Mum Claims Popular Suntan Lotion Left Daughter's Legs 'Looking Like They'd Been Sprayed With Acid'

'If it does scar she will have it for the rest of her life.'

A mum has claimed suntan lotion left her daughter's legs "looking like they'd been sprayed with acid". 

Louise Nickles, 28, from Devon, took nine year-old Olivia on holiday to Mexico where she bought Banana Boat Kids Ultramist Spray Sun Lotion SPF 50. 

But after applying the spray-on lotion to her daughter's legs, she claimed the high-street brand was "melting her daughter's skin".

Nickles said she washed the suncream off but the "damage was already done".

"It looked like she'd been sprayed with acid," Nickles said.

"It was supposed to stop her from burning, not cause her to burn." 

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A spokesperson for Banana Boat said: “We stand behind the quality and performance of our products.

“Consumers can rest assured that all Banana Boat sun care products, including Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Sting-Free SPF 50 lotion, are formulated to be safe and effective when used as directed by the product label."

 

Nickles explained she chose the spray suncream in Mexico as she "thought it would be easier to apply than a lotion." 

"I'd seen it before on offer in the UK so I trusted the brand enough to use it on my daughter," she said. 

"I sprayed some on her face and she complained straight away that it was stinging and I took it off.

"On the bottle it says 'UVA and UVB protection' and also that it is hypoallergenic.

"I sprayed it on her a few times throughout the day, after I applied suncream in the morning, but she still had a t-shirt on as her shoulders were a bit red.

"She said her legs were really sore later in the day and I just knew she'd been burnt. 

"That afternoon she came out of the shower and I saw where I had sprayed it, it had dripped down her legs and it was bright red.

"You just don't expect it to happen after you buy suncream to protect your children's skin." 

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The mum said Olivia had to wear leggings for the rest of the holiday.

Since coming home, doctors have prescribed moisturising and steroid creams, but Olivia wears leggings under her school skirt because she fears other children will stare at her. 

The mother said she made an official complaint to Banana Boat the day she arrived back in the UK and posted pictures of Olivia's injuries on their Facebook page. 

Nickles said: "I [also] sent a picture of Olivia's blistering legs to my sister and she replied with: 'Oh my god' and she sent me a link to the Facebook page where it had happened to someone else. 

"It's just horrible and if it does scar she will have it for the rest of her life." 

Banana Boat's official Facebook page states the company sells suncream products that are tested in 'seven real-life conditions', including sun, pool water, ocean water, wind, sand, sweat and extreme heat. 

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The page states: "Our products have carried The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation for nearly two decades." 

A spokesperson for Banana Boat said: "To ensure we provide consumers with safe and effective options for everyday sun protection, our products undergo rigorous internal and independent testing to ensure they are appropriately labelled, including for SPF, and meet all relevant regulations. 

"We are dedicated to helping people make informed choices about appropriate sun protection because it is essential for optimal health. 

"Sunscreen is a critical component of an everyday sun protection regimen and should be applied as directed by the product label."

Before You Go

Up-And-Coming Summer Holiday Destinations
Georgia(01 of08)
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Georgia is an atmospheric country – a Eurasian crossroads with a deep, strange history. Travel writer Rick Steves says of Tbilisi old town: ‘Decay becomes beautiful in this charming Tbilisi neighbourhood. Abandoned churches and crumbling foundations blend handsomely with ornately carved balconies, grapevines and a buzz of life’.

A country of rugged mountain landscapes with plunging valleys, vineyards and hilltop watchtowers, Georgia is far removed from the Chiantishire crowds. You’ll receive the warmest hospitality from the resilient and proud Georgians, whether you’re sampling excellent local vintages in funky wine bars or buying walnuts from a babushka at the metro station.
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Albania(02 of08)
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Once upon a time, mysterious, closed Albania ruled by King Zog was the stuff of legends. Gradually, only brave backpackers ventured within her borders to discover… an absolute delight.

Lisa Eldridge of GirlabouttheGlobe says: ‘Albania. What do I love about it? It has mountains, it has beaches, UNESCO sites, and it has a very colourful capital city with great bars and restaurants.’

You no longer have to be intrepid to visit Albania, but travelling around still feels like an adventure.
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Vietnam(03 of08)
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Previously a war-torn, no-go country even as late as the 1990s, Vietnam is resurging as a must-visit destination. It’s inexpensive once you’re there – £35 a day covers decent accommodation, food, travel and sightseeing. If you love cities, head to Hanoi. Its yellow French colonial architecture backdrops the frenetic sensory-assault from yelling hawkers, beeping mopeds and scents of lemongrass and garlic from the street food vendors. Little pools of calm include the old quarter and Hoan Kiem lake where both the young and elderly play chess and practise t’ai chi. (credit:Yellow Dog Productions via Getty Images)
Serbia(04 of08)
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Serbia’s party scene is not to be underestimated. As one of the world’s top clubbing destinations, Belgrade rivals even Berlin, and hosts the EXIT Festival in Novi Sad. If you’re not into underground techno, you’ll find more diurnal delights outside Belgrade. The art nouveau architecture of Subotica echoes Gaudi’s Barcelona. Multicultural, medieval Novi Pazar with its Ottoman minarets and Serbian Orthodox domes hints at Serbia’s complex history, and the mountainous region of Zlatibor is Alpine in all but name and price tag. (credit:Katarina Stefanovic via Getty Images)
Estonia(05 of08)
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Prices for accommodation, food and transport are low in this seldom-travelled gem. The capital, Tallinn, has one of Europe’s loveliest medieval walled cities at its heart, all winding streets, cobblestones, gabled houses, as well as the domed St Mary’s Cathedral. Rummage in the Russian flea market opposite the train station for vintage crockery, enjoy some avant-garde performances at the Von Krahl Theatre and see the Museum of Contemporary Art, as much for its stunning glass and limestone building as for the exhibits. (credit:Henryk Sadura via Getty Images)
Bolivia(06 of08)
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Often overlooked in favour of the more high-profile South American destinations (Peru and Brazil), Bolivia is cheaper (get by on £30 per day) but no less exciting. La Paz, the bustling capital city ringed with snow-capped mountains, is an eye opener, while nature lovers can tour the Amazon Rainforest and the Pampas, looking out for howler monkeys and capybaras. Oh, and don’t miss the Bolivian Salt Flats – an eerily silent, blinding white lunar landscape, dotted with flamingos. (credit:Amy Kristine Hansen via Getty Images)
New Mexico(07 of08)
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The surreal, parched New Mexico desert was as much the star of Breaking Bad as Walter White, but don’t let all that malarky put you off. Everything in volcanic New Mexico is big, hot and deep – from the 80ft-deep warm Blue Hole pool, brilliant gypsum White Sands to the huge starry night skies, clear enough to see the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye. Outdoor types love New Mexico’s forests, natural hot springs, limestone cave systems, intriguing rock formations and troglodyte dwellings dotted with mystical petroglyphs. And when you’ve had your fill of natural phenomena, fill up on New Mexico’s cheap and idiosyncratic cuisine. (credit:Keith Kapple via Getty Images)
Galicia(08 of08)
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Everybody thinks they know Spain, but there are still little pockets of undiscovered Iberian loveliness. Galicia is one, and it’s cheaper than the Costas of the south because of its popularity with Spanish families.

The main reason to visit Galicia is its seafood, widely recognised as the best in the country. Tapas bars here are some of Spain’s most exciting. Sample razor clams, squid, cockles, and Galicia’s national dish, boiled octopus.
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