We might not want to admit it, but summer, almost as soon as it’s started, is beginning to end. While we’ve all been loving light, breathable makeup and skincare for the hot summer, it might be worth thinking ahead and looking into the cooler autumn months, and what the changing weather means for your skin.
What Happens To Your Skin As The Seasons Change?
Our skin’s main challenge as we go through the summer months is, unsurprisingly, sun exposure.
Sun weakens the collagen bonds in the skin, causing sun damage and increasing the number of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots that appear in the skin over time. In summer this is of particular concern, as not only is the sun stronger, it’s also in the sky for longer each day and we’re more likely to be spending time outside as well.
Autumn is a great time to transition you skincare from the lighter products of the summer months to our more nourishing winter skincare routine. It is also the perfect time to repair damage from the summer, as well as preparing for the winter, which can be very harsh on skin, especially sensitive skin.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Skin?
It’s important to regularly exfoliate your skin as summer ends, as the buildup of dead skin and oil over summer can lead to dullness and clogged pores, exacerbating acne and blackheads.
We recommend a chemical exfoliant, such as those containing AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids). Skincare products containing glycolic or salicylic acid are especially good as they gently break down dirt, debris and dead skin on the skin’s surface, and promote skin regeneration, leaving you with a cleaner, clearer and smoother complexion. Physical exfoliants can also be used to slough off dead, dry or flaky skin, though they usually aren’t as gentle as their chemical counterparts, so may exacerbate skin issues and redness in sensitive skin. They may also contain microbeads and microplastics, which are very harmful to the environment.
You might also want to keep stocking up on the sunscreen, as UVA and UVB rays can damage your skin, even on cloudy days. Sun damage is one of the leading causes of ageing skin, so keeping yourself protected year round will help you to prevent skin sagging, pigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles.
As the weather cools down, the air becomes dried out and this leads to skin becoming drier as well, as it can’t absorb moisture from the air like it does in the summer months.
A thicker, more emollient moisturiser and gentler, and less drying cleansers and toners will do all skin types a world of good, even for oily or combination skin. Hyaluronic Acid based products are brilliant for keeping skin hydrated, as it very effectively holds moisture and attracts what little water there is in the colder air into the skin. Hyaluronic acid is also very gentle and doesn’t tend to cause issues for people with sensitive skin.
You should also avoid alcohol as a main ingredient in cleansers and toners, as this will dry out your skin and can lead to cracks and flakes on the skin’s surface.
You should also make sure you’re drinking enough water to keep your skin and body properly hydrated, and washing your skin with water that isn’t too hot, as this will dry out your skin even more.
Treatments
If you’re looking to give your skincare a shakeup, at Re-enhance Medical and Dental clinic, we offer a variety of skincare options to help give your skin a boost in the run up to the winter months.
Obagi Skincare
The Obagi Nu-derm system is an immensely popular skincare system, that can only be dispensed by physicians. It has been clinically proven to help reduce the signs of skin ageing, and is perfect for reducing the impact of sun damage and photoaging as we move into autumn. It is specially formulated for all skin types, including dry, oily and combination skin, to restore your skin’s health and give you a smooth, youthful and glowing complexion year-round.
Dermaceutic
Dermaceutic offers two highly effective skin peel treatments to our clients, and can help reduce the signs of ageing, exfoliate skin and improve the general health of your skin.
The Milk Peel is suitable for all skin types and gently exfoliates the top layers of skin in a safe and easy process. It also helps to regulate oily skin and reduce the size of dilated pores on the face, as well as improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and evening out skin tone and helping give you radiant, healthy skin.
The Mela Peel is perfect for treating sun damaged skin as it reaches the deeper layers of the skin, promoting skin regeneration and rejuvenation from below the skin’s surface. It also promotes the repair of sun damage by reducing pigmentation and creating an even skin tone.
To find out more about how Re-enhance Medical and Dental Clinic can help you prepare your skin for the changing seasons, contact us on 0161 941 3212 today.
