Everyone wants to look their best for summer. While working out is straightforward, clearing up skin can be pretty complicated. Blemishes, spots, and rough skin often require long-term dedication to unending routines, just to see somewhat clearer skin. That’s why many people turn to skin treatments like laser and light therapies, chemical peels, or microneedling, to list a few examples. However, when considering undergoing these procedures in or around summertime, patients have to be especially careful of the sun and its harmful UV rays.
Why You Should Limit Sun Exposure After Treatment
By creating controlled injury to the skin, these treatments encourage the body to produce new collagen and reveal fresher, healthier skin. During the healing process, this fresh skin is significantly more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) rays. So, even a small amount of sun exposure can increase your risk of hyperpigmentation, prolonged redness, irritation, and uneven healing.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen and SPF clothing can help protect your skin and preserve your results. Still, the best protection is to avoid or limit direct sun exposure whenever possible. Together, these steps can help you get the best outcome from your treatment while lowering the risk of unwanted side effects.
Common Summertime Treatments
While some treatments are best saved for cooler months (as discussed in the next section), others can still be safely performed during the summer with proper precautions. One of the most popular procedures is a light chemical peel, which exfoliates the old, rough outer skin layer to reveal fresh skin underneath. It mainly helps with finer wrinkles, acne, and uneven skin tone.
Another common treatment is microneedling, which, because of how direct it is, is incredibly effective. By using tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the outer skin layer, collagen growth is promoted in targeted areas. Within a handful of visits, even aggressive acne scarring, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or stretch marks can be significantly improved.
Depending on your skin type and lifestyle, some treatments might be better for you than others. Knowing this, your physician will recommend treatments based on your individual goals and how much sun exposure you anticipate in the weeks following your session(s). Being honest about your daily outdoor activities and upcoming vacations or beach days will allow your physician to recommend the safest and most effective options.
Which Season is Best for Intensive Treatments?
For more intensive skin resurfacing treatments, less sunshine means a safer recovery, making winter and fall the ideal times of year. Cooler temperatures also naturally encourage people to spend less time outdoors, making it easier to avoid direct sun exposure while the skin heals. Laser treatments and deep chemical peels often require several weeks of diligent shielding from the sun, so consider scheduling these appointments during months with shorter days and lower UV indexes. This way, complications can be avoided, and your results can be maximized.
Charleston Lifestyle Considerations
Living in South Carolina, and specifically the Charleston area, means enjoying beautiful weather for much of the year, but it also means higher levels of UV exposure compared to many other parts of the country. Whether you’re spending weekends on the water, walking downtown, golfing, or relaxing on the beach, your skin is regularly hit with strong amounts of sunshine. That doesn’t mean cosmetic skin treatments aren’t an option, but it does make planning tougher and even more important. Before undergoing any sort of procedure, patients should discuss their daily routines and upcoming outdoor plans with their physician, so it can be timed appropriately. This matters equally as much for the aftercare recommendations, to guarantee they can be followed successfully.
Planning Ahead
The best way to achieve healthy, glowing skin is by planning your treatments around your lifestyle and the weather, rather than waiting until the last minute before a special event or vacation. If you know you’ll be spending significant time outdoors, your physician may recommend postponing certain procedures or choosing treatments with shorter recovery periods. By scheduling consultations in advance and sticking to recovery instructions, you can safely improve your skin and protect your results. With the right timing and proper sun protection, beautiful skin is possible during every season.