Everybody wants to look beautiful. Once someone says beautiful, the first thing that comes to mind is skin, so maintaining your skin is never out of season. But the arrival of summer reminds us of extra skincare. Your skin is your best accessory. Skincare is not superficial because when you have beautiful and flawless skin, it indicates your inner health. It means you have a healthy mind and body.

Why Is It That During Summer, Extra Skin Care Is Needed?

The reason being vacations come along with the summer. It is time for pools and beaches. Yes, you are more prone to the sun’s exposure. Hence, there comes a need to maintain your skin.

How Are Sun Rays Harmful to the Skin?

The harmful ultraviolet rays that reach long wavelengths are known as UVA, and the short wavelengths are known as UVB. These harmful invisible radiations can cause sunburns. Tanning of the skin is the first sign to appear after exposure to the sun. Regardless of the skin tone, every one of us is a victim of sunburns and tanning.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. The harmful rays from the sun can even lead to permanent eye damage.

Hence, protection of the skin becomes mandatory.

What Are the Common Skin Problems During Summer?

1) Heat Rashes:

Heat rashes are a common skin condition seen during hot and humid weather conditions. It is developed when pores are blocked and trapped with sweat. It is also called prickly heat. It appears as small red bumps on the skin. It affects both children and adults. Heat rashes are usually seen on the neck, between the inner thighs, or under the arms.

How to Prevent Heat Rashes?

Wear loose, breathable clothes.
Keep your skin cool and moisturized.
Do not use thick body lotions or topical creams that can clog your pores.
Avoid skin products that contain petroleum and mineral oil.

2) Acne:

Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that develops when sweat, bacteria, and oils clog the pores. During summer, you can see breakouts of acne. The most common spots for breakouts are the face, back, shoulders, and chest.

How to Handle Acne?

Use a towel to blot your skin as you sweat.
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Wash the area with cold water.
Use oil-free skin products.
Do not rub or pierce the acne.
Do not keep touching the acne.

3) Sunburn:

Sunburns appear red and can sometimes be swollen and painful. It is caused due to overexposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Sunburns increase the chances of skin cancer, and the risk varies from mild to moderate, depending on the time of the day. The greatest risk is at noon when the sun rays are powerful. After the exposure, the skin turns red in less than 30 minutes.

How to Treat Sunburns?

Stay out of direct sunlight.
Apply moisturizer.
Drink plenty of water. Keep yourselves hydrated.
Keep a towel or take a cool bath.

4) Melasma:

Melasma is a common skin condition that causes dark, discolored patches on the skin. The patches are darker than your usual color. Brownish-colored patches usually appear on the cheeks, forehead, and bridge of the nose.

How to Prevent Melasma?

Wear sunscreen that contains high SPF.
Wear a hat that shields your face.
Cover your face with a cloth before going outdoors.

5) Swimmer’s Itch:

Swimmer’s itch is also called cercarial dermatitis. It appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain parasites in the freshwater and saltwater lakes. The common symptoms are:

Small blisters.
Burning sensation on the skin.
Itchiness.

Is Swimmer’s Itch Contagious?

No, the swimmer’s itch does not spread from one person to another.

How to Treat Swimmer’s Itch?

When you notice a rash after swimming, all that you have to do is:

Apply cold compresses to the affected area.
Bathe in Epsom salt or baking soda.
Use a topical cream for itching.

These are the common skin problems you experience during summer.

What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Skin Diseases During Summer?

Avoid direct exposure to the sunlight.
Apply sunscreen lotions that contain SPF of more than 30.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Do not wear tight clothes.
Take a bath daily.
Apply a damp cloth or towel.
Take in a lot of fruits and green leafy vegetables.

What Are the Foods That Are Good For Healthy Skin?

Beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Intake is more effective than applying creams outside for healthy skin. Nutrition plays an important role in healthy skin. What you eat plays a main role in maintaining your skin. The foods that are good for your skin are:

1) Vitamin-C-Rich Foods:

Vitamin C is essential for healthy skin. It is also an antioxidant. It aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair the damaged skin cells. It has plenty of skin-healing properties. It prevents premature aging of the skin.

How Can You Add Vitamin C to Your Food Daily?

Foods rich in Vitamin C include:

Oranges.
Lemon.
Guavas.
Strawberries.
Papaya.
Broccoli.
Tomatoes.
Kiwifruit.
Avocados.

