Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

UltraMist spray-on sunscreen: don't use it. AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Maker withdraws sunscreen after reports that lotion can catch fire

Five users of UltraMist spray-on sunscreen caught fire when the sunscreen they wore came into contact with flames.

THE MAKER of a popular line of US sunscreen has issued a product recall for half a million bottles of lotion, after receiving reports that a small number of people had caught fire after using the product and approaching flames.

St Louis-based Energizer Holdings is withdrawing 23 varieties of UltraMist sunscreen, after four US and one Canadian users reported burns after coming into contact with a naked flame while wearing the sunscreen.

The wearers said their skin had, quite literally, caught fire when they came close to the naked flames.

The issue is said to relate to a faulty spray valve, which means the spray-on lotion does not apply evenly and takes longer to dry in.

“If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite,” a company spokesman said.

A company spokesman said over 20 million units of the spray have been sold since UltraMist launched in 2010.

Doctors and burn experts told AP that the problem appears to be extremely rare.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I’ve never seen or heard of this happening before,” said Dr. Darrel Rigel, professor of dermatology at New York University.

Rigel pointed out that the flammable ingredients in aerosol, including alcohol, are common to many products, such as hairspray and spray-on deodorants.

“I think you just have to use common sense and not be near an open fire when you put on aerosol anything,” said Rigel.

Dan Dillard, executive director of the Burn Prevention Network, said the group was contacted earlier this year about two burns related to spray-on sunscreen.

One case involved a man who was standing near a barbecue grill, and the other involved a woman working with welding equipment. Both cases resulted in second- and third-degree burns.

“We’ve found no evidence of this happening before the incidents that came to our attention,” Dillard said.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
9 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Radburn
    Favourite Paul Radburn
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:03 PM

    Fair play to her

    493
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mister
    Favourite mister
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:10 PM

    And how appropriate that she comes from an age-group that is particularly affected by the problem.

    347
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:57 PM

    Necessity is the mother of invention.

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roisin Byrne
    Favourite Roisin Byrne
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:16 PM

    Well that makes me feel like an underachiever, but fair play to her!

    232
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Mc Quillan
    Favourite Shane Mc Quillan
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:16 PM

    Should try it out on everyone who has a social media profile. Plenty of people aged 25+ who would still post a nasty and cyber bullying type of comment,even after a moment of reflection on it

    202
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aoife Kally
    Favourite Aoife Kally
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:16 PM

    Wow that’s fantastic :)

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernard O'Brien
    Favourite Bernard O'Brien
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 5:32 PM

    Maith an cailin. Go n’eiri an bothar leat.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Doyle
    Favourite John Doyle
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:35 PM

    So Think before you speak? Please tell me more about this discovery.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dylan
    Favourite Dylan
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:39 PM

    I thought that’s what kids were told in school all the time about cyber bullying

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Bowden
    Favourite Jack Bowden
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:14 PM

    What a goodie goodie two shoes, full of herself little madam.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Bowden
    Favourite Jack Bowden
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 4:15 PM

    Wait a minute, I didn’t want to send that. :-)

    399
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brigid Popps
    Favourite Brigid Popps
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 6:32 PM

    What an innovator congrats to her it would be wonderful to see the end of this vile practice

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wont be censored
    Favourite Wont be censored
    Report
    Aug 10th 2014, 1:30 AM

    She would have enough material for her doctorate on the Journal.ie comments section.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute joe soap
    Favourite joe soap
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 6:58 PM

    I have a much easier surefire way.get off the internet.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dervy O' S
    Favourite Dervy O' S
    Report
    Aug 10th 2014, 1:08 AM

    Such a great idea, delighted to see their are some compassionate little teens out there wanting to make the world a better place :) fair play to her :)

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Windom Earle
    Favourite Windom Earle
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 10:35 PM

    I think she should blame Obama and Israel.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Ocallaghan
    Favourite John Ocallaghan
    Report
    Aug 10th 2014, 5:17 AM

    Jack grow up

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WellHello
    Favourite WellHello
    Report
    Aug 10th 2014, 11:20 AM

    Think we’ll be hearing a lot more from this girl in years to come! Well done!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds