How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Oily Skin
According to the American Cancer Society, you are more likely to develop skin cancer over any other type of cancer. Over five million cases of the disease are diagnosed yearly. Fortunately, skin cancer can be avoided, and wearing sunscreen is one easy way to reduce your risks. If you have oily skin, then you may avoid the use of sunscreen. Certain products can clog your pores, but sun protection is still important. To protect your skin without developing acne, keep reading.
Find Non-Comedogenic Products
A comedo is the name of the pimple you see when a skin pore clogs. Blackheads and whiteheads are comedos and develop when debris closes off a hair follicle. Sebum, or skin oil, causes most comedos, and the condition is a mild form of acne. If you experience mild acne or comedos, then some skin care products can worsen the condition. Products that create a thick barrier over the skin prevent sebum from exiting the pores. Your skin then develops pimples. Fortunately, most UV blocking ingredients in sunscreen are non-comedogenic. In other words, the active sunscreen ingredients that protect your skin do not clog your pores. Certain additives will though. Dyes, coloring agents, coal tar, thickening agents, and alcohols are a few examples of pore clogging ingredients. When looking for sunscreen to buy, read the labels carefully. Look for a product with very few or no additives. Also, search for sunscreen labeled for oily skin or look for one that is non-comedogenic.
Buy Oil-Free Sunscreen
When searching for a product, look for one that says it’s oil-free. Ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil, vegetable oil, cotton seed oil, soybean oil, and wheat germ oil are common sunscreen additives that will make your skin oily. Unfortunately, most long-lasting and waterproof sunscreens contain oils. If you want the lasting power of an eight-hour product without the acne, then buy one with an oil that will not clog the pores. Almond, jojoba, neem, sunflower seed, hemp seed, and argan oil are a few examples of oils to look for. However, the oil should not be the first item on the ingredient list. Sunscreen with too much oil can leave the skin feeling oily, even if it does not clog the pores. If you do decide to stick with an oil-free sunscreen, apply the lotion every one to two hours. Oil-free products come off easily, and constant application is necessary to protect the skin.
Avoid Minerals
Many sunscreen products contain mineral protectants like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients offer excellent UV protection. However, manufacturers create a thick paste by mixing the minerals with other compounds. The paste sits over the top of your skin and repels UVA and UVB rays. This can cause pores to clog. Avoid sunscreens with minerals to keep acne at bay. Look for products with chemical filters instead. Unfortunately, some chemical filters can penetrate the skin and cause hormone disruption issues. To reduce chemical concerns, opt for sun protection with avobenzone. Avobenzone does not cause hormonal imbalances in the body and only a small amount of the chemical is absorbed into the skin. The chemical is as safe as mineral UV blockers and does not cause allergic reactions in most people. Avobenzone is a common sunscreen ingredient as well, so you can easily find a product that contains it. If you cannot find a product with the chemical filter, look for one with octocrylene instead. Octocrylene can trigger an allergic dermatitis reaction, however, so keep this in mind if you have sensitive skin. Contact a dermatologist if you want to learn more about sunscreen, skin cancer, and the best products to buy for protection. At Asheboro Dermatology & Skin Surgery, we’ll happily help you find the best sunscreens, and you can easily make an appointment with our office.