What is the Best Sunscreen for Someone with Acne?
The variety of sunscreens available at your local drugstore can often be intimidating. There are many great sunscreens for people with acne-prone skin, but it is important to know what you are looking for. Patients with acne are often using acne medications, such as retinoids or oral antibiotics, which make their skin more susceptible to sunburn. In-office procedures for the treatment of acne, such as Photodynamic Therapy, also make the skin very sensitive to the sun.
The most important thing for a patient with acne to look for when purchasing a sunscreen is the phrase “non-comedogenic” (or “non-acnegenic.”) This means that the sunscreen has been tested and proven not to contribute to the formation of acne lesions. Many great sunscreens are non-comedogenic. Dr. Schweiger recommends Elta MD UV Clear, La Roche Posay Anthelios with Mexoryl, and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch with Helioplex for his acne patients. He has also formulated his own sunscreen for acne-prone skin, called CompleteMe AM, and a tinted moisturizer with SPF 45.
