Does spray-on sunscreen work as well as lotion?
Ask the doctor
Q. I love the convenience of sunscreen sprays, but do they offer the same sun protection as lotions?
A. It depends. Things that save us time often have a flip side, and this is true for spray-on products to protect ourselves from harmful ultraviolet light. Applying sunscreen with a spray offers the advantage of covering large skin areas — such as the back or legs — with ease, as well as doing quick hits on places like the shoulders or decolletage. But some people using it don’t spray enough of the product on the skin. And crucially, to offer maximum protection, it still needs to be rubbed in, not just sprayed on.
In contrast, using sunscreen in lotion form makes it easy to see how much of the product you’ve applied and where you’ve missed — things that aren’t as obvious with spray-on products. To make the most of a spray, make sure your skin appears wet and shiny where you’ve sprayed. Then, rub it in before it dries to make sure it’s evenly spread. Also, don’t spray sunscreen directly onto your face, since it can irritate your eyes or nasal passages. Instead, spray the sunscreen into your hand until you have a small pool of liquid. Then rub your hands together and apply the sunscreen evenly over your face.
Image: © Oscar Wong/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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