The Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

Let Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body in Johns Creek Help You Care for Sensitive Skin

Redness. Itchy bumps and rashes. Extremely dry skin that is sensitive to the touch.

Burning or prickling sensation. These are just some of the symptoms of sensitive skin.

Fortunately, Dr. Myla and her team at Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body in Johns Creek are experienced working with sensitive skin and can help you narrow down the best sunscreen and other treatments to keep sensitive skin looking and feeling great.

Common Causes of Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, preventing breakouts and steering clear of potential irritants is an essential aspect of skin care.

While some causes of sensitive skin are not easy to control, such as the climate, pollutants in the environment, hormonal changes, and allergies, there are some triggers to sensitive skin that are more easily avoided, such as stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, over-exfoliating, using harsh ingredients or products, and sun exposure.

How Sun Damage Affects Sensitive Skin

Exposure to sunlight is healthy in moderation, as it is an important source of vitamin D; however, UV radiation from the sun stresses the skin and causes the production of free radicals, which weakens skin and can lead to increased irritation, dryness, and aging.

Skin can also be damaged by HEV (High-Energy Visible) Light, which penetrates the lower layers of the skin, causing it to prematurely age in the form of hyperpigmentation and age spots.

What to Look for When Buying Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin

If you have especially sensitive skin, you will need to regularly protect skin with the best sunscreen for sensitive skin. Here are just a few things to look out for the next time you’re buying sunscreen:

Protection Against UVA/UVB Rays and HEV Light

Dr. Myla at Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body recommends that people with sensitive skin apply a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays as well as HEV Light. This protection helps prevent sensitive skin from redness, burns, premature aging and more.

High SPF

A sunscreen with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is preferred; in fact, the higher the SPF, the better. Dr. Myla says SPF 50 is her go-to factor to protect her skin year-round.

Water Resistant

If you know you’re going to be in water, whether at the pool, beach or lake, look for a sunscreen that is water resistant. A water-resistant sunscreen will help protect skin while you’re in the water, but remember to reapply at least every two hours (or after swimming or sweating) for optimum protection.

Fragrance-Free

It is especially important to check the list of ingredients for possible irritants to sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, the best sunscreen will also be fragrance-free. There is a high probability of having a reaction to a fragrance, since an artificial fragrance can contain hundreds of chemical or botanical elements. Any one of these components might trigger a reaction.

Free of Preservatives and Chemicals

Preservatives, such as parabens, and chemicals, like Oxybenzone, often cause reactions in people with sensitive skin, so it’s important to buy a sunscreen without these elements.

No Alcohol

Alcohols, such as ethanol, SD alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and denatured alcohol, in skin care products can be very drying and irritating for sensitive skin, especially if it is listed as one of the first six ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to avoid a sunscreen with alcohol.

EXCEPTION: Some types of alcohol are not as harsh for sensitive skin, such as cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl alcohol. These alcohols should be perfectly fine for sensitive skin. They typically help to keep the ingredients stable and give a pleasing texture to the product.

What Sunscreen to Buy: SPF 50 Sunscreen From ZO® Skin Health

Dr. Myla at Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body recommends Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen From ZO® Skin Health as the best sunscreen for sensitive skin. In addition to protecting skin from UVA/UVB rays and HEV Light, Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen From ZO® Skin Health also has anti-redness properties and is Oxybenzone free, making it an ideal choice for sensitive skin.

Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen From ZO® Skin Health is also water and perspiration resistant, so you can feel confident that it will protect your skin on trips to the pool or when partaking in outdoor activities.

Tips for Applying Your Sensitive Skin Sunscreen

So now that you have the best sunscreen for sensitive skin on hand, it is important to know how to apply it.

Wear sunscreen year-round – even on cloudy days – because UVA, UVB, and HEV rays are always present.

It’s also critical that you apply the right amount of sunscreen; if you apply too little, you may not be fully protected.

When applying sunscreen to exposed areas of the body, use one ounce or a shot glass full of sunscreen as your minimum amount. Many people do not apply enough sunscreen for it to reach its full protection.

Visit Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body for Sensitive Skin Treatments

Are you ready to get help for your sensitive skin? Call (678) 325-0006 or schedule an appointment online at Preserve your Pretty Skin and Body to learn more about our sensitive skin treatments. Our plastic surgery office and medical spa is conveniently located in Johns Creek, Georgia. Start now to ensure you’re preserving your pretty for years to come.