Summer Breakouts: How to Deal with Acne When It’s Hot

Skin health

For many people, summer is the perfect time of the year — it’s warm, it’s sunny, and you can wear only one layer of clothes. However, summer comes with its own number of drawbacks, and one of the worst is oily skin. Blackheads, acne, and breakouts are among the things many people have to deal with during the warmer seasons. But, fortunately, if you know how to take proper care of your skin, this problem is pretty easy to manage.

In this article, you’ll find a list of tips for dealing with acne when it’s hot. They range from cleansing your skin and using a light moisturizer to avoiding heavy creams and lotions, applying sunscreen, showering more often, and washing clothing and sheets that touch your face. Read on and make sure that acne doesn’t ruin your summer. 

Use a Light Moisturizer

Even though you need to wash your face more often when it’s hot, you shouldn’t use heavy creams or lotions. They clog pores even more than oil. Instead of using these products, choose lightweight moisturizers and apply them after cleansing your face. For example, you can use a hand barrier balm or some other hand moisturizing products. This way, you will keep your skin hydrated without adding more oils to it.

Wash Your Face and Shower More Often

The main reason why your skin gets oily during the summer is sweat. As your body temperature and metabolism rise, your pores produce more sweat, which contains pore-clogging sebum. And, as we all know, sweat and oil don’t mix, resulting in blackheads and acne. 

So, if you want to avoid getting these problems during the summer, wash your face more often. Take a shower after playing sports, for instance, or immediately after working out indoors. This way, you will remove the sweat that can cause breakouts. If you don’t shower after physical activity, you can still cleanse your face with a refreshing toner or astringent.

Avoid Heavy Makeup

Many people associate breakouts with heavy makeup. After all, the greasier the face, the higher the risk of getting acne. Unfortunately, your makeup can affect the condition of your skin. The main reason why this happens is that many cosmetics contain irritating ingredients like parabens or phthalates.

Also, if you’re wearing makeup that doesn’t match your skin tone or if you put on too much foundation or concealer, chances are you’ll get a breakout. So, if you want to prevent acne in the summer, wear only the minimum amount of makeup required and make sure to choose light products.

Woman Breast
Photo by Gabriel Sanchez

Use Sunscreen

During the summer, the sun’s rays are stronger than usual, and they may cause severe damage to unprotected skin. So, if you want to prevent acne from sun exposure, always wear sunscreen — even when you go to work and only stay outside for a couple of minutes. 

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply every two hours or so. Also, make sure that you buy high-quality sunscreen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Clean Your Pillow Cover Regularly

Sweat can cause breakouts not just on your face but on other parts of your body as well, including your back and neck. One of the causes of acne can be your pillowcase. If it’s dirty and full of oils from your hair and skin cells, there’s no way it won’t cause breakouts. 

So, to avoid getting acne on your neck and back during the summer months, make sure that you wash the pillowcase often (preferably twice a week) and change it regularly. When purchasing a silk pillowcase, consider the type of silk and the number of threads. Mulberry silk is considered the highest quality silk and has a smooth and lustrous finish. Measure your pillow and purchase the correct size pillowcase for a good fit.

Wash Your Clothing Regularly

Another thing to watch out for when it’s hot is clothing. If your clothes don’t dry properly due to sweat and heatwaves, they can cause breakouts on the areas they touch (like your back or neck). 

To avoid getting acne from dirty clothes, make sure that you wash them regularly — especially during hot days. To be safe, wash clothing once a week if possible and change underwear regularly as well. Also, avoid synthetic materials that hold sweat close to your skin longer than natural fabrics do.

Conclusion

Acne is a common problem during the summer, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. As you can see, there are many things you can do to prevent it. In this article, we’ve shared several tips that will help you keep your skin clean and healthy while you enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Remember to wash your face, shower regularly, use light skincare and makeup products, apply sunscreen, clean your pillowcases, and wash your clothes regularly. These simple tips are the best you can do for your skin in summer, so don’t forget about them. Instead, try to turn them into habits, and your skin will be thankful for that.