Getting Your Skin Ready for Another Summer

Summer’s coming and you’re looking forward to being outdoors a lot more. Is your skin ready for showtime? 

At Seacoast Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists are ready to help you banish any skin imperfections so you have smooth, silky skin this summer. Following are tips on how to get your skin ready for the season.

Clean your skin morning and night

As the days turn warmer, cleanse your skin twice a day. Clean away the dirt, bacteria, and oil that’s built up on your face during the day.

Use a body wash with a humectant (keeps water in) and an emollient (soaks rich moisture into the cracks in your skin). We can recommend cleansers that are safe and gentle yet effective for your skin.

Banish body acne 

When you work out during the winter, bacteria mixes with your sweat, dead skin cells, and body oils, clogging your pores and forming pimples. Acne can form on your back and shoulders, not just your face. 

We can talk with you about the types of products that keep blemishes at bay. We recommend searching for a high quality product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to keep your pores clean. 

If your acne isn’t controlled with over-the-counter products, we have many tools in our arsenal to combat body acne. We may recommend:

• A chemical peel customized to your individual needs
• Prescription retinoid medications or oral or topical antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing acne
• Acne-friendly moisturizers and cleansing washes

Exfoliate dry, flaky skin 

Winter in New England is harsh on your skin. Cold air has less moisture and dries out your skin, while windburn turns your skin red and causes chafing. Hot water from the shower dries out your skin.

If you have a chronic skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, winter can make it worse. You’re more likely to have a psoriasis flare-up in winter because you’re not getting as much sun. 

If you have an inflammatory skin condition like psoriasis or vitiligo, we provide UVB light therapy, laser therapy, and other treatments to calm your skin and control your condition. 

If you didn’t exfoliate your skin during the winter, now’s the time to get rid of those dead skin cells. We can recommend gentle products that get the job done using alpha or beta hydroxy acids. 

After you exfoliate, seal in moisture. To keep your skin hydrated, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. We recommend high quality moisturizers for winter and summer skin hydration. 

Get rid of cracked skin on your feet 

Has walking in boots in winter snow left you with corns or calluses on your feet? The cold weather is especially hard on the soles of your feet. Do you have white lines and cracked skin on your heels? 

We recommend foot lotions to smooth the skin on your heels. Soaking your feet at night and moisturizing them helps keep your feet in good condition. 

Apply sunscreen every morning 

Along with your moisturizer, apply sunscreen every morning before leaving the house. We advise you on what ingredients to look for in a high quality sunscreen that’s safe for your skin. 

The ultraviolet rays of the sun are carcinogenic. Sun damage to your skin accumulates and causes wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin texture, and skin cancer. 

Get your annual skin checkup 

If you haven’t done so already, schedule your annual skin checkup. We do a complete body check, examining places you can’t easily see or forget to look at, such as the back of your head, behind your ears, your back, between your toes, and the soles of your feet. 

We can spot a precancerous growth and treat it before it becomes cancer. Early treatment can save your life. 

Call us at Seacoast Dermatology today for an appointment for all of your skin care needs. Our offices are located in Portsmouth, Dover, and Exeter, New England.