2) Fish:

Fishes are an excellent food for healthy skin. They are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining skin health. Omega-3 fatty, rich foods help to keep the skin moisturized. It reduces inflammation which causes acne. Fishes are also rich in vitamin E, one of the important antioxidants for the skin. Fishes are also rich in proteins which are needed for maintaining the strength and integrity of the skin.

3) Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are high in vitamin C and carotenoids. Carotenoids help maintain healthy skin by protecting the skin from sun damage, and it also prevents wrinkling.

4) Walnuts:

Walnuts provide essential fatty acids, which our body cannot produce. They are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 can cause inflammatory conditions of the skin. But omega-3 reduces inflammation. However, in walnuts, there is a correct ratio of both omega-3 and omega-6. Walnuts are also rich in zinc. Zinc is vital for your skin to act as a barrier. It also helps in wound healing.

5) Dark Chocolate:

Cocoa can do wonders to your skin. The effects of cocoa on the skin are phenomenal. It is rich in antioxidants that can protect your skin from sun damage. It also improves blood flow and helps in improving wrinkles, hydration, and skin texture.

Conclusion:

Eat the correct balance of foods, and you will feed the skin with the necessary nutrients it needs for it to stay soft and flawless. Keep yourselves hydrated. Drink plenty of water and take the foods mentioned above that can make drastic changes to your skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Is There a Different Skin Care Preferred for Both Summer and Winter?

There is a constant shift in the skin and the way it behaves depending on the weather; in summer, the skin behaves very oilily, while in winter, it is very dry, so to balance the moisture in the skin, different types of skin care are preferred.

2. What Is the Importance and the Side Effects of Summer on Skin?

It is essential to cleanse and moisturize the skin in summer because of the weather; excessive sweat might lead to infections like rashes or pimples as they clog the pores. To prevent that, proper cleansing is followed by moisturizing it to prevent water loss.

3. What Are the Skin Care Methods To Be Followed During Summer?

The skin care methods to be followed during summer are:
- Cleanse the skin properly.
- It is important to take antioxidant-rich foods.
- There might be excessive water loss, so it is important to stay hydrated.
- Moisturize the skin even in summer.
- Most importantly, applying and reapplying sunscreen is crucial to prevent sunburns and tanning.

4. What about Skin Care While in the Sun?

- It is vital to use sunscreen when in the sun.
- Choosing the correct spectrum of UV protection depending on the exposure is crucial.
- Applying the required amount of sunscreen should be followed.
- Reapplication of sunscreen every two to three hours is non-negotiable.

5. Is a Moisturizer Important During Summer?

During Summer, the skin goes through excessive dehydration due to constant exposure to the sun. The oiliness of the skin during summer is a sign of the skin being dehydrated, so to balance it, it is essential to use a Moisturizer during summer.

6. Which Is the Best Season for Great Skin?

Although the answer may be surprising, the best season for great skin is winter or the cold season, and that is because, due to the lower UV index in the climate, excessive sleep increases immunity and improves skin turnover, resulting in rejuvenation.

7. What Are the Reasons for Skin Pigmentation in Summer?

Exposure Of the skin to the sun's rays increases the production of cells called melanocytes in the body, and these melanocytes produce melanin. This enzyme causes the skin to darken.

8. What Is the Importance of Protecting Skin and Eyes During Summer?

Prolonged exposure of the skin and eyes to the sun rays makes them exposed to ultraviolet rays, which in turn can cause long-term harmful effects like skin and eye cancer, cataracts, etc. Hence it is necessary to protect the eyes and skin during summer.

9. What Is the Importance of Getting Sun Each Day?

Sunlight Is a known source to boost the body's immunity and induce the production of vitamin D. In recent times, most cases of vitamin D deficiency which results in the weakening of the bones, are known to occur due to lack of sun exposure.

10. Will Sunscreen Cause Dark Pigmentation on Skin?

- Yes, in some cases, sunscreen can also cause skin darkening, mainly due to the ingredients in the sunscreen.
- It occurs as an adverse reaction.
- It can occur due to active chemical ingredients like oxybenzone resulting from hormonal changes.

11. What Are the Ways of Protecting Skin Naturally?

Skin damage can be prevented naturally by following these methods:
- Limiting bath time as it can remove excess oils, making it dry.
- Shaving the skin with lubricants.
- Avoiding harsh solid soaps.
- Gently towel dry the skin.
- Regularly moisturizing the skin.