Summer skin care – what you need to know

Warmer weather is already here, and as we transition from spring to summer, dermatologist and director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Oyetewa Asempa, shares what skin care tips you need to know.

First consider switching your thicker moisturizer to a thinner one. If you are going to be outside, make sure to use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater. Chemical or mineral sunscreen – whichever you prefer is fine.

“You have to reapply sunscreen every two hours,” Asempa said. “Every time you’re getting out of the pool, you need to make sure to reapply sunscreen because it is hard to know how much has been washed off. If you’re sweating heavily or in and out of the water a lot, we recommend reapplying sunscreen every 30 minutes.”

In addition to sunscreen:
• Seek shade.
• Avoid going outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Wear big hats with a wide brim and other sun-protective clothing.

She adds that even five minutes of unprotected, aggressive sun exposure can lead to sunburn. Every time you burn or tan, it causes DNA damage to the skin that can lead to skin cancer.

Houston is known for its humidity, and during the summer months, it can reach high levels. Whether humidity is good for your skin, depends on your skin type, Asempa said.

“For some people, the humidity can help a lot with their eczema. For others, the humidity can cause allergy symptoms. It can also be a trigger for seborrheic dermatitis, or itchy, flaky scalp,” Asempa said.

If you plan to get cosmetic skin procedures, such as injections, Asempa says that generally almost all procedures are safe anytime of the year if patients stay out of the sun.

“Laser treatments, specifically, can generally not be done if the patient has a tan,” Asempa said.

By Taylor Barnes