With warmer weather and longer days, everyone wants to escape the confines of the indoors.
But with the fun of basking in the sunshine comes the extra need to avoid skin problems.
“When going from cooler to warmer weather you can run into several problems such as hay fever, asthma and eczema,” said Dr. Joe Moyer, an allergist at the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center in Myrtle Beach.
“As temperatures get warmer, some individuals break out in hives. That probably has something to do with how the skin regulates body heat using the skin as a radiator. The blood vessels in the skin dilate to cool the body and that can worsen the rash we call hives.”
Humidity also can promote allergic reactions, he said.
“If you are prone to having eczema, sweating can cause it to itch and the scratching will result in a rash. We sometimes call eczema ‘the itch that rashes.’ People will typically itch first, then scratch, and then get the red, dry, flaky skin a few hours later.”
Some chemicals used in various commercial products also can cause allergic reactions, a condition called contact dermatitis, to many of the chemicals used in commercial products such as sunscreen.
“Contact dermatitis does not respond to treatments with things such as Benadryl,” Moyer said. “It responds better to steroids. So if you have not been exposed to outside plants like poison ivy, it may be something you are putting on your skin.”
Warmer weather also may cause some people to have breakouts of acne or blackheads because of increased oil production, said Catherine Pelton of Dermavogue Aesthetic Laser Center.
“In summer, people will benefit from cleansers with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in it to help control oil production,” she said.
Pelton also stressed the need for protecting skin from the sun.
“It’s important in any season to use sunscreen, especially in summer,” she said. “Make sure it has UVA and UVB protection and a SPF of 30 or more. Then of course, water intake is very important, too. Also, wear lightweight clothes that allow the skin to breathe more.”
Larissa Gedney, clinical nutrition manager at the Conway Medical Center, said staying hydrated during the summer is important.
“It can be very easy to become - and actually very dangerous if you become - dehydrated. So fill up on eight glasses of noncalorie fluids like water, Crystal Light and things like that. Other popular summertime drinks, if they have too much caffeine, can have a counterproductive effect in staying hydrated. Alcohol and caffeine act as a diuretic and do not fill the need.”
Some foods are good for the skin as well, she said.
“Fruits and vegetables are helpful especially now,” she said. “Also try to eat foods that have antioxidants in them and foods with vitamins C and E. Fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 found in walnuts, bananas and almonds are also helpful for the skin.”
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