Enjoying the Sunshine With the Best Rosacea Sunscreen
We all know that we shouldn’t leave the house without sunscreen. This is especially true if you suffer from rosacea. Obviously, sunburn and unprotected exposure to UV rays aggravate the condition. To avoid a flare-up, choose the best rosacea sunscreen that offers the highest level of protection without irritating your already sensitive skin.
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The best sunscreen for rosacea is either physical or mineral as chemical formulas are likely to contain ingredients that could irritate your skin. Our choices below are recommended by dermatologists and are formulated to protect your skin without causing redness or irritation.
And if you're unsure about the difference between a physical sunscreen and a chemical sunscreen, check out the video below for further explanation.
Reviews of the Best Rosacea Sunscreen
The Best Moisturizer with Sunscreen for Rosacea
EltaMD Broad Spectrum SPF30
EltaMD, a mineral based sunscreen, is endorsed by dermatologists for the protection and rehydration of sensitive rosacea prone skin. It's medically formulated to nourish and protect the delicate facial skin.
This sunscreen for rosacea is free of parabens and contains no fragrance which can irritate sensitive skin. With a transparent zinc oxide base, this broad-spectrum sunscreen protects your skin against damaging UVB and UVA. It boasts a sun protection factor of 46. The product is quickly absorbed into the skin and will leave no unsightly streaks on the skin.
Applied thirty minutes before going into the sunshine, it is not greasy, and will protect your skin from sun damage for up to two hours. The product carries the recommendation of the Skin Cancer Foundation. It is non-oily and doesn’t clog pores. Moreover, it's rich in antioxidants that help to protect your skin from cancer causing pollutants.
You can purchase this rosacea sunblock with a tint or without, so you can dispense with the foundation or use the sunscreen as a primer. (And if you are using foundation, check out our tips on the best rosacea cover up methods.)
EltaMD is more expensive than some of the other rosacea sunscreens available, but it's formulated especially for the face, moisturizing and nourishing your skin while protecting it.
The Best Sunblock for Rosacea
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, Broad Spectrum SPF 100
The inexpensive, dry and effective Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen boasts a SPF 100. It's a broad-spectrum sunscreen able to protect your skin from harmful, cancer-causing UVA and UVB. Some believe that SPF 50 offers almost as much protection as an SPF 100 and that additional protection is superfluous. However, laboratory tests disprove this theory (2).
The sunscreen carries the recommendation of the Cancer Foundation and is endorsed by dermatologists. The dry formulation will not leave your skin looking greasy or shiny nor will it clog your pores. Its lovely matte finish leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.
This sunblock for rosacea has a light, pleasant fragrance. It's quickly absorbed into the skin. It leaves no residue, but smooths and hydrates the skin.
The product is waterproof when re-applied every eighty minutes. When you’re not swimming, two hourly applications will suffice. Non-comedogenic and PABA-free, it's also available in stick or spray for those who don’t like sunscreen on their hands.
Best Face Sunscreen for Rosacea
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60
Anthelios is a broad spectrum SPF60 sunscreen for both face and body - it will protect the skin against harmful cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays. It also contains protective anti-oxidants that help protect your skin from cancer-causing free radicals.
The sunscreen contains the patented Cell Ox Shield Technology and is highly absorbent. It protects your skin while leaving it feeling soft and silky smooth. Apply it 15 minutes before you go outside. It is waterproof and must be re-applied every eighty minutes when swimming.
The product has been tested and approved by dermatologists for use on sensitive skin. It is non-allergenic and is paraben and fragrance free. It is also non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog the pores or cause outbreaks.
La Roche-Posay is recommended by tens of thousands of dermatologists around the globe. This facial sunscreen for rosacea is a bit more expensive than the average sunscreen, but it offers superior protection for fair and sensitive skins.
The Best Drugstore Sunscreen for Rosacea
Blue Lizard Sunscreen
Blue Lizard contains both titanium and zinc oxide and is a broad-spectrum sunscreen capable of protecting sensitive skins from harmful UVA and AVB rays that cause lasting skin damage. The product contains no chemicals or parabens and it is fragrance-free. Dermatologists around the world recommend this product for sensitive skins.
