Sunscreen is an essential skincare product to protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays. But what if it is causing you breakouts?
Some sunscreens may have the potential to cause breakouts. This can be tricky, since many acne treatments increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, making sunscreen even more important to use. Luckily, there are several sunscreen options that work well with acne-prone skin.
Some chemical sunscreens work by converting UV rays to heat, which can clog your pores by making you sweat more. Certain oils in sunscreen such as coconut oil, soybean oil and mineral oil can trap sweat and dead skin cells, causing pimples.
Additionally, some sunscreens can contain ingredients that irritate sensitive skin, making you more likely to break out. Ingredients such as oxybenzone, cinnamates, and benzophenones can sometimes cause allergic reactions on the skin.
So how do you know which sunscreens won’t cause your skin to break out? Search for mineral sunscreens if you have sensitive skin, and non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic sunscreens if you have oily and/or acne-prone skin. Non-comedogenic means that the formula will not clog your pores, while non-acnegenic means the product has a focus on not causing acne specifically. Oil and fragrance-free sunscreens are also less likely to clog your pores and irritate your skin.
There are several different types of sunscreen for all types of skin. Choosing the right one for you will allow you to reap all the benefits without jeopardizing your skin’s health.