Derm DMs: How Can I Avoid Summer Breakouts?

There are a lot of great things that come with summer — tropical vacations, time spent by the pool, beach trips with friends — and then there are some not so great things: sunburn, blistering heat, and of course, those dreaded summer breakouts. Fact of the matter is, the summer can be tough on our skin. Be it the irritation from the elements we come into contact with (read: chlorine, salt water) or sweaty skin, summer acne can seem unavoidable. But not all hope is lost. Skincare.com reached out to board-certified dermatologist Amanda Doyle, MD, to find out the best way to avoid this all-too-common skin-care problem altogether.

1. What are some of the causes of summer breakouts?

The most common causes of breakouts in the summer are related to the warmer weather we see during this time of the year. Warmer weather leads to excess sweating and oil production, which creates an environment that acne-causing bacteria thrives in. This is the most common culprit.

Plus, because summer tends to be a more relaxed time of the year, some people don’t eat as healthy or tend to follow their skin-care regimens as regularly and this can also lead to an increase in breakouts.

2. What's the best way to avoid them?

The best way to avoid summer acne is to be on a solid skin-care plan prior to summer, so it’s more about maintenance as opposed to correction. I like lighter treatments combined with sunscreen and other sun protection for patients in the summer, so think oil-free serums instead of oils, lotion instead of cream and avoiding ointments. Helpful tip: Add an ingestible skin-care product containing natural tomato extract, which is rich in lycopene and other carotenoids, into your routine to make your skin glow from the inside out! Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps to balance the skin’s response to the sun, making the skin more resilient and healthy in the summer.

3. Should summer breakouts be treated any differently than a breakout that occurs in the winter?

You just have to be mindful about the different treatment options. Many of the treatments for acne make the skin more sensitive or sensitive to the sun and sun exposure.

4. How should your skin-care routine change in the summer to keep your skin as clear as possible?

I like lighter gel- or serum-based products that are oi- free for the summer to avoid anything too heavy. For over-the-counter items, I like SkinCeuticals Age & Blemish, which is salicylic acid-based.

Read More:

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