Skin care routine for summer

Shahnaz Husain *

Summer is here ! As the temperature rises and the days grow longer, it's that time of the year when skin problems like sunburns, heat rashes and acne start surfacing.

It's crucial to adopt an appropriate summer skincare routine during this period. The scorching heat, humidity and high temperatures can lead to skin issues like tanning, breakouts, uneven skin tone, and sunspots.

As the sun shines brighter, we experience certain changes in our skin during this season. It's time to revamp your skincare routine to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Whether your reasoning is lightweight wear or just a carefree approach to caring for your skin, less is always more these days.

A summer skincare routine should focus on protection from the sun, hydration, and cleansing to prevent clogged pores. Key steps include using broad-spectrum sunscreen, moisturising with light-weight formulas, and exfoliating regularly.

1) Hydrating Cleanser

Increased heat and humidity often lead to increased oiliness in the skin. It's an essential step in maintaining healthy skin during the summer months. Opt for a mild, sulfate-free cleanser with soothing ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, neem or tea tree oil to calm the skin and combat bacteria, etc.

The cleanser effectively eliminates dirt and impurities, unveiling a soft and radiant complexion. Make sure to cleanse your skin twice daily. Consider double cleansing at night if you're wearing sunscreen or makeup.

Start with an oil-based cleanser to break down makeup and sun-screen, then follow up with a gentle water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities

2) Protect Your Eyes

To protect your eyes during summer, make sure you are wearing sunglasses that are marked 100% Ultraviolet (UV) protection. Know that clouds don't block UV light. The UV rays can pass through haze and clouds. These UV rays burn the surface of your eye and can cause pain, redness, blurriness, and even temporary vision loss.

So always wear 100% UV protection sunglasses when outdoors to keep your eyes healthy. Frames should be contoured, comfortable to wear and fit close to the face and head, not too large and not too small. There is a general belief that sufficient UV protection comes at a higher price, but that is not true.

Cheaper goggles or sunglasses also offer adequate protection against UV rays. Wear a hat with a brim that is at least 3 inches wide to reduce your risk. This necessary protection can help lower the danger of damaging UV radiation reaching your eyes directly.

In summer, you're more prone to dehydration than usual. As a result, your body's natural ability to retain moisture is affected by dehydration. Maintaining a healthy level of hydration can help maintain moisture levels and prevent dry eyes.

3) Protect your lips

When it comes to protecting ourselves from harmful UV rays from the sun, we often prioritise our faces and body, but what about our lips ? Your lips are just as susceptible to the sun's radiation as the rest of your body, which means they're vulnerable to skin issues.

To protect your lips from the sun, use a moisturising lip balm with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours, or more frequently. Make sure your lips are clean before applying lip balm. Apply a generous amount of lip balm to cover the entire lip.

Please make sure to cover the corners of your lips as well. Apply lip balm 20-25 minutes before heading outdoors. Use lip brightening balms that also provide moisturization to your lips. SPF 30 lip balms filter out about 97% of UVB rays. Treating sunburn on the lips can be similar to treating sunburn on the skin.

You can apply aloe vera and cold compresses, among other products, or take anti-inflammatories to relieve your symptoms. The aloe vera plant's soothing gel can be used to relieve sun-burn-related pain.

4) Avoid hot showers

While a hot shower may feel soothing, prolonged exposure to hot water can exacerbate dehydration, which can lead to serious complications, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dehydration causes blood to thicken and clot, leading to pulmonary embolism, which is usually worse than a heart attack.

Taking a cold shower can be a quick and easy way to cool down your body. A cold shower can help lower your body temperature and reduce sweating, making you feel refreshed and energised. Taking shorter showers during a heatwave is crucial for maintaining both personal and public health.

Taking long showers can cause your skin to become dry. To keep your skin healthy, limit your shower time to 1015 minutes maximum.

Use a moisturising soap while showering to keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from drying out. A soap with natural ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, and glycerin is recommended during the hot summer season.