Summer Skin Problems

Increase in temperatures during the summer months, combined with humidity and heat, can increase the activity of the sebaceous glands. This makes oily skin appear oilier and dry skin appear rough and patchy.

The intensity of the sun’s rays also causes tanning by producing more melanin pigments. While everyone is aware that more melanin means darker skin, few relate sunburned skin with ageing and cancer.

The heat can also cause more pores to open, which can get clogged with dirt and oil, trapping bacteria, causing acne, pimples, and blemishes on the face.

Summer means spending more time outdoors. However, the increased exposure to things like sunlight, insects, and poisonous plants can cause some itchy and painful rashes.

Fungal Infections Rise in Summer

Fungal infections like ringworm athlete's foot, toenail fungus, yeast infections, and rashes in the genital area are a growing matter of concern. Summer not just aggravates gastrointestinal problems, fungal infections also become common during the season. 

Dermatophyte infections are particularly common occurrences in summer. These contagious fungal infections occur on the feet (tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot), or anywhere else on the body where sweat can easily accumulate, like under armpits or breasts. Dermatophyte infections are also seen on fingers and toenails. These infections lead to excessive itching, redness, and swelling in the affected areas.

Tinea versicolor is a common fungal infection that causes discolored skin. People with tinea versicolor develop white, yellow, red, pink, or brown spots. It's caused by an overgrowth of a type of yeast (fungus) that's naturally found on your skin. Hot weather, humidity and sun exposure can make tinea versicolor worse.

Candida is Worse in Summer

As with most fungi, candida albicans thrives in warm, wet conditions, which is why you are more prone to getting a yeast infection in hot weather. Fungal diseases are on the rise, largely because of an increase in the number of people who have weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions. But at the same time, pathogenic fungi may be adapting to warmer temperatures as well. If you spend your weekends in the pool and exercise daily in tight workout pants, you're unintentionally creating the ideal conditions for candida albicans.

Acne Breakouts

Heat and humidity, sweating, more time outdoors, and increased use of sunscreen can all cause a greater risk for more frequent and more severe acne breakouts. The issue is that when we sweat, dead skin cells stay stuck to the skin and are less likely to be naturally removed. The additional oils on the skin from sweat and sunscreen can keep these dead skin cells trapped in the pores. This will cause a blemish on its own, but trapping dead skin cells, oils, and dirt and grime from the environment inside of pores creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Acne-causing bacteria transform typical blemishes into painful, harder-to-treat infected acne breakouts. Wiping sweat off can irritate your skin, which can lead to a breakout. 

Dry Skin

When outdoor air is hot and humid, you can still have dry irritated skin. The biggest culprits are spending time in the sun, pool, and air-conditioning. Besides solar skin damage, your skin also loses excessive water through sweat, eventually drying it out. It can further worsen if you don’t drink enough water. Being seated in air-conditioned rooms can also prevent your skin from locking moisture, causing skin dryness. Your skin can also feel very dry if you’re spending a lot of time in the swimming pool to beat the heat. Chlorinated water is known to steal your skin’s natural pH, leading to dryness.

Folliculitis

Every hair on your body grows out of an opening called a follicle. When follicles get infected, you develop folliculitis. Folliculitis is often caused by bacteria, commonly Staphylococcus aureus (staph). It may also be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, medications or physical injury. Infected hair follicles look like pimples, but they tend to be itchy and tender. The infection can spread and turn into crusty sores.

Heat Rash

Blocked sweat glands cause this. Because the sweat cannot get out, it builds up under your skin, causing a rash and tiny, and itchy bump. When the bumps burst and release sweat, many people feel a prickly sensation on their skin. 

Sun Allergy

You can develop hives (an allergic skin reaction) when you’re in the sun if you take certain medications or have a sun sensitivity (usually runs in the family). If you have an allergic reaction to the sun, you’ll see red, scaly, and extremely itchy bumps on some (or all) bare skin. Some people also get blisters.

Sunburn

Getting sunburn can spoil summer fun and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. 

Swimmer’s Ear

When water gets trapped in your ear canal, you can develop an infection called swimmer’s ear

Tips for Skin Care in Summer 

Apply Sunscreen 30 or 15 min before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours. Stay in the shade, and if you spend a day on the beach, bring an umbrella or seek shelter. 

Sun exposure, sand, and salty water can highly dehydrate your skin. To compensate for the drying effects of these external elements and bring balance to your skin, apply a highly moisturizing body lotion and face moisturizer after the shower.

Take cool showers. Hot showers can dry your skin more, so it is always better to use warm or cool water for your skin. Besides, cool water is also better for blood flow and skin microcirculation. Shower and shampoo immediately after getting out of the pool, using fresh, clean water and a mild cleanser or body wash made for swimmers.

Change your clothes after outdoor exercise. Staying in sweaty or wet clothes for a long time creates a bacteria-friendly microenvironment. It can cause skin rashes or even lead to folliculitis. Preventing folliculitis is as easy as changing and washing your clothes after sweaty physical activity.

Use antioxidants. UV radiation is an important source of free radicals. These feared elements damage our tissues and cause premature skin aging. To help your skin protect from their damaging effects, you can add antioxidants to your diet and skincare regime. All foods rich in vitamin C will provide your body with antioxidants. 

Wear loose-fitting and breathable clothing to allow air to circulate and prevent sweating. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, socks, and shoes to reduce the risk of fungal infections. If you use public showers and pools, make sure they are properly cleaned and disinfected. Avoid athlete’s foot by changing socks every day.

Drink more water. The best way to prevent your skin from going dry in summer is by staying hydrated. Drinking lots of water hydrates the skin from within and prevents it from getting dry. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day to make sure your skin gets the moisture it needs.

Try to keep your skin cool by using fans, cool showers, and air-conditioning when possible. Wear earplugs while swimming, never clean your ears with cotton swabs because these can push earwax and dirt deeper into your ear canal and irritate your ear.