Summer means holidays, fun times with friends, beach days and, for lots of teens, a sudden surge of breakouts…
If your skin flares up when the temperature rises, here’s the reason why - and our best tips for beating Summer acne:
Why do we get spottier in Summer?
It’s pretty obvious really: heat and humidity. Acne is caused by a mixture of things - hormones, bacteria and skin oils (aka sebum). When you’re a teen, your hormones are already giving your sebaceous glands the green light for producing more sebum. Combine that with hot days and sweaty nights and sebum production goes into overdrive.
Here’s the problem: instead of getting on with the job of looking after your skin, that excess sebum clumps together with sweat and dead skin cells in your pores. When that oil and sweat gets trapped, it attracts bacteria and tah-da! You’ve got the perfect environment for blemishes.
So what’s the best way to keep Summer breakouts at bay? We’ve got a few tips:
Cleanse Properly
Washing your face with a gentle cleanser, that removes sweat, excess sebum and bacteria, without stripping your skin, is your first line of defence against Summer acne. But don’t overdo it. Morning and night should be enough, unless you’re playing sport and getting very sweaty. Even then, a quick rinse with lukewarm water will probably be enough. If you over-cleanse and upset the balance of the skin, it will become irritated. Irritated skin produces more sebum. And more sebum means, you guessed it, more Summer spots.
Check your Sunscreen
While sunscreen is a Summer essential for protecting the skin from sun damage, they can also block your pores, causing breakouts. Chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone are particularly problematic for acne-prone skin. So can sunscreens with mineral oils and silicones as these can trap sweat and oil. Opt instead for mineral sunscreens in lightweight formulas that say they are ‘non-comedogenic’ or ‘oil free’(like our Sun Squad Sensitive Skin SPF30) and make sure you cleanse it off thoroughly at the end of the day.
Our Sun Squad Sensitive Skin SPF30 protects teen faces without blocking pores and causing breakouts (like regular sunscreens often do)
Take a Shower
During the Summer, you can’t be hit or miss about showering. Sweat, oil, sunscreen and dirt left on your body skin will block pores and create the perfect environment for body acne. Make sure you shower, with a gentle body wash, at the end of each day - mornings, too, if you’re a sweaty sleeper. And change out of sweaty clothes asap after sport.
Wear Clean, Breathable Clothes
Talking of clothes, make sure you’re not wearing your favourite summer t-shirt for days on end. Bacteria likes sitting on sweaty, dirty clothes, so wash and change your hot-weather wardrobe regularly. Change out of wet swimwear quickly. And chose natural fibres and sports fabrics that wick sweat away from your skin.
Ditch the Heavy Creams
Your skin might need a heavier moisturiser in the winter months, but that can lead to overload in the Summer. Switch to a lightweight, gel moisturiser for your face or a refreshing face mist. And tempting though it might be to lather your limbs with some sheeny oil, opt for something lighter, that will smooth and hydrate your body skin, without blocking your pores (like our Brilliant Body Lotion).
Break Out the Acne Big Guns
If the heat is playing havoc with your skin, acne fighting big guns that ace at keeping pores clear will be your Summer skin BFF. Salicylic acid unclogs pores, dissolves excess oil and sweeps away dead skin cells leaving acne-prone teenage faces smoother and clearer, even when the thermometer hits 30+ degrees. You can find it in our Gentle Exfoliating Liquid (apply it at night and build up usage gradually).
Summer days don’t have to mean more spots. With the right care and a little prep, you can enjoy clearer skin all Summer long. Find out more about our award winning Skincare here: https://www.spots-and-stripes.
