While sunlight's visible effects on skin primarily involve sunburn and tanning, its more significant impact lies in being a major contributor to aging. Applying sunscreen may seem like a simple daily routine, but you might be doing it in vain.
Why protect against sun damage?
1. Prevent sunburn
Medically termed solar dermatitis, sunburn results from prolonged exposure causing acute skin redness and swelling, with severe cases developing blisters. Sunburn often triggers more serious skin issues like itching and peeling—problems beyond the scope of skincare products. Thus, preventing sunburn requires diligent sunscreen application.
2. Prevent photoaging
I've discussed photoaging extensively in previous articles. Sunlight is the most direct external factor causing skin aging. Unprotected skin will prematurely develop wrinkles, dark spots, and roughness due to sun exposure. Sunscreen slows this externally induced aging process.
3. Preventing Sun Tan
UVA rays in sunlight are responsible for skin darkening. Once skin tans, whitening becomes challenging. In other words, if you aspire to the ideal of "fair skin concealing all flaws," the most effective approach is prevention. Therefore, choosing sunscreen labeled with PA is the best option.
Incorrect Application Equals Wasted Effort: How Much Sunscreen Should You Use?
While applying sunscreen seems simple, you might be doing it wrong daily. Using too little sunscreen or failing to reapply promptly can lead to the embarrassing situation of "applying for nothing."
Does sunscreen really need to be applied thickly each time?
This is actually quite contradictory. For better protection, sunscreen typically needs to be applied generously—at least the size of a dime. However, thick application can make skin feel suffocated and uncomfortable, potentially triggering breakouts or allergies.
Start with a thin layer. After 20 minutes, when the skin has absorbed some of it, apply another layer. This avoids feeling overly heavy while still providing good protection. Moreover, reapplying is more important than a single thick application and is gentler on the skin. This way, you can apply a thinner layer initially and reapply promptly after two hours to effectively maintain sun protection.
Do you need to remove sunscreen?
Generally, physical sunscreens have a thicker, more viscous texture and require makeup remover. Chemical or bio-based sunscreens, however, are much lighter in texture and can be thoroughly cleansed with regular facial cleansers. At the very least, you don't need to use makeup remover daily; every other day or every two to three days is sufficient.