This rosacea sunblock will offer you as much as forty minutes protection while in the water. It is reasonably priced and will give you all-over body protection. The product has a patented lid that boasts smart technology, picking up the presence of UV rays and changing color in response. The higher the UV detected the darker the color.
Blue Lizard is an established Australian product. It is lightweight and non-greasy. Moreover, it contains a moisturizer that keeps the skin smooth and hydrated.
It absorbs readily into the skin leaving no white streaks. The sunscreen should be applied fifteen minutes before going into the sunlight. This product is not tested on animals.
The Best Value for Money Sunscreen for Rosacea
SunBum Sunscreen Facestick
The Sunbum face stick is a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30. The SunBum brand produces sunscreens that range from SPF 15 to SPF 70, so you can choose the one that suits your skin.
Formulated for sensitive skin, this sunblock is suitable for use on children and adults alike. It is hyper-allergenic and vegan-friendly.
It's water-resistant formulation will last for up to eighty minutes before it must be re-applied. It should be applied thirty minutes before sun exposure.
Containing moisturizers and vitamin E, SunBum will maintain the moisture content of your skin. The antioxidant, Vitamin E, is used in many cosmetic moisturizers as it helps to delay aging and targets the free radicals that cause cancer.
Sunbum contains no oils or parabens and it is also PABA free, oil free and Paraben free. The noncomedogenic formulation will not clog the pores. Best of all, SunBum does not cause damage to coral reefs.
The product goes on clearly, quickly absorbing into to the skin and leaving no streaks. Because it's in stick form you can easily apply it, no messy hands. The Skin Cancer Foundation has tested and approved the product.
What is Rosacea Anyways?
Rosacea is an embarrassing condition that affects millions of people around the globe (1) and yet very little is known about what causes it. Some people have a genetic predisposition for rosacea. It is more common in people with fair skin and is far more predominant in women.
People with rosacea have facial skin which is coarser and redder than normal. When the condition first becomes apparent, the skin may redden from time to time and then return to normal, but eventually the redness stays and it is often lumpy and dry.
It is believed that the blood vessels beneath the skin are somehow to blame. Although doctors know about many of the triggers, rosacea is still a chronic condition for which there is no cure.
A Good Rosacea Sunscreen is Part of the Rosacea Management Toolbox
Research has shown that the symptoms of rosacea are aggravated by exposure to the sun. A recent survey showed that more than eighty percent of Rosacea sufferers identified sunlight as an aggravating factor in triggering the symptoms (3).
For those with rosacea, daily application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF of 30 or more is an essential preventative measure.
We also suggest keeping rosacea skin clean before applying sunscreen and after removing it as well. We suggest cleansing with a rosacea toner. Another great tool for soothing aggravated skin are essential oils for rosacea.
What is the Best Sunscreen for Rosacea?
Broad spectrum sunscreens protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays cause the painful redness that comes with too much exposure to the sun. However it is the UVA rays that cause the silent damage, damaging DNA and causing premature aging and skin cancer. The UVA rays cause superficial damage, but UVB penetrates the dermis causing long term damage (4).
The best sunscreen for rosacea skin is one that's mineral based, as these do not irritate the skin. Mineral based sunscreens contain zinc or titanium oxide. Sunscreens containing salicylic acid should be avoided as they may cause irritation.
SPF in a sunscreen is a measure of the amount of protection that a sunscreen will give you against the UVB rays. The higher it is the longer you can stay in the sun. That is to say, if you choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 20, this indicates that you can stay in the sun for twenty times longer than if you had no sun protection.
Moreover, the SPF does not indicate the measure of protection of the UVA rays, but broad-spectrum sunscreens do offer this protection.
In addition, keep an eye on the expiration date as an expired sunscreen will not offer the same level of protection once it starts to degrade.
photo by chen zo
Enjoy the Sun’s Benefits but Choose Protection
Today nobody argues that the sun damages the skin and leads to premature aging and skin cancer. However, some time in the sun is also essential for health and well-being (5). Our bodies need sunlight to produce vitamin D. And let’s face it, the warmth of the sun is great for lifting our emotions.
In short, finding and cover up with the best sunscreen for rosacea. Firstly, you will save your skin from aging. Secondly, you'll manage the redness and inflammation caused by rosacea and regain your self-confidence.
