Sunscreen breakouts on face- strategies for cleansing/prevention?

[Anonymous]

To be clear: I've tried every combination possible of sunscreen, including various chemical, mineral, powder, etc. formulations. I only get sunscreen breakouts on my face and adhere to physically covering skin as much as possible. But I am still struggling with breakouts from sunscreen on my face and cannot go outside without it. So this isn't a request for a brand that doesn't cause breakouts but rather how to minimize them.

For those who deal with sunscreen breakouts, do you have a strategy for managing it that doesn't include just staying inside? I'm a swim official on the west coast, so even though we have evening meets, our location and long evenings mean the sun stays strong until 8ish pm and there is a lot of glare. Plus most of our pools are outdoors, so even during club season I'm outside.

I've had some success with cleaning my face and reapplying sunscreen multiple times per day. I think that the sunscreen is trapping sweat/oil in my pores and that's the reason frequent washing helps. But it's harsh on my skin and not always practical to do so. Any other brainstorms about how I could de-escalate these breakouts?

[Anonymous]

Accutane.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm diligent in sunscreen usage, but I actually don't reapply because 1. I use Colorscience Flex which is colored so I would look crazy 2. I, too, worry that reapplying could trap in all the dirt, sweat, and pollution that is on the surface of my skin.

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Always wear a hat if possible.
2. There are sunscreen sprays and powders that might make application easier and maybe wouldn't lead to breakouts.
3. I do find I need to double cleanse (first with an oil based balm then with a normal gentle cleanser) at the end of the day to truly get all the sunscreen off.

[Anonymous]

What about using hypochlorous acid spray before reapplying? Or even while out and about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about using hypochlorous acid spray before reapplying? Or even while out and about?

OP and can you say more? I see "acid" and it kind of freaks me out. Is it compatible with sunscreen, and what does it do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm diligent in sunscreen usage, but I actually don't reapply because 1. I use Colorscience Flex which is colored so I would look crazy 2. I, too, worry that reapplying could trap in all the dirt, sweat, and pollution that is on the surface of my skin.

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Always wear a hat if possible.
2. There are sunscreen sprays and powders that might make application easier and maybe wouldn't lead to breakouts.
3. I do find I need to double cleanse (first with an oil based balm then with a normal gentle cleanser) at the end of the day to truly get all the sunscreen off.

What do you use as an oil based balm? I do feel kind of like I haven't gotten all of the sunscreen off at the end of the day. I get two kinds of breakouts- tiny lone whiteheads that pop up by the end of the day, and sort of underground things that pop up overnight and really get going the day after an intense sunscreen day.

[Anonymous]

I finally found one that minimizes the breakouts. I do need to scrub my face with a rough towel end of day to remove. Finally I needed a physical cover instead of reapplictions. Here's the link.https://davekny.com/collections/umbrellas2/products/the-davek-parasol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm diligent in sunscreen usage, but I actually don't reapply because 1. I use Colorscience Flex which is colored so I would look crazy 2. I, too, worry that reapplying could trap in all the dirt, sweat, and pollution that is on the surface of my skin.

Here are a few suggestions:
1. Always wear a hat if possible.
2. There are sunscreen sprays and powders that might make application easier and maybe wouldn't lead to breakouts.
3. I do find I need to double cleanse (first with an oil based balm then with a normal gentle cleanser) at the end of the day to truly get all the sunscreen off.

What do you use as an oil based balm? I do feel kind of like I haven't gotten all of the sunscreen off at the end of the day. I get two kinds of breakouts- tiny lone whiteheads that pop up by the end of the day, and sort of underground things that pop up overnight and really get going the day after an intense sunscreen day.

NP and agree with everything the PP said, especially with the double cleansing. My favorites for the first cleanse are Farmscy Green Clean Cleansing Balm and DHC Cleansing Oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about using hypochlorous acid spray before reapplying? Or even while out and about?

OP and can you say more? I see "acid" and it kind of freaks me out. Is it compatible with sunscreen, and what does it do?

Your skins natural protective barrier is acidic.