Dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Anne Truitt shares 4 steps everyone can take to enhance a summer skin regime.
Sun protection: The best way to keep your skin healthy and glowing is to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV radiation will put your skin at risk of premature aging and skin cancer. I recommend mineral sunscreens that contain zinc oxide as they will provide better broad-spectrum coverage, and they are reef safe.
Recommended for sun protection: I recommend Elta MD, Colorescience, Cerave, and LaRoche Posay for the face; I recommend Trader Joe’s zinc spray, Elta MD sports cream or zinc spray, Supergoop, Neutrogena, and Aveeno for the body. Make sure to read the active ingredients and look for zinc oxide. Apply 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours or after water sports/exercising. Hats, sunglasses, and clothing are recommended as well. Lands End, Coolibar, and often Costco provide good quality summer clothing that may also be zinc-infused.
Antioxidants: The sun’s UV rays will cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) to form ultimately causing damage to your skin cellular DNA as well as dermal collagen and elastin function. A good way to counteract these detrimental effects is to introduce an antioxidant into your morning routine before applying sunscreen.
Recommended antioxidants: I recommend vitamin C as it has both antioxidant and skin lightening qualities. However, not all vitamin C serums are created equal. Vitamin C can be notoriously unstable with light and heat. I recommend C-Firma Drunk Elephant, NourishMax, and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic as they have mastered the finicky vitamin C stability with their formulations.
Exfoliants: With the summer heat and dry weather as well ocean salt and pool chlorine, skin can become dry and flaky. Gentle exfoliation once per week can help cell turnover and collagen production while also enhancing the absorption of your topical products. There are both physical exfoliants like a loofah or a scrub brush, and topical exfoliants such as sugar granules, lactic acid, and glycolic acid. Body exfoliants are not to be used on the face as they are more coarse and can damage the more delicate skin of the face.
Exfoliants to try: Trader Joe’s Nourish Microdermabrasion Scrub for the face is cost conscious and effective. NourishMax lip scrub with its fine exfoliating granules and hyaluronic acid for plumpness is highly recommended. For the body, I recommend Dove exfoliating body polish, Origins Ginger Body Scrub, and The Body Exfoliator by Necessaire.
Moisturizing: Daily moisturizing is crucial to maintaining the skin’s hydration and supple feel. Lightweight solutions may be better for acne-prone skin such as Neutrogena Hydroboost which comes in both a body and face formulation.
More moisturizers: Thicker creams such as Cerave or Aveeno may be needed on more dry areas like the lower legs and elbows. Additionally for the face, some sunscreens come with a moisturizer such as Elta MD UV Replenish. Moisturizing the lips is just as important as the skin; C.O. Bigelow Night Balm for lips is an excellent nighttime moisturizer while Elta MD UV Lip Balm has zinc oxide for daily broad-spectrum protection.
Visit our website or call for more information or to arrange a consultation: Skin Surgery Medical Group, San Diego (858) 292-5101 skinsurgerymed.com Instagram: instagram.com/dr.truitt_sandiego