Summer Skin! Beat the Heat

Summertime means beaches, parks, and pools. However, to your face it means three things: sun, heat, and sweat. Don’t fret–you can easily deal with the elements by following some simple rules to keep your skin looking its best and face the summer heat head-on.

As sun damage is the #1 cause of wrinkles, purposefully tanning is to be avoided. You can, however, use a tinted moisturizer to achieve the summer glow without the damaging affects of long exposure to direct sun. An oil-free, UVA/UVB protected tinted moisturizer will keep you looking tanned and fresh all summer, while keeping your skin supple and burn-free.

Dermatologists’ Best Tips

Oil-free sunscreen

•  Sunscreen should be worn on your face year round, rain or shine. Look for an oil-free SPF 30 face sunscreen to protect from the sun without clogging your pores. Remember to reapply every few hours to be protected the whole day through. You won’t regret it!

Reduce Redness

•  Soak a clean cloth in cold water and wring out. Apply the cold cloth to your neck to reduce blood-flow to the face and causing redness. This also helps to reduce chronic flushing and redness that will stay in the face.

Dry Skin

•  As sweating produces more oils in the skin, you may feel compelled in summer to cleanse your face more often. Avoid over-cleansing, however, as this will cause flaking and cracking of the skin. Over-cleansing also tells your body to produce more oil, actually causing the oil buildups that lead to breakouts. Combat this by having a consistent and regular routine of cleansing and moisturizing to keep that excess dirt from building up in the summer. Use a small amount of mild cleanser to remove the oils, and an exfoliant once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells and encourage growth of new cells. Pat your face dry with a clean cloth! Rubbing aggravates your delicate skin and undermines the work of using a gentle cleanser.

Oily Skin

•  Caring for oily skin has a lot in common with treating dry skin, especially in the summer. The main thing to keep in mind is consistency. Be delicate with your skin and cleanse regularly. As the hot summer does encourage more sweat production, oil buildup is more common. Don’t be tempted to moisturize less if you feel your skin is oily, rather use a consistent amount of oil-free moisturize to keep your oil-production stabilized. As always, avoid the desire to touch your face with your hands, as our hands carry a lot of oil and dirt on them. Keep your hair off your face if possible by tying it back in a nice bun or ponytail.

Peel

•  To deal with summer shininess, consider a chemical peel. Chemical peels will aid with discoloration, new skin cell production, and draw out excess oil–leaving skin with less of that unwanted summer shine.

Treat your burns

•  Finally, if you do get burned, dermatologists recommend reducing the inflammation as the key to avoiding skin damage. Take an aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce swelling and treat with a cool cloth.

Have fun in the sun!