July News You Can Use Editorial

The Summer Skin Reset: Practical Pearls for Healthy Skin All Season

By Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, FAAD

Summer brings longer days, outdoor activities, travel, camps, and increased exposure to heat, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, insects, chlorine, and salt water. These seasonal changes provide an important opportunity to help patients simplify their routines, strengthen photoprotection habits, and prepare for common warm-weather skin concerns.

Rather than focusing on sunscreen alone, dermatologists can encourage patients to perform a comprehensive “summer skin reset.” This includes updating products, clothing, routines, and travel supplies to match the season.

Lighten Your Skincare Routine Without Abandoning the Skin Barrier

Heat and humidity may increase sweating, oil production, follicular occlusion, and acne or folliculitis. Patients who used heavier creams and ointments during winter may benefit from switching to lighter, noncomedogenic lotions, gel creams, or fluid formulations.

However, summer humidity does not eliminate the need for moisturization. Air conditioning, frequent swimming, sun exposure, and repeated showering can still disrupt the skin barrier. A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and lightweight moisturizer can help maintain barrier function without feeling overly occlusive.

Patients should be encouraged to rinse promptly after swimming. Chlorinated and salt water may contribute to dryness and irritation, particularly in patients with atopic dermatitis or sensitive skin. After rinsing with fresh water, moisturizer should be applied while the skin remains slightly damp. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends mild cleansers, warm rather than hot showers, and fragrance-free moisturizers after bathing^.1

Summer is also a useful time for a skin-care cleanout. Patients should discard expired products, examine sunscreen containers for expiration dates or changes in texture and odor, wash reusable cosmetic tools, and avoid leaving skin-care products in hot cars. Products containing antioxidants, retinoids, or other temperature-sensitive ingredients should generally be stored in a cool, dry location according to package instructions.

Build Photoprotection in Layers

Effective sun safety is not a single-product strategy. It combines shade, protective clothing, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and thoughtful timing of outdoor activities.

For exposed skin, recommend a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen should be applied generously before outdoor exposure and reapplied approximately every two hours, as well as after swimming, sweating, or towel drying. Water-resistant labeling indicates whether the tested protection is maintained for 40 or 80 minutes in water; no sunscreen is truly waterproof.^2,3

Frequently missed areas include the ears, scalp and hairline, neck, chest, hands, lips, tops of the feet, and the skin around swimsuit straps.

For individuals seeking an additional layer of protection, oral photoprotective supplements containing Polypodium leucotomos extract may complement traditional sun protection measures, including broad-spectrum sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, and shade-seeking behaviors. While these supplements may help reduce UV-induced skin damage, they should always be used in conjunction with established sun safety practices.

Clothing can provide consistent protection without depending on perfect sunscreen application. Patients should look for garments labeled with an ultraviolet protection factor, or UPF. Tightly woven fabrics, long sleeves, pants, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-protective sunglasses can supplement sunscreen, particularly during prolonged outdoor activities. Research supports photoprotective clothing as an effective method of reducing ultraviolet transmission to the skin.⁴

Patients with melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other pigmentary disorders may benefit from especially diligent protection from both ultraviolet and visible light. Tinted sunscreens containing iron oxides can be a practical addition for these patients.

Prepare a Dermatologist-Approved Summer Kit

A small, prepacked kit can improve adherence during vacations, sports, camps, and day trips. Suggested items include:

• Broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen
• SPF lip balm
• Wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses
• UPF shirt or swimwear
• Fragrance-free cleanser and moisturizer
• Prescribed medications in their original containers
• Hydrocolloid bandages and basic wound-care supplies
• EPA-registered insect repellent
• Low-strength hydrocortisone cream for appropriate minor inflammatory reactions
• Epinephrine autoinjectors for individuals with a known risk of anaphylaxis

When sunscreen and insect repellent are both needed, sunscreen should be applied first and insect repellent second. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends EPA-registered repellents containing ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone, used according to label directions.⁵

Know What to Do After a Burn or Sting

Despite careful planning, sunburns and insect stings still occur.

For a mild sunburn, patients can take cool baths or showers, apply a fragrance-free moisturizer, stay well hydrated, and avoid further sun exposure while the skin heals. Blistering skin should not be intentionally opened. Extensive blistering, severe pain, fever, confusion, dehydration, or a burn involving a young infant warrants medical evaluation. Most importantly, patients should understand that treating a sunburn does not reverse the ultraviolet injury; prevention remains essential.⁶

For a minor bee or wasp sting, move away from the area, remove any visible stinger promptly, wash the skin with soap and water, and apply a cold compress for 10 to 20 minutes. A low-strength topical hydrocortisone preparation or calamine lotion may help localized itching when medically appropriate.⁷

Difficulty breathing, throat tightness, dizziness, widespread hives, vomiting, or swelling away from the sting site may indicate anaphylaxis. Epinephrine should be administered promptly when prescribed, followed by emergency medical care.⁸

Make Summer Protection Easy to Repeat

The most effective summer routine is one patients can follow consistently. Keeping sunscreen beside the toothbrush, storing a hat near the door, placing a UPF shirt in the beach bag, and maintaining a dedicated travel kit can turn photoprotection into habit rather than an afterthought.

As dermatologists, we can help patients move beyond the idea of “wear sunscreen” and adopt a layered, practical approach. A thoughtful summer skin reset allows patients to enjoy the season while reducing preventable burns, irritation, bites, pigmentary flares, and cumulative photodamage.

 

References

1. American Academy of Dermatology Association. 12 summer skin problems you can prevent. Accessed July 12, 2026.

2. American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to apply sunscreen. Updated August 15, 2025. Accessed July 12, 2026.

3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: How to help protect your skin from the sun. Accessed July 12, 2026.

4. Boothby-Shoemaker WT, Mohammad TF, Ozog DM, Lim HW. Photoprotection by clothing: A review. Photodermatol Photoimmunol

Photomed. 2022;38(5):478-488.

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid bug bites. Accessed July 12, 2026.

6. American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to treat a sunburn. May 21, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2026.

7. Mayo Clinic. Insect bites and stings: First aid. April 10, 2024. Accessed July 12, 2026.

8. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Stinging insect allergy. Accessed July 12, 2026.