Summers are perfect for camping, playing on the beach, having fun at the pool, and spending time in the great outdoors. It’s the time of year when people swap out their cold-weather clothes for less substantial, breezy clothes that allow them to bask in the sun and combat the heat. Unfortunately, the more skin is exposed to the sun, the greater danger to your skin health.
While getting out in the sun is great for your mental health, overexposure can lead to skin damage, especially during the summers when the UV intensity is at a peak.
That's not to say you need to lock yourself inside in order to protect yourself and your skin from the sun! In this article, we have created an overview of skin care during the summer based on advice from our award-winning dermatologist.
So get outside and soak in the sunshine! Just be sure to take the recommended precautions below to help you avoid getting skin damage or skin-related diseases.
It’s vital to look after your skin throughout every season, but summer is perhaps the most dangerous for your skin. During the summer, you tend to spend more time outdoors going on bike rides, enjoying the beach, or having BBQs in your backyard. However, the more time you spend in extended exposure to UV rays can mean more trouble for your skin.
Sunlight is essential for stimulating vitamin D production and helping to control chronic skin diseases. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause skin damage. The damage from too much sun may include painful sunburn and visible blemishes that make the skin look aged.
The main culprits behind these skin-related issues are UV rays. Although the skin does have its own protective layer known as the epidermis – which blocks the UV rays and protects the cells – overexposure to sunlight ca n damage this layer, causing the skin cells to deteriorate, and ultimately die.
With the weather getting warmer, the humidity also increases which means the sebaceous glands on your skin start producing excess natural oil. Due to sweat and some environmental factors, the natural oil gets stuck on the skin’s surface, ultimately leading to grease, stickiness, and blocked pores which leads to acne breakouts.
Skin discoloration is also a common skin problem many people experience during the summer season. As skin gets exposed to UV rays, it starts producing more melanin which results in a tan. However, on the face the UV rays can cause splotchy pigment known as melasma.
The summer sun can be harmful to people with sensitive skin and a history of skin issues including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and more.
Here are some reasons why maintaining skin health during summer is important:
Your skin sheds innumerable cells every day to keep itself healthy. However, these dead cells may accumulate over the skin if you skip a proper skincare routine.
Taking care of the skin during summer by exfoliating and taking other measures can help prevent these dead cells from forming a layer.
Hydration is the key to surviving the harsh summer, and the only way you can keep your skin healthy is by keeping it hydrated while protecting the skin from sun exposure with sunscreen. Plus, hydrated skin is less prone to breakouts and acne.
Exposure to the sun can make the skin look dull and lifeless, which may speed up skin aging. Maintaining proper skin health during the summer can make it look young and fresh for longer.
Skin diseases, conditions, and other problems have become a part of life that most people deal with at some point. Taking good care and maintaining skin health helps fend off these skin diseases while maintaining a natural glow.
There are numerous other reasons why good skin care is the key to surviving the harsh summer. There is no quick fix to having healthy skin, so it’s important to pay attention and look after your skin, especially during the summer.
Your skin will let you know if you have gotten too much sun. There are several signs that your skin is calling for help and if you experience any, it’s time to seek professional help immediately.
Usually, wrinkles indicate aging. However, they could also be a sign of elastin fiber breakdown and collagen loss caused by overexposure to the sun and UV rays. If you see wrinkles on your skin, especially under the eyes and on the forehead, it may be due to absorbing too much sun.
While heat rash occurs mostly in children because of their gentle skin, it’s becoming more common in adults as well. A heat rash happens when the sweat ducts under the skin become blocked and trap perspiration. It can lead to red bumps and blisters on the skin.
Rashes most commonly appear in skin folds as a result of wearing tight clothing. The combination of spending more time in the sun and wearing fabrics that are not breathable can result in a painful and itchy skin rash.
The glowing skin that you see after a tan is actually not healthy. Whether it comes from the summer sun or a tanning booth, darkening skin is the body’s response to the damage caused by external factors such as UV rays.
Your skin cells start producing more melanin, which is responsible for making the skin look darker. People can get a tan on any sun-exposed body parts, which can also lead to skin discoloration, aging and skin cancer.
