3 Things to Consider When Buying an SPF Product for Acne-Prone Skin

Some people hate applying an SPF product as they think it worsens their breakouts. But that is not true because protecting your skin from the sun is equally important as protecting it from breakouts. It’s just that some people fail at considering some essential things before purchasing their SPF products.

Here’s a post on things to note when purchasing a product with an SPF for acne-prone skin.

Consider the SPF rating.

The SPF rating is very important as it indicates how much protection an SPF product could give to your skin against the sun’s UVB rays. Most dermatologists would suggest any SPF with ratings of 30 or more.

A common misconception is that higher SPF means more greasiness and oil, but that is not true. Higher SPF means higher protection and allows you a more prolonged exposure to the sun. So, consider your activities first. Will you be only doing routine daily errands? Or will you be going on a beach vacation? Cricketers never forget to wear sunscreen as they have to play cricket on long sunny days.

It is imperative that the SPF rating you choose should match your activities. For example, you could opt for a lower SPF for acne-prone skin if you are most likely to stay at home, at school, or in cloudy weather.

Some SPF products could also come with PA ratings. The PA rating on the product indicates how much protection the product could give to your skin against the UVA rays. PA ratings are new features and are usually marked with “PA++” or “PA+++” labels, and more “+” signs mean more protection.

Consider the ingredients and properties.

Here are some tips you should check on the ingredients list or labels before buying your SPF product:

• Oxybenzone, avobenzone, and homosalate in most chemical SPF products are harmful to acne-prone skin. Therefore, these are ingredients you would likely want to avoid.

• Consider opting for products with non-comedogenic properties. Non-comedogenic means no ingredient in the product could clog your pores. It is an essential property for acne-prone skin as anything that clogs the pores causes breakouts.

• Avoid products with artificial fragrances, dyes, and parabens, as they usually irritate those with acne-prone skin.

• Consider using physical SPF products with zinc and titanium as the ingredients only as they help minimise the skin’s oiliness.

• Check for SPF products that are oil-free. Oil-free properties are usually indicated in the product label as more manufacturers are inclining to oil-free variations to cater to acne-prone customers.

Consider the texture

Know which product texture is more suitable for you. If you want something that your skin could easily absorb, you might want to check for products that come in gels and sprays.

There are also water-based SPF formulas that are friendly for acne-prone skin, and they could come in lotions and sprays. They are also easily absorbed and cause minor irritation. There are also cream-like formulations suitable for heavy outdoor activities.

However, checking what products could suit your skin with your dermatologist is always preferable. There could still be other reasons that may trigger your acne breakouts that are not included in the list. In addition, being knowledgeable about what helps your skin against further irritation is one of the best ways to protect it.