How to Avoid Summertime Breakouts

July 8, 2022

Summer is here and YAY! So are cute summertime outfits! Bring on the frilly t-shirts, the short jean shorts, the flip flops… all those small little clothes that scream “Let’s play outside!”.

But wait – what’s that you say? You are not so into those itty bitty clothes right now because you have noticed that your acne is flaring up? Yup – right in time to break out the skin-showing clothes your skin decides to break out as well.

UGH.

You are (sadly) not alone. We know this after 30+ years in the acne-fighting industry.

There are a lot of reasons why acne breakouts tend to increase during the warm months. And most of those reasons mean that you are actually (gasp) having fun! Which is great. We want fun in our lives. So what we are going to do is break down how you can avoid those break outs.

Why is Acne More Common in the Hotter Months?

Mainly, acne breakouts are more common in the summer because you are, hopefully, outside, exercising, sweating, having fun.  Playing in the dirt, in the sand.  And all that sweat, dirt and bacteria, are getting on your skin and unfortunately, getting trapped in your hair follicles causing eventual breakouts. In addition, in the hotter months, your body naturally produces more sebum, the oil that helps trap dead skin cells and bacteria in your hair follicles.

And here is something that I hate to even say because it will likely get some of you readers questioning sunscreen. Which is NOT what I want to do. But it has to be said. Most sunscreens you buy are oil-based and that oil will also cause the bacteria, dead skin cells, sweat to get trapped in your pores and lead to future breakouts. Therefore, when you purchase sunscreen, especially sunscreen that you will be applying to acne-prone areas of your body, please make sure that it is non-comedogenic, AKA will not cause acne breakouts. Obviously, Ninja Skincare’s Daily Defender SPF 30 is non-comedogenic.

How to Avoid Those Summertime Breakouts

There are a couple of great things you can do to avoid breakouts this summer.

1/ If you are spending time in the pool – immediately after getting out, rinse off your body to get the chlorine off. Ideally, if possible, you should also at least wash your face with a cleanser to make sure the chlorine is completely off your skin.

2/ If you are spending a lot of time outside, especially doing physical activity, make sure you come inside frequently to cool down, rinse your face and skin off.

3/ While outside, consider using SPF clothing instead of sunscreen on your arms/legs. This clothing is designed not only to prevent the UV rays from reaching your skin but it will also wick away  sweat and moisture from your skin, preventing it from settling in your hair follicles. And as always, wear a wide-brimmed hat! For your face, apply our SPF 30 consistently throughout the day to avoid sun damage.

4/ HYDRATE! This means internally and externally. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush out toxins and bacteria and make sure you consistently apply a non comedogenic moisturizer. Contrary to popular opinion, moisture is GOOD for the skin – even for those who are acne prone. If you dry out your skin, your body’s natural reaction is to produce MORE sebum in order to compensate for the lack of moisture. And the result? More breakouts. So throughout the summer, drink your 8-10 glasses of water per day and moisturize your skin!

Above all – have fun this summer. Enjoy your days with your loved ones. Life is short. And if you have any questions about your skin care routine, please reach out. We can help!