Summer hasn’t even officially started yet, but many parts of the country have already seen rising temperatures and extreme heat. Hot weather is annoying – and potentially dangerous – for many reasons, and one of the irritating aspects is what it does to your skin.
You may be blessed with great pores, but for most people when it gets warm outside, their skin takes on a natural glow thanks to the production of what appears to be way too much oil. But why is this happening and can we do something about it? Here’s what you should know.
Why skin becomes particularly oily in the heat
As you already know, our skin can react to different conditions – like sunburn after a long day at the beach or a rash from a food allergy. But even if you are only outside for a short time and not in the sun, it can still change depending on the weather.
“In summer, temperatures and humidity rise. These changes stimulate the sweat glands to produce more sweat and the sebum glands to produce more sebum, ”says the certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King told mindbodygreen in an interview. “Increased sweat production cools the skin through evaporation, and increased oil production helps to slow down sweat evaporation in order to prolong the cooling effect.”
How to deal with excess oil
The first thing to keep in mind is that the oil on your face (and other areas of skin) serves the important purpose of acting as a protective barrier. As much as we want to get rid of all of the oil, it’s not a good idea. Keeping our oil present but keeping it in check is a much better plan. Here are a few ways to do this:
Wash your face (and other skin) regularly, but not too often
Again, don’t overdo it, just make sure that you actually take the time to wash your face. Here’s what that entails according to Medical News Today:
- Wash with mild soap and warm water.
- Avoid scented soaps, added moisturizers, or harsh chemicals that can irritate or dry out the skin, causing it to react by producing more sebum.
- Avoid loofahs and harsh washcloths, as additional friction can stimulate the skin to produce more oil.
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Use toner after cleaning
You should avoid the burning alcohol-based toners of your youth and go for it instead natural astringents, where the active ingredient witch hazel or Tea tree oil. But toner is not for everyone. So if you’re new to it, do a little patch test first before applying it to your face.
Dry gently
As tempting as it may be to use a towel to give your skin one final oil scavenging wipe, it is important to do it gently. “It is not recommended to pull the skin down with a towel or use a rough washcloth, as this can stimulate the skin to produce more sebum,” she said an article on Medical News Today.
