In order to help you feel comfortable and free with your appearance, we’ve come up with the best sunscreens for scars. We’ve carefully tested and selected these products based on their effectiveness in healing damaged tissues while sheltering them from the harmful ultraviolet rays to alleviate their appearance. We believe these products can help you support your beauty.
Blemishes and scars are some of the issues that can become bothersome and disturb our comfort.
It is often hard when having to look for the best makeup to cover these. We believe it is important to educate ourselves in the right ways to treat the skin.
Damaged tissues are very sensitive and more prone to harmful elements, compared to normal skin.
We have listed the products that belong to our top 5 list of best sunscreen for scars.
We invite you to take a look at the roundup we have compiled so you could find the right product to suit your needs.
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Quick Overview: Our Top Picks of the Best Sunscreen for Scars
OUR TOP #1 PICK - The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 is our ultimate winner for this category. One of the features that grab our attention immediately is that it is compatible with makeup. Apart from the potent formulation, we love that we can use it both on the face and the body.
OUR TOP #2 PICK - The Cotz SPF 40 Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin is our next choice for this list. We like that it boasts a smooth formula to soothe irritation and prevent skin from heat build-up. It also provides a non-greasy matte finish without leaving a white residue behind.
OUR TOP #3 PICK - Third in our roundup is the Mederma Scar Cream Plus SPF30. We were impressed with the fusion of highly moisturizing ingredients. Apart from delivering intense hydration, it makes use of three potent sunscreen elements to shelter the skin from damage.
OUR TOP #4 PICK - The product that spots our position number four is the Burn Out SPF 35 Eco Sensitive Sunscreen. We appreciate the high concentration of zinc oxide which is known as a non-toxic, anti-inflammatory sunscreen agent. Furthermore, we were delighted that the ingredients work synergistically to improve the texture of the skin.
OUR TOP #5 PICK - For our last top pick, we have the BioCorneum Advanced Scar Supervision SPF 30. We decided to make this one a part of our selection because we were surprised to see that it can be used on a range of different scars. These include the resulting ones from burns, trauma, and wounds, as well as cosmetic or surgical procedures.
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
Among the most effective ways to manage the scars’ appearance and state is by applying a suitable sunscreen.
We have stumbled across lots of products that can provide a broad range of SPF.
Although these may work well for preventing harmful UVA/UVB rays penetration, most of them still have some additional ingredients that may irritate.
Chemicals, in particular, are notorious for damaging the skin.
Perhaps you have already applied sunscreen products to your scars before. But how often should you use these topical solutions?
That will depend on the location of the scar, but it is necessary to put sunscreen on the area few times in a day.
It is important, particularly if you are sweating or you if have oily skin.
Preventing Discolored Scars
Scars can appear for many reasons. One of them is genetics, so we are limited in our fight with this particular cause.
Another reason is skin damage and cuts. The way the skin is treated and cured in the early stage is also crucial.
Scars are very sensitive to direct sunlight, compared with normal skin. That’s according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Thus, it is almost compulsory to conceal them completely from the rays of the sun. That’s, of course, in the case we want to improve their recovery.
When we expose them to sunlight, discoloration and hyperpigmentation can occur. If that happens, the damaged tissues will no longer match the skin tone and will stand out.
They are more likely to turn darker as opposed to the skin surrounding them. As a result, permanent hyperpigmentation can take place.
On the contrary, given that we protect the scars from harm, they can gradually blend with the skin and eventually heal completely.
What are the Best Sunscreens for Scars?
The first rule is to look for a sunscreen that can provide a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with at least SPF30.
Second, we advise you to opt for physical sunscreens. They contain ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide or a combination of both.
That is a better choice over chemical sunscreens since it limits the chances of further inflammation.
Also, physical sunscreens stop the rays and work much like a mirror, while chemical solutions need to absorb the light to turn it into harmless elements.
Third, we recommend you to look for a product that is free from fragrance.
The tender tissue of a damaged skin is more prone to adverse reactions so it might be a wise decision to limit any possible sources of irritation.
Fourth, we encourage you to choose a sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin.
Many of the formulations that provide a broad spectrum protection tend to be pretty thick, and some might not absorb quickly.
Given that the scar you want to hide is placed in a visible spot, like the face, we can feel much more comfortable to conceal it entirely without ruining the makeup.
Thus, we have to look for a lightweight product that doesn’t skip on the defense.
To guide you through the maze of cosmetics available on the market, we have created a compilation of the best sunscreens for scars.
Product Reviews: Our Top Five Choices of the Best Sunscreen for Scars
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The La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Sunscreen is our ultimate choice for this selection.
We approve that it contains a high-SPF value and can provide protection against 98% of the harmful rays.
Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring element which is derived from the mineral Titanium.
It serves to reflect the harmful rays before they can conduct any damage to the skin.
Upon testing it out, were impressed by its silky texture. It was easy to glide onto the skin, and we notice it absorbs rapidly.
