While humidity can help relieve dry skin by boosting hydration, it can also wreak havoc on oily and acne-prone skin by contributing to breakouts. Board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Joel Schlessinger explains, “During summer months, the temperatures rise and so does the humidity. This triggers sebaceous glands to produce more oil which mixes with sweat, dirt and dead skin cells, which congests and blocks pores. This leads to a shiny complexion and more breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads.”
Managing acne any time of year can be no simple task, but it can be especially difficult when the heat and humidity are working against you. Fortunately, taking a few specific measures can help. In this article, we’ll discuss:
- How to prevent acne during the summer
- Bacne treatment tips for the summer months
- Summer lifestyle changes that can help acne
- When to see a dermatologist
How to prevent summer acne breakouts
Proper hygiene is one of the best ways to manage acne. If you aren’t committed to a skin care regimen designed for oily or acne-prone skin, summer is a great time to start. During hotter and more humid months, we sweat more, expose our skin to chlorine, salt water and sand and wear sunscreen more often, which is very important for skin health, but may clog pores if it’s an oil-based formula.
Board-certified Physician Assistant, Jackie Gaffney, MPAS-C recommends taking these preventative measures, “Please remember to wash your face twice daily, avoid touching your face, use a moisturizer and always wear sunblock.”
Cleansing twice a day with a 2% salicylic acid face wash, like the LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser, can help remove excess sweat, oil and dirt from pores while providing gentle exfoliation with 3% afaLUXE™ and 2% glycolic acid.
Another important part of keeping acne at bay during summer months is adding a daily exfoliator to your regimen. Board-certified Physician Assistant, Shea Perillo, MPAS-C explains, “With summer comes increased humidity, so it is important to add in an exfoliating treatment once a week to help slough off dead skin cells that may contribute to acne. Choose a gentle exfoliating product to unclog your pores and save your skin from unwanted breakouts.”
An exfoliating treatment, like the LovelySkin LUXE Exfoliating Gel Mild 11%, is a great choice for summer months because it improves acne with 11% afaLUXE™, providing deep yet gentle exfoliation to clear clogged pores and help skin slough away dead skin cells.
Additionally, while it may seem like skipping moisturizer to let skin “dry out” is a good idea when skin feels oily, it’s not. Not properly moisturizing any time of year can cause skin to overcompensate and create even more of its own oil. Choose a light moisturizer, like the LovelySkin LUXE Mattifying Antioxidant Moisturizer, to keep skin hydrated, protected and soft, but steer clear of heavy moisturizers during humid summer months.
Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, a board-certified dermatologist as well as Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon, says, “Be careful with thick, occlusive moisturizers and makeup or when wearing face masks, as these all trap moisture in the skin and may cause an acne breakout.”Â
During the daytime, always follow your moisturizer with an oil-free sunscreen made for acne, like EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen. This sunscreen is available in untinted, tinted and deep-tinted formulas, won’t contribute to breakouts and also exfoliates and calms blemish-prone skin with lactic acid and 5% niacinamide.
Bacne treatment tips for the summer months
Acne on your back, or “bacne,” can become more prevalent during the summer months. Increased sweating from higher temperatures and friction from sweaty clothing, backpacks or sports equipment can all contribute to acne on your shoulders and back. Dr. Joel Schlessinger adds, “Humid weather can be hard on acne, and back acne often flares when this happens. Washing with CLn SportWash can help greatly when sweat leads to acne.” This body wash can be used daily or intermittently as needed after exercise or sweating and is formulated with sodium hypochlorite, also known as bleach, to clear skin of bacteria that contribute to acne. Choosing moisture-wicking fabrics such as lightweight cotton instead of polyester or nylon, which traps and holds sweat and moisture onto skin, can also help prevent bacne.
Summer lifestyle changes that can help acne
In addition to your skin care regimen, a few lifestyle changes can help you effectively manage acne during humid months. Here are our top tips:
- Limit time outside. Not only does this help minimize the risk of sun damage and sunburn, but it also minimizes sweating which contributes to acne on the face and acne on the back.
- Remove wet swimsuits right away and rinse after swimming. Wet, tight-fitting bathing suits can cause friction and lead to rashes or bacne.
- Wash your sheets and pillowcases frequently. Dirty linens can transfer bacteria to your skin and contribute to acne.
- Hydrate from the inside out. Drinking enough water daily has a myriad of benefits, but for acne, properly hydrating helps skin rid itself of toxins that contribute to acne.
When to see a dermatologist
In some cases, over-the-counter products just aren’t enough to manage acne, especially during the summer. If your at-home efforts aren’t working, it may be time to see a dermatologist. Our providers will examine your skin and help determine both the probable cause of your acne and the best course of treatment for you. Additionally, fungal acne, which is more prevalent during the summer months due to increased sweating and humidity, will need to be diagnosed by a dermatologist and may need prescription treatments.
Our dermatologists may also prescribe antibiotic pills or prescription-strength retinoids, like Accutane, especially if your acne is severe, cystic or nodular. Additionally, we may recommend laser treatments, like BBL Forever Clear™, which uses a combination of blue, yellow and infrared light to eliminate bacteria in pores to help clear acne and minimize redness.
If you’re dealing with increased acne this summer, you can reserve an appointment with Dr. Joel Schlessinger or one of our physician assistants by visiting our appointment page and booking conveniently online.