Sunscreen can hurt your face due to an interaction between a sunscreen ingredient and UV light, which leads to a skin reaction. This is usually a result of an allergy to the active ingredients, but it can also be due to a reaction to the fragrances or preservatives in the product. The stinging feeling is worse around your eye area because the skin is very thin there. Intolerance of chemical sunscreen is a common problem that causes a burning sensation around your eyes and cheeks. If you are finding that your skin is burning, no matter what you do to ensure that your sunscreen is working properly, increasing the SPF may help.
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Sunscreen is a vital tool in protecting our skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s harmful UV rays. However, some people may experience discomfort or irritation when using sunscreen, particularly on their face. This discomfort can be caused by various factors, including allergic reactions, pilling, and the presence of irritating ingredients.
Allergic reactions are one of the most common causes of discomfort when using sunscreen. According to Everyday Health, an allergic reaction to sunscreen can cause symptoms such as redness, itching, and swelling of the skin. It can occur immediately or several days after applying the sunscreen. If you experience any of these symptoms after using sunscreen, you should stop using it immediately and consult a dermatologist.
Another reason sunscreen may hurt your face is due to pilling. Pilling occurs when the product balls up on the skin’s surface, making it feel uncomfortable and appear unsightly. Byrdie suggests that exfoliating too much or too little can cause the skin to become too dry or overly oily, leading to pilling. The solution is to evaluate the products you use and exfoliate only once or twice a week using chemical exfoliants instead of physical exfoliants.
Finally, irritating ingredients in sunscreen can also cause discomfort on the face. HuffPost reports that certain chemicals used to lighten up sunscreen textures, fragrances, and preservatives can be culprits for irritation. If you are experiencing watery, burning eyes, it’s recommended to avoid light, fluid textures. The table below shows some sunscreens that are suitable for sensitive skin:
| Brand | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face | $12 | Inexpensive and SPF 50 | Can take some effort to fully apply and blend |
| Liquid Sunscreen | |||
| Neutrogena Sensitive Skin | $11 | Oil-free and non-comedogenic | May leave a white cast on the skin |
| Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 | |||
| La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral | $33 | Fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested | May be too heavy for oily skin |
| Tinted Ultra-Light Sunscreen SPF 50 |
In conclusion, sunscreen can hurt your face due to allergic reactions, pilling, and irritating ingredients. It’s essential to evaluate the products you use and choose sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type to prevent discomfort and irritation. If you experience any discomfort or irritation after using sunscreen, stop using it immediately and consult a dermatologist.
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This is usually a result of an allergy to the active ingredients, but it can also be due to a reaction to the fragrances or preservatives in the product. The reaction may look like severe sunburn or eczema, and most commonly occurs on the face, arms, back of hands, chest and lower neck.
Sunscreen can burn your face if you have sensitive skin or if you’re allergic to one of the ingredients in the sunscreen. If you find your face getting red and irritated, or witness acne outbreaks, after a day of wearing sunscreen, you likely have an allergy or intolerance to an ingredient in the sunscreen.
It can happen and sometimes does happen that sunscreen may burn or irritate the skin on your face. Why I Only Burn with Sunscreen? Probably because the sunscreen is causing irritation to the skin due to an allergic reaction or some of the other reasons we covered above. How Do You Know if You’re Allergic to Sunscreen? The best way to know if you are allergic to sunscreen is to do a patch test on your skin and see if you have any reaction before applying to the rest of your skin.
Depending on the SPF you choose for your sunscreen, it will protect your face from the Sun’s rays by filtering out a certain amount of UV rays. There are two types of sunscreen in the beauty industry: chemical and mineral (also known as physical) sunscreens. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, but it’s a good thing to be aware of when purchasing your products. Now, we can move onto the reasons why your sunscreen is burning your face, and the possible common reasons are below!
