How Can The Sun Affect Acne?

Sometimes there's nothing better than just closing your eyes and putting your face in the sun for a few minutes.

A few warm sunbeams on your cheeks and a bit of fresh air and blue sky can be a real mood booster, and as long as it's in moderation, it can have some great benefits to your health and your skin.

Some people swear by the sun as one of the best things for reducing their acne. But can going in the sun too much actually make it worse?

How can the sun affect spots?

It can dry out excess oil and reduce breakouts, but this is often only temporary. As the sunlight dries out the oil in your skin and helps prevent oil production, you might see your breakouts start to clear up at first. But this dehydrating effect can actually do more harm than good. Your skin can then start to produce even more oil to compensate leading to further breakouts in the future.

For some skin tones, getting a tan can help reduce the appearance of scars and spots. But be careful because if you get too much sun exposure you can not just put yourself in danger of developing skin cancer, but also risk darkening your acne scars as well. So when your tan fades, you could be left with more noticeable scars.

The sun can also help kill acne-causing bacteria, which is another reason why people find their skin clearing when they go on holiday. But be careful - the last thing you want if you're struggling with blemishes is sunburn, as this will not just damage your skin but irritate and inflame any breakouts. So ensure you always protect your skin with SPF and avoid getting too much sun.

How can you keep your acne protected from the sun?

Don't overdo it. Some sun is fine for most people but be careful. Avoid the sun at the hottest times of the day (12pm-4pm) and seek shade.

Always wear oil-free SPF 30+ and use a sun cream that is oil free to help prevent your pores from becoming blocked and causing more breakouts, as well as ensuring your skin is protected from UV rays.

Wash your face after going out in the sun. This will help make sure you are removing any sweat/ bacteria to reduce and prevent further spots.

Keep your skin moisturised. To avoid your skin drying out in the sun and causing future breakouts, ensure you are moisturising at least twice a day whenever you're in the sun.