Let’s learn the truth about the myth that the sun can heal your acne
The truth about acne and the sun myth. Many of us suffer from acne or breakouts while we are in our tweens and teens and are lucky enough to have moved on from that problem with a great skincare routine. The rest of us who still struggle with acne as adults have to find other solutions. As a licensed esthetician, I have seen many different types of acne, and I have treated it multiple ways. The sun has never been an option on my service menu.
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There is so much misinformation about acne and the different ways to treat it. One solution that I have heard of recently, is that the sun will heal your acne. How did this myth come to be? Could the sun possibly heal acne? Is it really that simple? Unfortunately, not. Let’s break down the truth about acne and the sun myth. I will talk about my suggestion for sun protection from Glow Recipe.
The Sun and Your Skin
What is happening to your skin when the sun touches it? The sun emits radiation that travels to Earth where it is absorbed by the atmosphere – except for the radiation which is not. Some of the rays that make it through the atmosphere are radiation.
These are ultraviolet rays better known as UV rays. These rays are a source of both nourishment and damage to human skin. Proteins in our skin convert rays into vitamin D3, essential for bone and heart health, but the rays also burn us. The damage from the sun can penetrate through our many layers of skin and show up years down the road unexpectedly.
Ultraviolet Ray Example
If you look at the chart on the right, you will see the different types of sunlight rays that can be absorbed and how deep the rays can go. For example, as our skin goes through its cycle of cellular turnover, the next layer of new skin appears on our epidermis (the top layer of our skin). The damage we were unable to see before then shows itself and we have to correct it.
The Sun & the Acne Myth
Solar Comedones
The truth about acne and the sun myth, is that there are many different skin conditions caused by many different things, including hormones, dry skin, diet, and more. There are also many different types of acne on top of that! One way that the sun can give you acne is in the form of solar comedones that look like clogged pores. The exact reason for this is unknown, but what has been determined is that prolonged sun exposure can cause this. This is a skin condition that is typically seen in mature skin.
Another way that the sun can cause you to have acne is sun exposure itself. Not only will being out in the sun causes your skin to become dry, but your skin will try to overcompensate by trying to produce more oil.
If you want to see what solar comedones look like, please click the link I provided or Google it. I would feature it here but there are no free images for me to use as an example. If that image isn’t enough to make you wear sunscreen, I don’t know what will convince you.
Actinic folliculitis is another type of skin condition from the sun that can be confused with acne. The condition appears on your skin like small, raised bumps after exposure to sunlight. The red bumps can appear on your cheeks, the sides of your neck, your shoulders, and your arms.
It typically appears 4-24 hours after you have had sun exposure. I read that this could be treated with a retinoid (source here) however, I think it is best if you see a dermatologist and have them look at your skin in person to treat it.
Behind the Confusion of Acne and the Sun Myth
The idea of the sun being good for acne is that it is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects on your skin. Ultraviolet rays have an immunosuppressive effect on skin and do in fact have anti-inflammatory effects on your skin. In fact, you may also find that it dries out sebum in your skin temporarily. However, these effects are short lived and not a permanent solution.
For this reason, being in the sun for long periods of time will dry out your skin and cause you to have breakouts, which is the opposite of what you want.
Product Recommendation
Acne is a very stubborn skin condition to treat. I know firsthand, that it takes a lot of trial and error to see results. If you are suffering from acne, my professional advice would be to first find out what is causing it. You can seek the help of a dermatologist or a licensed esthetician, like myself, to come up with a skincare routine and a plan for you.
An acne-safe sunscreen I would recommend is Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen Spf 50 from Glow Recipe. (affiliate link) There are many sunscreens out there that are acne-safe, but this is a good example. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, watermelon & aloe.
This spf is great for acne because it’s hydrating, soothing, evens out redness with the aloe and helps with the texture on your skin (which is great for acne scarring). This sunscreen also passes the vibe check for being reef-safe. The packaging is FSC-certified made with recyclable materials and can be recycled curbside according to your local guidelines.
If you would like another reef-safe sunscreen product recommendation, you can read my other blog post on zinc oxide by clicking or tapping here.
Witchy Tip:
How to incorporate Watermelon Extract and Spirituality
Watermelon and chakras
Chakras are located along your spine, and they each correspond to a different aspect of your body and mind. The heart chakra is located in the center of your chest and is represented by the color green.
Watermelon is green on the outside and pink on the inside. According to Hinduism this is a representation of the physical body and our hearts. Watermelon is believed to be associated to love, compassion and emotional balance.
As you are putting on your sunscreen with watermelon extract, or any skincare product with watermelon extract in it, I want you to think about this as an act of self-care. What is the watermelon extract doing for your skin physically? The watermelon itself is a representation of love, why not give that to yourself? Alternatively, if you are not connecting to the idea of chakras, you can focus on the science of watermelon’s properties and how good they are for your skin.
Spiritual Cleansing
If you want to take this a step further, you can add watermelon juice to your self-care practice.
Watermelon is a fruit that is full of water. In many different cultures, water is considered to be a cleansing and purifying source. Truly, drinking watermelon juice is something you can add into your day that will help with cleansing toxins and impurities from your body. When you feel good physically, you will also feel a little better mentally and spiritually. Glow from the inside, out!
Watermelon juice is rich in Vitamin C and B complex. The red color of watermelon is actually due to something called, Lycopene, which is an antioxidant. It helps with neutralizing free radicals from the sun and is anti-aging.
Charity
If a brand is associated with a charity or gives back to the community in some way, I like to highlight that as well. With each purchase, part of the proceeds goes towards a non-profit of your choice that is listed on Glow Recipe’s website.
*For the sake of absolute transparency, I have never benefitted financially or in any other way, from mentioning any charities.
Glow For Good is Glow Recipe’s way of giving back to the community.
” AT GLOW RECIPE, we believe that beauty shines brighter from a generous heart. Our goal is to use our platform to support and make an impact on communities and organizations that we are passionate about and encourage our Glow Recipe Community to do the same.”
You can find out more about Glow For Good on the Glow Recipe website by clicking here.
My Final Thoughts
First, I would like to say that I know acne is a very hard skin condition to treat. There are so many different types of acne and potential causes. In my professional opinion, and based on personal experience, treating acne takes time. In addition to this, you may be tempted to take short cuts. As a result, you may end up hurting your skin and making yourself more frustrated than before. When in doubt, keep your routine simple and gentle. Cleanse, moisturize and protect.
If you would like to purchase the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF, you can click/tap here and support the blog. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my link, at no extra charge to you.
What are your thoughts on the truth about acne the sun myth? Have you tried this before? Let me know in the comments.
The images in this blog post belong to Canva and Glow Recipe and have been used with permission by those sources.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed on this site are the author’s own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a doctor, dermatologist or suitable professional should you have any such concerns.
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