Does Sunscreen Cause Acne (or Clog Pores)?

Sunscreen protects your skin against damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. It uses either physical filters that reflect UV rays or chemical filters that absorb them and convert them into harmless heat that dissipates from your skin. Neither of these effects directly causes acne, but some people still find that wearing sunscreen leads to an increase in breakouts.

To understand how the two might be linked, let’s take a closer look at what causes acne.

Acne develops when your pores become clogged with excess sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria. This leads to inflammation and infection which can manifest in the form of redness, blackheads, pustules, and even painful cysts.

The most common triggers for acne are hormonal, but external factors like stress and skincare products play a role as well. That includes sunscreen. Sunscreen that contains heavy emollients can trap oil, sweat, and bacteria on your skin, especially when combined with heat and humidity. If you don’t cleanse thoroughly after wearing sunscreen, the residue can accumulate in your pores and worsen breakouts.

It can be upsetting when your skin suddenly starts to break out, especially if your skin isn’t normally acne-prone. New skincare products are often to blame, so ask yourself whether you’ve changed your skincare routine lately. Even if you haven’t made any changes, it’s possible the products you’re using aren’t quite the right fit for your skin type.

If you’re wondering whether sunscreen is what’s causing your acne, here are a few clues to look for:

• Breakouts are limited to the areas where you typically apply sunscreen (like the forehead, cheeks, and around the lips).
• Normally clear skin has become congested, with comedones (tiny bumps) forming in the T-zone.
• Acne worsens within 1 to 2 weeks after you start using a new sunscreen product (or applying more regularly).
• Minor redness or irritation develops throughout the day when you’re wearing sunscreen but starts to clear overnight after cleansing.

One way to tell for sure whether your sunscreen is the problem is to stop using it for a few days. If your acne begins to clear within 3 to 5 days, it’s a good bet that your sunscreen is the issue.

If sunscreen tends to make your acne worse, you might be tempted to skip it entirely but this would be a mistake. Wearing sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin against ultraviolet radiation and its damaging effects. Sun damage is cumulative, so even if you’re only getting a little bit of exposure each day, it can add it up over time and increase your risk for skin cancer.

Instead of skipping sunscreen, choose a formula that’s designed specifically for your skin type. Sunscreen for acne-prone skin is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores and make breakouts worse. Switching from chemical to mineral sunscreen might help as well.

Clearing up acne isn’t something you can do overnight, unfortunately. It takes time to eliminate infection, soothe inflammation, and restore balance to your skin. In the meantime, it’s crucial to avoid potential triggers and that means switching to a different sunscreen.

Follow these steps to alleviate sunscreen-related acne and prevent it in the future:

1. Choose a different sunscreen. Switch to a sunscreen labeled non-comedogenic and oil-free. If you have oily skin, a lightweight mineral formula might be a good choice. It may also help to look for skin-soothing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, and antioxidants.
2. Start double cleansing in the evening. It’s important to completely remove sunscreen at the end of the day so it doesn’t break down and clog your pores. Start your evening skincare routine with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to remove sunscreen, then follow up with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to soothe and refresh your skin.
3. Slowly introduce gentle exfoliants. Harsh scrubs can cause irritation and worsen inflammation, so it’s wise to let your skin settle a little before introducing exfoliants. Start with a gentle chemical exfoliant like BHA or salicylic acid once a week to unclog your pores. As your skin adjusts, you can increase the frequency to a level that helps keep your skin balanced.
4. Use spot treatments as needed. When breakouts happen, address problem areas with spot treatments instead of treating your whole face. This helps keep your skin balanced while delivering active ingredients where they’re needed to clear breakouts more quickly.
5. Keep your skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and healthy skin has an improved ability to defend against environmental aggressors like UV radiation. After double-cleansing in the evening, follow up with moisturizer suited to your skin type. Look for ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to support the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.

Building an effective skincare routine can be challenging, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Using products that aren’t suited to your skin type can clog your pores or worsen acne, but that doesn’t mean you should skip out on everyday essentials like sunscreen.

The solution is to choose sunscreen formulated for your skin type and learn how to apply it properly (and remove it effectively). When in doubt, stick to products labeled non-comedogenic and always patch test new products on a small area of skin before doing a full-face application.

Once you find a sunscreen that works for you, keep it in stock! And don’t forget, you can earn rewards on every purchase when you sign up for the Exclusive Beauty Club loyalty program.