Show patients their result before they treat.
Broad-spectrum protection that prevents sun damage, pigmentation, and aging — the foundation of every skin plan.
Sarah Jenkins
Plan • Skin Treatment
Recommended Protocol
Medical-Grade Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 • Every morning, reapply as needed
Maintenance & Follow-Up
Ongoing plan
Medical-grade sunscreens deliver elegant broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection — often with mineral filters, antioxidants, and tint — made for daily wear on all skin types. Daily SPF is the most effective way to prevent dark spots, melasma recurrence, and photoaging, and it protects the results of every other treatment. Tinted mineral formulas also guard against visible light that worsens pigmentation.
Medical-grade sunscreens provide elegant, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection — often with mineral filters, antioxidants, and tints — formulated to be worn daily even on sensitive or post-procedure skin. Beyond preventing burns, consistent SPF is the single most effective way to prevent photoaging, dark spots, and the recurrence of melasma, and it protects the investment made in every other treatment. Tinted mineral options also help shield against the visible light that worsens pigment disorders.
For a practice, sunscreen is the non-negotiable foundation of every regimen and the highest-repeat retail item — essential for protecting results from peels, lasers, and brightening protocols. The barrier is simply daily compliance and product feel. Recommending a sunscreen patients actually enjoy wearing, and reinforcing that it preserves their treatment results, is what turns a one-time purchase into an ongoing habit and steady retail revenue.
Medical-Grade Sunscreen
Category
Skin Treatment
Typical cadence
Every morning, reapply as needed
Downtime
None.
Typical range
Retail product (SPF 30–50+)
From in-clinic procedures to at-home regimens, Afters maps the full range of options — so patients can see what each one would do for them, on their own photo, before they commit.
Branded injectables, medical supplies, and products used for this treatment.
Each concern maps to its full range of options — and lets patients preview their result before they commit.
Flat brown spots and age spots from years of cumulative sun exposure.
Explore concernPatchy discoloration, blotchiness, and dark spots that leave the complexion looking uneven and lacking clarity.
Explore concernBrown or gray-brown patches on the face triggered by sun, hormones, and heat.
Explore concernDarkened patches and spots from excess melanin caused by sun, inflammation, or hormones.
Explore concernDark spots and uneven tone on the hands — age spots and sun damage that can make hands look older than the face.
Explore concernBrown spots, redness, and mottled tone on the chest and décolletage from sun exposure and aging.
Explore concernCommon questions patients ask about medical-grade sunscreen — and what practices should be ready to answer.
Both can protect well, but medical-grade formulas are often more elegant, better tested for high-percentage active delivery, and include antioxidants and tints that improve daily wear and pigment protection.
A broad-spectrum SPF 30–50+ applied every morning is ideal. Reapply every two hours with sun exposure, and choose a tinted mineral formula if you're treating melasma or pigmentation.
Peels, lasers, and brightening treatments leave skin more sun-sensitive and can rebound with pigmentation if exposed. Daily SPF protects healing skin and preserves your results.
Mineral (zinc/titanium) sits on top of skin and is great for sensitive or post-procedure skin and pigment protection. Chemical filters feel lighter. The best one is the one you'll wear every day.
Patients rarely come in for just one thing. Browse other treatments Afters can visualize and plan.
Antioxidant serums that brighten tone, fade dark spots, and defend skin against daily environmental damage.
View treatmentVitamin A's gold-standard actives that speed cell turnover to smooth lines, clear acne, and even tone.
View treatmentProfessional acid exfoliation that resurfaces the skin to even tone and smooth texture.
View treatmentAfters simulates the outcome on a patient's own photo and builds a visual 12-month plan — so consults convert and average ticket climbs.