Have Acne-Prone Skin? Here's What To Look For In Your Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an essential step in everyone's skincare routine, even if you're prone to acne. You may feel tempted to stop using SPF if you see more breakouts appearing after you wear it, but you need it to protect your body from UVA and UVB rays. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing cancerous melanomas, according to Dr. Michele Green, MD. Wearing sunscreen every day is necessary, especially if you suffer from acne — and leaving your skin unprotected from the sun can worsen acne scars because it darkens hyperpigmentation.

But to get the most use out of your sunscreen, you need to find the right formula for your skin type. People who are acne-prone usually have an oily complexion; they should always check to see if the packaging says non-comedogenic, so it won't clog their pores and lead to breakouts. Sunscreens that include skincare products like niacinamide are also better for people with acne because it lowers oil production to prevent pimples. While there are SPFs out there that make acne worse, you just have to find the right formula for your skin.

If you have acne-prone skin, your sunscreen should be a non-comedogenic formula that's meant for the face; when an SPF cream is made for the body, it can feel thick and sticky if used on your delicate facial skin and could even exacerbate an acne-covered complexion. Instead, try to grab a more lightweight formula that protects you from the sun without feeling like an uncomfortable layer on top of your face. Dermatologist Dr. Robin Schaffran explained to Balm Labs that seeing "non-comedogenic" on the label is also a must — this means that the sunscreen was created with your pores in mind, so it won't include any ingredients that clog your skin like wax or coconut oil.

Of course, regular sunscreen is better than none at all, but it's important to use non-comedogenic products as often as possible since clogged skin is how many acne woes begin. When oil, dead skin cells, or dirt become lodged in your pores, they create pimples. Acne can also occur because of hormonal changes and an oily skin type. If you have breakouts for these reasons, non-comedogenic sunscreen won't prevent more pimples from appearing, but it can lower the chances of your complexion worsening due to clogged pores.

Skincare ingredients like niacinamide can also make a big difference on acne-prone skin. When you include it in the sunscreen you wear daily, you'll get even more protection from developing skin cancer, according to Colorescience. Niacinamide is a version of vitamin B3; non-comedogenic products use it in their formulas because it's water-soluble. Not only will it not clog pores since it's not made with oil, but there are also many more benefits to using niacinamide.

People who are acne-prone usually have an oily skin type, but niacinamide can help with this. As you use it, this product will help regulate how much oil your body produces, so you won't have an extra greasy complexion that's ripe for clogged pores. According to Practical Dermatology, niacinamide also brightens hyperpigmentation. When you combine it with sunscreen, not only will you prevent your acne scars from getting darker, but the added skincare will actually treat them so they get lighter.

It works on more than scars, too — niacinamide can also help with active breakouts, soothing pimples so inflammation and redness are reduced. It's the perfect product to combine with sunscreen to protect your skin while treating your acne.