Treating Acne in the Summer

Yesterday, I took my daughter to her latest dermatology appointment. Luckily, I had been able to adjust the time so that she didn’t have to miss too much of babysitting camp yesterday afternoon. Because her skin does seem to be improving, we are sticking with status quo regarding treating her acne, but we did leave with some good advice for looking after her skin in the summer months. Our goal is to have her skin as clear as possible by the fall. I don’t expect miracles, but every little thing helps!

Here is the advice with left with for treating acne in the summer:

• First and foremost, my daughter has to keep to her daily skin routine. This can be difficult in the summer as regular schedules can be disrupted. Also, if skin looks better, it’s tempting to stop using the treatments so regularly.
• Moisturize. Although skin may feel oilier in the summer due to the heat and humidity, it’s important to use a moisturizer every day. Cleansing the skin can remove the natural oils, and this can stimulate the skin to begin to over produce oil. This means that skin can become oilier and there is a greater chance of pores being clogged and more acne being produced. It was recommended that we look at a lighter moisturizer compared to the one that my daughter was using in the cooler months. One that is oil free (of course) and even a gel might provide all the moisture she needs.
• Add a clay facial mask to my daughter’s routine. Once a week (we’ll probably do it on Sundays, the one day we are pretty likely to be home), my daughter should apply a good clay mask to her face. The clay absorbs any excess oil, and it helps to unclog pores and even shrink them.
• Apply a good oil-free sunscreen with a high SPF every day (even on cloudy days). We had been doing this most days, so I felt good about that one.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water. We know that no foods are linked to causing acne, but fresh fruits and vegetables and water can help to prevent it. Luckily, our home garden has helped improve everyone’s diet greatly!

Overall, my daughter seemed quite happy with her appointment when she left. I’m glad she’s feeling so positive and hope it keeps up through the next few months at least.

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