Is Sun Good For Acne? Let’s Ask A Dermatologist
Does the sun help with acne? Many people think that sunbathing and tanning can reduce acne. But is that true or just a myth? It turned out that all the time in the sun just gives the illusion of improved acne. In fact, on some skin types, exposure to the sun makes the scar worse or makes your acne flare up due to sun damage from UV light. Don't take it for us – we spoke to a dermatologist to find out if it's really true to cure acne with the sun.
Does the sun help with acne?
As an acne sufferer, you have probably tried a variety of home remedies, such as sunbathing all day to "clean up" your acne. But does the sun really help? The short answer is “no”, says Dr. Hooman Khorasani. Dr. Khorasani is a triple certified, scholarship trained cosmetic and skin cancer surgeon based in New York.
"Many patients with acne and psoriasis report that their acne and psoriasis improve during the summer vacation, including sun exposure," says Dr. Khorasani. Because UV light suppresses our immune system and has the ability to reduce inflammation. The catch? UV radiation also suppresses the ability of our immune system to do the usual monitoring of cancer cells – and this contributes to the formation of skin cancer!
Skin can sometimes appear healthier because the sun stimulates melanin production in the skin, which gives you a tan. Sun exposure can also temporarily dry out pimples. A tan can make the skin look more even by hiding blemishes or uneven texture, giving the impression of improved acne. However, the sun does more harm than good.
Amazingly, until the late 1970s, severe acne patients were treated with UV radiation or radiation therapy, explains Dr. Khorasani. “Decades later, many of these patients developed recurrent skin cancer,” he says. “When I was a surgical intern, one of the plastic surgeons I oversaw had an elderly patient who had UV treatment as a teenager and developed over 50 skin cancers all over her scalp in her 70s. Unfortunately, she never survived the operation and was one of the first losses I had to experience during my surgical internship. "
Today Dr. Khorasani had at least three patients with a history of UV light treatments for acne who were being treated for skin cancer. Obviously, UV overexposure can give us the illusion of temporary benefits, but it can have long-term negative effects that may not appear years later.
Can the Sun Get Rid of Acne Scars and Redness?
It's fair to say that a tan can give the illusion of reduced scarring. But the reason people report a reduction in redness is because UV light suppresses our immune system and reduces an inflammatory response. This will reduce the redness for a short time.
The problem is, people forget or fail to realize the long-term consequences that sun exposure damages the delicate scar pigment. "Collagen is the" stone and mortar "of our skin and has a wicker architecture in healthy skin," explains Dr. Khorasani. "But in the scar tissue, in contrast to the basket pattern, the collagen fibers are layered in parallel."
If you ever see a change in a sunburned scar, it is important to seek medical advice. "Since scars do not contain as many melanocytes, they are also more prone to sunburn and thus to the development of skin cancer," explains Dr. Khorasani.
Are you already grappling with the effects of sun damage? We have some treatment options from Dr. Khorasani and our in-house skin care experts.
Post-Sun Treatments for Acne Sufferers
As Forbes points out, "Sun avoidance and protection are important in making these pigment changes fade faster." If you want acne scars to fade faster, the following skin care products can be used as post-sun treatments.
Toners & Serums
Our Lime Refresh Tonique tones and balances the skin with a formula that removes excess oil and minimizes pores. Citrus fruit oils refresh the skin, while lime juice, as an astringent, is responsible for minimizing pore size. Citrus oils tighten and refresh the skin, while lime juice acts as an astringent, responsible for minimizing pore size.
That Eminence Organics Stone Crop Serum is designed to moisturize and minimize the appearance of uneven skin tone and dark spots thanks to a combination of stone harvest, green tea and bearberry extract.
Masks
If you enjoy a relaxing mask, the Citrus & Kale Potent C + E Masque offers a blend of avocado oil, citrus fruits and leafy vegetables. This formula contains properties to remove excess oil on the skin. It even protects the skin from the visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Our Clear Skin Probiotic Masque is a cooling and invigorating mask that removes the appearance of blemishes. It contains cucumber to tighten problem areas and keep the skin feeling well-groomed. Finally, the Eight Greens Phyto Masque – Not Hot improves the appearance of problem skin and oily complexions.
Eminence Organics Product Support Representative Nadira Kavanagh suggests cooling the treatment mask before applying the product: "The additional cooling effect ensures a refreshing feeling during the treatment."
Dermatological treatment options for acne scars
If you want to combine your skin care products with something special, you can ask your dermatologist about treatments that are designed to reduce acne scars. Professional options use fractional treatments of the scar (i.e., only "part" of the skin is treated in each session). These options include radio frequency (RF) microneedling, mechanical microneedling, and fractional CO2 lasers, explains Dr. Khorasani. These treatments help in the appearance of acne scars, which are caused by a change in the architecture of the collagen fibers in our skin:
- Radio frequency (RF) microneedling: RF microneedling is a nonsurgical aesthetic procedure that targets acne scars and stimulates the production of new collagen. It is also used to tighten the appearance of the skin.
- Mechanical microneedling: Tiny needles are inserted into the skin to break up scar tissue and stimulate the replacement of that lost tissue with healthy, normal collagen.
- Fractional Co2 laser: Fractional laser facial resurfacing can be one of the most effective skin care treatment options for facial scars.
Acne can be annoying at any age and severely affect your confidence, but there are options (but don't lie in the sun!). Are you currently struggling with acne? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!
