Summer might be on it’s way out, but that doesn’t mean you can pass on sun protection—especially not post-procedure. How you care for your skin after you’ve had a cosmetic treatment is crucial to your recovery and results, and SPF is the key to that care. If you want to maximize your results, then you have to protect your recovering skin from sun damage and inflammation. These are the best sunscreens recommended by experts for your sensitive, post-treatment skin.
Featured Experts
- Amy Sprole, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, KS
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD and Joel Schlessinger, MD are board-certified dermatologists in Omaha, NE
- Arash Akhavan, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
Why Is Sunscreen Post-Procedure so Important?
After a cosmetic procedure, your skin is in a particularly sensitive state. “Because the skin is in an inflamed and vulnerable state post-procedure, it is more susceptible to sun damage. Without proper sun protection, patients are at a higher risk of developing hyperpigmentation and other complications,” explains New York dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD.
“I require a mineral SPF of at least 30,” says Wichita, KS plastic surgeon Amy Sprole, MD of her post-procedure patients. “I don’t require additional sun protection, like UPF clothing, but I think it can be a great supplement to sunscreens.”
And the formula matters, as chemical sunscreens may be irritating to post-procedure skin. “While chemical and hybrid chemical/physical sunscreens do still have their place, physical sunscreens tend to be gentler on the skin,” adds Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD.
The Best Sunscreens for Post-Procedure Skin
