Some skin care practices are standard no matter the season or weather. But Dr. Monique S. Cohn at Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery suggests special changes to your routine once cooler weather rolls around.
You may notice after the summer months your skin has a duller, more uneven texture, additional freckles, discoloration, or melasma. There are many treatment options available to combat skin that has been hit hard by summer.
It’s common for sunspots to get darker and for new freckles to have appeared during the summer months. To help protect your skin from skin cancer and signs of skin aging, it’s important to continue practicing sun safety as the seasons change.
Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. So you should wear daily SPF even in the fall and winter months and do not forget your hands, forearms, neck, and other areas exposed to the sun.
Eczema
Eczema flares are common during the fall season, and even worse during winter. Tweak your skincare routine at the earliest signs of eczema because the problem gets harder to treat the further along it is. Decrease the shower temperature, keeping showers shorter, and switching all stronger soaps to gentle cleaners at the first sign of eczema.
Limit scrubs and dry-brushing or other chemical peels to once every other week. Exfoliation can weaken and break tissue removing the natural surface oils that keep skin hydrated. The best way to control eczema is to invest in a humidifier. If rashes aren’t going away with gentle skincare, please call our office at 330-425-7600 to set up an appointment.
Dandruff
Dandruff is not a hair problem; it is a scalp problem. That means (so called) medicated shampoos, that are just washed right out, are not going to fix it. “You need to apply an effective product to the scalp and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, if not longer, to make a difference,” says Dr. Cohn.
It is a common misconception that dandruff comes from having a dry scalp, but it is actually caused by having an oily scalp. Malassezia is a naturally-occurring yeast (aka fungus) found on human scalps. It does, however, love sebum, which is basically oil produced by the skin. When the air dries out, your scalp may actually produce more oil to compensate, causing an increase in dandruff.
Taking the proper steps to manage your symptoms can allow you to still get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. If you think you may be experiencing one of these fall weather skin issues, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center by calling 330-425-7600 to set up an appointment in Twinsburg with Dr. Monique S. Cohn.
