Q: I have sensitive skin, every time when I applied sunblock, it will cause an acne-like break out. Should I avoid sunblock completely?
A: Nope. The more sensitive your skin is, the more you need to protect it from the damaging UV rays!
Some patients asked me whether to lower down their SPF to 30 or 25 if they have sensitive skin. The answer is also a NO. As our weather here is so hot and sunny, we should always use a sunblock with SPF 50 or higher.
If you have an allergic reaction due to your sunblock, the problem is you have chosen a wrong one, i.e. you have chosen a chemical one instead of a physical one.
Chemical sunscreen ingredients include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. They absorbs into the skin and then absorbs UV rays, converts the rays into heat, and releases them from the body. As they are absorbed into the skin, they have a high incidence of causing skin allergy.
On the other hand, physical sunblock active ingredients should be only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They do not get absorbed and only sit on top of the skin and reflect the sun’s rays. Therefore, you cannot have an allergic reaction to these physical sunscreens. Physical sunblock deflect the sun’s UV rays instead of absorbing them as chemical sunscreens do.
Beware of some of the so-called physical sunblocks in the market that contain both physical and chemical sunscreen filters. This type of sunblock will cause skin allergy as well as they also contain absorbable chemical sunscreen ingredients.
So, please read the fine prints carefully if you have sensitive skin. Make sure they ONLY contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Dr Tan
