Sexy Summer Skin

Summer is finally here!  Is your skin ready?  It’s time to leave your dry, winter skin behind and to get a healthy, beautiful summer glow.  But before you put on that new swimsuit or cute summer dress, here are some tips to get your skin in tip-top shape. 

Cleanse.  Although hot showers are tempting, I recommend taking lukewarm showers and washing your body with a mild soap or cleanser.  When it comes to washing your face, there are a variety of both over the counter and prescription cleansers.  To determine what face wash is best for your skin, it’s a good idea to speak to a dermatologist. 

Exfoliate.  Exfoliating gets rid of dead, dry skin cells.  There are exfoliating cleansers available that you can apply to your skin with either a washcloth or a loofah. Don’t overdo it though!  I recommend exfoliating your body only a few times per week.  

Moisturize.  After you get out of the shower, leave your skin a little bit damp and then hydrate your skin by applying a good moisturizer from the neck down.  If your skin is really dry, then I recommend a cream over a lotion.  For your face, use a daily facial moisturizer with SPF 30 or above.  Keeping your skin hydrated can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and make your complexion look brighter. 

Avoid tanning.  Although laying out in the sun or going indoor tanning may make you feel better, the harmful UV rays can cause skin cancer, accelerate aging, cause wrinkles, sun spots and an overall blotchy complexion.  If you want to be tan, then consider a spray tan or use a sunless tanner.  

Wear your sunscreen. You should look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, and that is SPF 30 or higher.  Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin about 15-20 minutes prior to going outside, and, when you are going to be outdoors, I recommend re-applying sunscreen every two hours.  For adults and children with sensitive skin, opt for a physical blocker sunscreen, which contains either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

For anti-aging, consider using a retinoid cream.   There are both over-the-counter and prescription retinoids, with prescription retinoids being the gold standard.  Make sure you give a retinoid cream time to work.   Despite the claims you may hear or read, most age-fighting products do not work overnight, and it may take up to a few months to see results.  It is important to know that retinoid creams make you more sensitive to the sun, so don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.  Also, retinoid creams should not be used during pregnancy.

Have a fun, safe and skin healthy summer!

Dina Elrashidy, MD

Learn more about Dr. Elrashidy and her practice here.