Is Your Sunscreen Fully Protecting Your Face?

As spring moves toward summer, we are reminded that the sun in Colorado is a force to be reckoned with. One of the easiest ways to prevent sun damage to delicate facial skin is to wear sunscreen every day. 

However, determining which sunscreen is best for your face is not as simple as looking at the SPF number. SPF only tells how much of the burning UV-B rays are blocked--it says nothing about a product's ability to block wrinkle-causing UV-A rays. In addition, SPFs above 30 can be misleading because they provide only slightly more protection. To fully protect your skin every day, you want a sunscreen that protects from both UV-B and UV-A rays, is good for your skin type, and will not irritate your skin.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens are best since they block both UV-A and UV-B rays.  Faces First's doctors of Denver and Lone Tree recommend sunscreens that contain zinc oxide, since it provides the broadest protection of any sunscreen ingredient. Antioxidants, such as green tea extract, also provide sun damage protection. Products such as FacesBlock, a sunscreen that includes all these important qualities, in a formula gentle enough to wear every day are a great defense against the sun.

You wouldn't want to put most pharmacy sunscreens on your face daily, but you will find comprehensive sun protection that is perfect for your skin.