During the summer, our skin tends to produce more oil. The combination of higher temperatures and humidity can cause sebaceous (oil) glands to work overtime, leading to an increase in oil flow. While this excess oil can give your skin a radiant glow in the summer, it also sets the stage for acne as the seasons change.
When sweat mixes with bacteria and oils on your skin, it can clog your pores. If you have acne-prone skin, this often means breakouts.
Adequate hydration is rendered by consuming 3–4 litres of water daily, lowering body temperature and managing pimple outbreaks. Exercise has been shown to lower body temperature inside and also aid in removing toxins from the skin. Avoid popping or attempting to extract these pimples because doing so could leave scars.
Joel Schlessinger explains, “During summer months, the temperatures rise and so does the humidity. This triggers sebaceous glands to produce more oil which mixes with sweat, dirt and dead skin cells, which congests and blocks pores. This leads to a shiny complexion and more breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads.”
Charles says, “Heat and humidity, sweating, more time outdoors, and increased use of sunscreen can all cause a greater risk for more frequent and more severe acne breakouts. The issue is that when we sweat, dead skin cells stay stuck to the skin and are less likely to be naturally removed.
Changes in melatonin experienced in the summer affect your daily circadian rhythms which can lead to trouble sleeping. Increased temperatures cause higher cortisol levels and palpitations, nausea, and fatigue. These symptoms can feel similar to a panic attack, which can make us more anxious when we notice them.
Heat rash appears as raised spots that are 2mm to 4mm across. Some spots may be filled with fluid. Heat rash may be harder to see on brown or black skin. The spots may look grey or white.
Clogged pores can look enlarged, bumpy, or, in the case of blackheads, dark in color. The more oil that a person's skin produces, the more likely it is that their pores will become blocked. A person can use skin care techniques and products to manage or clear clogged pores.
Miliaria rubra (A), one type of heat rash, appears as clusters of small, inflamed blister-like bumps that can produce intense itching. Miliaria crystallina (B), another type of heat rash, appears as clear, fluid-filled bumps that don't hurt or itch. Heat rash usually goes away once the skin cools down.
With summer acne also known as Mallorca acne, you see that more impurities, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads or inflammation appear during the sunny period. The skin feels oilier and sometimes more rigid. These spots are mostly on your face, chest or back. They usually don't itch.
Heat and Sweat
Hot summer air and sweat can cause ― or aggravate ― certain skin conditions. Acne can worsen in the summer when sweat and face oils mix and clog hair follicles and oil glands.
Trying OTC products like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, or applying an ice cube to the area can help. But for deeper, more inflamed blemishes, or stubborn acne that won't go away, your dermatologist can give you more treatment options.
Typically, increased sweat on your skin mixes with bacteria, natural oils, and sunscreen, clogging pores and leading to breakouts. Those with oily and acne-prone skin often experience increased breakouts during summer. Acne is distressing at any age, but excellent treatments are available for this condition.
Blind pimples are pimples (zits) that form under your skin. They may stay under your skin's surface, causing pain and inflammation. Or they may erupt through the surface in the form of a whitehead, blackhead or red bump. Treatment includes warm compresses and acne-fighting creams.
Try a facial scrub with salicylic acid in it. This helps exfoliate skin and remove the dead skin that's causing the build-up. A physical scrub, such as a bead, helps the natural shedding of dead skin. These small, non-plastic beads exfoliate the skin to lift away trapped oil and dirt, which can clog pores.
Spend time in cool, air-conditioned or well-ventilated environments. Use a fan if necessary. Take cool baths or showers often. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any creams or tablets that may help you.
There may be certain triggers in your environment that can cause your sweat glands to produce more sweat including: Certain emotions like stress, anxiety, fear or nervousness. Warm temperatures or humidity. Exercise or physical activity.
Use a soft brush or a mild scrub in a circular motion. Follow up with warm compresses—a warm, damp cloth pressed gently against the skin can coax those stubborn glands open, soothing the inflamed area and encouraging a natural flow. Hydration is another key player in maintaining happy sweat glands.
Factors contributing to summer anxiety include trouble sleeping due to heat, increased substance use in summer, and the “summer scaries”—fear and uncertainty about what's to come, whether it's college or a new job.
Other factors that make a person susceptible to heat illness include older age, heart disease, other chronic diseases, extreme exercise, sunburn, obesity, sleep deprivation, alcoholism and certain medications.
“As temperatures rise, we can become more emotional and angrier,” Joshua Klapow, PhD, clinical psychologist and creator of Mental Drive, tells SELF. “But only as we move from relative comfort to relative discomfort. As we become more physically uncomfortable, our ability to manage our emotions is diminished.”