QUESTION

May a woman apply sunscreen on Tisha b’Av (she is not photosensitive)? May she apply antibiotic ointment or Vaseline to a rash when it flares up to reduce itchiness?

ANSWER

Ointment applied to a rash is definitely permitted. Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 554:15 states:

סיכה אינה אסורה אלא של תענוג; אבל מי שיש לו חטטין בראשו, סך כדרכו ואינו חושש.

Anointing is forbidden only when it is done for pleasure. One who has sores on his head, however, may apply ointment in the usual manner without concern.

See also Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 554:9.

Sunscreen is also not a problem, for two reasons.

First, it is not applied shel ta’anug (for pleasure). See the Bi’ur Halakhah ad loc., which permits sikhah (anointing) even when it is done merely leha’avir et hazuhama (to remove an unpleasant smell or body odor).

Second, sunscreen is not really sikhah at all. Sikhah refers to applying something that is absorbed into the skin in order to make the skin moist and supple. One rubs oil into the skin.

As the Mishnah Berurah 554:28 explains:

סיכה מיקרי בדבר שדרכו לסוך בו, כגון בשמן או בחלב, בבורית וכהאי גוונא.

It is considered sikhah when one uses a substance normally applied as an ointment, such as oil, fat, soap, or something similar.

Sunscreen, by contrast, is spread over the skin, and ideally one does not want it to be absorbed into the skin. Additionally, having greasy sunscreen all over one’s body is the opposite of ta’anug (pleasure).

Similarly, underarm deodorant is not a problem. It is not applied for the sake of ta’anug, but rather leha’avir et hazuhama (to remove an unpleasant smell). Its purpose is to apply the deodorant to the underarm area, not to have it absorbed into the skin in order to make the skin supple.