How to choose a sunscreen for your skin type

Choosing the right sunscreen is an important step in skin care, especially since each skin type has its own unique characteristics. Determining your skin phototype helps you choose a sunscreen with the right level of protection and filters to maximize its effectiveness. In this article, we will look at how to choose the right sunscreen for different skin phototypes and what nuances need to be considered.

1- Determination of skin phototype

Before choosing a sunscreen, it is important to determine your skin phototype. There are several classifications, and one of the most popular is the Fitzpatrick scale, which divides the skin into six phototypes based on its reaction to ultraviolet light.

How to determine your skin phototype

Determining your skin phototype starts by analyzing how your skin reacts to the sun. People with light skin tend to burn faster and need a cream with a high level of protection. Darker skin, on the other hand, burns less often but also requires protection from UV rays.

• The Fitzpatrick skin phototype test helps to assess the skin's sensitivity to the sun. Depending on the skin phototype, creams with different SPF levels and filters are selected.
• Specifics of care for light and dark skin include the use of sunscreens with different active ingredients and levels of protection.

Skin phototypes according to the Fitzpatrick scale

• First: very fair skin that always burns and never tans. For this phototype it is necessary to use sunscreens with high SPF (50 and above).
• Second: fair skin that burns easily, but may tan slightly. The use of creams with SPF 30-50 is recommended.
• Third: medium skin that sometimes burns and gradually tans. SPF 30 is the optimal choice for this phototype.
• Fourth: olive skin, rarely burns, tans easily. SPF 15-30 is recommended.
• Fifth: dark skin that almost never burns. SPF 15 will suffice.
• Sixth: very dark skin, not prone to burns, but UV protection is still needed.

2. Types of sunscreens

Now that you know your phototype, it's time to decide what type of sunscreen to use. There are two main types of sunscreen: chemical and physical filters. They differ in the principle of action and composition.

Chemical and physical sun filters

Chemical filters absorb UV rays and convert them into safe heat. These creams are easier to apply and do not leave white residue, but may cause irritation on sensitive skin.

• The best sunscreens with chemical filters include ingredients such as avobenzone, oxybenzone and octocrylene. These substances protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Physical filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide create a protective barrier on the skin's surface to reflect the sun's rays. These creams are especially suitable for sensitive and baby skin.

• The best sunscreens with physical filters are recommended for people with sensitive skin because they are less likely to cause allergic reactions. These creams provide effective protection and block both UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreens for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is especially prone to irritation, so for her it is better to choose sunscreens with physical filters that do not contain aggressive chemical components.

• Sunscreens for sensitive skin should be hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and preservative-free so as not to cause redness and inflammation.

High SPF creams for fair skin

People with fair skin (first and second phototype) need creams with high SPF, as they burn faster in the sun.

• High SPF creams for fair skin (SPF 50+) provide reliable protection from UV rays, preventing sunburn and age spots.

3. Proper use of sunscreen

Even the best sunscreen won't do any good if you don't use it correctly. It is important to know how to apply sunscreen correctly and how often to renew it.

How to apply sunscreen correctly

In order for sunscreen to work effectively, it should be applied 15-20 minutes before going outdoors, spreading evenly over the entire surface of exposed skin.

• Instructions for applying sunscreen to the face: apply sunscreen to all areas, including ears, neck and décolletage, avoiding the eyes. For the face, it is better to choose creams specially formulated for this area of the skin.
• Tips for using a cream with SPF in summer: in hot weather, apply the cream every 2-3 hours, especially after swimming or heavy sweating.

UV protection of the skin during the day

Don't forget to renew your protection throughout the day. Even water-resistant sunscreens need to be reapplied after swimming or sunbathing.

• How often you need to reapply sunscreen: renew your layer of sunscreen every 2 hours, and after every bath or intense physical activity.

The importance of reapplying sunscreen

Reapplying sunscreen is key to maximizing protection. Even if the cream is water-resistant, its effectiveness diminishes over time and renewal is necessary to maintain protection.

• Reapplying sunscreen helps avoid sunburn and long-term UV damage to the skin.

The choice of sunscreen depends on your skin phototype, as well as your preferences in terms of composition and texture. People with sensitive and fair skin are recommended to use creams with high SPF and physical filters. Remember to apply the cream properly and renew it throughout the day to maximize UV protection. Determining your skin phototype, using the best sunscreens with physical and chemical filters, and applying the right cream will help keep your skin healthy and protected at all times of the year.

Sunscreen - understand the labeling

How to choose the right sunscreen for your skin type? All these abbreviations: SPF, UVA, IPD, PPD and so on - what do they mean? What's the best way to protect your skin from sunburn: spray or cream? All this in the analysis of sunscreens from an expert, in the role of Irina Evseenko, Deputy Chief Medical Doctor of Minsk Clinical Center of Plastic Surgery and Medical Cosmetology.

Sunscreen Labels Video

If you're going to be out in the sun all day, your skin needs more protection. Even if you already have a solid tan, it's important to choose a quality sunscreen that is sufficient to protect your skin from the sun's rays. If you live in a sunny region, your body is regularly exposed to the sun's rays, and you have developed a thick tan, don't be fooled! A tan will not protect your skin from premature aging or skin cancer. You need extra protection. And the best protection is clothing.

Choose a sunscreen for fair skin

If you have fair skin that burns instantly even in the shade, you might want to consider wearing a light t-shirt after one hour spent in the sun. It is not difficult to buy a T-shirt. You should choose a t-shirt made of 100% cotton. To draw on the T-shirt did not fade from seawater and not faded in the sun, buy a T-shirt, which has a clear volume print. Such T-shirts, the drawing on which creates a volumetric image with a 3D effect, will keep a fresh look for a long time.

Skin phototype

You should choose a sunscreen based on your skin phototype. Simply put, if you have white skin (Types I and II) that hasn't seen the sun in months, you need a sunscreen with a protection rating of 35 to 50. People with darker skin (Types III and IV) can use a cream with lower protection, depending on the intensity of sun exposure and the time of day spent in the sun. Even people with darker skin (Types V and VI) who work in offices get sunburns during their first week in hot climates, unless of course they take protective measures. Whatever the color of your skin, a higher level of protection than that listed in the table is required for sunbathing for the first few days of exposure. Would you like to know what the SPF factor is. What does it mean?

No matter what level of protection your cream has, it should protect against UVA and UVB rays. If you intend to swim, you should choose a water-repellent cream, as UV rays can penetrate water to a depth of one meter. If you are spending time in a region with insect problems, it is recommended to use a cream that contains an insect repellent such as diethyltoluamide (DETA).

How to choose a sunscreen for your skin type

Choosing a sunscreen 2024