With the warm air of summer gradually giving way to cooler fall temperatures, the Plastic Surgeons and staff at The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery want to help their patients smoothly transition into the new season.
During the fall, the length of the day rapidly decreases in Baltimore, Maryland, and the cooler air brings a drop in humidity, which has the potential to make your skin even drier. Even though you might not feel this increasing dryness, don’t underestimate the effect that the heaters now being turned on can have on the air surrounding you.
Keep your skin looking and feeling its best as you pack away the tank tops, skirts, and shorts of summer by following these tips on how to avoid some of the most common skin problems brought on by fall.
Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
The first thing that most people do when sunny summer days are gone is to discard the sunscreen. With the days becoming shorter, an autumn afternoon may be a little darker than one in mid-July, but those cloudy days still have sun rays that age your skin every time you’re outside. Make it a habit to apply an SPF of at least 30 or higher every few hours throughout the day.
Since the SPF included with your makeup will often not give you enough protection and leave your skin vulnerable to sun damage, be sure to use additional sunscreen before applying your makeup.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
It will not come as a surprise for you to learn that drinking water is one of the oldest remedies for glowing skin. From the summer to the fall and throughout winter, your face needs hydration. Especially in the cooler weather, you will notice that tight, stiff feeling as the skin on your face starts to dry out.
Drinking water also helps improve its elasticity and can help prevent wrinkles from showing up in the long run!
Thicken up Your Moisturizer
The approach of fall means it’s time to discard those lighter, oil-free moisturizers you’ve been relying on throughout summer. As you start wearing heavier clothing to avoid the fall’s cooler temperatures, you also need to upgrade your moisturizer to keep your skin healthy and in tip-top condition.
Switch to using a heavier cream made of ceramides, which as long-chain healthy fatty acids, help create a barrier locking moisture into your skin, preventing dryness and irritation. Your skin craves more of these anti-aging acids during the cooler months, so this type of moisturizer will help protect your epidermis from environmental damage, giving your body exactly what it needs.
Reduce Exfoliation
The cooler weather also means it’s time for you to cut back on the amount of exfoliation ingredients in the products you use on your skin.
Instead of following your regular exfoliation routine, try switching to glycolic acid treatment pads or a mask once or twice a week to wipe away layers of old skin to reveal smoother, vibrant, younger-looking skin.
Add a Supplement
The beginning of fall should also be when you focus on repairing and renewing your skin from the effects of the summer sun and heat. The antioxidants found in your skin have become depleted by the warm weather exposure it received during the summer.
So, this is an excellent time to start including vitamin D, fish oil, collagen, and vitamin C into your diet as these supplements may help improve skin hydration and help keep your skin healthy and nourished.
Buy a Humidifier
One of the most cost-effective ways to remove the dry air produced by heaters indoors is by investing in a small humidifier at home. Switch it on when you notice the gauge on your indoor weather station peaking into the “dry zone” and definitely when you turn on the heat.
Doing this throughout the cooler seasons will provide your skin with some much-needed dry air protection while at home.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
If you’re surprised to learn that sleep is an essential part of your skincare regimen, keep in mind that this is the time when your body repairs itself. During sleep, your skin’s blood flow increases, and it rebuilds collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles and age spots.
Another interesting benefit to getting sufficient sleep is that cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, decreases during our sleep time.
Our Professionals in Maryland Can Help
For more help in taking care of your skin with the approaching dry weather of the fall, the team at The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery would be happy to help!
Call us at (410) 744-0900 to schedule a consultation or contact us through our website with questions or to request more information.