Buds and blossoms are emerging on trees in Northeast Ohio. Precipitation is more wet than freezing most days, and people opt for spring jackets over winter parkas. Pretty soon, people will be baring their arms and legs to enjoy the warm spring sun—and that means it’s time to start transitioning from your winter skin care regimen to your spring skincare routine.
Hoffman explains that seasonal changes trigger different cellular processes in the skin, which makes it important to adjust how we care for it so it stays healthy:
Hoffman says that although many different skin conditions can appear as the weather warms, there are four that she sees most often as she works with patients here at Apex Dermatology. Knowing ahead of time about these challenges by following some basic spring skin care tips can help people reduce or even avoid these challenges:
Hoffman recommends that no matter where any spring acne breakouts appear, the treatment is the same.
“I recommend using acne cleansers that contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Make sure your products, from sunscreen to cosmetics, are non-comedogenic (meaning they don’t clog pores) and oil-free.”
Hoffman also sees more cases contact dermatitis due to allergic reactions in the spring, especially when people spend more time outside in nature. This doesn’t mean you should avoid getting outside or enjoying nature – it just means you should be properly prepared if you’re one of the 50+ million people in America who have allergies.
Contact dermatitis usually manifests as an itchy rash on parts of the skin that have been exposed to an allergen or irritant. People can get contact dermatitis from many different things, so the key is to find out what the irritant is and then avoid it if possible.
People who have environmental allergies often struggle with skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, hives, and rashes. This means that people who struggle with allergies to grass, tree pollen, animal dander, etc. they are particularly vulnerable to problems in the spring. Mowing the lawn or sitting on grass, for example, can cause rashes and hives or worsen chronic skin conditions such as eczema.
Another good idea to reduce contact dermatitis and allergic reactions is to change clothes and shower after coming back inside. This helps you minimize the introduction of aggravating allergens into your home and reduces your exposure to them.
As the days get longer, so does the skin’s exposure to the sun, and Hoffman is passionate about people being extra careful with sun exposure to prevent sunburn.
“Ultraviolet radiation in the form of sun exposure consists of UVA and UVB rays (UVC rays are absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere). UVA rays mainly contribute to Premature Agingwhile UVB rays are responsible for sunburn, and both contribute to its formation skin cancers,” warns Hoffman.
Hoffman has plenty of advice on how to do it prevention of skin canceremphasizing how important it is to include an effective sunscreen to your daily skin care regimen. However, he knows that anyone can find themselves in situations where they can get a sunburn.
In these cases, he recommends taking quick steps to minimize the damage as much as possible:
Once again, Hoffman urges everyone to take the proper precautions to avoid sunburn and sun damage to the skin as the days get longer: “Always, always wear sunscreen. Also, wear clothing that covers the skin when outdoors. Choose tightly knit fabrics. When holding clothes in bright light, you should not see any light coming through. Consider specially designed UV protection clothing.”
Living next to Lake Erie and so many other bodies of water, we have a lot of mosquitoes to deal with, not to mention ticks, biting flies, bees, wasps, hornets, and other springtime stinging and stinging creatures. Wearing your sun-protective clothing can help reduce your exposure to insect bites, but some of them may still find their way to leave behind itchy, painful, annoying bites—or worse.
“You can treat minor insect bites and stings at home,” says Hoffman. “Applying hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can help relieve itching. And although it is difficult, avoid scratching the bite. Broken skin or germs hiding under your nails can lead to infection.”
Hoffman also warns that people should be aware of possible allergic reactions, especially to bee stings.
If you know you have an allergy like this, you should always carry an epinephrine pen with you.
“If you suspect an insect bite is infected or if symptoms are severe, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment,” urges Hoffman. “A physician should immediately evaluate any allergic reaction affecting the face, lips, or airway.”
With all of this in mind, Hoffman says the following spring skin care tips can help alleviate and prevent common springtime skin problems. So as you start to put away the sweaters, fleeces and coats for the season and switch to lighter, warmer clothes, it’s a good time to update your skin care routine for spring in these five ways:
This time of year, it’s a good idea to do a little spring cleaning.
“Go through your grooming tools and cosmetics to make sure the products haven’t expired,” says Hoffman. “It’s especially important to check the dates on your sunscreen to make sure it gives you the best protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.”
It’s not just sunscreen that needs a spring refresh, Hoffman further explains:
“Even cosmetics can break down or grow bacteria over time, so be sure to inspect products and throw out anything that looks suspicious. It’s recommended to replace mascara every three months, eyeliner every six months (although pencils last longer than liquids) and lipsticks every year. Primers and foundations can last up to two years. Powder products like blush and eyeshadow are usually the same, as long as you clean your brushes and application tools regularly.”
Hoffman also stresses the importance of following healthy lifestyle habits for fresh, glowing spring skin and overall health:
“Our skin can be a good indicator of our overall health,” she explains. “All the things you know are good for your general health will generally be good for your skin. Eating a healthy and varied diet, staying hydrated, exercising and getting enough sleep are some of the keys to a healthy body and healthy skin.”
While these recommendations apply to most people, Hoffman acknowledges that everyone out there has different skin concerns and health conditions that can make spring skincare difficult. This is why he emphasizes that personalized help for the health of your skin is so important.
“The practice of dermatology is not just skin deep,” explains Hoffman. “Skin conditions can have a significant impact on overall health, self-esteem and quality of life. My favorite thing about working at Apex is seeing patients come back feeling more confident about their skin.”
