Acne can be a bothersome issue for most of us throughout the year, but during summer it always has a tendency to worsen as increased exposure to UV rays and increased sweating can lead to bad breakouts. It’s always best to change your skincare routine to prevent such episodes, after all summer months are for beaches and holidays.
If you’ve been battling breakouts for a while now, you might have noticed that they get worse during summer. But what we need to understand is that acne doesn’t get worse because of sun exposure, most of the time, it’s related to increased oil production, sweating and hence clogging of the pores that occur with the warmer temperatures.”
We tend to layer our skin with sunscreens, moisturizer, serums to keep our skin glowing and healthy, but these products when mixed with sweat, grim can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
When we use certain sunscreens and moisturizers that are thick in consistency, along with increased sweating during summers it can lead to clogging of pores and development of acne. Acne breakouts can appear in various forms, milder forms like comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads) which can be treated with products available over the counter like Salicylic acid or a Benzyl peroxide based face wash. Severe forms with inflammatory lesions, pustules and nodulocystic variants need interventions by a dermatologist.
Tips to prevent summer acne:
a)Using foaming facial cleansers twice a day during summer. You can choose a specific cleanser depending on your skin type. Washing the face too often can also cause excessive dryness and irritation and worsen breakouts
b)Always use a sunscreen during the day
c)If during the day your face feels too greasy, you can use a face mist to feel fresh
d)Avoid heavy lotions or creams as they clog pores easily. Instead switch to a lightweight moisturizer and a gel-based sunscreen
e)Do not use harsh scrubs over your face as it can lead to dryness and irritation making it difficult to treat acne
f)Do not pop those pimples. As squeezing and scratching can lead to inflammation, and scarring.
g)“Maskne” is a subset of acne which is caused as a result of friction or pressure on the skin. , masks can create more humidity and increase moisture in the covered space. This causes obstruction of pores and hence development of comedones and inflammatory lesions. To prevent Maskne, always wear clean masks and wash your face twice daily
h)Sugary drinks during summer. Sugary or high glycemic index foods cause the insulin levels to increase which intern increases sebum production. HYDRATE yourself really well
i)Wash/shower as soon as you’re out of the pool or beach, neither salt water nor chlorine should linger on your face for long.
