Submit your skincare questions to Dr. Agnes, CEO of Herborium and natural medicine expert
Summer is in full swing, and if you're like most people, you're spending more time enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately, all this extra time outside puts you at risk for suntans and sunburns. Using sunscreen may be an easy fix to this problem but you need to use it right and... you should match your sunscreen with your skin type.
There is also a myth that sun exposure will treat acne - as tanned skin may make pimples a little less visible, exposure to UV rays causes inflammation; the last thing that acne prone skin needs. Therefore, it is important to actually know what criteria your sunscreen should meet to provide a solution, not a problem, to healthy skin.
Most people assume that there's not much difference between different brands of sunscreen. Of course the SPF level may vary, but other than that, they all do the same thing, right?
This couldn't be further from the truth!
There are actually two primary categories of sunscreen - physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens do exactly what they sound like they should do and physically block the sun's rays from reaching you. By using chemicals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, these products reflect sunlight and keep it from affecting your skin. On the other hand, chemical sunscreen doesn't block the sun's rays-it absorbs them to keep them from reaching your skin.
Unfortunately, there's no clear winner when it comes to the debate between physical and chemical sunscreens. Physical brands will typically not clog your pores as badly, but they also have a tendency to dry your skin out. While chemical brands may clog your pores, they often include some moisturizing agents that your skin especially needs over the summer.
So, finding a sunscreen that works with your skin type and not against it may take some trial and error on your part. However, once you find a brand that clicks, you'll be glad you spent the extra effort!
It's a common misconception that all people with acne have oily skin, so choosing an acne-safe sunscreen will not be the same for everyone.
If your skin is flaky and frequently itchy and blotchy, you may want to go with a chemical sunscreen. These symptoms indicate that you suffer from dry skin, and the moisturizing effect of the chemical sunscreen could be beneficial.
Conversely, if your skin has that slick, shiny look all the time, you're probably dealing with oily skin-in which case you might try a physical sunscreen, since your skin can better deal with its drying effects.
Whichever variety of sunscreen you ultimately decide on, look for an all-natural brand. While some chemicals like zinc oxide are necessary, unavoidable, and safe on your skin, natural sunscreens will cut down on all the unnecessary, synthetic ingredients that could potentially harm your skin and your health.
In reality, sunscreen will have little effect on acne breakouts for most people. Choosing the wrong brand may make your current breakout worse, but sunscreen can never be a primary cause of acne. Even though the symptoms of this condition develop on the skin's surface, its origins are actually much more internal.
Hormones do not send signals by the way but directly stimulate sebaceous glands and this is why AcnEase has a unique mechanism of action as it DOES NOT change hormones but serves as a buffer between them and the sebaceous glands. When there is an imbalance between your hormone levels, this can send a message to your sebaceous glands (located directly beneath the surface of your skin) to produce excess sebum (i.e. skin oil). This sebum begins to clog your pores, which leads to the growth of acne-causing bacteria-and this is the real culprit behind your acne breakouts.
Topical products like sunscreen are no match for the power of your hormones, and your acne breakouts will continue to persist, regardless of the type of sun protection you use if you don't address the underlying causes. AcnEase was designed to be a safe and natural way to treat the hormonal root of acne. It helps clear up current breakouts and prevents new ones from occurring, not by altering your hormone levels but by altering their effect on your sebaceous glands.
Be safe, find a sunscreen that works for you, and be on your way to enjoy an acne-free life.
With a Promise of Clear Skin, Dr. A