We are well known for our selection of Anthelios sunscreens, but our customers also come to us with questions about other skin care concerns. Read on to find out what they’ve been asking about lately: your questions, our answers.
1. My skin is very sensitive. Which is the best sun damage treatment?
Successful treatment of sun damage is challenging at the best of times. For sensitive skin, you may want to consider the original MaMa Lotion which contains gentle but effective malic and mandelic acid to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and sun damage. However, with any new product, please ensure you perform a skin patch test to minimize any possible irritation. To prevent any future sun damage, a stable, broad-spectrum sunscreen like Anthelios is also key.
2. I have cystic adult acne. I used Accutane for 4 months and stopped because of the severe side/adverse effects. Do you know of any products that are safe to use during pregnancy?
While we would NOT recommend any product containing retinoids while pregnant, AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) are generally considered safe to use. However, it is always best to check with your physician.
3. Can Preparation H Cream with BioDyne be used on the face and under eyes, since it contains parabens? I was wondering, is it safe?
Although Preparation H Cream with BioDyne is not formulated specifically for the face, it has long been used to fight wrinkles and under-eye puffiness for those “in the know”. In fact, BioDyne is a form of peptides, which are used extensively in skin care products with anti-aging and anti-wrinkling benefits. As for its safety for using on the face, a skin patch test should be performed when using any new product.
With regard to parabens, we’ve written a blog here about them. In the end, it’s really up to the individual.
4. I have had a bottle of sunscreen which I purchased since 2007. I bought it for a vacation in the Caribbean and hadn’t used it since. I recently went back to the Caribbean and decided to take it along with me since it had not hardened or shown any signs of disintegration. It also has the same fragrant smell as when I first bought it so I figured it was safe. I used it on the first day and everything was great. I used it a second time (about 3 – 4 weeks later) and this time I observed some swelling on my face. It was just temporary though. I should note that when I used it the second time, I also had the flu really bad. My eyes were puffy and my nose was also running quite a lot.
Do you think my swollen face (which last about an hour or so) was due to the sunscreen or could it have been because I was ill? I have not used the sunscreen since.
In light of the fact that your sunscreen expired a number of years ago, we would suggest discontinuing usage. Although it may not have changed in smell, feel or consistency, we would follow the old adage of “when in doubt, throw it out.”
