4 most common mistakes that make applying sunscreen 'like nothing'
Choosing the wrong sunscreen index, applying the wrong amount of cream, combining the products incorrectly, etc. are mistakes that many people make that prevent sunscreen from being fully effective.
According to Master, Doctor Trinh Minh Trang, Laser and Skin Care Department, Central Dermatology Hospital, sunscreen is one of the important products in skin care, not only for beauty but also to protect the health of the skin.
Sunscreen is recommended for daily use, in all seasons. During the summer, the sun's intensity is very high, making sunscreen application an indispensable step when going out.
Skin can be at many risks if not protected by sunscreen, the two biggest consequences of which are skin aging and the risk of developing certain diseases, including skin cancer.
Dr. Trang said that nowadays, people (mostly women) are conscious of using sunscreen every day. However, many people make some mistakes that prevent the cream from being effective.
Choosing the wrong sunscreen index
Master, Doctor Trinh Minh Trang said, one of the common mistakes of many people is choosing a sunscreen index that is not suitable for the conditions of sun exposure.
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| Master, Doctor Trinh Minh Trang, Laser and Skin Care Department, Central Dermatology Hospital. |
The SPF and minimum redness time will determine the maximum amount of time you can stay in the sun. Specifically, if your skin turns red after 10 minutes of standing in the sun and you are using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30, the time your skin will be protected by the sunscreen will be calculated according to the formula: 10 × 30 = 300 minutes (equivalent to 5 hours).
The higher the sun protection factor, the longer the skin is protected. However, no sun protection factor can protect the skin 100%. Dr. Trang recommends that people need to carefully cover their skin with masks, hats, etc. in addition to applying sunscreen.
Only apply sunscreen when it is sunny.
Dr. Trang affirms that this is an incorrect habit. In fact, as soon as you see daylight, UVA rays affect your skin. If the skin is not protected, these rays will cause DNA breaks in skin cells, thereby creating mutations and gradually forming the risk of skin cancer.
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| When going to the beach in the summer, you need to use sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher. Illustration: tvm.com.mt |
Not applying enough sunscreen
Another common mistake that many people make is using too little sunscreen. Dr. Trang said that normally, no matter how high the SPF of sunscreen is, it cannot “fight” the sun all day with just one application.
Therefore, you should apply the cream at least twice, or fully 3 to 4 times a day, each time about 3 to 4 hours apart.
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| You should apply sunscreen at least twice a day, or at most 3 to 4 times a day. Illustration: allure.com |
Dr. Trang also emphasized that when reapplying sunscreen during the day, if there is a lot of dirt, sweat, or oil on the skin, you need to wash your face first. If the skin is still clean, you can reapply sunscreen without washing your face.
Apply layers of makeup over sunscreen
Master, Doctor Trinh Minh Trang said that improperly combining sunscreen with many other skin products (moisturizer, foundation, makeup powder...) will reduce the effectiveness of the sunscreen product.
Accordingly, sunscreen works best when applied directly to the face without any other layer on top. Combining multiple layers will dilute the cream and not achieve optimal sunscreen concentration.
“If you want to apply moisturizer, you need to wait at least 15 minutes for the moisture to penetrate the skin, then continue using sunscreen,” Dr. Trang recommends.
However, Dr. Trang also advised that women can still meet their makeup and beauty needs while protecting their skin by using cosmetics that contain sunscreen ingredients.
Specifically, many lines of moisturizers with sunscreen, foundations with sunscreen, powders with sunscreen, etc. have appeared on the market. You should choose these lines instead of cosmetics with only one single function.
“Note, if you choose a moisturizer with a sun protection factor of 15 and a foundation with a sun protection factor of 15, your SPF for that day will only be 15 instead of adding up to 30 as many people misunderstand,” Dr. Trang emphasized.
In the matter of using sunscreen, Master, Doctor Trinh Minh Trang also especially noted that people need to pay attention to removing makeup after using the cream.
Accordingly, in sunscreen there are metal oxide ingredients that penetrate deep into the pores. If not cleaned, they will clog pores, forming acne. Therefore, you need to treat sunscreen like makeup, remove makeup thoroughly before washing your face.
You also need to choose sunscreen that is suitable for your skin, for example sunscreen for acne-prone skin, sunscreen for sensitive skin, sunscreen for dry skin, etc.