Use a Sunscreen: Always use sunscreen when you are out in the sun for long periods of time, no matter how cloudy or sunny it is outside. Wear Sunglasses: Sunglasses will help to protect your eyes from UV rays and prevent sunburns on your face or eyes. Apply Sunscreen Properly: Make sure that you apply sunscreen in a thin layer that is even with your skin tone so that it can absorb the maximum amount of UV light possible. Avoid Spending Time in Direct Sunlight: Spending time in direct sunlight can cause skin damage very quickly so try to avoid being out there as much as possible if possible and cover up with good quality sunscreen if you must be out there for an extended period of time and do not forget to reapply sunscreen regularly.
I’m pretty sure my face gets irritated by sunscreen. I’ve been trying to use a lot of new products lately. Mostly routine is. AM: cetaphil facial wash and supergoop unseen sunscreen. PM: cetaphil facial wash and cerave moisturizing cream. I do differin on my forehead daily, on top of the moisturizer, unless my forehead skin stings when I add the moisturizer (like maybe after 4-5 days of use), then I skip a day. … So that leaves just the moisturizer and the sunscreen. I’ve tried neutrogena facial sunscreen while at the beach and it stung like all hell, horribly. But I can’t be sure bc maybe the hot sun had something to do with it.
But not only does sunscreen introduce harmful chemicals into your bloodstream, it also blocks the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for maintaining good health, and the sun is one of the few natural ways to get it. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with nearly five million people treated annually.
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Why does my face burn when I put on sunscreen?Your face may burn when you put on sunscreen for several reasons. The most likely cause is because your skin is sensitive to one or more of the active ingredients in the sunscreen.
Just so: are sunscreens bad for your skin?
People with sensitive skin may also find that sunscreens formulated for the body are irritating to the skin, and may cause breakouts. “Sunscreens designed for the face are often non-comedogenic (or, oil free), so they’re not going to clog the pores. And sometimes they include other additives that make it more gentle on the skin,” Garshick said.
What if I’m allergic to sunscreen?Wearing sunscreen is an important part of protecting the health of your skin, so if you’re allergic to a chemical in sunscreen, your doctor can help you find one that doesn’t contain that chemical. In addition to sunscreen, people with sunscreen allergies can also use the following methods to protect their skin from the sun, according to Zeichner:
Considering this: does sunscreen sting your face?
While sunscreens don’t usually cause any side-effects, some of them can sometimes sting your face. It’s worse around your eye area because the skin is very thin there. However, this should not discourage you from wearing it every single day.
Is sunscreen supposed to hurt?
While sunscreens don’t usually cause any side-effects, some of them can sometimes sting your face. It’s worse around your eye area because the skin is very thin there. However, this should not discourage you from wearing it every single day.
Keeping this in consideration: what to do if sunscreen irritates your skin? If you develop a sunscreen allergy, immediately clean your skin, says Zeichner. If necessary, you can use over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone to calm the inflammation (in less severe cases, you can just leave it alone or apply a bland moisturizer, he adds).
Should the sunscreen be rubbed in face?
Chemical sunscreen, which is absorbed into the skin, needs to be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors to let the ingredients fully bind to the skin, says Dr. Engelman. Physical sunscreens take effect immediately and can be applied right before sun exposure. “And rub it in until you can’t see the product!” she says.
Beside above: should I stop using sunscreen if it stings? If you apply a sunscreen and notice redness, burning, stinging, or dryness, you may be experiencing a reaction to a specific ingredient. If that happens, discontinue use of the sunscreen and look for another formula that doesn’t contain the same active ingredients.
How long does it take sunscreen allergy to heal?
Using anti-itch lotions and creams soothes itchy skin. Corticosteroid or tacrolimus based creams usually helps to relieve inflammation caused by sunscreen. Oral antihistamines are said to relieve itching and allergic reactions. Stay out of the sun until your skin is healed completely, which may take up to 3 weeks.
One may also ask: what does a sun allergy look like? Polymorphous light eruption is a rash caused by sun exposure in people who have developed sensitivity to sunlight. The rash usually appears as tiny, inflamed bumps or slightly raised patches of skin. The reaction usually happens during spring and early summer when exposure to sunlight increases.