We were glad not to experience any sticky or greasy feeling after use.
Another significant trait is the absence of possible irritants since the formulation is developed without the use of parabens, artificial fragrance or comedogenic elements.
One thing which grabbed our attention is that the sunscreen is slightly tinted.
We notice that it can blend easily with most skin tones, which makes it less noticeable under makeup.
You may be put off by the color of the lotion that comes out of the bottle as it can be quite dark because of the tint.
However, when rubbed well into the skin, the tint is barely there and contributes to a healthy glow, rather than any significant coverage.
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The Cotz SPF 40 Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin is next on our roundup. We selected this one because it is a physical sunscreen that contains 20% zinc oxide.
Zinc Oxide has a long history of helping in the treatment of burns and heals. The first evidence of its natural healing properties appears in ancient Indian medicinal scripts.
Nowadays, modern technologies have developed the way of creating Zinc Oxide by mixing the mineral Zinc with oxygen molecules.
Its protection ability is so high, that it can help to prevent sunburn even on photo-sensitive skin.
Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, and Cyclohexasiloxane can aid to smoothen the surface of the skin and fill in fine lines and wrinkles.
They carry a very tiny chance of irritation or inflammation since their molecular size is too big to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin.
Upon trying it out, we concluded that it could work well with scars and makeup. We also like that it is durable and long-lasting.
However, in the case you have oily or combination skin, this might not be the best match for your type. The consistency is very saturated and may lead to excessive shine.
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Mederma Scar Cream Plus SPF30 is the third sunscreen that made it to our list. This one combines Avobenzone, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone as its active ingredients.
Chemical sunscreens often include two more common compounds, namely Octisalate and Homosalate.
Given that these elements are included in a balanced proportion to the formulation, the chances for adverse effects can be lowered to the minimum.
The problem with chemical sunscreens comes with the dosage. Many people are not aware of the possible accumulation of the compounds through time.
Thus, continually using such products for years, some processes in the body can be disrupted.
What impressed us while decoding the composition of this sunscreen is the inclusion of Onion Bulb Extract.
Onion is known as a cure for acne scars, as well as for inflamed areas surrounding these.
“The Journal of Wound Care” has published research which shows the benefits of its topical implement.
As stated, experts found out that when onion extract is applied daily to a scar, it aids to reduce both discoloration and inflammation.
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The BurnOut SPF 35 Eco Sensitive Sunscreen is our fourth top choice for the best sunscreen for scars.
It is a physical sunscreen that contains 18.9% zinc oxide to protect from the damaging UV rays radiation.
One significant feature is that the Zinc Oxide implied to the formulation is not nano-sized.
That limits the chances of irritation since its particles cannot penetrate the skin too deep to conduct adverse changes in the normal functioning of the organism.
Since Zinc Oxide tends to dry out the skin, we highly approve the inclusion of Glycerin and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
Polyhydroxystearic acid serves to ensure the efficacy and stability of the sunscreen element.
On another note, Isostearic acid can assist in protecting the skin from oxidative damage.
It is a synthetically created fatty acid that acts as an emulsifier and surfactant.
Aside from the balanced concentration of zinc oxide, we were also delighted with the matte finish. We also noticed that it does not leave a white residue.
After testing it out, we appreciate that it can become a suitable base for makeup.
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And finally, the BioCorneum Advanced Scar Supervision SPF 30 is our last top pick. It allows to lock-in moisture which helps speed up the healing process.
As we already discussed, proper hydration can stop the further development of discoloration. And that is crucial when it comes to sun exposure.
Polysiloxane is a silicone which has gained the reputation of being called “second skin.”
It is responsible for preventing the moisture loss, and it also builds a protective layer on the surface of the skin.
That additional layer can lessen the risk of abnormal healing by regulating the production of collagen.
Furthermore, this water-resistant barrier can help to relieve itching and burning.
We find that BioCorneum Advanced Scar Supervision SPF 30 can be used on scars due to cosmetic or surgical procedures.
It can also address those that result from burns, wounds or other trauma.
Upon testing it, we concluded that only a small amount of the product is enough to serve its purpose while not disturbing the efficacy.
We encourage you to apply little at a time, and if you find it is not drying, then you have put too much.
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The Bottom Line
Out of the top five best sunscreens for scars in the list, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 is our ultimate pick.
We love that we can wear it underneath makeup, or alone since it is slightly tinted. That feature can help to even out the skin tone.
The concentrated formulation of Titanium Dioxide can assist in blocking the harmful rays with a spectrum that catches up to 98% of the UVA/UVB light.
The inclusion of Dimethicone can trap in essential moisture and create a thin, invisible protective barrier over the surface of the damaged tissues.
All the sunscreens that made it through our selection were an object of substantial inspection.
We have concluded that they all have excellent properties and carry possible benefits to contribute in the healing process of scars while protecting from the harsh sun.
We will love if you like to share your experience with the products in the comment section below.
