Three common summer skincare issues and how to deal with them
Do you suffer from summer breakouts, heat rash or dry skin? Find out why your skin reacts in the hot weather and how to treat it.
While we all have our go-to skincare routine, switching it up between seasons can be essential to keeping your skin smooth, glowing and free of irritations. As the weather heats up, we’re giving our skin more UV exposure, lathering on that extra layer of SPF and sweating more than normal.
Annabel Wood, Resident Skincare Expert and Copywriter at Fresha, has seen it all, from sweat-induced acne to blocked pores, and has the anecdotes and answers you’re looking for. Addressing the most common skin mishaps we experience in the summer, Annabel has provided her top tips.
1) Summer breakouts
Why do you get breakouts in the summer?
Increased sweat from the heat, mixed with suncream creates an additional layer on the face, which can cause dead skin cells to stay stuck and trapped in our pores. If not treated over a longer period of time, this can cause bacteria to grow and present itself as acne.
How can you prevent summer breakouts?
After being outdoors or exercising, cleanse your face to remove any excess oils to stop them clinging to your skin. It’s natural that the application of SPF adds to clogged pores, but you can help limit the damage with a non-comedogenic sun cream, which indicates that it has been formulated specifically to avoid clogging your pores.
How can you treat summer breakouts?
The worst thing for skin breakouts is to keep changing up your routine, so it’s important not to panic and start ordering new products when blemishes appear. Begin my reducing your sun exposure to avoid the problem getting worse with new clogged pores, and strip back to the basic routine: cleanser, serum, moisturiser and SPF! When left alone over time, and with plenty of hydration, blemishes will clear on their own!
2) Heat rashes
Why do you get heat rashes in the summer?
The main reason we get heat rashes in the summer is because the ducts that lead from our sweat glands to the surface of the skin get blocked by products such as SPF, or inflamed, due to sunburn and heat exposure. Rather than evaporating, sweat gets trapped beneath the skin, causing irritation and bumps on the skin. Heat rashes tend to occur for people who are more sensitive to the sun, as they often apply more sun cream and burn more easily.
How can you prevent heat rashes?
Limiting your skins exposure to the sun will help prevent it getting inflamed, leaving you moresusceptible to a heat rash; try and stay outside for no longer than 30 minutes before giving yourself a break inside or in the shade. Loose fitting clothing can also help wick away moisture from the skin, helping prevent the blocking of sweat glands.
How can you treat heat rashes?
If you experience a heat rash, make your skin more comfortable by applying a cool damp cloth over your face, neck and any other affected areas to try and reduce any pain and inflammation. Once you’ve cooled your skin down, stay clear from oily or greasy moisturisers or cosmetics, as they can block your skin further. Instead use a moisturiser with wool fat (anhydrous lanolin), which helps prevent sweat ducts from getting clogged.
3) Dry skin
Why do you get dry skin in the summer?
As the air gets drier and more humid, our skin loses moisture. Match that with increased exposure to sun and everyone is likely to experience dry skin at some point throughout the summer months.
How do you prevent dry skin?
Luckily, you don’t need to shy away from the sun to avoid dry skin. Before heading out, make sure to apply a strong SPF to protect your skin from sun damage, as this will retain the moisture in your skin. If you’re experiencing the heat on holiday, make sure to shower off after being in the pool, as chlorine can dry out your skin further if it sticks to it for too long.
After being in the sun, make sure you’re prioritising hydration to allow your body to replenish any moisture it loses.
How do you treat dry skin?
Although a bath or long shower may seem tempting when you’re feeling dry, try limiting your showers to 5-10 minutes and stick to lukewarm/cool water. As you encounter hot water, more oil and moisture is removed from your skin, and the longer you shower, the more this occurs.
Within a few minutes after washing, apply a moisturiser or ointment to trap the moisture into your skin. Try to avoid lotions, as they can cause irritation. Look for creams and ointments that contain ingredients such as jojoba oil, glycerin, lactic acid, mineral oil or hyaluronic acid to be kinder to your skin.
Fresha is the world’s #1 beauty and wellness marketplace powered by all-in-one free business software with integrated payments. With over 100,000 partner venues in more than 120 countries, Fresha simplifies business operations and enhances customer experiences.
