So, it's time for that last minute trip to the beach before the weather gets too cold to lay out and here are some tips on summer skin emergency care from my doctor's monthly email.
Tips for 10 Summer Skin Care Emergencies
Summer acne – Make sure to cleanse with a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide product every night. If your skin is especially oily during the summer months, try using your cleanser twice a day, but watch for drying of your skin. In between cleansing, rinse your face with water to reduce oiliness.
Shaving or waxing bumps – Use an astringent that contains salicylic acid. That will help get rid of dead skin that can trap hair follicles and cause in-grown hairs. Use hydrocortisone cream or aloe to help reduce redness and swelling.
Sunburn – Use an after-sun lotion or gel with aloe to help reduce redness and swelling. If necessary, take ibuprofen which can also help limit swelling. Use frozen bags of vegetables on burned areas to help reduce pain. Make sure to apply after-sun lotions frequently to keep your skin hydrated.
Peeling – After the sunburn begins to fade, you end up with peeling skin. While it is tempting to pull the skin off, this can damage your skin. Instead, keep it hydrated with moisturizers and allow the skin to shed on its own.
Heat Rash – Find someplace cool to sit and relax, take a cool shower, wear loose-fitting clothing and use calamine lotion sparingly to help your skin recover.
Blisters – The new sandals can look great, but you just may end up with red, swollen blisters. The first step is to not pop the blister as this can increase your risk of infection. Wash the area and use a bandage to cover the blister. Use an antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin, to help prevent infection if the blister does break.
Dry hair – Use an intensive conditioning treatment. Apply to wet hair and cover with a towel. Leave the conditioner in the hair for about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it out.
Limp hair – If all the humidity makes your hair look limp and lifeless, turn your head upside down and spray hairspray or styling foam/gel to the underside of your hair. That should give it some lift. Finish by using the same product on the top of hair to make it look fuller.
Bug bites –Avoid popping a bug bite as this increases your risk of infection. Use an anti-itch cream or lotion, such as calamine lotion. If the bug bite is in an area, such as your face, that prevents you from looking your best, try a concealer, such as Boo-Boo Cover Up, which aids in healing while hiding the redness.
Blotchiness – Overexposure to the sun can cause blotchiness on your skin. Before applying makeup, exfoliate your skin and apply a toner and moisturizer. Mineral-based makeup is best for blotchy skin, and because the pigment is concentrated, it offers more cover. Use a minimal amount of makeup that will cover up without making you look like you’ve overdone it.
