You need daily sun protection to keep your skin healthy and youthful. But with so many options on the market it can be difficult to determine which one you should choose.
Sun protection generally falls into one of two categories: mineral (physical) and chemical. While both provide sun protection, mineral sunscreens and chemical sunscreens differ in their active ingredients as well as their protection against harmful UV exposure. With the month of May being National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the facial cosmetic surgery and skincare team at Faces, PLLC in Ridgeland, MS want to help you find the best ways to protect your skin.
Read on to learn more about the differences and benefits of each type of sunscreen.
Mineral VS. Chemical Sunscreen
Sunscreen, in any form, is essential to keeping your skin protected from the dangers of sun exposure, including painful sunburns, sun damage, and melanoma (a type of skin cancer). It’s also beneficial in minimizing the aging effects of UV rays, such as fine lines and wrinkles, dry skin, and hyperpigmentation.
Mineral sunscreens are often referred to as “reflectors” or “physical” sunscreen because they sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed. Their active ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are both powerful sun blockers. These minerals form a protective barrier on the skin and reflect harmful UV rays before they can make contact with the delicate skin’s surface.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, are referred to as “absorbers” because they sink into your skin. Their ingredients include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate.
Through a chemical reaction, these compounds convert the UV rays into heat, then release the heat from the skin.
Benefits of A Mineral Sunscreen
The benefits of choosing a mineral sunscreen include:
- Immediate sun protection
- The ingredient zinc oxide is known to keep the skin cool, support collagen production, and helps to treat acne-prone skin
- It’s great for all skin types
- It’s friendly to our delicate reefs
- Provides natural broad spectrum sun-protection, meaning it protects you against both UVA and UVB rays
Benefits of Chemical Sunscreen
The benefits of using a chemical sunscreen include:
- Converts UV rays into heat
- Quicker and easier to apply and often comes in a spray-on formulation
- Lightweight in texture
- Non-sticky formula
- Provides formulated broad spectrum UVA and UVB sun protection
- Works well under makeup and with other skincare products
What’s the Best Type of Sunscreen for Me?
Our expert skincare team is available to help answer that question! A quick assessment of your skin is a good place to begin. Certainly finding a sunscreen that is compatible with your skin type is important, but ultimately the best type of sunscreen will be the one you’re most likely to wear on a daily basis. Finding a sunscreen for year round use is an effective way to slow the visible signs of aging, protect yourself against skin cancer, and keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.
Treatment for the Signs of Sun Damage in Jackson, MS
While it is never too late to start protecting your skin with either of these excellent sun protectants, it’s difficult to reverse the damage already done. Not to worry, at Faces we offer a variety of skincare services and procedures that can help diminish the signs of sun damage including Chemicals Peels, SkinPen Microneedling, IPL, and Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy. Once treatment is complete and your skin has regained its healthy glow, it will be more important than ever to protect it from the sun, so the choice is yours: mineral or chemical.
For more information on the skincare services offered at Faces, PLLC please contact our office by phone (601) 607-3033 or online to schedule your personalized consultation with one of our Medical Aestheticians. Your skin will thank you!