Dr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty
Venereology
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 25-year-old woman. I would like to learn more about how to properly apply sunscreen to protect my skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Could you kindly explain how sunscreen protects the skin from UV rays? What forms of UV radiation are there, and how does sunscreen prevent or absorb them? What is the significance of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen? What categories of UV rays does it shield against? What are the suggested methods for efficiently applying sunscreen? How much sunscreen should I use, and how frequently should I reapply it while in the sun? How do I pick the right sunscreen for my skin type (oily, dry, or sensitive)? Is there sunscreen for certain skin conditions?
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
Sunscreens are essential for protecting skin against aging, sun spots, skin barrier damage, skin cancer, melasma, and other conditions.
Sunscreens are classified into two types:
Physical sunscreens: These sunscreens contain chemicals such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that help in generating physical film protection on the skin and repelling UV radiation by building a shield on the skin.
Chemical sunscreens: These sunscreens make a chemical link with the sun's rays and protect the skin from UV damage.
Although both physical and chemical sunscreens have significant benefits, a mix of the two is optimum for protecting the skin from sun damage.
Depending on your skin type:
For oily skin:
Because of the risk of causing acne, a silicone gel-based face sunscreen is the best choice for oily skin.
For combination skin, use the following products:
Combination skin sunscreens, which can be cream, gel, or lotion formulations, are effective in protecting the skin.
For dry skin:
I would recommend a cream or lotion formulation for dry skin. The silicon gel base composition, on the other hand, will give protection. Cream or lotion formulations are easier to distribute on dry skin and also give hydration and moisturization.
Mode of application:
All sunscreens must be applied at least 20 minutes before going out or as a last step of the skincare routine if at home. Sunscreens are advised to be applied between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., as UV radiation is higher during this time regardless of climate change, season, and skin type. After the first application, every 2 hours, sunscreen needs to be reapplied on the previously applied layer until 5:00 p.m. Usually, one teaspoon of sunscreen is sufficient for the face plus neck, one teaspoon for both arms and one teaspoon for each forearm and hand. The best sunscreen would be a silicon gel-based sunscreen with SPF 55, which protects against UVA, UVB, and UVC (ultraviolet A, B, and C). Where UVA is highly penetrative; however, UVC is also present on laptops, LED lights, telephone lights, and so on. I hope this helps.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
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Venereology
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