Top Summer Skincare Tips: How To Keep Your Skin Healthy When It’s Hot

Your skin can suffer with every seasonal change, and what was once your ‘perfect’ skincare routine for winter might not work for you in the warmer months.

Increasing humidity levels can cause increased sebum (oil) secretion and sweat, which can block pores, trap dirt and dead skin cells, and make your skin oilier than usual, leading to spots, cysts and other skin issues, even if you don’t usually experience them.

Higher levels of pollen and allergens in the environment can also cause skin irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin or pre-existing conditions such as eczema, rosacea and atopic dermatitis. Meanwhile, excessive sweating from the heat can also cause bacteria to thrive, and this can result in smelly odours and rashes in sensitive areas such as skin folds.

It can take time for your skin to adjust to environmental changes, so by mid-summer, your skin should be more accustomed to the sun, heat and humidity.

In the meantime, here are our top tips to help your skin through the summer months.

Change Your Skincare Routine

One of the simplest things you can do is to check the labels of your products. Look for a label that describes the product as non-comedogenic. This means that it’s specifically designed not to block your pores. This could reduce your risk of skin breakouts and help keep your skin cleaner and fresher.

Cleansing Your Skin In Summer

Use an oil-removing daily cleanser to help unblock pores and leave your skin super clean. To take your skin care up a notch, look for products with added niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides, which will help to prevent it from drying out and keep it feeling smooth.

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

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Don’t Skip Exfoliation

Although you may feel less prone to skin dryness in summer, it’s essential that you don’t skip out on exfoliation. This helps to remove the build-up of dirt and dead skin cells. For a deeper clean look to introduce products containing AHAs and BHAs. Both are exfoliants but work in slightly different ways.

• AHAs, the most common of which are glycolic acid and lactic acid, target the surface of the skin by reducing the concentration of calcium ions in the skin and promoting the shedding of skin cells at the surface.
• BHAs, such as salicylic acid, target deeper in the skin, acting as a skin-peeling agent, to remove build-up and unclog pores. Salicylic acid’s antibacterial properties mean that it’s commonly recommended for skin conditions such as acne.

If you’re new to any AHAs or BHAs, first do a patch test on a small area of your skin, then introduce them gradually into your routine every other day or even once every 3 days, increasing to daily use slowly. If you experience any redness or irritation, reduce how often you use them.

It’s also important to know that AHAs can significantly increase your risk of developing skin damage if you’re in the sun, so it’s essential to use them in the evening and wear moisturiser containing factor 50 SPF the next day.

Moisturising Your Skin In Summer

An oily skin type doesn’t automatically mean your skin is healthy and hydrated. It’s still important to use a moisturiser in the summer, which will help keep your skin looking and feeling great. Switch to a lightweight, oil-control moisturiser that will nourish your skin in a light, refreshing way. Gel-based formulas are particularly great as they don’t sit as heavily.

Look for products that contain glycerine, hyaluronic acid or Sodium PCA for hydration, and antioxidants to help protect your skin from environmental stressors like pollution and sun damage.

Doublebase Dayleve Gel

Doublebase Dayleve Gel is a long-lasting, highly moisturising and protective hydrating gel to help treat dry or chapped skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, ichthyosis or elderly dry skin.

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Vitamin C For Healthy Skin

Vitamin C is a good preventative for hyperpigmentation caused by exposure to the sun. This appears as darker areas of your skin and is a sign of damage from UV light. Adding a Vitamin C serum to your face after cleansing and before moisturising can reduce your risk of hyperpigmentation and keep skin damage to a minimum.

Avoid Heavy Makeup

While it can be tempting to hide problem skin under vast amounts of foundation, using lots of makeup can make skin issues worse, especially in the summer when the temperature means you are more likely to sweat. Either try and reduce the amount you use, mix it with a little moisturiser to lighten it, or swap for a tinted moisturiser. This will help your skin breathe and reduce the risk of blocked pores and breakouts.

Avoid Hot Baths And Showering Too Often

The warm weather can encourage us to shower more often, but washing too much can break down your skin’s naturally protective barrier, leading to dry skin, irritation and even eczema. Fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid this:

• shower once each day unless you really need to
• reduce the water temperature of your baths or showers
• use a hydrating body wash containing natural oils, shea butter, or vitamin E
• remember to moisturise afterwards

Use Sunscreen Properly

Sunscreen should be part of your routine all year round, as UV damage can occur even when it’s cloudy. However, it becomes even more essential in the summer, when the sun’s intensity is stronger and you’re more likely to spend longer periods outside.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a measure of the amount of protection from UV rays a product has. It’s these UV rays that cause sunburn, skin damage and can contribute to skin cancer. Any decent SPF product will have a star rating, which measures the amount of UV protection it offers - the higher the star rating, the better it will be at keeping your skin safe.

Ideally, you want a sunscreen that offers protection for both UVA and UVB rays, and a minimum of SPF30, ideally SPF50, especially if you’re fair-skinned. Apply liberally to all exposed skin at least 30 minutes before going outside, and every 2 hours if you’re out all day, as the sun will dry it out and make it less effective.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF30

Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF30 is a daily lightweight moisturising lotion. This is key to protecting skin from the sun's UV rays. It's been specially formulated to protect the skin barrier with 3 essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide & MVE technology to provide instant & long-lasting hydration.

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Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water isn’t just good for your kidneys and day-to-day body functions; it also helps regulate body temperature, especially if you’re sweating on a hot day. It’s also great for keeping your skin hydrated, helping with skin disorders, and even reducing your risk of premature signs of skin ageing, like fine lines and wrinkles.

Being properly hydrated keeps your skin renewing itself regularly and supports collagen production, both of which can help prevent unnecessary inflammation, boost healing and keep skin as healthy and clear as possible.

Skin Medications from The Independent Pharmacy

For a range of other skin medications, visit our eczema and dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, acne or rosacea treatment pages, where you’ll also find a collection of useful guides.