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Summer Skin Issues, Solved
Dealing with breakouts, bites, or burns?
Summer, with its escalating humidity, plus a sharp hike in temperature, brings with it a host of skin woes that may lay dormant in the surrounding seasons.
Add to that frequent mask-wearing and the extreme stress and ensuing cortisol cascades we’ve experienced over the past few months, and you have the perfect storm for a complexion upheaval.
But fear not: Dr Chloë gives her best advice on how to contend with some of the season’s most common skin issues.
SUMMER SKIN ISSUE: ACNE
Eighth & Eden solution: In the summer specifically, flare-ups are usually tied to a natural increase in oil production. “Summer heat causes you to sweat and your skin to produce even more sebum, causing pores to clog and leading to breakouts,” explains Dr Chloë. “That extra oil can lead many people to cleanse more, but “over-cleansing exacerbates acne.”
What to do instead?
“Avoid heavyweight moisturisers and look for anti-inflammatory ingredients like niacinamide to help calm redness and minimise oil production.” To prevent flare-ups from happening in the first place, regularly exfoliate with retinol or exfoliating acids like AHAs and BHAs. Another thing to be mindful of, diet triggers like dairy and high glycemic index foods (refined sugars, white bread, and pasta, for instance), which may contribute to breakouts.
Shop Acne Skin Favourites:
Medik8 Clarity Peptides 10% Niacinamide-Infused Serum
Replenish the look of tired, lack-lustre skin with the Medik8 Clarity Peptides.
£31.90
Refining night cream that uses encapsulated pure Retinol.
£52.00
SkinCeuticals Simply Clean Cleanser
Using a blend of fruit acids to mildly exfoliate and refine uneven texture, this multi-function formula successfully removes impurities, excess sebum and make-up from the surface of the skin.
£25.95
SUMMER SKIN ISSUE: BODY ACNE
Eighth & Eden solution: We’re constantly sweating in the summer months so cleansing your body thoroughly is your best bet against bacne. “Look for a targeted body product with ingredients like glycolic acid, and salicylic acid to exfoliate and prevent blemishes. Shower after excessive sweating and always change out of clothes immediately after exercising. Just as masks are breeding grounds for facial acne, so too are sports bras and very tight-fitting tops, which means round-the-clock active wear should be avoided. But be aware, says Dr. Chloë that sometimes what looks like bacne may actually be folliculitis, which is “ inflammation around your follicles due to an overgrowth of bacteria or fungus and can easily be confused with acne.” If you suspect that’s your issue, try washing the affected area two to three times a week with a benzoyl peroxide-based body cleanser.
Shop Bacne Favourites:
Amanda Harrington London New Skin Gylcolic Body Scrub
This exfoliating and perfecting scrub contains biodegradable castor beads to create a smooth canvas for a natural glow.
£22.00
Obagi Clenziderm Salicylic Cleanser
Daily Care Foaming Cleanser removes dirt and excess oil with 2% salicylic acid, leaving skin clean and refreshed.
£33.70
SUMMER SKIN ISSUE: SUNBURN
Eighth & Eden solution: Sunburn may be immediate evidence of UV damage, but their impact is more than skin deep and often surfaces years, even decades later. Sun damage as a teen can show up later as pigmentation and it also breaks down the collagen in your skin leading to a loss of firmness, sagging, and wrinkles. Daily sunscreen use (no matter what the season) is the most important thing you can do to offset all that. If you end up with a sunburn, Dr. Chloë advises taking pain relief like ibuprofen, to help reduce inflammation and decrease peeling. You can also apply SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective serum which has botanicals to soothe redness. It’s perfect after a little too much sun.
Shop Sunburn Favourites:
SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF50 Moisturiser
Designed to both prevent and correct, the new Advanced Brightening UV Defense SPF50 from SkinCeuticals is the brand’s first dual-action sunscreen.
£32.50
SUMMER SKIN ISSUE: CRACKED, DRY SKIN
Eighth & Eden solution: Your face may be oily, but your hands and feet are likely parched. Cracked dry skin on the feet comes from constant wearing of open-toed shoes and sandals, while cracked dry hands are common due to increased water immersion, which is especially severe now because of the additional hand washing to prevent infection. Wash hands with warm — never hot — water, avoiding overly fragranced or dyed soaps, and immediately following up with a light moisturiser. Dr Chloë’s favourite is Amanda Harrington ULTRA BALM – Universal Rescue Cream. For feet, Dr Chloë recommends regular medical pedicures with our in-house Podiatrist Patty. Regular appointments with Patty will help soften rough patches, prevent future foot pain and problems and gently exfoliate feet.
SUMMER SKIN ISSUE: MELASMA
Eighth & Eden solution: It seems a tall request come summertime, but the best thing for melasma — dark pigmented patches on the face — is to avoid sun and heat as much as possible. If you can’t steer clear of the sun completely, SPF and protective clothing (think very wide brim hats and long-sleeves) are non-negotiable, says Dr. Chloë who also calls out the link between hormonal fluctuations and melasma. “If you’re on a birth control pill or have an IUD you may want to consider talking to your doctor about stopping.
As for your sunscreen, go for a mineral or physical block, Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide block UV rays that trigger melanocytes in the skin to produce discolouration and do not generate heat in the skin. Incorporate an antioxidant into your daily skin care routine. Vitamin C specifically can help block tyrosinase (the key enzyme in excess pigment production) and therefore has a corrective effect on melasma.
Shop Melasma Favourites:
Protect the skin against the ageing effects of free radicals with the multi-award winning C E Ferulic from SkinCeuticals.
£94.00
Phloretin CF is a powerful antioxidant face serum featuring a patented combination of 2% Phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic Acid), and 0.5% Ferulic Acid. Suitable for oily/problematic skin.
£94.00
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