Do you remember the bright pink “zink” sunscreen from the 1980’s? This is actually a physical blocking sunscreen. Why is this important? Well, physically blocking sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and reflect UV light away from your skin cells in order to prevent Ultraviolet Light (UV) induced damage. I often hear from patients at my Austin plastic surgery practice that physically blocking sunscreen that contains zinc- doesn’t rub in well. Actually, the newer agents like Theraderm Platinum 43 and Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen are composed of micronized zinc and actually do blend in well in order to offer excellent protection from UV damage. Theraderm Platinum 43 is an excellent sunscreen for patients with sensitive skin; it smells nice and is easy to apply. It is important to remember that make-up should always be applied after you apply your sunscreen. For men and children, Blue Lizard is an excellent choice because it maintains extreme water resistance after 240 minutes in whirlpool water. The FDA only requires testing for 80 minutes in still water.
I have put this quick video together about how to apply physical blocking sunscreen so that it is an easy and effective process. Remember, you should always reapply sunscreen several times throughout the day. If you have any skincare questions, call my Austin plastic surgery office at (512) 288-8200 or contact us via email to learn more! You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter on our “news” page.
