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applying sunscreen at night
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Skin & Hair Concerns
Question #14366
6 days ago
32

applying sunscreen at night - #14366

Myra

I am really curious about applying sunscreen at night. I've been reading a lot online and heard mixed things. Like, my friend said that applying sunscreen at night totally makes no sense, but I've heard from a couple of sources that it might help? I mean, I usually apply my skin care routine every evening after washing my face, but I never think about sunscreen since I'm not in the sun then. The other day, I was in this late-night party and saw someone reapplying sunscreen even when it was dark out. That got me thinking—should I be applying sunscreen at night too? I've always thought sunscreen was just for the day, but what if my skin still needs it at night? I'm super confused by all this! Also, does applying sunscreen at night mess with my moisture products or other treatments? I really dunno if it would do more harm than good. Has anyone had a good experience with related to applying sunscreen at night? Or is this just a waste of product? I feel like I'm missing something important here, and I need to figure it out.

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Doctors’ responses

Applying sunscreen at night isn’t really necessary, especially when you’re inside and away from direct sunlight. Sunscreen is formulated to protect the skin from harmful UV rays, which aren’t a concern after the sun sets. Your friend’s right that sunscreen typically serves its purpose during the day when you’re exposed to sunlight. At night, focus should ideally be on products that encourage skin repair and hydration. When you apply moisturizers or other treatments in your nighttime skin care routine, those are designed to work without the interference of sunscreen. Sunscreens can form a barrier that might prevent your night-time products from fully absorbing into the skin, potentially diminishing their effectiveness. If you’ve read sources suggesting nighttime sunscreen use, it’s possible they’re referencing specific contexts like high-energy visible (HEV) light from screens, which might be a consideration for some. However, even for this, a good antioxidant or a blue light-specific product might suffice rather than sunscreen. Stick to deleting your face thoroughly, following with a suitable moisturizer and perhaps serums or retinoids appropriate for your skin type. If you’re worried about blue light, there are easier ways like adjusting screen settings, using night mode, or reducing screen time. Overall, you’re unlikely missing something crucial by not applying sunscreen at night. Save it for daytime when it can really do its job.

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