Spray-on sunscreen burns woman's arm

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A Chesapeake woman is now the second person in the country to report third-degree burns from a spray-on sunscreen.

Mary Shoulders, a welder by trade, said she's usually pretty tough. She said she applied the sunscreen Saturday then went outside to work when her arm caught on fire.

"My whole arm went on fire," Shoulders said.

The burns extend from her armpit to her wrist. A similar thing happened to a Massachusetts man who used the same sunscreen before barbecuing. Shoulders said she does not plan to sue the sunscreen company but just wants to spread the word.

"These things are dangerous," Shoulders said.

Aerosol sunscreens do contain warnings: "Flammable: do not use near heat, flame or while smoking." Shoulders said she waited about five minutes after applying the sunscreen before she began welding and thought since it was dry it was safe.

WAVY.com contacted the Burn Prevention Network and The American Burn Association .

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.