Yes, you can. It is very important to protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV light and its potential to worsen your acne. You will still get a tan despite the sunscreen. Think of sunscreens in the same way that you do moisturisers and make-up products.
Go for light ones that are non-comedogenic. ‘Non-comedogenic’ means that it does not contain oils that cause blockages in the hair follicles. In effect, a product that is comedogenic will put a ‘lid’ on the surface of the skin, making acne worse than before because it forms a trap for the oils building up deep within the hair follicle.
With no way of escaping on the surface of the skin, the trapped oils will cause inflammation and bacteria to build up and thus make acne worse. and wait 15 minutes after applying your acne treatment before smoothing on the sunscreen. Don’t rub it in vigorously, as this could irritate your skin and leave you with too thin a layer to protect you.
Some topical treatments and antibiotic tablets can make you more sensitive to the sun – check with your GP or pharmacist and read the information leafets with the medication.
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