How do you choose a sunscreen for skin with dark spots?
For skin with dark spots, a sunscreen must protect against both UVA and UVB rays. For the face and neck, you need about two fingers’ length of product.
Author: Uzm. Dr. Oya Oylum Argun
For skin with dark spots, a sunscreen must protect against both UVA and UVB rays. On the pack this is written as broad spectrum. The sun protection factor should be at least 30, and preferably 50 for skin with dark spots.
Why is a tinted sunscreen recommended? The visible part of sunlight can also darken the mask of pregnancy in particular. Tinted sunscreens containing iron oxide give extra protection against this light.
The amount you apply sets the protection. For the face and neck, you need about two fingers’ length of product. If too little is applied, the protection written on the pack is not reached.
Sunscreen is applied 15 to 20 minutes before going out. It is put on again after sweating and swimming, and every two hours during the day. It is needed on cloudy days too.
On oily or spot-prone skin, a light texture is comfortable to use, and on dry skin a richer product. Which product suits you is talked through at the consultation.
This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. The right approach for you is decided at the consultation.
Last updated: 16 September 2026
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- “You do not need sunscreen when it is cloudy.”Clouds do not block all ultraviolet rays. UVA rays in particular pass through a large part of the cloud cover and through many types of glass.
- How do sun spots form?A sun spot does not appear in a day. It is the result of a build-up that spreads across the whole year and carries on through every season, and summer is the most intense period of that build-up.
- What causes dark spots on the face?Dark spots on the face are most often caused by the sun. Most facial spots are harmless.