Although sun protection and SPF are essential for everyone, they become even more critical during pregnancy. Hormonal shifts can heighten your skin’s sensitivity to UV damage, and professionals have advised avoiding certain chemicals commonly found in sunscreens.
In this Expert Insight series, our Consultant Dermatologist, Professor Caitriona Ryan, explains how UV exposure affects pregnant skin and highlights the key mineral sunscreen ingredients to look for when choosing a pregnancy-safe SPF.
What SPF Factor Should You Be Using & What Does SPF Factor Mean?
Experts recommend using SPF 30 because higher numbers offer only minimal extra protection. SPF 30 means that if you normally start to burn after 5 minutes in the sun, applying SPF 30 stretches that time by 30 times - instead of burning at 5 minutes, you’d burn at around 150 minutes.
Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time, so you should reapply every two hours. Because of this, choosing an SPF higher than 30 offers very little additional benefit.
What Ingredients Do Professionals Recommend You Should Be Looking For?
When choosing a suncream, professionals recommend prioritizing a mineral sunblock containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - this matters more than opting for an SPF higher than 30. Additionally, a tinted zinc-based sunscreen is preferable to an untinted formula.
What's The Difference Between Tinted and Non Tinted Sunscreen?
It's suggested to choose a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, uses gentle ingredients, and shows no detectable absorption into the bloodstream. Opting for a tinted formula with iron oxide adds protection against visible and high-energy visible light, such as from laptop and phone screens or indoor lighting, which is especially beneficial if you’re prone to pigmentation.
What Sunscreen Is Most Effective? Final Thoughts...
In summary, a tinted mineral SPF 30 offers the best all-in-one solution for pregnant or sensitive skin: it provides broad-spectrum, gentle protection with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, helps reduce pigmentation thanks to iron oxide, and delivers extra hydration without irritating ingredients.
By applying it every morning and reapplying every two hours, especially when outdoors, you’ll defend against UV and visible light while maintaining a comfortable, even complexion. Choosing a formula free of fragrances or harsh chemicals ensures your skin stays calm and nourished, giving you peace of mind throughout your TTC, pregnancy, and postpartum journey.
Written by Professor Caitriona Ryan, Consultant Dermatologist