You don’t need me to tell you how irritating acne can be. Skin breakouts can completely kill your mood, but for some people, it goes beyond that. Particularly severe acne can be a life-long concern that follows some people into adulthood, negatively impacting many aspects of their lives. It affects their confidence and can lead to reclusivity and general unhappiness. Some acne even leads to permanent scarring, even if other symptoms clear up over time.
If some of this resonates with you, you’ll know that skin breakouts can increase during the warm summer months. I’m here to let you know why that is, how you can prevent it from happening, and how to manage your symptoms.
Preventing Skin Breakouts
First and foremost, the reason why your risk of skin breakouts can be higher in summer is because of the warm, dry weather. These conditions lead you to sweat more than usual and for your body to increase sebum production. Excess sebum is common in winter too as the cold harshness of the season causes dry skin, but the added factor of sweat takes summer skin breakouts to another level. All of this combined with layers of sunscreen, lotions and body oils which can block your pores and cause havoc on your skin.
The first thing I would recommend to try and avoid skin breakouts is to switch up your daily regimen. I have plenty of simple skincare tips for summer, but you should try to opt for lighter products, as a general rule. With that in mind, also remember that washing your face too often is going to add to the dryness as you’re stripping away those natural minerals and moisturising properties. Once or twice a day is enough and do so with a non-comedogenic cleanser and lukewarm water.
Finally, if you’re implementing new acne products into your routine, don’t dismiss them if they don’t show results right away. Give your products time to work – as your skin specialist, I can assess your skincare routine and determine the right products for you over time. If you’re worried about your skincare or you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Managing Skin Breakouts
So, what do you do if it’s too late and you’re mid-breakout? You can probably already tell me what the golden rule is, but just in case, I’m going to remind you – DON’T SQUEEZE! Popping spots and pimples is one of the worst things you can do because you can actually push the infection and dirt deeper into your skin, leading to further inflammation, redness, discolouration and even scarring. I know it’s difficult, but you have to try not to irritate skin breakouts further.
If your acne is fairly mild, you’ll likely find that some over-the-counter products offer some results for you, but finding the right product is easier said than done. The market is heavily saturated and rather overwhelming, so I’m going to offer some tips.
- Look for products that contain benzoyl peroxide or adapalene, or both. These active ingredients kill bacteria, eliminate excess oils and sebum, and unclog pores. However, these products wouldn’t be suitable for those with eczema or sunburn.
- Try low-risk, low-strength water-based products to begin with and slowly increase the strength and the frequency of your products over time. This gives inflammation and other symptoms time to improve and helps your skin to adjust gradually.
- Try a combination of products. Those ingredients I mentioned above have been proven to work better when used together. Finding the right balance for you takes time but it will be worth it.
- Be patient. You won’t see results overnight, but we’ll get there together.
Specialist Skincare
I know that summer is the time of year when you want to be out all the time making the most of the sunshine with your friends and making memories. Don’t let skin breakouts stop you from living your life! If acne has taken its toll and worn you down, it’s my job to build you back up. Alongside specialist skincare advice, I can recommend prescription-strength products and highly advanced treatments that are proven to work.
At Nue Skin & Laser Clinic, I use IPL technology to reduce the number of active lesions, minimise your symptoms and reduce the frequency of skin breakouts. This often works wonders on its own, but can also be used alongside other clinical treatments. What you need to do is start by getting in touch and booking your consultation here at the clinic. We can discuss your concerns, I’ll assess your symptoms and from there we can work on a bespoke treatment plan designed specifically for you.
Call 07525 667 236 or email info@nueskin.co.uk. Alternatively, fill out my online contact form and I’ll be in touch!