Ah, summer. The season of sun-kissed skin, beach waves, and unfortunately for some, pesky acne breakouts. As temperatures rise, so does the likelihood of dealing with those unwelcome blemishes. Fear not, because we’re here with the ultimate guide to prevent and treat summer acne breakouts, ensuring your skin stays clear and radiant all season long.
Why Summer Triggers Acne Breakouts
Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand why summer can be a prime time for acne flare-ups:
- Increased Sweat and Oil Production: Hot weather and humidity cause your skin to sweat more and produce extra oil, creating a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria and inflammation.
- Clogged Pores: Sweat, oil, and dead skin cells can clog pores, leading to breakouts.
- Sunscreen and Skin Care Products: Some sunscreens and skincare products can be comedogenic (pore-clogging), exacerbating acne. Even if they are not but you are outside and reapplying constantly the occlusiveness of multiple layers of sunscreen days in a row can inflame your skin.
- Heat and Friction: Summer activities often involve heat and friction from hats, helmets, and tight clothing, which can irritate the skin and trigger breakouts.
Prevention Tips for Summer Acne
Choose the Right Sunscreen
Opt for Non-Comedogenic Formulas: Look for sunscreens labeled “non-comedogenic” to ensure they won’t clog your pores. Gel-based and mineral sunscreens are often better for acne-prone skin. There are also many great options for tinted sunscreen that can help mask any discoloration you may have from ongoing or previous breakouts. Check out Alastin Hydratint or Skinbetter ToneSmart for tinted options or Revision TruPhysical Intellishade or EltaMD Sheer for non tinted options.
Keep Your Skin Clean
Exfoliate Regularly
Use a Retinol/Retinoid Regularly
Use a vitamin A cream OTC or prescription nightly or every other night. This topical cream helps to decrease oil production, increase cell turnover to help decrease breakouts and can even help with acne scarring. Choose one that is not harsh on your skin so that you can use this cream multiple nights a week. **Not safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding patients** Try Skinbetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream and AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads if you are more sensitive to retinols, Revision Retinol 1.0 for something stronger or Alastin Retinol 0.25/0.5 for a middle of the road potency option.
Stay Hydrated
Hydrate Inside and Out: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from within. Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to maintain your skin’s moisture barrier. It’s important to decrease inflammation in the skin and a hyaluronic acid moisturizer can help.
Try Alastin UltraNourishing Moisturizer (for dryer skin) or Ultra Light Moisturizer (for more normal to oily skin), SkinBetter Trio Rebalancing Moisturizer or Revision Hydrating Serum (for normal to oily skin).
Wear Breathable Fabrics
Choose Light, Breathable Clothing: Opt for loose-fitting, natural fabrics like cotton to reduce friction and allow your skin to breathe.
Treating Summer Acne Breakouts
Despite your best efforts, breakouts can still happen. Here’s how to tackle them effectively:
Spot Treatments
While prevention of acne is the key, the occasional blemish will always come up.. Products containing Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid can be found over the counter: Apply spot treatments containing these ingredients to target and reduce pimples. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria, while salicylic acid helps unclog pores. However, our Fave spot treatment acne treatment that is also safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is Renee Rouleau Anti Bump Solution– this can be applied to any cysts and will decrease inflammation without irritation.
Keep Hands Off
Avoid Picking or Squeezing: It can be tempting, but touching your face or picking at acne can lead to scarring and worsen the breakout. This often leads to trauma to the skin which can delay healing and lead to more scarring. It also allows more bacteria to enter when the skin barrier is broken.
Soothe with Ice
Apply Ice to Inflamed Areas:Wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth and apply it to inflamed pimples for a few minutes. This can reduce redness and swelling.
Try a Clay or Detox Mask
Use a Clay Mask Weekly: Clay masks can help absorb excess oil and draw out impurities from your pores. Look for masks containing kaolin or bentonite clay. Try Renee Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque or Revision Pore Purifying Clay Mask.
Visit a Medical Professional
Seek Professional Help: If your acne is mild, moderate or severe or not responding to OTC treatments, a Healthcare Provider who specializes in Dermatology or acne can provide guidance and prescription options tailored to your skin type. Come visit our PAs or NPs if you need to seek medical help with your breakouts.
Quick Fixes for Last-Minute Emergencies
Got a big event and a sudden breakout? Try these quick fixes:
- Intralesional Kenalog Injections: visit your provider to receive a low potency anti-inflammatory injection that will immediately help reduce swelling, redness and pain.
- Hydrocortisone Cream: Apply a small amount of hydrocortisone cream to reduce swelling and redness.
- Tea Tree Oil: Dab a bit of diluted tea tree oil on the pimple to harness its antibacterial properties.
- Green Concealer: Use a green-tinted concealer to neutralize redness before applying your regular makeup.
Embrace The Glow
Summer should be about fun in the sun, not stressing over breakouts. By adjusting your skincare routine and adopting these prevention and treatment strategies, you can keep summer acne at bay and enjoy clear, glowing skin all season long.
So, slip on that swimsuit, slather on your non-comedogenic sunscreen, and step into the sunshine with confidence. Your skin’s got this!
Courtney Gill, PA-C
Courtney Gill is a Master Licensed Aesthetician at Refine Aesthetics, renowned for her expertise in skincare and dedication to personalized treatment plans. She strives to enhance her clients’ natural beauty using advanced aesthetic techniques.
