You’d expect a sunscreen to protect your skin from burns not cause them. Banana Boat spray-on sunscreen products have been recalled over concernes they will make your skin burst into flames.
When people literally catch on fire after applying sunscreen, it makes one happy the cold season is here. Banana Boat has recalled 23 spray-on sunscreen products after five people caught on fire this past year after applying them on skin and coming in contact with a flame or a spark. So add spray-on sunscreen to the potential fire hazards in your home.
The company has decided to recall 23 varieties of UltraMist sunscreen off the market since recent reports have shown users are at risk of bursting into flames. The label on the product does read that the spray-on sunscreen shouldn’t be used “in the presence of a flame or a spark”. And that includes any sources of ignition such as a cigarette.
UltraMist Sport, UltraMist Ultra Defense and UltraMist Kids are just three of the 23 varieties Banana Boat is recalling. A spokesperson for Energizer Holdings explained the decision was taken after five people caught on fire and suffered skin burns after applying the spray-on sunscreen. Four of them were from United States and one from Canada.
“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” explained the company. So, if you own one of the 20 million units sold since 2010, you’d better forget about lighting a cigarette or your aromatherapy candles.
The company spokesperson added the risk of bursting into flames is caused by UltraMist’s spray valve. The spray-on sunscreen takes longer to dry and it makes it dangerous for anybody close to an open flame. And although there were 20 million Banana boat spray-on sunscreen sold during the last two years, skin burn experts say reports of people catching on fire are very rare. Plus, it’s not like it’s breaking news that the ingredients in aerosol sprays are a fire hazard.
“The alcohol and petroleum products listed on the containers are flammable, so the only thing you’re missing in the heat triangle is an ignition source” Dan Dillard, Burn Prevention Network executive director, told the Huffington Post.