CAN ’ T STAND THE HEAT
By Danielle Hadley
How to Keep Your Skin Healthy When the Temperature Rises
We hate to be the bearers of bad news but nothing wreaks havoc on your skin quite like summer . The sun ’ s out , you get hot , you sweat and all your hard work over the previous months that has resulted in a healthy and clear complexion goes flying out the window as your skin reverts back to its unbalanced , pimply , blotchy self . The main culprit behind all this upheaval is heat . Higher temperatures cause your body to release heat through the skin in one of two ways : an increase in blood flow to the surface aims to divert heat away from the body ’ s vital organs to prevent them from shutting down , followed by the release of sweat through the pores which purges the body of toxins and heat in an attempt to cool things down when a change in blood flow just isn ’ t cutting it . While these processes prevent you from passing out or developing heat exhaustion , the effects on your skin are less helpful . For starters , heat is a nightmare for dry skin conditions like eczema . The drier atmosphere makes naturally tight skin feel even more restricted and when you start to sweat , a whole host of toxins and
bacteria are released onto the skin . Mix that with the high salt content of human sweat and you have a recipe for dry , irritated and itchy skin . Hello , summer ! On the exact opposite end of the spectrum ; oily skin is equally conflicted by the warmer weather . While some experts believe the sun helps to clear up breakouts by drying up spots , the undeniable effect of heat on how much
You can thank hot summer days for your inflamed complexion
you sweat means the chance of your pores becoming blocked on a daily basis sky-rockets . Sweat mixes with sebum and dead cells which forms a gloopy substance that settles onto the skin , causing pimples and annoying beneaththe-surface-bumps which turn your complexion from smooth and dewy to uneven and greasy . You can also thank hot summer days for your permanently inflamed complexion . Sun exposure and heat are two of the biggest triggers for rosacea flare-ups , meaning sufferers often
Sources : American Skin Association / Progressive Health
ISSUE # 01 | SUMMER 2016 | SkinHealthMagazine . com 4