Summer is upon us and that means it is time to up our SPF game. Yet with so many options out there, finding the right one can be both confusing and tricky. L’Officiel’s contributing beauty Editor Miriam Abadi, speaks to renowned London-based consultant dermatologist, Mohs and laser expert, Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi, to break down the different elements of sun damage, key sunscreen ingredients to look out for, and how to find the right sunblock for your skin type.

Why is sunscreen such an essential when it comes to skincare regimens and why is there such an emphasis on education around it?

Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi:&nbsp;If you look at the environmental triggers that affect the condition of the skin, sunlight has the biggest impact by far. It&rsquo;s more damaging to the skin than pollution, dry weather, or even smoking because sunlight contains very high-energy photons which can cause damage across multiple layers of the skin. We have the longer wavelength, the UVA, causing damage to the deeper components of the skin, causing wrinkles, open pores, leathery and hard skin as well as the shorter wavelength, the UVB, causing damage to the surface skin cells, causing dryness, roughness, and pigmentation. And then we also have the visible light, the high-energy blue light, which comprises 40% of the light we would be exposed to on a sunny day. The reason why it is important to emphasize and educate people on the importance of sunscreen is that there is no skincare product that will really protect or repair the skin as much as sunscreen. Nothing works better than good sun protection.

Does sunblock really help prevent skin cancer?

Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi: Yes, it does. There are many different kinds of skin cancer but a key driver for skin cancer is excessive sun exposure and sunburns, particularly for basal carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, sunscreen that really protects from sunlight is very important for prevention.

London-based consultant dermatologist, Mohs and laser expert - Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi

With so many different options out there, what are the key components to consider when purchasing a sunblock?

Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi: The main things to consider are SPF level to protect against UVB and UVA rays and visible light blocking ingredients.&nbsp;

First off, let&rsquo;s talk about the protection, this is the SPF &ndash; which literally stands for Sun Protection Factor. If you apply SPF30 for example, it will require 30 times the solar energy for your skin to get damaged to the extent it would have without any protection. Your skin tone determines just how high this level needs to be. For people with lighter skin tones who are susceptible to sunburns, using SPF50 with a high star rating for UVA blocking is essential. If you have a darker skin type, and you don&rsquo;t burn easily, you can get away with SPF30.

Visible light can cause pigmentation and therefore it&rsquo;s important to check if the sunblock you are looking for purchase contains ingredients that actively block and protect from it; the most effective of which are mainly iron oxide pigment and the Licochalone A antioxidant.&nbsp;

Given so many different skin types, finding the right sunblock formulation can be a tricky process. Do you have any recommendations to help ease this process?

Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi: More often than not, it&rsquo;s just a matter of trying and seeing which SPF formula feels best to your skin. However, I have a few recommendations that can help make this search easier.&nbsp; People with oily, combination skin should avoid rich, creamy SPF formulations as they can actually cause more breakouts. For these skin types, I really like Eucerin&rsquo;s Sun Oil Control range which contains special ingredients that absorb excess oil and regulate sebum, whilst providing optimal sun protection.

On the other hand, those with dry skin would benefit greatly from a hydrating, cream-based formula. La Roche Posay, Eucerin, Heliocare, and Sunsense all offer great SPF options for normal and dry skin types.&nbsp;

Are there any specific SPF requirements for women over 50?

Dr. Firas Al-Niaimi: I don&rsquo;t feel there are any sun protection requirements that are particularly related to age. However, pigmentation does tend to be more prevalent in women over 50, and to combat this, using a complete anti-pigment skincare regimen is vital. Eucerin has a great anti-pigment range that contains hydration-boosting Hylauronic Acid alongside antioxidant and visible light blocking ingredients &ndash; all of which are pivotal to promoting radiant, healthy skin in older women.

SPF Matters: Choosing the Right Sunblock For Your Skin

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