Sun Protection
The Single Most Important Thing
- UV damage is the primary cause of skin aging and skin cancer
- Some facial areas are commonly missed when applying sunscreen[1]
- Sunscreen works, but only if applied properly and consistently
How to Apply Sunscreen
- Use a dedicated sunscreen, not just SPF moisturizer
- SPF moisturizers provide worse coverage than sunscreens[2]
- Two applications are better than one[3]
- Reapply every 2 hours when outdoors, or after swimming/sweating
SPF Explained
- SPFⓘ
- SPF 30 is sufficient for most situations
- No sunscreen blocks 100% of rays
- Look for broad spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB)
The Basics That Work
Keep It Simple
- Most people need only: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen
- More products don't mean better skin
- Excessive skincare routines can damage skin[5]
What Actually Has Evidence
- Sunscreen — strongest evidence for preventing aging and cancer
- Retinoids — prescription tretinoin has decades of evidence for anti-agingⓘ
- Vitamin Cⓘ
- Moisturizer — keeps skin barrier healthy, especially for dry skin
What Has Weak Evidence
- Most anti-aging serums and creams
- Expensive doesn't mean effective
- Many hyped ingredients lack rigorous studies
Acne
What Causes It
- Acneⓘ
- Not caused by dirt or poor hygiene
- Washing too much can actually worsen it
What Works
- Benzoyl peroxide (kills bacteria)
- Salicylic acid (unclogs pores)
- Retinoids (prescription strength is most effective)
- For severe acne: see a dermatologist
Preventing Scarring
- Dont pick or squeeze acne[9]
- Early treatment of severe acne reduces scarring risk
- Some scarring may be genetic and unavoidable
Common Myths
Myth: Expensive products work better
Reality: Price correlates with marketing budget, not effectiveness. Many effective ingredients are cheap.
Reality: Price correlates with marketing budget, not effectiveness. Many effective ingredients are cheap.
Myth: Natural products are gentler
Reality: Natural ingredients can be just as irritating as synthetic ones. Poison ivy is natural; pharmaceutical-grade ingredients are tested.
Reality: Natural ingredients can be just as irritating as synthetic ones. Poison ivy is natural; pharmaceutical-grade ingredients are tested.
Myth: You need a 10-step routine
Reality: More products mean more chances for irritation. Consistency with basics beats complexity.
Reality: More products mean more chances for irritation. Consistency with basics beats complexity.
Myth: Oily skin doesn't need moisturizer
Reality: Oily skin can still be dehydrated. Some people overproduce oil because skin is dehydrated.
Reality: Oily skin can still be dehydrated. Some people overproduce oil because skin is dehydrated.
Practical Tips
Building a Routine
1. Morning: cleanser, moisturizer (optional), sunscreen
2. Evening: cleanser, treatment (if using), moisturizer
3. Add products one at a time to identify reactions
When to See a Dermatologist
- Persistent acne not responding to over-the-counter treatment
- Any suspicious moles or skin changes
- Skin conditions affecting quality of life
- Before starting prescription treatments like tretinoin
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References
- Hacker E, et al. (2017). UV imaging reveals facial areas that are prone to skin cancer are disproportionately missed during sunscreen application. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Pratt H, et al. (2019). Application of SPF moisturisers is inferior to sunscreens in coverage of facial and eyelid regions. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Pissavini M, et al. (2018). Sunscreen use optimized by two consecutive applications. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Yuan C, et al. (2020). Effects of skin care habits on the development of rosacea: A multi-center retrospective case-control survey. PLOS ONE. [DOI]
- Plascencia-Guzman J, et al. (2023). Risk factors for acne scarring in Ecuador. PLOS ONE. [DOI]