Best Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin

Protection from the sun is essential for all skin types. However, as with any other product, people who suffer from acne tend to have difficulty finding the right sunscreen. If you have acne-prone skin, the trial-and-error process of finding a sunscreen that suits you can be very frustrating since even the best-rated ones can cause severe flare-ups. One disappointment after another can tempt you to just give up entirely and skip sunscreen altogether, but don’t! Believe it or not, protecting your skin from sun damage will help improve the condition of your acne. You just need some direction in finding the right one.

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Best Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin

Benefits of Sunscreen on Acne-Prone Skin

1) Helps retain moisture.

Sun exposure can damage your skin, dry it up, and weaken its ability to hold moisture. That leads to excessively dry skin, which makes you more susceptible to a variety of skin conditions. When you’re prone to acne, that might trigger a response to overcompensate the dryness with excessive oil production. Consequently, you’ll suffer from more frequent and more severe breakouts. By protecting your skin from the sun, you’re also protecting yourself from flare-ups.

2) Minimizes free radical damage.

Apart from drying up your skin, excess exposure to the sun can lead to free radical damage. When your skin cells are exposed to too much UV rays from sunlight, it triggers an inflammatory response. But when you have acne, you’re already battling inflammation in the first place. So, further inflammation could lead to more severe acne flare-ups or even worse skin conditions.

3) Prevents acne scar darkening.

It’s a common myth that exposing acne flare-ups to the sun will help it dry more quickly. Others, on the other hand, believe that getting a tan will help camouflage the appearance of acne scars. But the truth is, sun exposure causes all types of skin to darken. You can’t really select which parts of your face you want to darken and which to keep the same shade. So, as the rest of your face becomes darker, so do your scarring, which just makes everything look worse. It’s a better choice to protect your scars from sun damage to keep it healthy and encourage rejuvenation.

How to Choose a Sunscreen When You Have Acne

These are excellent properties to look for in a sunscreen no matter what skin type you have but most especially when you’re prone to acne:

1) Non-comedogenic

This is perhaps the most important property to look for in a sunblock, especially when you suffer from acne. Many will recommend oil-free products, thinking that’s enough to keep from aggravating acne. But, many non-oil ingredients can cause breakouts. For example, a product containing lanolin could be oil-free but could still cause pores to clog and acne to flare up. So, to really avoid clogging, look for products that are labeled non-comedogenic rather than just oil-free.

2) Type of protection

Generally, there are two types of sunscreens: chemical sunscreens and physical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and work by scattering UV rays so as not to cause damage. On the other hand, physical sunscreens sit atop the skin to create a barrier that should filter out both types of UV rays. When you’re prone to acne, you’ll need to choose between the two types carefully. Physical sunscreens are not absorbed by the skin and, therefore, are less likely to cause flareups. But, you’ll need to apply these products generously and more frequently.

3) Broad-spectrum

There are two types of UV rays to protect your skin from: UVA and UVB. UVB mostly affects the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin. It is the type that is linked to most skin cancers. UVA is also linked to cancer, but to a lesser extent. It affects the dermis, which is the most substantial part of the skin. Early sunscreen formulations were developed to protect only from UVA. So, for ideal protection, choose a broad-spectrum product, which would shield your skin from both UVA and UVB.

4) Sweat-proof

For daily use, you probably won’t need a waterproof sunblock. But, it’s best to choose one that will stay on your skin even when you’re sweating. So, look for formulations that are sweat-proof or water-resistant. This is especially important if you live an active lifestyle. But if you don’t sweat too much throughout the day, you don’t really need to make this property a priority.