When the summer sun is scorching and heatwaves are frequent, it’s important to know that your skin feels the heat too. The strong sun and high humidity can cause skin problems like dryness, sunburn, and early aging. Our skin’s natural oil gets easily snatched away. Understanding how the heat waves affect your skin is the key to figuring out the best skincare routine after being in the sun to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
What Are The Effects of Heatwaves on Your Skin
Dehydration
During a heatwave, the intense heat can cause excessive sweating, which leads to dehydration both internally and externally. The hot, dry air evaporates moisture from the surface of your skin, leaving it parched and lacking luster. Dehydrated skin is more susceptible to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and an overall lackluster complexion.
Skin Sensitivity
During a heatwave, the combination of heat, sweat, and environmental pollutants can irritate the skin, causing redness, itching, and sensitivity. Conditions like heat rash (prickly heat) and eczema may worsen, leading to more discomfort and inflammation.
Sunburn
Prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays during a heatwave can result in sunburn, which is characterized by redness, inflammation, and discomfort. The damaging UV radiation affects the DNA in your skin cells, leading to inflammation and an increased risk of skin cancer over time.
Premature Ageing and Hyperpigmentation
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays breaks down collagen and elastin fibres in the skin, causing wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Heatwaves speed up this process, leading to more fine lines and wrinkles.
Heatwaves can cause dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the skin by triggering an increase in melanin production, especially in people with darker skin tones.
Post-Sun Skincare Recovery Routine
After being in the sun for a long time, it’s important to take care of your skin. Start by cooling and soothing your skin, take a cool shower or bath to lower your body temperature and relieve any discomfort. Then, apply aloe vera gel or a cooling, hydrating moisturizer to soothe sunburned skin and reduce inflammation.
Hydrate Your Skin
Make sure to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and improve skin elasticity. Also, apply a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer to lock in moisture and prevent dehydration. Look for products containing cooling ingredients such as aloe vera, cucumber, rose water etc to replenish and repair the skin barrier.
Do Not Over Exfoliate
When cleansing your skin, use a gentle, non-irritating cleanser to remove sweat, sunscreen, and impurities without stripping away natural oils. Avoid harsh exfoliants or scrubs, as they can further irritate sunburned skin and make inflammation worse. Instead, opt for a mild, creamy and herbal cleanser that nourishes and soothes the skin while effectively cleansing away impurities.
Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
To soothe sunburn, you can use cold compress to ease the itch and redness. Cool compresses, oatmeal baths, and aloe vera gel can also help with the discomfort. Don’t go back out in the sun until your skin is all better to avoid more damage.
Sunburn Relief
After being in the sun, use anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients like chamomile, green tea extract, and oat extract to help with redness and irritation. These can calm and heal sunburned skin.
Sun Protection
To protect your skin from more sun damage, wear protective clothing, stay in the shade, and put on sunscreen with SPF 30 or more when you’re outside. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating, to stay safe from UV rays.
Effective Home Remedies To Combat The Effects Of A Heatwave On Your Skin
Cool Compress
To make a cool compress, start by soaking a clean cloth in cold water. Gently squeeze out the excess water and then apply the damp cloth to sunburned or overheated areas of your skin. The cool temperature of the compress will help to reduce inflammation and soothe any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is renowned for its cooling and healing properties, making it an excellent remedy for sunburned skin. Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to affected areas to reduce redness, inflammation, and promote healing.
Cucumber Slices
Cucumber contains high water content and antioxidants that can help hydrate and soothe sunburned skin. Place chilled cucumber slices over sunburned areas or blend cucumber into a paste and apply it as a cooling mask.
Oatmeal Bath
Colloidal oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve itching, irritation, and inflammation associated with sunburn. Add finely ground oatmeal to a cool bath and soak for 15-20 minutes to soothe sun-exposed skin.
Green Tea Compress
Make some green tea and let it cool down. Then, soak a clean cloth in the cooled tea and put it on your sunburned skin. Green tea has good stuff in it that can help with redness and swelling.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is full of moisturizing fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties to help calm and moisturize sunburned skin. Just put a thin layer of coconut oil on the affected areas to lock in moisture and help with healing.
Honey Mask
Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and heal sunburned skin. You can put a thin layer of raw honey on the affected areas and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.
Yogurt and Turmeric Mask
Mix plain yogurt with a pinch of turmeric to make a soothing mask for sunburned skin. Yogurt has probiotics that can help restore the skin’s natural barrier, while turmeric can help reduce redness and swelling because it has anti-inflammatory properties.