Why Is My Skin So Dry in the Summer?
You may only associate the winter months with dry skin, but you can also experience a lack of moisture in the summer. Whether you spend more time in the sun or indoors, many factors can dry out your skin.
You may be confused about how you can be in hot and even humid climates and still experience dryness. We're going to go over some of the common causes of dry skin during the summer months. You'll also find out how to make your skin feel healthy and hydrated.
Sun Exposure
The first major cause of dry skin in the summer is sun exposure. Spending too much time in the sun unprotected can lead to sunburn. You may have applied sunblock when you first got to the beach, but then hours went by without re-applying — or maybe you forgot the sunblock altogether.
When your skin is exposed to UV rays for too long, your skin can become damaged. Your blood vessels respond by dilating and rushing to the surface of your skin as an immune response. These blood vessels cause redness and inflammation to occur, resulting in a painful sunburn.
Your outer layer of skin is what keeps the moisture in your body. When you get burnt, that outer layer dries out and begins to peel due to a lack of antioxidants and lipids. This releases the skin’s moisture and draws it away from your body. That's why if you're experiencing a sunburn, you should make sure you stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
You can apply soothing lotions to help relieve the pain of the burn and hydrate the skin. You can also apply aloe vera gel for a cooling and calming effect. Vitamin E is another great ingredient to look for in lotion and cream when you have a sunburn. It's a powerful antioxidant that may be able to help reduce UV damage. It also helps nourish and replenish the skin.
In this case, some skin-nourishing lotion options are Spongellé body lotions, like Coconut Verbena. It contains shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E to help moisturize your skin. The emollient formula provides your skin with just what it needs.
Air Conditioning
Nothing feels better than walking into a room with the air conditioner blasting after being outside on a hot summer day. However, just like the heater in the winter, the air conditioner can dry out the air. After some time cooling off, you may notice dry skin or irritated eyes.
Your body produces oil to keep your skin moist. You may experience a reduction in oil production when you spend too much time in cold air-conditioned rooms. After enough time, your skin may begin prematurely aging if it isn't getting the proper nourishment.
If you spend all day inside in an air-conditioned office or your home, your skin may need some serious hydration added to your skincare routine. You can add moisture back to the air by using a humidifier. It helps your home or office maintain an ideal level of humidity. Your skin won't be as dry, and you won't have those other dry air problems.
You also should hydrate dry, flaky, dehydrated skin with a lotion or cream. Try Spongellé body lotion in Honey Blossom. The scent features top notes of musk and aldehydes with middle notes of lavender. The base notes are powdery and creamy vanilla. The shea butter in the formula is high in fatty acids, which will help improve your skin's natural barrier. It can also help protect your skin from further damage from your environment.
If you need something thicker than lotion for flaky skin, try Spongellé's Hand Cream. It can help soothe, nourish, and hydrate your hands and cuticles. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, shea butter, argan, and macadamia seed oils. Hyaluronic acid will help your skin hold onto water, keeping it hydrated for longer.
Swimming Pools
Going to the swimming pool may be one of your go-to summertime activities. Who doesn't love a sunny day at the pool? However, the chemicals in chlorine aren't great for your skin, and these chemicals are often the culprits behind dryness. Chlorine can cause skin dryness and even rashes if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis.
The chemical strips the natural oils (sebum) that keep your skin barrier moisturized. The best thing you can do is rinse off every time you get out of the pool. Once you're done for the day, replenish your skin starting in the shower.
Use a Spongellé Body Wash that delivers a moisturizing cleanse. It has a combination of amino acids, glycerin, and pro-vitamin B5 that will soothe and nourish your skin's natural barrier. Glycerin is a humectant that helps your skin retain moisture, relieving dry skin.
The amino acids offer 48 hours of hydration, making a noticeable difference after a single application. Pro-Vitamin B5 can help stabilize the skin's natural barriers.
Once you get out of the shower, apply Spongellé's lotion all over your body. When you use it right after getting out of the shower, it helps to lock in moisture. You can also try our French Lavender Body Lotion, which offers a unique pampering feeling day and night.
The top fragrance note is Hesperides with tea rose and amber middle notes. The base notes are lavender tea, spicy, and woody. It's not a heavily scented lotion. It's just enough to give you a subtle lavender scent. Plus, all of our products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.
The Wrong Soaps, Detergents, and Cleansers
One side effect of poorly-chosen personal care products is itchy skin that's constantly flaking and getting drier. If your skin dries out after a hot shower or using your favorite skincare products, take these tips into consideration:
- Switch out your deodorant for a gentler option
- Switch to a fragrance-freelaundry detergent
- Avoid harsh soaps and harsh cleansers
- Apply moisturizing cream after showering, especially in cold weather
- Turn down the hot water while showering — go with warm instead
- Use an exfoliating body buffer in the shower instead of a bar of soap
- When in doubt, visit the dermatologist!
Outdoor Activities
You may enjoy spending the warmer months in nature if you love being outdoors. Unfortunately, all that time outside may lead to loss of moisture in your skin, whether you're just going hiking for the day or camping for a week. When you're outside, you can get itchy bug bites and develop rashes from things like poison ivy or poison oak.
The urushiol oil in these plants is what makes most people have an allergic reaction. You may get a rash, raised bumps, itchiness, and dry patches. It can be hard not to scratch, but if you do, the rash can spread and cause skin damage.
If you know you've come in contact with a rash-causing plant, it's essential to act fast. You want to remove the oils from the plant as quickly as possible to stop the rash. You can also try some antibiotic ointment like a topical OTC hydrocortisone, which can help your rash heal faster.
When it comes to bug bites, you should always try to apply a bug spray when you're going to be outdoors. However, bug sprays often contain harsh chemicals, so it's important to wash them off at the end of the day. That's when a Spongellé body buffer comes in handy to cleanse your skin.
The Botanica collection of body buffers was created with scents inspired by nature. The buffers are infused with body wash and skin-nourishing herbal extracts. The Petitgrain Buffer smells super fresh and features notes of bitter orange, blended with herbal extracts of rosehip, hibiscus, and green tea. After you shower, finish with a body lotion to hydrate your skin.
Healthy Summer Skin
There are many things that can cause dry skin in the summertime. You can avoid running into issues by taking a few steps before going outside, like sunscreen or bug spray. Spongellé products can also help keep your skin clean, hydrated, and glowing all year round.
Sources:
Vitamin E for Skin: Ways to Use It, Safety, and More | Healthline