According to the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology), blistering means a second-degree or highly severe sunburn. The skin forms blisters in response to severe damage. You might not see blisters on the skin during the early stages of sunburn but they develop over the next few. hours.
Though there can be several reasons behind peeling skin, overexposure to the sun is one of the most common. Even if your skin doesn't develop a painful red rash, you may see it peeling after spending some time outdoors.
The skin cells will get damaged or even die when you are in the sun for any amount of time without any protection. The dead cells then accumulate over the skin and peel off in layers.
While the summer may often have high humidity, it doesn't do much to help your skin. Humidity actually sucks the moisture from your body. It's not just the hot weather making you thirsty, but also the moisture from your body evaporating quickly, leaving behind dry and dehydrated skin that may look lifeless and dull.
Moreover, a layer of dead cells can form over the skin hiding your natural glow and making it look uneven in some places.
With the sun becoming hotter each year, the summer is getting tougher on your skin. People who sweat a lot will agree that it can quickly lead to breakouts. Add in the outdoor elements such as dirt, pollution, sand, chlorine, and smog and your pores can be easily clogged.
The summer is fun, but sunburns aren't! Sunburns are not only painful but can also make the skin color look uneven. Some severe cases of sunburn can escalate into bigger skin problems, photosensitivity dermatitis, and eczema, to name a few. Some people even suffer from discoloration on the face and other body parts in the form of hyperpigmentation and moles.
If you get sunburnt often, you greatly increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
If you're suffering from peeling, blistering, or inflammation of the skin, or you notice any pigment changes, call us immediately at 949-545-6605. At Skincredible Dermatology & Surgery, our expert team of dermatologists and certified physician assistants have years of experience treating all kinds of skin conditions, including skin cancer. We apply advanced cosmetic dermatology techniques to address all issues and help you enjoy beautiful skin this season.
You can do nothing about the scorching heat, but there are ways to protect your skin from the heat and sunshine. Our skin changes naturally with the weather, and it's normal to experience certain fluctuations in the skin from time to time. In order to keep the skin healthy, following the correct skincare routine is important.
Here is a summer skincare routine that will keep your skin healthy, nourished, and glowing while safeguarding it from overexposure. Be sure to consult with a dermatologist to develop a more detailed routine to fit your skin type.
During the summer, your skin releases a lot of oil and sweat, especially on your face. Whether you normally have dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin, washing your face is important. It is a good idea to switch to a gel-based or foaming face wash – the foam helps remove the excess oil and prevents the pores from blocking. Make it your habit to wash your face at least twice a day, depending on the texture and type of your skin.
After cleansing your face, you’ll need to exfoliate it to remove build-up. As per dermatologists, people with dry complexions should include exfoliation in their summer skincare routine because the weather is milder and the air has higher levels of humidity. Dry skin can better tolerate exfoliation several times per week.
Try an exfoliating treatment with salicylic, lactic, and glycolic acid to remove oil and dirt. These ingredients buff off the dead skin cells and make your skin look refreshed.
Exfoliation doesn’t just apply to the face; you can exfoliate your entire body for better protection from the sun and healthier looking skin.
Note: Do not exfoliate sunburnt skin as it can worsen the issue. Reach out to expert skin specialists at Skincredible Dermatology. We can help alleviate the symptoms of the sunburn while improving the texture of your skin.
Adding antioxidants like vitamin C to your summer skincare routine is the key to glowing and healthy-looking skin. Antioxidants are naturally-occurring compounds produced by the body to protect the cells from environmental damage.
However, external factors such as heat can affect the body’s ability to produce these compounds. Applying vitamin C is helpful in fighting the damage. The topical application of antioxidants can improve discoloration and brighten the skin. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of vitamin C make it an ideal choice for UV protection. Make sure to choose an antioxidant that suits your skin type.
Though thick moisturizers are good for the skin and last longer, they aren’t really good for summer. During the summer months, you should wear a light and gentle moisturizer with UV protection so your skin can breathe.
Dermatologists say people with oily skin should opt for light water-based moisturizers, as they keep the skin hydrated. And those with dry skin should choose moisturizers with a semi-thick texture.
Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or ceramides also work well for the skin, especially during summer. Applying moisturizer more than once helps keep the skin hydrated while creating a protective layer over it as most moisturizers these days come with SPF.
Your skin has a natural layer for protection, but with time, the layer gradually degrades and loses the ability to provide protection. Products with SPF (sun protection formula) are your best friends during summer.
Sunscreens with a good SPF can protect your skin from UV-A and UV-B rays, thus reducing the risks of skin rashes, discoloration, and other common skin issues. SPF between 30–50 is vital for summer months with extreme heat and intense UV rays.
No matter if you are planning a full day at the beach or just stepping out for a bit to run errands, wearing sunscreen is essential. Keep a sunscreen lotion bottle handy wherever you go so you can reapply throughout the day.
Note: It’s important to apply sunscreen daily to minimize the risk of skin cancer, irrespective of the weather or season. Choose a sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30+ and apply it every 2 hours for best results.
In accordance with advice from the Canadian Cancer Society and the American Academy of Dermatology, this below visual aid shows how to correctly apply sunscreen to an average-sized person.
The summer season is a great time of year for going out and socializing, but wearing a lot of makeup can create an unnecessary layer that blocks your pores. Moreover, sweating will make it smudge and run. Skip the heavy foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer or powder.
If you do choose to wear makeup, try to find products with SPF to increase your protection from the sun.
The last step to your summer skincare routine is going to an expert dermatologist to have your skin evaluated. Prevention is better than cure, and professional help can reduce the risks of developing skin conditions during the summer season.
A dermatologist will evaluate your skin and develop a skincare routine that you need to beat the heat and maintain a healthy glow throughout the season.
Almost everyone can benefit from seeing a dermatologist. However, choosing the right dermatologist is critical for finding the best routine for your specific skin and treating your distinct skin conditions.
Here are some tips for finding the best dermatology group to suit your needs.
The dermatology treatments for summer skin diseases usually involve several processes so you may be required to visit the dermatologist on a regular basis. Try to find a dermatologist near your home or workplace to minimize the travel time and time commitment.
An important factor to consider when looking for a dermatologist is board certification. Make sure that the dermatology group you choose is certified by ABD, ASDS, AAD, ACMS, and more.
Board-certified dermatologists are highly knowledgeable and have the training and expertise to treat summer skin issues.
Comprehensive skin evaluation is the key to reversing skin damage. Check that the dermatologist does a complete skin evaluation for every part of the body for patients and doesn't just concentrate on one affected area.
Find a board-certified dermatologist that has experience doing treatments on skin conditions similar to yours. The easiest way to learn which conditions they treat is by speaking to the dermatologist office or checking their website for medical and cosmetic treatments they offer such as laser therapy, chemical peels, and more.
It’s crucial to communicate with the dermatologist easily and openly to help them understand your concerns and you understand the treatment options. Choose a dermatologist you feel comfortable speaking with as this will ease anxiety and improve the results.
Going through the patient reviews of a clinic is the easiest way to understand the experience people had with the Orange County dermatologist. You can learn how well the patients trust the dermatologist and what the overall service experience was.
Summer skin usually features increased breakouts, extra oil, dullness, and blemishes. The easiest way to avoid these skin conditions is to get regular checks from expert skin specialists and dermatologists at Skincredible Dermatology.
Our highly experienced team of skin experts will evaluate your skin issues and provide you with the best solutions to achieve and maintain natural-looking and beautiful skin.
Skincredible Dermatology is Orange County's trusted and preferred dermatology medical group. We work with the goal of helping you alleviate all types of skin issues such as acne, moles, psoriasis, warts, and skin cancers.
Our fully equipped and advanced facilities deliver skincare treatments to help you get smooth, soft, and healthy skin. With healthy skin, you can benefit from a wide range of cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, microneedling, HALO laser treatments, and much more. Our practices also offers cosmetic surgery procedures including Mohs surgery.
We understand that every individual has unique skin needs, which is why we offer customized treatments for all types of skin conditions.
It’s time to bid goodbye to skin imperfections and hello to protecting your skin from the harsh summer sun. Speak with one of our board-certified dermatologists today and get started on your customized skincare journey. Schedule your appointment and let our highly experienced team take care of your skin.
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