Banana Boat’s Dangerous Spray Sunscreen Causes Users to Set Fire

We use sunscreen to protect ourselves from getting burned.  For some  Banana Boat sunscreen users, the product designed to protect has caused them serious harm.  A total of five reports have been made in the U.S. and Canada of people catching on fire after applying the spray-on UltraMist sunscreen.  As a result, Energizer Holdings, the makers of Banana Boat, announced that they would be recalling 23 varieties of UltraMist due to the risk of it igniting when exposed to an open flame.  USA Today reported that the recall includes aerosol products like UltraMist Sport, UltraMist Ultra Defense and UltraMist Kids.  While reportedly only five people have experienced burns from the spray, over 20 million units have been sold since the product launched in 2010.

The problem is said to be caused by the spray valve, which causes people to over-apply the product.  Since there is more fluid on the skin than should be normally applied, it takes a longer time to dry and therefore increases the flammability risk.  “If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin,” says the company, “there is a potential for the product to ignite.”  According to WebMD, Energizer asks people who have bought the recalled products not to use them.  “This is not like a drug recall,” a company spokesman says. “They don’t need to send the bottles back.”  According to nypost.com, the company spokesman claimed that the recall does not involve any Banana Boat sunscreen lotions. These don’t have alcohol and other ingredients that are used in the spray-on products which are used so they can flow more freely through the spray nozzle.

All continuous spray sunscreens warn consumers that the products should not be used near an open flame, which includes smoking.  Brett Sigworth became a victim of the flammable substance while cooking at his barbecue in Stowe, Mass.   “I sprayed on the spray-on sunscreen, and then rubbed it on for a few seconds. I walked over to my grill…and all of a sudden [the flames] just went up my arm,” he told CBS Boston.  He received second degree burns on his chest, ear and back that resemble the streaks of where the sunscreen was sprayed on.  While there is a warning about the product igniting on the bottle, Sigworth brought up a valid point.  “There is no warning that says this product is flammable when applied to your skin or for a period of time when applied to skin,” Sigworth said. “I think if people were told this is flammable for two minutes on your skin afterward, people wouldn’t use it.”  While Sigworth does have a lawyer, he surprisingly isn’t planning on suing the company.  Personally, if I had been set on fire from that sunscreen, I would be suing the company for nearly everything they have.

Mary Shoulders is another burn victim from Banana Boat sunscreen.  She experienced third degree burns on her arm, ranging from her armpit to her wrist, whilst welding.  “My whole arm went on fire,” Shoulders said.  According to wavy.com, Shoulders said she waited about five minutes after applying the sunscreen before she began welding and thought that since it was dry, it was safe.  Apparently, The Burn Prevention Network could not recommend a safe amount of time to wait, but said when flammable ingredients are aerosolized, they become more combustible. The American Burn Association called for “prominent warnings…relating to time and proximity” and advises users to consider lotion-based sunscreen.  Like Sigworth, Shoulders also has no plans to sue the company, but just wants people to be aware of the product’s dangers.

This product shouldn’t have been allowed to even hit the shelves.  For something this dangerous, there should have been adequate warnings on the bottle instructing people not to be around open flames at all.  Even so, people may come into contact with open flames by accident, such as walking past a campfire or someone smoking on the street.  I am surprised that the Burn Prevention Association couldn’t come up with any time to wait until going around an open flame.  I guess if something is flammable, it’s flammable.  The sunscreen users could have paid more attention as well.  If I had seen that the product could ignite around open flames, I would have been cautious and not used it at all.  However, there is no way to go back in time and take away the serious injuries that have affected five people.  It is a relief that the product is being recalled to prevent such cases from happening to anyone else.

Jessica Forte can be reached at jessica.forte@spartans.ut.edu