How to protect your skin from the heat wave

Cómo proteger tu piel de la ola de calor

You know a heat wave has arrived when the thermometer shoots up, you can't sleep a wink at night, and you feel like you have to drag yourself from one place to another. The high temperatures caused by a heat wave directly impact your health, but also your skin.

At the cutaneous level, Heat affects your skin, causing dehydration, dryness, irritation, and even premature aging . Interestingly, most of us are aware of the harmful effects the sun can have on our bodies, yet not everyone is aware of the effects high temperatures have on the skin.

How does heat affect your skin?

Numerous studies have shown that extreme temperatures can cause a variety of skin-related problems . In this blog We tell you what the effects of heat are on your skin and what you can do to prevent them. so you can continue enjoying the summer, showing off healthy skin despite one, two, or three heat waves.

The heat causes your skin to become dehydrated.

The body loses more water when weather conditions are extremely hot, especially our skin, as it's our body's first contact with the outside world. As a result, dehydration is a risk. Your skin can lose much of its moisture content, affecting the firmness of its structure and texture .

When skin is dehydrated, it feels dry and irritated, cracks, and appears dull and uneven in tone and color. On the face, expression lines and wrinkles may also become more noticeable. Dark circles may also become more pronounced in the form of unsightly dark circles under the eyes.

How to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated in the heat? First, you should increase your water intake to balance the moisture in your body. Then, more directly, use a moisturizer, such as one with hyaluronic acid, to combat dry skin. You can also use a facial treatment with a hydrating serum or mask to relieve dryness and provide extra hydration.

The skin ages faster

As a result of the Dehydration of the skin , which we anticipated in the previous point, will reduce its elasticity. Not only that, but heat exposure also increases the production of proteins that break down collagen and elastin fibers, decreasing antioxidant levels and accelerating the skin's aging process . As a result, your skin will look damaged and lose its luster.

Your skin becomes more oily

Another way heat affects your skin is that greasy feeling. Your sweat glands activate when they sense a rise in temperature to cool your body. That is, Your skin creates extra oil as a result of the heat . If you have oily skin, you'll know that heat makes your skin even oilier than normal.

Excess oil on the skin can clog pores and cause acne. To prevent this, keep your face clean by washing more frequently and choose oil-free skincare products.

The pores of the skin become clogged

Dead skin cells can accumulate more frequently due to the dryness of the environment caused by the heat. As a result, pores become clogged, preventing your skin from breathing properly and preventing the skincare products you use from reaching its deeper layers.

To help unclog pores and cleanse accumulated oil, use exfoliants that help keep your skin free of dead cells and accumulated oil.

Dark spots may appear on your skin (Hyperpigmentation)

Heat exposure can also cause dark spots to appear on your skin. These spots are known as hyperpigmentation. Heat can immediately affect the skin by widening blood vessels. As a result, the skin becomes inflamed and produces an increased amount of melanocytes and melanin. In short, Your skin may develop spots in reaction to high heat .

Skin irritation and rashes

Heat affects your skin, irritating it and causing rashes. What happens is that the skin's barrier function can be weakened by high summer temperatures, causing irritation on its surface. In addition to being visually unpleasant, the irritation can cause itching and discomfort.

If you notice obvious symptoms of skin irritation, we recommend that you see your doctor so they can evaluate you and apply the correct remedy as soon as possible to minimize the pain your skin (and you) may experience.

What can you do to protect your skin from the heat wave?

After all this drama, you're probably wondering how to prevent any of these effects from happening to your skin, and the best part is, it's really simple! With these small changes to your daily routine, you'll be able to protect your skin from the heat wave.

  1. Extra hydration. It's not just about drinking more water, which you should do consistently. You can also vary your diet by eating more water-rich foods (such as gazpacho, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, citrus fruits, etc.) to help your body maintain hydration levels in your skin. If the lost water isn't replaced, you can suffer the consequences.
  2. Hydration again : Reinforce your skincare routine with products that keep your skin moisturized. Choose more fluid, less oily creams for these days; they'll also be more refreshing and comfortable. In the heat, thick creams can have the opposite effect on your skin, as instead of hydrating it, they can actually dehydrate it and increase sweating.
  3. Avoid going outside or doing outdoor activities During the hottest hours of the day. It seems obvious, and we hear it a lot on TV, but avoiding direct heat can save you from an extra wrinkle on your skin or, worse, heat exhaustion.
  4. If you're going out, do so with sun protection. and accessories that protect you from the sun. Its rays are more damaging and dangerous these days.
  5. Refresh your skin. You can help lower your skin's temperature by washing your face several times a day with cold water. Not only will this relieve the heat, but it will also activate your circulation, allowing it to function properly throughout all its processes.

You see, the key is being aware of what a heat wave can do to your skin and taking the necessary measures to prevent it. Prevention is better than cure! And by following these tips—which, although seemingly simple, are the most effective—you can continue enjoying your summer and #lifefeten. Don't let this hellish heat get you down!

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