You know a heatwave has arrived when the thermometer soars, you can't get a wink of sleep and simply getting from A to B feels like hard work. High temperatures take a toll on your health – and on your skin.
On the surface, heat leaves your skin dehydrated, dry and irritated, and can even speed up ageing. Funnily enough, most of us know how much damage the sun can do, yet far fewer people realise what high temperatures alone do to their skin.
How does heat affect your skin?
A number of studies have linked extreme temperatures to a whole range of skin problems. In this article we explain what heat does to your skin and what you can do about it so you can keep enjoying the summer with healthy-looking skin – however many heatwaves come your way.
Heat dehydrates your skin
In very hot weather the body loses more water – and the skin, as our first line of contact with the outside world, feels it first. Dehydration becomes a real risk. Your skin can lose much of its moisture, which affects both its firmness and its texture.
Dehydrated skin feels dry and tight, can crack, and looks dull and uneven in tone. On the face, fine lines and wrinkles tend to show more, and dark circles under the eyes can look more pronounced.
How do you stop your skin dehydrating in the heat? First, drink more water to keep your body's moisture levels balanced. Then tackle dryness directly with a moisturiser – ideally one with hyaluronic acid. A hydrating serum or face mask will also soothe dryness and give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
For everyday wear in the heat, go for a light moisturiser that won't leave your face shiny. FETĒN's Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and aloe vera, and sinks in straight away. For an extra boost, apply the Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Men just before it.
Your skin ages faster
As a result of the dehydration described above, your skin loses elasticity. What's more, heat exposure increases the production of proteins that break down collagen and elastin fibres, lowers antioxidant levels and can speed up the skin's ageing process. The result: skin that looks tired and loses its glow.
Your skin gets oilier
Another way heat affects your skin is that greasy feeling. When your body senses a rise in temperature, your sweat glands kick in to cool you down. In other words, your skin produces extra oil in the heat. If you already have oily skin, you'll know it gets even shinier than usual.
Excess oil can clog pores and lead to breakouts. To prevent this, wash your face more often and choose oil-free skincare.
Your pores get clogged
Dry, hot air means dead skin cells build up more quickly. Pores become clogged, your skin can't breathe properly, and the products you use struggle to reach its deeper layers.
To help unclog pores and clear away built-up oil, use an exfoliator to keep your skin free of dead cells and excess sebum.
Once or twice a week is plenty. FETĒN's Face Scrub for Men, made with mineral salts and sugars, clears away dead skin and built-up oil.
Dark spots can appear (hyperpigmentation)
Heat exposure can also trigger dark spots, known as hyperpigmentation. Heat affects the skin almost immediately by dilating the blood vessels. The skin becomes inflamed and steps up its production of melanin. In short, your skin can develop dark patches in response to high temperatures.
Irritation and rashes
Heat can also irritate your skin and bring on rashes. High summer temperatures can weaken the skin's barrier function, leaving the surface irritated. As well as looking unpleasant, this can cause itching and discomfort.
If you notice clear signs of irritation, we'd recommend seeing a doctor, who can refer you to a dermatologist if needed, so you get the right treatment as soon as possible.
How to protect your skin in a heatwave
After all that drama, you're probably wondering how to avoid these effects. The good news? It's really simple. A few small changes to your daily routine will keep your skin protected when the heat is on.
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Extra hydration. Drink more water, and keep it up throughout the day – but you can also eat more water-rich foods (gazpacho, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, citrus fruit…) to help your body keep your skin hydrated. If you don't replace the water you lose, your skin will show it.
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Hydration, again. Step up your skincare routine with products that keep your skin moisturised. Go for lighter, less greasy textures: they feel fresher and more comfortable, whereas rich creams can backfire in the heat, making you sweat more and leaving your skin drier rather than better hydrated.
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Stay indoors or avoid outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day. It sounds obvious, and you'll hear it on the news all the time, but keeping out of the heat can spare you an extra wrinkle – or, worse, heatstroke.
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If you do go out, wear sun protection and cover up with a hat or sunglasses. The sun's rays are stronger and more harmful at this time of year.
