Bellevue Acne Clinic | Is sun exposure good for acne?

Is sun exposure good for acne?

Summer can be a difficult time for patients with acne. Certain medications can cause photosensitivity, which may limit your ability to enjoy the sun. Unsightly pimples on your face or body may keep you home from the beach, and getting a tan may make your acne more visible. Yikes!

Although there is some evidence that sun can help acne, its effect varies from person to person. Sunlight does have an antibacterial effect, which can lead to decreased colonization of P. Acnes on your skin (the bacteria associated with acne). However, the bacteria often multiply back to pre-exposure levels within a couple of hours of coming back inside.

Retinoids such as Differin (adapalene), Retin-A (tretinoin), Ziana and Atralin strip off the top layer of skin, leaving you susceptible to a bad sunburn. Other topical acne products also cause a superficial peel, including over-the-counter products such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

Oral antibiotics for acne (the main ones used at Bellevue Acne Clinic are minocycline and doxycycline) can increase your risk for a painful pink burn on your nose and elsewhere on your body called a phototoxic rash. The pink spots take weeks to fade and sting every time you are in the sun.

Sunscreens can promote acne. Most people know to look for non-comedogenic products to use on their face. However, many of the best sunscreens, including zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or pretty much any sweat-resistant product, are pore-clogging.

You might think that getting a tan might make the red pimples on your face less noticeable. However, what can happen is that the pimples get darker as your surrounding skin gets darker, sometimes making acne look WORSE.

Here are four tips to help your complexion this summer:

1. Sun exposure is not a cure-all for clearing your skin. You are likely to get far more sun than is helpful, and your acne may be even more obvious once you have a tan.

2. If you taking prescription antibiotics for acne, you may want to discuss with your acne care provider if you are taking the best
medicine for the summer. It may be possible to take a break from antibiotics during the summer months, or switch to antibiotics that are more compatible with sun.

3. Find a good way to decrease risk for sunburn that doesn't involve comedogenic sunscreens. Wear a floppy hat, avoid the sun's strongest rays (between 10AM-2PM), or just cover up.

4. Use noncomedogenic sunscreens that are designed for the face, including Neutrogena Ultra-sheer Dry Touch or Ceravé AM lotion.

Here in Seattle we spend our winters looking forward to the summer. Take some precautions and then enjoy the beautiful weather!