Skin, skin glorious skin! The body’s biggest organ, and often the source of several problems for many Australians, but whether you’re working with sensitive, oily, dry or acne-prone skin, or have perfect skin (lucky you), it is vital to look after it and protect it from harmful UVA & UVB rays!
So why do some people get oily skin?
Sebum is the oily substance, produced by the sebaceous glands, that protects and hydrates the skin. Sebum is vital for healthy skin, however, too much sebum can cause inflammation, oily skin, clogged pores, and acne.
There is a combination of factors going on and every person is different as to which one contributes the most to their oil levels or acne. Hence, treating oily or acne-prone skin requires multiple different approaches.
While many people with acne-prone or oily skin steer clear of moisturisers and sunscreens for fear that their skin will look greasier, using the right products can benefit this type of skin.
Image Shutter Stock.
But let’s hear what the professional has to say on ‘Sunscreen for Oily or Acne-Prone skin’?
We sat down with Dr. Scott McGregor, Skin Cancer Doctor and We Are Feel Good Inc. Co-Founder.
Oily or Acne-prone skin usually means your skin is producing excess sebum (from sebaceous glands), meaning it’s prone to inflammation and is susceptible to pores blocking.
As was mentioned earlier there are many different approaches for a daily skincare and sunscreen régime for people with oily skin, there is no single fix for everyone.
We are Feel Good Inc. Sensitive Sunscreen was designed with a combination of powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant rich ingredients, to help reduce skin inflammation and protect from environmental factors. These include vitamin E and Aloe Vera. It also contains no fragrance, meaning less skin irritation, and contains none of the traditional preservatives that are known to irritate some skin types.
Dr. Scott McGregor
So it’s ok to use on your face?
Yes, our Sensitive is also packed with emollients (moisturisers), without feeling thick or greasy, so it can act as your daily face moisturiser & sunscreen with SPF 50+, without blocking your pores.
It must also be stressed that people on some acne medications require extra sun-protection, for example, Roaccutane (vitamin A) and some antibiotics. If you are on either of these, it makes it even more important to find a daily face sunscreen that suits.
There is an unfortunate myth that sunscreen is bad for acne and that getting a good dose of UV will help your acne. This is untrue. It will not help your acne and it will cause premature ageing of your skin.
Dr. Scott McGregor
What sunscreen should I use for sensitive skin?
For both your face and body, again, the best sunscreen for sensitive skin is our Sensitive Sunscreen! We’ve removed the ingredients that commonly cause reactions & removed fragrance. If you do suffer from sensitive skin, we do always recommend you do a patch test first and if your symptoms persist, we encourage you to see a skin specialist.
Click here to shop our Sensitive Sunscreen
Image via Ophelia Creative.
Does sunscreen cause pimples?
This is one of the most common sunscreen myths. I get asked about it a lot!
There's probably a couple of reasons why some people may think this, sunscreens containing zinc can be a little bit thick for example, and that may clog pores, which in turn may aggravate some people's acne. Some of the inorganic chemicals in sunscreens may also irritate the skin. You may get a bit of redness or irritation from that, but there's no evidence that sunscreens actually worsen your acne. Having said that, people who are prone to acne will most likely have to look around and find what works for them. Obviously the less greasy sunscreens will be better because they won't block your pores as much, but sunscreen as a whole is really important in acne-prone skin, like any skin.
Dr. Scott McGregor
Head to our Youtube channel for more from Dr Scott.
We Are Feel Good Inc. Youtube.