7 Sunscreen Mistakes Dermatologists Say You Should Avoid
But even the very best sun protection is useless if you don't apply it correctly. That's why Arpa reveals 7 mistakes below that you would never make and how to do it better.
Sunscreen mistake no. 1: Not using sunscreen every day
No matter what the weather is like, and regardless of whether you're indoors or outdoors, sunscreen should be applied every single morning. "The biggest mistake I really see people make all the time is not using SPF daily. Many people think that if it's cloudy and they're in the car or office, they don't need sunscreen. However, up to 80 percent of long-wave UVA rays penetrate clouds and window glass," says the dermatologist and continues: "We do a lot of laser treatments in our practice, after which you really have to be meticulous about sun protection. I see time and time again that patients who have had a CO2 laser and sit in the car a lot end up with pigmentation spots on one side, despite the explanatory talks. Namely on the left. So on the side facing the windshield."
Sunscreen mistake no. 2: Using too little sun cream
"The amount really makes the difference," says Dr. Arpa. "Most people just use way, way, way too little sunscreen. I always have the Gwyneth Paltrow video in my head... I would always advise sticking to the two-finger rule (putting a strip of sunscreen on the length of your index and middle finger) for the face. If you include the neck and décolleté, even three fingers," says Dr. Emi Arpa.
Sunscreen mistake no. 3: Not reapplying
If you apply SPF 30 or SPF 50 properly, i.e. the recommended amount, you still have sufficient protection in an office environment at lunchtime - in theory. However, according to Dr. Emi Arpa, it should be borne in mind that sunscreen can also rub off through sweat and friction. "For example, if you keep putting your sunglasses on and off. Or because you touch your face a lot," she explains and continues: "On warm days and when the UV index is high, I therefore also reapply cream every few hours in my day-to-day practice, which is comparable to many people's everyday office life, in order to maintain protection. Of course, it's even more important to reapply regularly if you spend a lot of time outdoors."
Of course, make-up can suffer under the second or third layer. Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends patting in the SPF instead of rubbing it in. "However, you can't completely prevent it from wearing off. If in doubt, you simply have to reapply a little make-up or use an SPF spray or SPF powder, for example, to readjust."
Sun cream mistake no. 4: Relying on day cream or make-up with SPF
"In order to really get the protection shown on a product, it is crucial to use a sufficient amount," explains Dr. Emi Arpa and reminds us of the two-finger rule. So here's the question for you: do you use two finger-lengths of foundation or day cream on your face? If not, and this is probably the case, the SPF in the product will not give you the protection you need. "What's more, make-up or day cream usually only have a sun protection factor of 15," says Dr. Emi Arpa. She therefore recommends separating skin care and skin protection. "I would always advise applying the skincare first, then the SPF and then the make-up."
Sun cream mistake no. 5: Forgetting the most important areas
According to Dr. Emi Arpa, it's all about the details when applying sunscreen. These are the ears, the areas of skin above the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the lips, cheekbones, décolleté and the back of the hands. "These are the so-called sun terraces, which are prone to the sun and where I, as a dermatologist, often cut out skin cancer," says Dr. Emi Arpa. And this is particularly complicated in these susceptible areas: "Especially in the case of black skin cancer, a safety margin of 0.5 to 1 centimeter must be maintained, which is a difficult undertaking on delicate structures such as the auricle." Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends applying sunscreen particularly thoroughly to the sun terraces and concentrating on them when reapplying sunscreen.
Sun cream mistake no. 6: Not protecting your lips from the sun
According to the dermatologist, the lower lip is also one of the sun terraces mentioned above, as it is exposed to the sun. "In addition, the skin on the lips plays a special role as the border zone between the mucous membrane and normal skin. Here we have hardly any calluses, no sweat and sebaceous glands - and therefore much less self-protection. According to Dr. Arpa, lips therefore not only quickly develop skin cancer, which is also difficult to remove here - remember the safety distance - but also wrinkles quickly. And: "Cold sores are also often triggered by UV exposure and inadequate sun protection," says Dr. Emi Arpa. The dermatologist therefore recommends using lip care with integrated sun protection 365 days a year.
