When summer rolls around, you’re ready to enjoy long days filled with abundant sunshine. While you might be ready, keep in mind that summer is one of the harshest seasons for skin.
In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that sun exposure is one of the biggest challenges for skin. Not only is sun exposure the leading cause of skin cancer, it’s also responsible for 90% of visible signs of aging in your skin. And then there’s the matter of dehydration that comes with sun exposure.
To keep your skin healthy all summer long, it’s important to step up your care a little bit. For an excellent summertime skincare regimen, we turn to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Juan-Carlos Caballero and our team at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center. Here are a few steps that will promote great skin health this summer.
One of the first lines of defense against sun-related skin damage is using sunscreen every time you head outdoors. While there’s no shortage of sunscreen options, many products can clog your pores, which isn’t healthy for your skin.
To keep your skin glowing and protected at the same time, we recommend using an oil-free sunscreen that’s light on your skin. We also suggest using a sunscreen that’s broad spectrum (it protects against different ultraviolet rays), and that carries an SPF of 30 or higher.
To avoid sun spots, it’s helpful to choose a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide.
During the summer, it’s especially important to keep up with exfoliation efforts, especially when you’re using sunscreen a lot or you’re outdoors and sweating. At our practice, we offer a range of exfoliating skincare treatments, such as:
If you stay on top of keeping your skin free and clear of dirt and debris, you’ll be rewarded with skin that glows all summer.
Your skin tends to dehydrate easily during summer thanks to sun exposure and hot temperatures. To help your skin maintain moisture, we suggest a few hydration essentials, including:
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural substance found in your body. It has an amazing ability to retain moisture — a quarter teaspoon of HA can hold up to 1.5 gallons of water — so you can readily imagine how well it works to help your skin stay moisturized.
We also recommend using moisturizers that aren’t full of oils, which can clog your pores. These lightweight moisturizers hydrate your skin without getting into your pores, and they feel much lighter. Oil-free moisturizers include those with HA as well as products made with glycerin.
The jury is still out as to whether drinking plenty of water can hydrate your skin, but we feel that we should just assume that it has some positive effect. After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by drinking plenty of water in the summer.
It’s difficult for us to say here what would work best for your skin during the summer, so we recommend that you come in and sit down with one of our experts for a complimentary consultation. Besides, the sheer number of skincare products on the market can make finding the right one for your goals confusing, and we can help you sort through the clutter.
To keep your skin glowing with great health this summer, contact our team at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center in Warrenton, Virginia, at 540-341-1900 (choose option 3) today. Alternatively, request an appointment online via our texting app at your convenience.
