Acne: How do I choose the right sunscreen?

You should not skip your sunscreen when you go out if you want to avoid skin damage from the sun and the signs of aging. It is important to wear sunscreen every day and especially if you have acne prone skin. However, there is a caveat: oily sunscreens can clog pores and lead to pimples in people who are prone to acne.

The skin has pores, tiny holes that open the hair follicles. The follicle is a biological unit consisting of one or more hairs, a sebaceous gland, blood vessels, nerves and a muscle that can straighten hair. The pore is the end of the follicle that releases sebum, which travels along the hair and is channeled out of the skin, keeping it oily and soft.

Which sunscreens are suitable for acne?

1. Oil-free and non-comedogenic

When you have acne, you have clogged pores and the treatment aims to open the pores. If you apply anything oily on your skin, you will probably clog your pores again. To avoid this, use sunscreen (or other cosmetic products) without oils. When a cosmetic product does not contain oil, it states on its packaging (oil free), it can also state that it does not clog pores or that it is non-comedogenic. These sunscreens have a light and delicate texture.

Two popular ingredients in sunscreens that are considered non-comedogenic are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which do not absorb ultraviolet radiation but reflect it and deflect it like small mirrors. These are referred to as natural protection filters because they are metals. Some sunscreens contain them as ground powder molecules. Their advantage is that they keep away the full spectrum of sunlight, do not penetrate too deep into the skin, have no hormonal effect, nor have known cases of allergic reactions.

2. Mild compositions

Experts advise anyone who is prone to acne to buy unscented sunscreens, silicones and sodium sulfates, which can irritate the skin. They also suggest staying away from sunscreens rich in coconut oil, mineral oils, soybean oils, lanolin and cocoa butter. Also, stay away from sunscreens that contain the active ingredients oxybenzone and PABA. Also, pay attention to the expiration dates and how your sunscreen is stored.

If the sunscreen has expired or the ingredients have been exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures, then the chemicals may have dissolved and become irritating to the skin.

3. Protection index SPF30 or higher

It is important to apply the right sunscreen if you have acne not only because it does not worsen the condition of your skin but also because some acne treatments make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Of course you have to use a wide range of sunscreen. UVB rays are the ones that tan and burn the skin, representing a large part of the sun damage. Some sunscreens only protect against this type of UV light. UVA rays also damage the skin and are the ones that mainly cause photoaging and discoloration. To fully protect your skin from the sun, you must have a product that also protects against UVA rays. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the use of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. This will block about 97% of the UV rays.

4. Sun protection in combination with acne treatment products

This is especially useful for people with acne prone skin who use anti-acne products that contain alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, salicylic acid or retinol. If you use retinoids to treat acne, you should pay close attention to the use of sunscreen because even though you use retinoids at night, they make the skin more sensitive to the sun. Make sure the sunscreen you use on your face is actually designed for the face and not the body as these products are less likely to irritate your skin.

What causes acne?

Sebum can be blocked if the pore is blocked by bacteria, dead skin cells or dust and other dirt sitting on the skin. If this happens, pimples may develop and if your skin is repeatedly affected by this condition, you may develop acne.

Acne mainly affects the face, back, neck, chest and shoulders but can occur almost anywhere on the body. On the face it can over time cause permanent scarring. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments that reduce both pimples and the risk of scarring.

Acne pimples are an inflammatory condition. In the case of common acne, the evil starts from the so-called eateries. If you have acne, you will usually notice blackheads (pimples) or white pimples – both of which are known as pimples. Babies are essentially open pores on the surface of the skin that take the form of a black spot due to oxygen in the air (oxidized melanin gives this color) while white pimples are closed pores below the surface of the skin, having a white appearance.

While pimples and whiteheads are the most common lesions seen in acne, other types can also occur e.g. papules (small, red, bumps caused by inflamed or infected hair follicles), blisters (small pimples that have pus on their tip), nodules (solid, often painful bumps under the surface of the skin) and cysts (large bumps located below from the skin, have pus and are usually painful).

Acne can be caused by a lot of sebum produced in the hair follicles. Pimples occur when bacteria that feed on sebum grow. There may be a blockage in the pore and sebum cannot escape. This condition is more common in adolescence because during this period the body undergoes hormonal changes that increase sebum production, but it is also present in adults.

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of sunscreens for acne!

References

1. ACNE: OVERVIEW.
2. I HAVE ACNE! IS IT OKAY TO WEAR MAKEUP?
3. The Burning Facts.
4. Current sunscreen controversies: a critical review.