Summer Skin & Hair Tips
The start of summer introduces hotter temperatures, longer days, and lots of activities outside! Although this is a wonderful time of year filled with lots of enjoyment, it is also a time to be more aware of your skin and hair to prevent potential damage that could be caused by excess heat, sun exposure, chemicals, and environmental factors. In order to protect your skin and hair, we will delve into some helpful tips to maintain healthy skin and hair throughout the summer season and even thereafter!
1. Sun Protection:
First and foremost, extra sun protection in the summer is essential to avoid painful sunburns and potential skin cancers. This can be done by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day prior to any sun exposure. It is also imperative to be in the shade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. In addition, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and after excessive sweating or swimming. Lastly, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and protective clothing can help prevent sunburns!
2. Prevention of Dry, Irritated Skin:
Even when the winter months are over, it is still critical to be moisturizing your skin daily. Some effective strategies to help prevent dry skin in the summer are showering and cleansing right after getting out of pools or lakes. Also, using a gentle, mild cleaner can help avoid dryness and irritation to the skin. It is also helpful to apply unscented and non-comedogenic moisturizers after showering or bathing in order to help the moisturizer be more effective.
4. Preventing Acne Breakouts:
We all know the summer months are a time of more sweating! With that being said, if you have acne-prone skin, the combination of sweating and oils on your skin can also mean more breakouts. In order to prevent acne in the summer, it is helpful to constantly blot sweat from your skin by utilizing a clean cloth. It is also essential to use non-comedogenic products. If the breakouts worsen, it may be time to follow up in our office for some prescription-strength treatment options as well!
5. Hair Protection:
Many times it is easy to remember to protect the skin from sun exposure, but we neglect the health of our hair. It is important to note that the sun can damage the hair by causing it to become dry and brittle. Additionally, the chlorine in pools can cause split ends and breakage to hair. In order to ensure your hair is protected it is best to wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply leave-in conditioners or sprays that contain SPF. If you bleach or dye your hair, it is best to wait until after the summer months filled with the sun and swimming in chlorine pools. Last but not least, it is best to immediately wash your hair after swimming to remove all of the chlorine from your hair as soon as possible!
For additional information and treatments, please make an appointment with one of the providers here at Beacon Skin & Surgeries! The summer months are also the best time for an annual full body skin cancer screening exam!
The information above is from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Megan Bacall, PA-C