs after swimming in the ocean and being exposed to jellyfish larvae. These larvae get trapped between a person's skin and bathing suit, resulting in an itchy skin rash on areas covered by clothing. These symptoms usually start while the person is still swimming, but may also occur hours later. Rubbing the skin often makes the symptoms worse, since the larvae release a toxin into the skin as a result of pressure or friction. Rarely, a person may also experience systemic symptoms from the toxin, such as fevers, nausea, vomiting, headache, and diarrhea. Causes of Swimming Rashes Barbecue Allergy Everyone loves a barbecue or a bonfire after a long day at the beach. Certain types of wood (such as mesquite, oak, cedar, and hickory) might be burned to add flavor to the barbecued meat or to stoke the fire. However, if wood is burned that is covered in poison ivy or poison sumac or similar, it may result in an allergic reaction in those who are nearby. If you have a pollen allergy, you need not worry about burning fire with wood from a pollen-containing tree. Can You Be Allergic to Barbecue Smoke? Allergies to Insect Stings What would a day at the beach be without the annoying yellow jackets or honeybees swarming around the picnic blanket? Unfortunately, people get insect stings commonly at the beach, and allergic reactions to these stings can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, people with a history of allergic reactions to insect stings should take special precautions to prevent being stung, and be prepared to treat an allergic reaction should they get stung. If a person has had a systemic reaction to a sting, they should be evaluated for life-threatening allergy by an allergist. If they are found to have a life-threatening allergy, they would be prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector to carry at all times and to use in the event of anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction). Common Allergic Reactions After Insect Bites and Stings Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Wong T, Orton D. Sunscreen allergy and its investigation. Clin Dermatol. 2011;29(3):306-10. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.11.002 Cleveland Clinic. Sun allergy; 2018. Brant SV, Loker ES. Schistosomes in the southwest United States and their potential for causing cercarial dermatitis or 'swimmer's itch'. J Helminthol. 2009;83(2):191-8. doi:10.1017/S0022149X09308020 Rossetto AL, Dellatorre G, Silveira FL, Haddad júnior V. 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