You’re afraid sunscreen will make your already temperamental skin break out even more.
Besides, who wants to wear a thick, heavy cream on their face every day?
And it’s not just for keeping a sunburn away.
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Skin cancer, premature aging, andhyperpigmentationare all because of the sun.
When you factor in use of photosensitizing acne medications, sunscreen becomes even more of a necessity.
Sunscreen products have come a long way.
So make your skin (and your dermatologist) happy by wearing sunscreen daily.
Choose one that you love, and you won’t mind using it every day.
Oil-free products help keep your face from feeling like an oil slick.
Also, look for the wordnoncomedogenic.This means the product doesn’t contain ingredients that are known to clog pores.
This isn’t a guarantee that the product will keep you breakout-free, but it’s a good start.
Don’t use a sunscreen meant for your body on your face.
These are generally much too thick, heavy, and greasy, and may contribute to breakouts.
But if oily skin is an issue, you’ll be happier with a product that is absorbed quickly.
Sheer lotions and fluidsare very lightweight and fit the bill nicely.
Still, feel too heavy to your oily skin?
A sunscreen gel will make you happier.
These are aqueous and absorb fully into your skin without a trace.
(Yes, it’s possible for you to get burned on your scalp and it’s not pleasant!
Gels protect your head without leaving your hair looking greasy.)
Sunscreen gels also rub in more easily into body areas that have a lot of hair.
Guys, these are great options for your legs and chest.
Sunscreen sprays are also popular, and very lightweight.
One caveat though, confirm you’re applying enough to actually protect your skin.
A light misting won’t do it.
Spray enough so that the skin is glistening with the product.
And “proofread” your software to ensure you haven’t missed a spot.
This protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Some sunscreens will protect only against this jot down of ultraviolet light.
UVA raysdamage the skin as well, and it is these rays that cause aging of the skin.
Overexposure can also cause skin cancer.
The higher the SFP, the more protection it gives you.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 or higher every day.
This will block about 97% of UV rays.
Stay away from sunscreens that contain the active ingredients oxybenzone and PABA.
These are more likely to irritate the skin.
If your skin is ultra-sensitive to products, you should consider amineral sunscreen.
These products use titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
These are less irritating to the skin than other sunscreen ingredients.
One step and you’re done.
Try one; you’ll love it.
You’re already using a moisturizer, aren’t you?
If you said no, maybe you should!
These don’t have to be heavy or greasy either.
And using a moisturizer every day will help you beat acne treatment dryness.
If one product isn’t quite what you’re looking for, try another.
Use Your Sunscreen Along With Your Acne Treatment Products
Using a topical acne treatment?
you’re free to (and should) use sunscreen, too.
Apply your acne treatment medication first, and then wait 20 minutes or until it’s fully absorbed.
you’ve got the option to then apply your sun protection over the top.
While the hundreds of options seem overwhelming, it’s actually a good thing.
You have so many choices there’s definitely a sunscreen out there that is right for your skin.
So, think about what you need from a sunscreen.
People who work in an office all day have vastly different sun protection needs than those who work outdoors.
The longer you spend outdoors the better off you’ll be with a water-resistant, sweat-resistant product.
Once you get into the habit, sun protection won’t seem like a chore.
Latha MS, Martis J, Shobha V, et al.Sunscreening agents: a review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
2013;6(1):1626.
“American Academy of Dermatology.
American Academy of Dermatology, 2017.
“How to Decode Sunscreen Lingo.
“American Academy of Dermatology.
American Academy of Dermatology, 2017.
