What is the right amount of sunscreen for the face?

A photo published in an article about skin cancer prevention in a scientific journal published in October last year went viral this month, causing study author Christian Posch of the Technical University of Munich in Germany to tweet a “celebration” for the popularity of the disease. picture and invitation for everyone to read the whole article.

The photo shows the cheek and neck of a 92-year-old woman who has been using sunscreen on her face for over 40 years, but not on her neck. Clinical examination record makes a striking difference the damage done by sunlight in never protected places. “Ultraviolet light is one thing, aging is another,” Posch warns in his tweet.

While the original article did not go into much detail about the condition of the woman photographed, the text makes it clear that “UV radiation is the best-known trigger of DNA damage to the skin.” Therefore, the conclusion is that “focusing on exogenous risk factors” such as sunscreen use can reduce the incidence of skin cancer at “unprecedented rates”.

Glad to see this picture circulating (>186k ??)! Fantastic!! UV damage doesn’t take any more graphics.
Don’t forget to read the whole article! UV light is one thing, aging is another! #age #sun #uv #aging #prevent https://t.co/jkQbC2hCjS

— Christian Posch MD PhD (@PoschChristian) September 3, 2022

What is the ideal amount of sunscreen?

According to the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), “Indispensable for all seasons of the year”, Sunscreen must be applied correctly to ensure its effectiveness in preventing numerous problems such as premature aging, skin dryness, precancerous lesions and even skin cancer.

Sunscreen application should be done daily, even on cloudy days, at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, with reapplication every three hours. But the face requires a specific product. Since the skin in this area is normally oilier than the rest of the body, “ideal is to prefer oil-free or gel sunscreen”, To prevent the formation of blackheads and acne.

Stimulates SBD, as for the amount to be applied and evenly distributed throughout the body, the values ​​are equal to:

• a teaspoon on the face, neck and head;
• a teaspoon in the front of the trunk and a teaspoon in the rear;
• a teaspoon in each arm;
• one teaspoon in front of each leg and one teaspoon in back.

ARTICLE – Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases – DOI: 10.1111/jdv.17660.