Does the sun help acne?
When it comes to the sun and acne, you may wonder if it’s actually a benefit or not. Does staying out in the sunshine help to dull down a breakout, and will applying sunscreen just make things worse? Here we help you to separate the myths from the facts and care for your acne-prone skin safely.
Benefits of the sun
This isn’t to say that all sun exposure is bad. The sun is actually one of our body’s major sources of vitamin D that’s responsible for keeping our bones healthy and strong. It also helps us to feel happier as it increases the release of serotonin – the hormone that makes us feel good. Many people with acne may feel that the sunshine improves their skin simply for this reason. When we feel good, many aspects of our health – including our skin – can improve.
Getting the balance right
So how can you enjoy the benefits of the sun while ensuring your skin is adequately protected from damage? The most important and effective way of protecting your skin is by wearing daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. If you’re concerned about sun protection adding additional oil to your skin, then make sure you invest in a formula suited to your skin type. There are now a multitude of sunscreens to try that are matte and non-comedogenic and suitable for blemish-prone skin.
La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios range has been tested via clinical studies carried out in-vivo on subjects suffering from sun intolerances, particularly those caused by UVA rays. This showed that Anthelios products all have a high PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) factor. Anthelios Anti-Shine Face Mist, for example, is suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin and suitable for skin that is prone to sensitivity, sun-intolerance or prickly-heat and provides Exceptionally high broad, photostable UVA/UVB & Infrared protection.
It’s also important to note that wearing sunscreen doesn’t stop your body from absorbing that all-important vitamin D. Just 15 minutes of time outside, in addition to a healthy balanced diet, will give your body the amount of vitamin D it needs.
*Survey conducted on 267 dermatologists by La Roche-Posay in the UK, July 2019. The efficacy has been proven by a file of 16 clinical studies carried out by world-renowned expert dermatologists. Shop La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios RangeFeatured Product
