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Keeping Your Skin Healthy in The Heat of Summer

The following tips from Anson, Edwards & Higgins, one of Las Vegas’s leading plastic surgery practices, to help you face the summer  sun’s rays with confidence, appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal Best of Las Vegas. 

 With the high temperatures and the long daylight hours of our desert summer come required changes in our daily skin care routines. From sunscreen to exfoliation, now is the time to prepare skin for another Las Vegas summer. While it’s always advisable to consult with your skin care professional about your skin’s particular needs.

Sunscreen

Daily sunscreen use is the undisputed most important skin care tip any time of year, and especially during the summer. Unprotected exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays not only increases the risk of developing skin cancer, it accelerates skin aging, leading to age spots and wrinkles. Simply driving a car can put you at risk of too much sun exposure.

Apply a teaspoon of sunscreen even if your makeup or moisturizer contains sunscreens. We rarely put on enough makeup or lotion to deliver the SPF stated on the label. While applying sunscreen to your face, extend the application to your neck and exposed shoulders, décolletage, arms and hands.

The American Society of Dermatology recommends using an SPF 30-plus broad-spectrum sunscreen applied 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply at least every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessively sweating.

Lip Balm

Keep an SPF 15 lip balm handy and reapply often to help protect lips’ delicate tissue from the sun’s wrinkle-causing damaging effects.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells that clog pores and make skin appear dry and aged. Exfoliation can smooth the skin surface but it’s important not to overdo it, which can damage the skin barrier. Exfoliate facial skin gently in the morning before applying sunscreen, toner, moisturizer and makeup.

For dry skin, choose a gentle mechanical exfoliant or low-dose alpha hydroxy acid. Manual exfoliation with scrubs and cleansing brushes works well for sensitive skin, while manual or chemical exfoliants are appropriate for oily or acne-prone skin. Don’t forget to exfoliate your body while showering at least two to three times a week.

Stay Hydrated

It comes as no surprise to desert dwellers that staying hydrated is even more important during the summer, and not just for health reasons — it also affects the appearance of your skin. Drink lots of water and indulge in foods such as berries that are high in antioxidants, which can help protect skin from sun damage. Minimize caffeinated beverages, which can lead to dehydration and diminish the healthy appearance of skin.

Moisturize

It’s important to stay hydrated inside and out. Skin needs moisturizer even in the summer months. Moisturizers do not need to be heavy or overly rich to be effective. Depending on skin type and age, choose a moisturizer that does not excessively clog pores particularly in the summer months.

Moisturizers are best applied right out of the shower while your skin is still damp to enhance absorption. Also moisturize before bedtime.

Makeup

In the midst of summer heat, melting makeup can have you looking more like the “Walking Dead” than “Sex and the City.” To avoid a meltdown, let your skin breathe and moisturize at the same time with a tinted moisturizer instead of a foundation.

Or be daring and use just a concealer to cover shadows, spots or blemishes. You also can mimic the sun’s glow with a hint of bronzer. Use nontoxic, safe sunless tanning products as a healthy alternative to sunbathing and tanning booths.

Adjust Your Skin-care Regimen

Hot summer days means adjusting your skin-care regimen. Use a moisturizer that does not clog pores. Most silicone-based formulas are less occlusive than oil-based creams. Use a toner to help keep your pores closed.

Apply moisturizer twice a day to the skin around the eyes to help prevent small wrinkles and combat the severe dryness of the desert air. Oil blotters are a fast and easy way to remove excess oil without removing makeup. Keep a bottle of facial mist on-hand for a moisture boost.

Sleep Cooler (And Prettier)

You will stay cooler at night by sleeping on the open contoured Sleep Wrinkle Pillow (insert hyperlink) and wake up looking and feeling better too!

There’s no stopping the mercury from rising, but with a little effort you’ll breeze through summer with healthy, glowing skin.