The last thing you want to think about during the summer days, while wearing your favourite airy clothes for the heat, is spots and pimples on your face and body. They can be very unpleasant, especially since the season calls for wearing shorts, swimsuits, and tank tops.
But the good news is that you do not have to spend your summer worrying about your appearance. Below, we have decided to present to you some preventive measures and recommendations for dealing with acne during the summer.
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What is acne?
Acne is a problem related to the secretion of the sebaceous glands, affecting 85% of people at some point in their lives. It usually begins during puberty due to the hormonal changes in the body, but it can continue or appear in adulthood, as well. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of adults, especially women, being diagnosed with acne-prone skin.
Acne is a skin problem caused by an excessive sebum secretion from the sebaceous glands, which, along with the dead cells, clogs the pores. As a result, the bacteria living on the surface of the epidermis penetrate the skin and use the sebum as their food. This leads to redness and inflammation of the skin in the respective areas. The typical areas where acne is observed include those with a higher number of sebaceous glands, such as the face, the back, and the upper chest.
Dealing with acne is a slow process that must be monitored by an experienced dermatologist.
Why does acne exacerbate during the summer?
After a remission of acne during the cooler months, with the onset of warm weather and a sustained rise in the temperatures, it reappears and can even become more aggressive. The dermatologists report that recent scientific studies indicate a correlation between the warm weather and the exacerbation of acne breakouts. Some studies even encompass the trends in Google searches to check if the searches related to acne increase in the summer compared to the rest of the year. But what you need to know is that acne does not worsen due to sun exposure. Its exacerbation is explained by the more intense sweating, the increased sebum secretion, and the pore clogging during the warmer periods.
The hot weather and the strong sun prompt us to use more sunscreen, various lotions, and body oils to keep our skin hydrated and glowing. However, if mixed with sweat, dirt, and other environmental factors, they can provoke acne breakouts.
Acne is a condition resulting from various factors. The dermatologists explain that the triglycerides in the areas of the body with increased sebum secretion feed the bacteria, which intensifies the infection and worsens the acne. But everything starts with the pore clogging and the formation of microcomedones.
How to deal with acne in the summer?
We have all seen countless advertisements and faced the seemingly endless shelves of acne cosmetics. And among all these alternatives available on the market, there must be one quality universal product suitable for your acne, right?
The truth is that it depends on many factors.
If you suffer from milder forms of acne, the specialised products found on the front lines at the pharmacies can help. When choosing your acne product, pay attention to its ingredients. To be effective, it is important that the product is based on salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
And here are some other very important tips for managing the summer acne, which are highly recommended.
Use a foaming cleanser
It is advisable to use a foaming cleanser for a gentle facial cleansing during the summer months. In winter, the dermatologists recommend switching to creamy cleansing products that hydrate the skin and protect it from the dryness prompted by the cold weather. Of course, this is not a universal rule. The cleansing product you choose should primarily be suited to your skin type. If you are unsure about what to use for cleansing, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist.
Avoid using heavy lotions and creams
During the summer months, everyone naturally protects themselves against skin dryness. However, it is important to know that the products you use in winter can negatively affect your skin in summer and cause problems. It is quite acceptable to use heavier lotions, creams, and hydrating products during winter to protect yourselves against skin dryness due to the low outdoor temperatures. In the summer, however, you should switch to very light moisturising products or water-based SPF products to prevent pore clogging.
Cleanse your skin regularly
The hot days create the feeling that your skin is dirty and sticky, which is unpleasant for everyone. Therefore, during the height of summer, it is advisable to cleanse your skin twice daily with appropriate products prescribed by a dermatologist. It is crucial to remove the sweat and the dirt that accumulate, but be careful not to overdo it, as you can irritate your skin. It is important to cleanse it after physical activities such as workouts and outdoor walks.
We also advise you to undergo a professional cleansing procedure in a clinical setting once a month. The specialists will recommend the most suitable option for you to choose – manual or apparatus cleansing.
Avoid squeezing your pimples
It does not matter if you have watched dozens of YouTube videos on how to clean your pimples properly or if you are confident you can do it yourself. To protect your skin, do not touch your acne breakouts under any circumstances. Squeezing them can worsen the inflammation, cause an infection, or leave scars on your skin. Everyone is tempted to clean their small comedones and pimples occasionally without realising the complications and consequences they may cause themselves. The peculiarity of acne is that improper intervention can leave scars on the skin. The possible consequences include the development of pigment disorders (formation of darker or lighter spots) and infections.
Can sun exposure irritate the acne-prone skin?
Some acne cosmetic products have instructions on their packaging warning the users to protect their skin from sun exposure. It is incorrect to believe that they contain ingredients that make the skin photosensitive. Even if you think that the sun can worsen the condition of your acne-prone skin, in fact, the irritation is usually caused by the treatment you are undergoing. It causes skin dryness by reducing the sebum production, which is its goal, and thus the skin can become irritated by an excessive dehydration. The dermatologists explain that only a part of the retinoids contained in the acne treatment products are photosensitive and are deactivated by the sun. Nevertheless, the retinoids are traditionally recommended for application at night.
Diet and acne
The proper nutrition is another important factor for managing the acne. In many cases, the foods we consume can negatively affect the skin, even if we are not allergic to them. In-depth research on the topic demonstrates a direct link between the cow’s milk protein and the acne exacerbation. The dermatologists also recommend to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, fatty and heavy foods, and fast carbohydrates, but to emphasise on foods like avocado, green salad, fish, and walnuts. The substances in these foods have a beneficial effect on the cells of the skin.
If you suffer from acne and want to prepare for the summer season in the best way, so as to avoid the worsening of your skin condition, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist who will accurately diagnose your skin condition and advise you of the best way to maintain it optimally in the hot weather.