Just because winter is winding down doesn’t mean that new skin problems can’t surface, such as more breakouts due to the heat and humidity.
Whenever the climate changes, your skin changes, too.
That said, your skincare routine should change as well.
“In the winter, it’s important to moisturize liberally to avoid dry, brittle skin. During the sweaty, summer months, exfoliation is increasingly important,” says Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology in New York.
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“In the winter, creams are best as they are more moisturizing; however, as the summer approaches, many switch to lotions [because they’re] lighter and less greasy on warm days.”
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Although eczema is more common during the cold, winter months, there are some people who still experience flare-ups in the summer due to increased sweating. “Eczema is an itchy, red rash that is occasionally bumpy,” Dr. Henry says.
“It can appear anywhere on the body. Eczema is intensely itchy. Many sufferers of eczema may scratch their skin until it bleeds or hardens and thickens.”
Dr. Henry recommends the following tips for eczema sufferers:
1. Moisturize every day with a rich cream ( or lotion in summer) to hydrate the skin. Gold Bond Ultimate has a lotion specially formulated for eczema relief.
2. Take short (less than 10 minutes) lukewarm baths and showers, using mild, hypoallergenic soap and cleansers like Dove.
3. Learn your eczema triggers and avoid them.
4. Purchase a cold mist humidifier in dry or cold weather to avoid drying out your skin indoors.
5. Treat seasonal allergies with a good antihistamine.
Furthermore, just because you’re African American and you have more melanin in your skin does not mean that you don’t need to wear sunscreen. “Although it’s most often found in patients with fair skin and light eyes, I have many African-American patients who have been diagnosed with skin cancer,” Dr. Henry says.
“I often remind my patients that Bob Marley died from melanoma.”
To help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 all year round.
