In summer, everything seems to be lightening. Clothes, days, minds. But for the skin, that’s another matter. Redness which contrast with the tan, buttons that arise without warning, plates which itch even in the folds of the elbow … The sun, supposed to do good, turns for some into a trigger of visible irritations, sometimes disabling. And this, from the head to the feet.
Why redness and inflammation intensifies under the heat
The skin is a sentry organ. As soon as the temperature is climbing, it triggers its defense mechanisms: sweat, vasodilation, sebum production … So many natural processes which, cumulative, can quickly turn to the dermatological nightmare for sensitive skin or subject to pathologies.
The sweat + heat combo + friction Creates an ideal ground for the proliferation of bacteria and yeasts. The sweat glands get carried away, humidity stagnates on the skin, and the epidermis weakens. Result: eczema extends, urticaria plates multiply, and even acne scars can reactivate.
Without forgetting another devious actor: UV. Contrary to popular belief, the sun does not “dry” the pimples permanently. It can temporarily mask inflammatory lesions, but then causes a rebound effect. Tanning fades, and imperfections reappear, often amplified.
But not all reactions come under the same mechanism. Summer allergies are often brutal, located and accompanied by sudden itching: they can be caused by pollen, food or exposure to the sun. Chronic conditionsthey, like eczema or acne, are present all year round, but are growing in summer Because of environmental factors. In both cases, symptoms can be alike – red plates, pimples, peeling skin – but the causes are very different.
More exposed areas of the body than you think
Visible areas are not the only ones to suffer. Under the hair, the scalp suffocates, trapped between sebum and heat. In the folds (knees, armpits, sub-pits), persistent humidity can cause real raw or oozing plates. Even feet, locked in sneakers or exposed to hot sand, are not spared.
Some even note localized allergic reactionslike redness behind the ears linked to residues of sunscreen, or itching on the cuffs due to the metal bracelets heated to the sun. The whole body becomes sensitive, and often, symptoms move or extend day after day.
When should you worry … and how to calm things?
Not all signs are created equal. A persistent redness that extends, a burning sensation, painful pimples or skin that peels abundantly must alert. If skin reactions are accompanied by fever, swelling or breathlessnessmedical consultation becomes essential.
But without going to the emergency, some gestures can already limit the damage. Avoid synthetic clothes, space too hot showers, change more often pillowcases or rinse the exposed areas abundantly after swimming are often neglected reflexes. On sensitive areas, it is better to apply simple textures, without perfume or alcohol, even if it means leaving aside its usual products for a few weeks.
Limit makeup on the inflammmed areas, wear a wide -sides hat, or simply go away a few days from the Sel + Sun combo may be enough to defuse a push. And if despite everything the symptoms worsen, a dermatologist can precisely identify the cause: solar allergy, contact dermatitis, exacerbated hiratosis … Each skin reacts in its own way, but it always ends up talking.
