Types of Sunscreen: How to Choose What’s Right for You

Gone are the days of basting in the sun slathered in baby oil or nothing at all. These days, sunscreen is a must and recommended anytime you plan to be outdoors. The key to getting the most bang for your buck is to choose the right one based on ingredients and your needs. Read on to learn more about what to look for in a sunscreen and how to use it most effectively.

Is Sunscreen Safe?

Sunscreen is meant to protect us from sun damage, but many people wonder if sunscreen is safe, especially for everyday use. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)¹ and the Skin Cancer Foundation,² sunscreens are generally safe.

What Does SPF Mean?

Before getting into the different types of sunscreens, let's start with what SPF means.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, which rates how effectively the sunscreen prevents sunburn caused by the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. Harmful UV light includes UVA, which ages the skin, and UVB—also known as the “bad" UV light—which burns the skin.

The number next to SPF on the packaging indicates how much UVB light it can filter out.

3 Different Types of Sunscreen

Choosing a sunscreen can be a daunting task given the number of options.

Consider the following when shopping for sunscreen for you or your family:

1. SPF – You can find sunscreens with an SPF rating from 15 up to 100. The AAD recommends using an SPF 30 or higher.³
2. Broad-spectrum – Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, which can prevent skin cancer, premature aging and sunburn.⁴
3. Water-resistant – When it comes to sunscreen, water resistance refers to how long the sunscreen will stay on wet skin. Your options are water resistant, which stays effective for 40 minutes in the water before you need to reapply, or “very water resistant," which is effective for 80 minutes in the water before reapplication is needed.

Mineral VS. Chemical Sunscreen⁵

Understandably, there's some confusion over mineral versus chemical sunscreen and whether or not it matters.

Here's a summary of these different types of sunscreen:

• Mineral sunscreen (also referred to as physical sunscreen): Provides protection by deflecting the sun's rays. The active ingredients in mineral sunscreen include the minerals titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.
• Chemical sunscreen: Protects your skin by absorbing the sun's rays and may contain active ingredients such as oxybenzone or avobenzone.

Both chemical and physical sunscreens offer excellent protection and many sunscreens contain both types of UV filters.⁵ That said, there are some pros and cons to each. Considering these can help you choose the best type for you and your family.

Benefits of physical sunscreen:

• is better tolerated by most skin types
• starts protecting your skin as soon as it's applied
• is thicker and harder to apply and blend
• may leave white residue on your skin

Benefits of chemical sunscreen:

• is easier to apply
• goes on invisible
• is often less expensive than physical sunscreen
• it may be irritating to more skin types
• needs to be on the skin for at least 20 minutes to provide protection. ⁵

How to Apply Sunscreen²

When it comes to application, technique counts. The quality of your sunscreen means very little if it isn't applied correctly. Here are a few pointers:

Even application over all areas of exposed skin can help ensure total protection. This includes those often overlooked spots, like the back of your neck, your ears, and the tops of your feet and hands.

Read your sunscreen's label for application recommendations, which typically recommends using an ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed skin.

For best results, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and should be reapplied at least every two hours, regardless of SPF or water-resistance level.²

Because sunscreen can lose its potency over time, using a product past its expiration date isn't recommended.⁶

Dealing with Sun Damage

Sun damage can impact the skin in different ways. Skin cancer is the most serious risk associated with sun exposure.

Sun damage can also dramatically alter your skin's appearance by causing uneven pigmentation in the form of age spots and freckles, and causing fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers.

Sun damage isn't always immediately visible to the naked eye and small skin cancers can be hard to detect to an untrained eye or when lesions develop on hard-to-see areas like the scalp and back.

A dermatologist can examine your skin and assess any damage caused by sun exposure, as well as assess any new moles or skin changes.

If you'd like to reduce the signs of sun damage to your skin, there are several options offered by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons, depending on the severity of the damage. Treatments and procedures available to treat discoloration, wrinkles, and sagging⁷ include:

• Laser resurfacing
• Dermabrasion
• Microneedling
• Chemical peel
• Facial fillers
• Cosmetic surgery
• Cryotherapy

Your CareCredit credit card can help you pay for a consultation with a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon, as well as skin treatments and cosmetic procedures.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a licensed dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card.