Why Your Dry Skin Gets Worse in Summer (Aside From The Obvious)

Dr. Andrea Suarez, dermatologists, talks about considerations that many overlook:

More than one way to dry out

Some things are obvious. For example, UV radiation damages your skin barrier, lowers ceramide levels, increases water loss, and makes your skin more prone to dryness. Sunburn further weakens the barrier and should be treated with gentle, lightweight moisturizers while healing.

Also, wearing less clothing during summer allows more water to evaporate from your skin, contributing to dryness too. Lightweight, breathable long sleeves and trousers can help retain moisture while protecting against the sun.

Some things, most people won’t think about; for example, how sweat is salty water, which is the opposite of moisturizing. As it evaporates, it pulls water from your skin, increasing dryness and irritation. Sweat combined with friction also damages your skin barrier and can trigger eczema flare-ups as well.

As for what you can do about that, it’s recommended to rinse your skin with cool water as soon as possible after exercise or outdoor activities to remove sweat, cool your body, and reduce irritation. A full shower is not always necessary, but definitely helps. Of course, antiperspirants can help too, as can including lotions designed for your hands and feet, which can reduce sweating and thus additionally help prevent dyshidrotic eczema flare-ups.

Aside from that, all the usual advice goes: wear sunscreen, cover up to whatever extent is comfortable, wash away sweat as necessary, and of course moisturize. And hydrate (yourself, in general, i.e. drink water, or better yet, eat generously water-containing foods like grapes, melon, cucumber, etc)!

For more on all of this, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Take care!