As the weather warms and the beaches beckon, it’s natural to want to go outside and take advantage of the good weather. Whether this means donning that seldom-worn bikini or exchanging jeans for shorts, summer means that you’ll be showing a lot more skin than during other seasons in the year. Unfortunately, many times you encounter a barrier to your perfect outdoor summer: your skin just isn’t ready. Before you go outside, there are five questions to ask yourself to see if your skin is ready for summer:
Acne, or the presence of clogged pores that results in redness, blackheads, or pus-filled bumps, can often be a significant sign that your skin isn’t ready for you to show it off just yet. During summer, it is most commonly found on the back and upper arms, and results from the collection of sweat, dirt, and oil that accumulates due to increased heat. The solution is to shower often, exfoliate, and use a topical medication if necessary.
If you live in an area where it gets hot but not humid in the summer, you’ll need to apply a moisturizer cream to make sure that your skin doesn’t show signs of flakiness or cracking. This is most often found on the legs and arms, as well as on the face. Moisturizers come in many different varieties, but it helps to look for one specifically meant for dry and flaky skin.
Dull skin results from the accumulation of dead skin cells on the outer layer of skin, a problem that causes a scaly effect at times. To solve this problem, exfoliation, or the removal of dead cells and other matter through an abrasive movement, is key – you can use an exfoliating wash, or a tool such as a shower loofah, which rubs away the dead cells. Make sure to use moisturizer after exfoliating, to reduce the risk of dry skin.
Prolonged exposure to the sun, especially its ultraviolet radiation (which is stronger in the summer), can lead to sunburn and, in more serious cases, to skin cancers including melanoma. If you have fair skin, live in a hot and sunny climate, or have a family history of skin cancer, take precautions such as wearing a high-SPF sunscreen and covering up with long sleeves and hats.
This may be the result of allergens present in the air during spring and summer – anything from pollen to insects may cause allergic reactions that lead to redness, swelling, itching, and/or unsightly bumps. The first step to taking care of this is uncovering the source; from there, you can apply bug spray, anti-itch cream, or oral medication as necessary.