How to avoid summer acne?
With sun-tanned skin and a tanned complexion, all you want to do is show off your healthy glow! Problem: after you've put on some pretty colors, your face gets covered in imperfections - the rebound effect of summer acne. What can you do to avoid summer acne? We give you our top tips.
Why do we get acne in the sun?
When exposed to the sun for prolonged periods, our skin produces melanin. A natural defense mechanism that produces the famous tan. Excess melanin production leads to brown spots and the hyperpigmentation phenomenon we recently explained to you. in this article. But this is not the only phenomenon that occurs on the skin...
Prolonged exposure to the sun thickens the skin, a process known as hyperkeratinization. This is a totally natural defense mechanism. Unfortunately, this thickening prevents sebum from circulating normally. Add to this dust, perspiration and bacteria, and you get the inevitable imperfections of clogged, inflamed pores. While some may find that their skin looks better in summer, as the sun dries out pimples and blemishes, the effect is unfortunately only momentary. As soon as the skin becomes saturated with bacteria, the appearance of pimples is inevitable. This can happen on vacation, or even worse, when you're back from your holiday and you're thinking of showing off your lovely tan to your colleagues at the office.
How to avoid summer acne?
Rest assured, with the right gestures, it's perfectly possible to avoid the acne rebound effect in summer or autumn! Here's our advice:
Regular skin cleansing
To prevent the build-up of bacteria and dust, and to eliminate perspiration, there's nothing like a good cleansing. In the morning, choose a gentle cleansing gel to start your beauty routine without drying out your skin. In the evening, double cleansing is essential for impeccable skin. There's no need to scrub with aggressive cleansers, or even worse, grainy scrubs, as these will only worsen skin inflammation. The important thing is to be regular and to do it without exception every day.
Controlled exposure to the sun
Regulate your exposure to the sun, limiting it to ten minutes or so. Never go directly into the sun, always wear sunscreen 50 and always use a hat and parasol. Remember, the more your skin is exposed to the sun, the thicker it becomes. But a little sun isn't out of the question, because exposure to the sun also has its benefits (reread the article on the advantages and disadvantages of sun exposure)), but controlling your exposure to the sun and protecting your skin means guaranteeing its radiance.
Moisturize your skin regularly
To avoid dryness caused by the sun and summer in general, you need to moisturize your skin morning and night. It's the most important thing, all year round. In the morning, opt for a lighter, moisturizing gel-cream, and in the evening for a cream richer in active ingredients, to deeply nourish and regenerate the skin. Throughout the day, don't hesitate to use water mists to cool off from the heat, but also to moisturize the skin.
What if I still get pimples?
If your acne returns after your vacation, don't panic. Choose copper sulfate or zinc sulfate-based products from parapharmacy, for example: pimple cream. And above all, be patient! Don't fiddle with pimples, and certainly don't pierce them! Use transparent patches to treat them. If you really have a lot of them, don't hesitate to consult a dermatologist, who will be able to prescribe the right medication.
Regular gentle exfoliation
Use a gentle chemical exfoliator once or twice a week to renew the skin and remove dead cells from the surface. Don't use aggressive scrubs or micro-grains: opt for very gentle active ingredients such as lactic acid and mandelic acid.
Avoid make-up
In summer, we avoid using make-up, which creates layers on the skin with sun cream and other products. We prefer a lighter bb cream, for example. If you're going to wear make-up, you'll need to make sure it's removed properly, with double cleansing. Be careful with make-up utensils such as sponges and brushes. To avoid bacteria build-up, especially in summer, clean them regularly.
