Let's face it: most of us aren't doing as much as we can to keep our skin out of the sun. Unfortunately, the majority of aging signs – thin, papery skin, wrinkles, and "age spots" – tend to result directly from accumulated years of overexposure to sunshine. For tips on how to protect ourselves more thoroughly and conveniently, and how to reverse the sun damage most of us are already seeing, we turned to the expert opinion of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karen Allen.
Younger.com: Can you recommend a sunscreen that won't make me break out?
Dr. Allen: In my experience listening to patients and trying many products, the more water-resistant sunscreens tend to be more "occlusive" and cause acne-like breakouts.
In general sunscreens that say "daily use" or "everyday use" are lighter, less greasy products; however, keep in mind that your response to different products is very individualized. My standard advice on sunscreen is to look for one where the active ingredients are Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide, as these usually indicate a higher-quality sunscreen and generally are less sensitizing or irritating.
Just don't skip the sunscreen because you break out with "all sunscreens." Keep trying. I have heard this many times from patients and have had good success with at least some over-the-counter sunscreens, such as Vanicream™ for sensitive skin.
Younger.com: What can women do to protect ourselves better from sun-related aging?
Dr. Allen: Another standard answer to my patients who ask, "what is the best sunscreen?" is just, "a hat and long sleeves and shade." It also makes sense to avoid peak sun hours (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and seeking shade whenever possible. These steps can make an immense difference in the quality of your skin as you age.
Younger.com: Is there anything that can be done to reverse the signs of sun damage once it has already occurred?
Dr. Allen: Not exactly. Thinning of the skin or the epidermis cannot really be reversed by any topical or cosmetic procedures -- again, this is why prevention is the key. However, in my opinion Retin-A or Tretinoin is the only topical product that has been shown to thicken collagen bundles beneath the epidermis. It can also lighten scars and tan brown age/sun spots, but the collagen remodeling is the key to improving the texture of the skin.
Likewise, certain laser procedures can temporarily thicken collagen, but results are not "miraculous," and I always emphasize to my patients to weigh carefully the cost and benefit of these products and procedures beforehand.
Karen Allen, MD, is a board-certified Templeton, California dermatologist offering a broad selection of services ranging from skin cancer screening and Moh’s surgery to BOTOX® Cosmetic and other skin rejuvenation options. She completed her medical doctorate and dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, and treats dermatology patients from San Luis Obispo County and the entire California Central Coast. She has no financial interest in any of the companies or services recommended in this article or website.
Younger.com: Can you recommend a sunscreen that won't make me break out?
Dr. Allen: In my experience listening to patients and trying many products, the more water-resistant sunscreens tend to be more "occlusive" and cause acne-like breakouts.
In general sunscreens that say "daily use" or "everyday use" are lighter, less greasy products; however, keep in mind that your response to different products is very individualized. My standard advice on sunscreen is to look for one where the active ingredients are Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide, as these usually indicate a higher-quality sunscreen and generally are less sensitizing or irritating.
Just don't skip the sunscreen because you break out with "all sunscreens." Keep trying. I have heard this many times from patients and have had good success with at least some over-the-counter sunscreens, such as Vanicream™ for sensitive skin.
Younger.com: What can women do to protect ourselves better from sun-related aging?
Dr. Allen: Another standard answer to my patients who ask, "what is the best sunscreen?" is just, "a hat and long sleeves and shade." It also makes sense to avoid peak sun hours (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and seeking shade whenever possible. These steps can make an immense difference in the quality of your skin as you age.
Younger.com: Is there anything that can be done to reverse the signs of sun damage once it has already occurred?
Dr. Allen: Not exactly. Thinning of the skin or the epidermis cannot really be reversed by any topical or cosmetic procedures -- again, this is why prevention is the key. However, in my opinion Retin-A or Tretinoin is the only topical product that has been shown to thicken collagen bundles beneath the epidermis. It can also lighten scars and tan brown age/sun spots, but the collagen remodeling is the key to improving the texture of the skin.
Likewise, certain laser procedures can temporarily thicken collagen, but results are not "miraculous," and I always emphasize to my patients to weigh carefully the cost and benefit of these products and procedures beforehand.
Karen Allen, MD, is a board-certified Templeton, California dermatologist offering a broad selection of services ranging from skin cancer screening and Moh’s surgery to BOTOX® Cosmetic and other skin rejuvenation options. She completed her medical doctorate and dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, and treats dermatology patients from San Luis Obispo County and the entire California Central Coast. She has no financial interest in any of the companies or services recommended in this article or website.