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Cool your skin down. Splashing your face with cold water several times a day helps bring its temperature down. It's instantly refreshing and gets your circulation going, so your skin can do its job properly.
Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish
Hydration and protection in one step.
Take a look →
The key is knowing what a heatwave can do to your skin and taking simple steps to prevent it. Prevention is better than cure, after all. Follow these tips – simple, but the ones that really work – and you'll get through the summer looking and feeling your best, FETĒN-style. Don't let the heat get the better of you.
How to protect your skin in a heatwave
You know a heatwave has arrived when the thermometer soars, you can't get a wink of sleep and simply getting from A to B feels like hard work. High temperatures take a toll on your health – and on your skin.
On the surface, heat leaves your skin dehydrated, dry and irritated, and can even speed up ageing. Funnily enough, most of us know how much damage the sun can do, yet far fewer people realise what high temperatures alone do to their skin.
How does heat affect your skin?
A number of studies have linked extreme temperatures to a whole range of skin problems. In this article we explain what heat does to your skin and what you can do about it so you can keep enjoying the summer with healthy-looking skin – however many heatwaves come your way.
Heat dehydrates your skin
In very hot weather the body loses more water – and the skin, as our first line of contact with the outside world, feels it first. Dehydration becomes a real risk. Your skin can lose much of its moisture, which affects both its firmness and its texture.
Dehydrated skin feels dry and tight, can crack, and looks dull and uneven in tone. On the face, fine lines and wrinkles tend to show more, and dark circles under the eyes can look more pronounced.
How do you stop your skin dehydrating in the heat? First, drink more water to keep your body's moisture levels balanced. Then tackle dryness directly with a moisturiser – ideally one with hyaluronic acid. A hydrating serum or face mask will also soothe dryness and give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
For everyday wear in the heat, go for a light moisturiser that won't leave your face shiny. FETĒN's Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and aloe vera, and sinks in straight away. For an extra boost, apply the Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Men just before it.
Your skin ages faster
As a result of the dehydration described above, your skin loses elasticity. What's more, heat exposure increases the production of proteins that break down collagen and elastin fibres, lowers antioxidant levels and can speed up the skin's ageing process. The result: skin that looks tired and loses its glow.
Your skin gets oilier
Another way heat affects your skin is that greasy feeling. When your body senses a rise in temperature, your sweat glands kick in to cool you down. In other words, your skin produces extra oil in the heat. If you already have oily skin, you'll know it gets even shinier than usual.
Excess oil can clog pores and lead to breakouts. To prevent this, wash your face more often and choose oil-free skincare.
Your pores get clogged
Dry, hot air means dead skin cells build up more quickly. Pores become clogged, your skin can't breathe properly, and the products you use struggle to reach its deeper layers.
To help unclog pores and clear away built-up oil, use an exfoliator to keep your skin free of dead cells and excess sebum.
Once or twice a week is plenty. FETĒN's Face Scrub for Men, made with mineral salts and sugars, clears away dead skin and built-up oil.
Dark spots can appear (hyperpigmentation)
Heat exposure can also trigger dark spots, known as hyperpigmentation. Heat affects the skin almost immediately by dilating the blood vessels. The skin becomes inflamed and steps up its production of melanin. In short, your skin can develop dark patches in response to high temperatures.
Irritation and rashes
Heat can also irritate your skin and bring on rashes. High summer temperatures can weaken the skin's barrier function, leaving the surface irritated. As well as looking unpleasant, this can cause itching and discomfort.
If you notice clear signs of irritation, we'd recommend seeing a doctor, who can refer you to a dermatologist if needed, so you get the right treatment as soon as possible.
How to protect your skin in a heatwave
After all that drama, you're probably wondering how to avoid these effects. The good news? It's really simple. A few small changes to your daily routine will keep your skin protected when the heat is on.
Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish
Hydration and protection in one step.
Take a look →The key is knowing what a heatwave can do to your skin and taking simple steps to prevent it. Prevention is better than cure, after all. Follow these tips – simple, but the ones that really work – and you'll get through the summer looking and feeling your best, FETĒN-style. Don't let the heat get the better of you.