can sunscreen remove pimples - #14141
I am really confused about whether can sunscreen remove pimples. Last summer, I tried a new sunscreen that was supposed to be great for sensitive skin, but my face totally broke out! I thought maybe it would help since, you know, sun exposure can be a problem for your skin. But instead, I ended up with these painful bumps that wouldn’t go away for weeks. I was talking to my friend who works in skincare, and they said that some ingredients in sunscreens can actually cause breakouts instead of helping. It's frustrating! Now I’m wondering, can sunscreen remove pimples at all? Or is it just making things worse? I've tried multiple products, and sometimes using sunscreen leaves my skin feeling greasy, which I think contributes to more breakouts. Like, do I really need to apply some acne treatment underneath my sunscreen every day? Or could I find a sunscreen that actually helps with breakouts instead of causing them? I just want to know if there's any truth to this can sunscreen remove pimples idea or if I’m just spinning my wheels trying to figure it out! Any advice would be super appreciated.
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Doctors’ responses
Sunscreen itself is not a treatment for pimples and won’t directly remove them. It’s essential to protect your skin from UV radiation, as sun exposure can worsen skin issues and lead to hyperpigmentation, which looks like dark spots, especially post-acne. However, some sunscreen formulations can indeed contribute to acne or breakouts in sensitive or acne-prone skin. This often happens when the sunscreen is comedogenic, meaning it has ingredients that clog pores. Ingredients like certain oils and fragrances can irritate your skin or create a greasy layer that blocks pores, making breakouts more likely. If you’re having breakouts with your sunscreen, you might want to consider switching to a non-comedogenic or oil-free sunscreen specifically labeled as suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Look for broad-spectrum sunscreens with lighter formulations, like gels, fluids, or milks—these can be less likely to cause greasy skin sensations. Some sunscreens include ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are generally less irritating and might help in reducing inflammation, a contributor to acne. If you have active acne, using a separate acne treatment underneath your sunscreen might be beneficial. Products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or adapalene can address active acne lesions. Immediately after cleansing and applying any acne treatment, allow it to absorb fully into your skin before applying sunscreen. Since different individuals respond variously to formulations, it might take some trial and error to find the sunscreen that works best without worsening your acne. If your acne is persistent or scarring is a concern, consulting with a dermatologist could provide personalized recommendations and rule out any underlying conditions that might contribute to breakouts. Remember, the goal is to protect your skin from UV damage without exacerbating acne, which is possible with the right choices.
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