Sunscreen mistake no. 7: Not washing off the SPF thoroughly in the evening
As important as it is to use sunscreen, it is also crucial to wash the SPF off the skin thoroughly in the evening. "I have many patients whose skin gets worse in summer. In dermatology, this is known as Majorca acne," says the dermatologist, explaining how sun cream spots develop: "Heat increases blood circulation, including that of the sebaceous glands and therefore sebum production. In addition, you naturally sweat more - sunscreen then quickly has an occlusive effect, like a film layer." It is therefore important for anyone who is prone to sunscreen spots to use a lighter fluid instead of a greasy cream and to thoroughly wash off the SPF - whether greasy or liquid-light - in the evening with a shower gel and cleanser for the face. According to the dermatologist, the latter is also recommended for areas such as the back and décolleté, where sebaceous gland activity is particularly active.
Article originally published on Vogue Germany
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I would always advise sticking to the two-finger rule (putting a strip of sunscreen on the length of your index and middle finger) for the face. If you include the neck and décolleté, even three fingers," says Dr. Emi Arpa. Sunscreen mistake no. 3: Not reapplying If you apply SPF 30 or SPF 50 properly, i.e. the recommended amount, you still have sufficient protection in an office environment at lunchtime - in theory. However, according to Dr. Emi Arpa, it should be borne in mind that sunscreen can also rub off through sweat and friction. "For example, if you keep putting your sunglasses on and off. Or because you touch your face a lot," she explains and continues: "On warm days and when the UV index is high, I therefore also reapply cream every few hours in my day-to-day practice, which is comparable to many people's everyday office life, in order to maintain protection. Of course, it's even more important to reapply regularly if you spend a lot of time outdoors." Of course, make-up can suffer under the second or third layer. Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends patting in the SPF instead of rubbing it in. "However, you can't completely prevent it from wearing off. If in doubt, you simply have to reapply a little make-up or use an SPF spray or SPF powder, for example, to readjust." Sun cream mistake no. 4: Relying on day cream or make-up with SPF "In order to really get the protection shown on a product, it is crucial to use a sufficient amount," explains Dr. Emi Arpa and reminds us of the two-finger rule. So here's the question for you: do you use two finger-lengths of foundation or day cream on your face? If not, and this is probably the case, the SPF in the product will not give you the protection you need. "What's more, make-up or day cream usually only have a sun protection factor of 15," says Dr. Emi Arpa. She therefore recommends separating skin care and skin protection. "I would always advise applying the skincare first, then the SPF and then the make-up." Sun cream mistake no. 5: Forgetting the most important areas According to Dr. Emi Arpa, it's all about the details when applying sunscreen. These are the ears, the areas of skin above the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the lips, cheekbones, décolleté and the back of the hands. "These are the so-called sun terraces, which are prone to the sun and where I, as a dermatologist, often cut out skin cancer," says Dr. Emi Arpa. And this is particularly complicated in these susceptible areas: "Especially in the case of black skin cancer, a safety margin of 0.5 to 1 centimeter must be maintained, which is a difficult undertaking on delicate structures such as the auricle." Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends applying sunscreen particularly thoroughly to the sun terraces and concentrating on them when reapplying sunscreen. Sun cream mistake no. 6: Not protecting your lips from the sun According to the dermatologist, the lower lip is also one of the sun terraces mentioned above, as it is exposed to the sun. "In addition, the skin on the lips plays a special role as the border zone between the mucous membrane and normal skin. Here we have hardly any calluses, no sweat and sebaceous glands - and therefore much less self-protection. According to Dr. Arpa, lips therefore not only quickly develop skin cancer, which is also difficult to remove here - remember the safety distance - but also wrinkles quickly. And: "Cold sores are also often triggered by UV exposure and inadequate sun protection," says Dr. Emi Arpa. The dermatologist therefore recommends using lip care with integrated sun protection 365 days a year. Sunscreen mistake no. 7: Not washing off the SPF thoroughly in the evening As important as it is to use sunscreen, it is also crucial to wash the SPF off the skin thoroughly in the evening. "I have many patients whose skin gets worse in summer. In dermatology, this is known as Majorca acne," says the dermatologist, explaining how sun cream spots develop: "Heat increases blood circulation, including that of the sebaceous glands and therefore sebum production. In addition, you naturally sweat more - sunscreen then quickly has an occlusive effect, like a film layer." It is therefore important for anyone who is prone to sunscreen spots to use a lighter fluid instead of a greasy cream and to thoroughly wash off the SPF - whether greasy or liquid-light - in the evening with a shower gel and cleanser for the face. According to the dermatologist, the latter is also recommended for areas such as the back and décolleté, where sebaceous gland activity is particularly active. Article originally published on Vogue Germany
