Young spring fashion woman blowing dandelion in spring garden. Springtime. Trendy girl at sunset in spring landscape background. Allergic to pollen of flowers. Spring allergy
Buds and blooms are popping out on trees across Northeastern Ohio. The precipitation is more wet than frozen most days, and people are opting for spring jackets instead of winter parkas. Pretty soon, people will be baring their arms and legs to bask in the warm spring sun—and that means it’s time to start shifting from your winter skincare regimen to your spring skincare routine.
“In many ways, I love the season changes,” says Hoffman. “For outdoor lovers like me, this time of year means putting away the skis and sleds and getting ready for hiking, gardening, swimming, and other warm weather fun that spring and summer bring.” Of course, as the weather warms up, atmospheric changes have different impacts on our skin.
“Seasonal changes in temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can all have a big impact on the physiology of our skin,” she explains. “Seasonal changes can bring new challenges, but making small changes to your spring skin routine can make a big difference in the way you look and feel.”
Hoffman explains that seasonal changes trigger different cellular processes in the skin, which makes it important to adapt how we care for it, so it stays healthy:
“Warm weather often increases the rate and amount of sebum (oil) production in the skin. Increased humidity leads to lower rates of trans-epidermal water loss. As such, the skin stays more hydrated and there are increased beneficial lipids in the stratum corneum as we emerge from the winter months. These physiologic changes often lead to some conditions such as eczema and psoriasis improving around this time of year, while others such as acne can be exacerbated in some people.”
Hoffman says that although many different skin conditions can emerge as the weather warms up, there are four that she sees most commonly as she works with patients here at Apex Dermatology. Knowing about these challenges ahead of time while following some basic spring skincare tips can help people reduce or even avoid these challenges:
“Pimples can pop up any time of year, but many of us seem to experience more breakouts with seasonal changes,” explains Hoffman. “Rising temperatures, humidity, and more time spent outside can cause more sweating and acne breakouts in places other than the face. Back acne can be especially troublesome in the spring and summer months.”
Hoffman recommends that regardless of where any spring acne breakouts appear, the treatment is the same.
“I recommend using acne cleansers containing acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Make sure your products from sunscreen to cosmetics, are non-comedogenic (meaning they won’t clog the pores) and oil-free.”
Hoffman also sees more cases of contact dermatitis due to allergic reactions in the spring, especially when people are spending more time outside in nature. That doesn’t mean you should avoid going outside or enjoying nature—it just means you should be properly prepared if you are one of the 50+ million people in America who have allergies.
Contact dermatitis usually manifests as an itchy rash on parts of the skin that were exposed to an allergen or irritating substance. People can have contact dermatitis to a lot of different things, so the key is to find out what the irritant is, and then to avoid it, if possible.
“Causes can include poison ivy, poison oak, cosmetics, soap, and even jewelry,” says Hoffman. “Contact dermatitis often appears within minutes or hours of exposure and can last between two and four weeks.”
People who have environmental allergies often struggle with skin conditions like contact dermatitis, hives, and rashes. This means people who struggle with allergies to grass, tree pollen, animal dander, etc. are especially susceptible to trouble in the spring. Mowing the lawn, or sitting in grass, for example, can cause rashes and hives, or exacerbate chronic skin conditions like eczema.
“In some cases, you can treat rashes at home,” says Hoffman. “After you’ve identified what caused the rash, avoiding the irritant is the first step towards healing. You can also apply a non-prescription anti-itch cream containing one percent hydrocortisone to relieve symptoms. Over-the-counter antihistamines can help in more severe cases.”
Another good idea to reduce contact dermatitis and allergic reactions is to change clothes and shower off after coming back inside. This helps you minimize bringing aggravating allergens into your home and reduces your exposure to them.
As the days lengthen, so does the skin’s exposure to the sun, and Hoffman is passionate about people being extra careful about sun exposure to prevent sunburns.
“UV radiation in the form of sun exposure is made of UVA and UVB rays (UVC rays are absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere). UVA rays primarily contribute to premature aging, while UVB rays are responsible for sunburns, and both contribute to the formation of skin cancers,” warns Hoffman.
“Increased UV radiation exposure during the spring and summer months leads to DNA-level damage in the skin’s epidermis. This results in melanin synthesis in melanocytes and transfer to neighboring keratinocytes, leading to increased skin pigmentation within one day of exposure. Remember, UV-related damage is cumulative and increases your skin cancer risk over time. While your body can repair some DNA damage in skin cells it can’t repair all of it, and over time damage triggers mutations that cause skin cells to multiply rapidly, leading to skin cancers.”
