Is it normal to be sweaty after SPF?

Sunscreen has become a part of many people's summer routine, even for those who don't usually pay much attention to their skin. Thankfully, we'd say, because the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) isn't very encouraging. According to their data for 2020, excessive exposure to UVR caused around 1.2 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancers (SCC and BCC) and 325,000 melanomas of the skin.

So, it's really important to protect ourselves. However, many people have noticed that after applying SPF products - sunscreen creams, sprays, etc. - their skin sweats more. This is completely normal and there's science behind it.

You actually sweat the same amount whether you have SPF on or not. If your sweat evaporates quickly, you don't feel as sweaty. When it doesn't evaporate quickly, you feel more sweaty. Without any cream or SPF, your skin is a bit rougher, allowing sweat to evaporate quickly in smaller droplets. When you apply SPF, it smoothens your skin, causing sweat to form larger droplets. These bigger droplets take longer to evaporate, making you feel sweatier. It's similar to why you feel more sweaty in humid coastal areas compared to drier inland areas. In high humidity, sweat evaporates slower, so you feel more sweaty.