Should you change your skincare routine for summer?
Now that summer is upon us, you may be wondering whether to make changes to your skincare routine. After all, we all know that exposure to the sun can cause skin issues.
So, let’s take a look at the changes you should make to your skincare routine during the summertime to ensure your skin remains as healthy as possible.
Skin conditions like melasma can worsen over the summer
Certain skin conditions can get worse in summer, so you should definitely make some changes to your morning anti-aging skincare routine over the summer months.
The common skin disorder melasma, which results in light brown or dark brown patches on your face and other areas of your skin, is one such condition that gets worse over summer and better during the winter.
Skin conditions like acne and eczema can also worsen when you sweat in the summer heat, and when the air is hot and humid, it can cause dry irritated skin. Because weather conditions at different times of the year can affect your skin, you need to adjust your skincare routine accordingly.
If after changing your skincare approach in the summer you find that your melasma or other skin issue is still bad, it is time to try another option. One of the best ways to treat conditions like melasma is to get a customised treatment plan from the dermatologists at NavaMD.com.
Transitioning your skincare routine for summer
Whether you have a specific skin condition or not, with the arrival of warm weather, you will want to opt for lighter skincare formulations than the rich ones you would typically use in the winter. Use cleansers that have more of a punch to get rid of excess oil and dead skin. And because heat and humidity keep your skin hydrated, light moisturisers and serums are the way to go.
Besides moisturizers and serums, you can look for natural lotions and soaps, including Goat Milk Soap, that are great alternatives and will keep your skin hydrated and moisturized all day. Try to use products that contain organic ingredients and help your skin to glow and avoid irritations. Depending on your skin type, your choice can vary from lotions that contain natural honey to soaps with goat milk.
If you have dry skin you can use natural goat milk soaps and cleanse your face without damaging your skin’s microbiome and moisturize it. While those who have oily skin can benefit from washing their face with aloe vera lotions which will remove excess oil and hydrate the skin at the same time.
You could also consider water-based products that are specifically designed to reduce oily skin. Irregular pigmentation can get worse in the summer too, so you may want to add an over-the-counter anti-pigment serum into your skincare routine.
Using sunscreen
The one change to skincare routines that almost everyone seems to make in the summer, men included, is using sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful UVB and UVA rays from the sun. While you most certainly should use sunscreen in the summer months, it should not actually be a change in your routine.
You should be using sunscreen all year round. Many people do not realise that UVB and UVA rays do not disappear just because it is a cloudy day. They are still there, and without the protection of sunscreen, the rays can cause harm. You could experience hyperpigmentation, burns, or even skin cancer. So, make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine all year round.
Avoiding itchy rashes
You not only have to think about the skincare products you are using. You also need to think about the clothing you wear and how much you expose your skin to the sun. During the summer, people are more likely to get itchy rashes. They could be symptoms of polymorphic light eruption, which is a reaction to UV light, or miliaria, which is caused by excessive sweating leaving sweat trapped under your skin.
To avoid polymorphic light eruption in the summertime, expose your skin to the sun very gradually. For miliaria, try to reduce your sweating by wearing non-occlusive cotton clothing and applying hydrocortisone cream.
Photo by Ivan Rohovchenko
