How To Choose The Best Sunscreen For Your Skin

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Dr. Maritza Pérez, dermatologist and vice president of the foundation against skin cancer, clarifies everything you need to know about the latest in sun protection.

Is a mineral or chemical sunscreen better?

Both are effective, but any chemical can cause an allergic reaction and that's why I recommend minerals more. […] Also, the mineral ingredients don't rust, so you don't need to reapply them as much [as the chemicals] unless you're exercising in the sun.

What new ingredients should we look for in a protective cream?

In the past 4 years it has been shown that visible light (non-visible is UVA and UVB rays) can cause blemishes on skin with darker shades and the only thing protecting you from that is iron oxide, so now many creams include it.

If you already have spots, what protection measures should you take?

In addition to using protective creams, hats, and sunglasses on a daily basis, you can also use retinol creams at night to reduce the appearance of stains.

Speaking of retinol, can you use ingredients like vitamin C or retinol when you go to sunbathe?

At some point someone said that retinol and vitamin C made you more susceptible to ultraviolet light and it has become a true fact and it is not. It is a myth. What we do have is a circadian system whereby [the skin] is repaired at night and protected during the day, so it is better to apply retinol at night and vitamin C twice a day because it helps protect against radicals free and also repairs.