Oh summer, how we love you so. We Brits especially appreciate the prolonged sunshine, not needing to take 10 layers and an umbrella in case of sudden drops in temperature and downpours, and benefiting from a season that is usually synonymous with holidays. However, there is a dark side to the summer months, and it tends to target our skin health. As an aesthetics nurse, I always see an increase in patients coming to KP Aesthetics in Hale, Cheshire, who are looking to combat the problems that the summer poses for their skin. I am a firm believer that everyone deserves to feel fabulous in their skin all year round. With that in mind, I want to share some of the most frequent summer skin problems and what we can do to prevent, control, and repair them.
So Long Oily Skin and Acne
For those of us who suffer from oily skin and acne, summer is typically a time for breakouts and an increase in oiliness. In the season to bare all, we find ourselves wanting to cover up and feeling more self-conscious than ever. The reason for the increase in oiliness is in part due to excess sweating and heavy sun creams which for people with acne-prone skin, this mix on top of daytime bacteria works to clog the pores and cause breakouts.
It may seem like the best solution is to use a harsh cleaner, alcohol-based toner, or even skimp on the sun cream. THIS IS A MISTAKE. Whilst they will give an instant oil-free feel, they are particularly dehydrating which not only puts your skin at great risk of sun damage, it also puts your oil-producing glands into overdrive to compensate for the dryness. Gentle exfoliation, an oil-free cleanser, and in cases of acne, an anti-bacterial cleanser will help keep you, and your skin, happy.
At KP Aesthetics, I often suggest that my patients use ZO Skincare products to manage and maintain healthy, balanced skin. With prescription strength, the products are super-effective and target a range of skin types. You can learn more about ZO here.
Shaving Rash
When the sun is out, we often have our legs out too, which means that most of us will up our normal amount of shaving. Not only can this lead to ingrown hairs, it will often see some inflammation and swelling as well as the dreaded itch. The fix is pretty simple, make sure that the skin is really lubricated and conditioned before you shave. Exfoliation will also help to keep the ingrown hairs to a minimum.
Of course, there’s a permanent solution for long-lasting smooth skin. We have recently introduced it at KP Aesthetics and the results have been fantastic. Laser hair removal is the answer to irritated shaving rashes, and the pain of the waxing strip. We have installed to most innovative and effective laser hair removal machine – Soprano Ice Platinum. You can learn more about laser hair removal at KP Aesthetics here.
Uneven Skin Tone and Hyperpigmentation
The feel of sun on our face is fabulous, but it comes with its fair share of problems. When we’re not worrying about premature ageing, some of us are battling an uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. This is because the UV rays are responsible for the production of melanin, and heat alone is a known trigger for hyperpigmentation. There are a number of things we can do to promote an even skin tone. The first is an obvious one – keep on top of your SPF. Expert dermatologists suggest a minimum SPF 30. Keeping cool and hydrated will also help to control flare ups. You should also regularly exfoliate the skin. It may seem counter-productive since the skin is already particularly sensitive, but gentle exfoliation will help to break up the pigmented cells and give an overall more even skin tone.
If pigmentation is really kicking at your confidence, I also deliver a specially formulated chemical peel – The Perfect Peel – which really helps to even out patches of pigmentation. Certain ZO products are also really effective in achieving and maintaining beautifully even skin.
So there we have it, some of our most popular summer skin problems sorted! If you would like to find out more about the treatments and products available at KP Aesthetics, please do get in touch for a free consultation. In the meantime, here’s to the summer!