Hoffman has a lot of advice about how to prevent skin cancer, stressing how important it is to include an effective sunscreen in your daily skincare regimen. Still, she knows that everyone can get into situations where they still might get a sunburn.
In these cases, she recommends taking quick action to minimize the damage as much as possible:
Once again, Hoffman urges everyone to take proper precautions to avoid sunburns and sun damage to the skin as the days get longer: “Always, always wear sunscreen. Also, wear clothing that covers the skin when outdoors. Choose tightly woven fabrics. When you hold clothing items up to a bright light, you shouldn’t see any light coming through. Consider specially made UV protective clothing.”
Living next to Lake Erie and so many other bodies of water, we have plenty of mosquitoes to contend with, not to mention ticks, biting flies, bees, wasps, hornets, and other biting and stinging critters that emerge in the spring. Wearing your sun-protective clothing can help reduce your exposure to insect bites, but some of them may still find their way in to leave behind itchy, painful, annoying welts—or worse.
“You can treat minor insect bites and stings at home,” says Hoffman. “Applying hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion can help relieve itching. And although it’s hard, avoid scratching the bite. Broken skin or germs hiding under your fingernails can lead to an infection.”
Hoffman also warns that people should be aware of potential allergic reactions, especially to bee stings.
If you know you have an allergy like this, you should carry an epinephrine pen with you at all times.
“If you suspect an insect bite has become infected or if symptoms are severe, do not hesitate to seek medical treatment,” urges Hoffman. “A medical professional should evaluate any allergic reaction affecting the face, lips, or airway immediately.”
With all these things in mind, Hoffman says the following spring skincare tips can help alleviate and prevent common spring skin issues. So, when you start putting the sweaters, fleece, and coats away for the season in favor of lighter, breezier outfits, that’s a good time to also update your skincare routine for spring in the following five ways:
“Sunscreen is important year-round to prevent UV-related damage, premature aging, and skin cancers,” stresses Hoffman. “With more sunny days on the horizon, it’s time to step up your sunscreen game. I recommend a daily-use sheer mineral-based sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. For no-makeup days, a tinted moisturizer with built-in sunscreen can give you a polished look without the heaviness of foundation. Make sure you reapply throughout the day, generally every two hours but more frequently when sweating or swimming.”
“With increased springtime humidity in the air, it’s time to think about lighter-weight skincare products,” says Hoffman. “Start with a gentle cleanser, or for acne-prone skin, consider a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Try swapping out heavier cream moisturizers for a lightweight one.”
“I also think most people could benefit from a nightly retinol, but we want to be careful as we move into spring,” cautions Hoffman. “Make sure you use retinol products at bedtime as they will make you more sensitive to the sun and prone to burning while they are on your skin. Then slather on the sunscreen during the day. If you find that your skin is getting irritated, decrease the frequency of use to just a couple of nights per week.”
At this time of year, it’s a good idea to do a little skincare spring cleaning too.
“Go through your skincare tools and cosmetics to make sure products are not expired,” says Hoffman. “It’s especially important to check the dates on your sunscreen to ensure that it is giving you the best protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays.”
It’s not only sunscreen that needs a refresh in the spring, explains Hoffman further:
“Even cosmetics can break down or grow bacteria over time, so be sure to inspect products and toss anything that looks suspicious. It’s recommended that you replace mascara every three months, eyeliner every six months (though pencils last longer than liquids), and lipsticks every year. Primers and foundations can last up to two years. Powdered products like blush and eye shadow are typically the same, as long as you clean your application brushes and tools regularly.”
Hoffman also stresses how important it is to pursue healthy lifestyle habits for fresh, glowing spring skin and overall health:
“Our skin can be a good indicator of our general health,” she explains. “All the things you know are good for your overall health are generally going to be good for your skin. Eating a healthful and varied diet, staying well hydrated, exercising, and getting restful sleep are some of the keys to a healthy body and healthy skin.”
Although these recommendations apply to most people, Hoffman recognizes that everyone out there has different skin concerns and health conditions that can make spring skincare challenging. This is why she underscores that getting personalized help for your skin health is so important.
“Dermatology practice is not just skin deep,” explains Hoffman. “Skin conditions can have a significant impact on overall health, self-esteem, and quality of life. My favorite thing about working at Apex is seeing patients return feeling more confident in their own skin.”