Eulalee Thompson - BE WELL

It's summertime and the living is easy, so goes the classic song from the Broadway hit, Porgy and Bess. Summertime is about the three Rs - rest, rejuvenation and rewarding ourselves. Why not focus on beautiful summer skin.

Summer's heat and humidity can take its toll on the skin, but dermatologists say that some commonsense and small adjustments to your current skin care products and routine can make a big difference to your skin's beauty in summer.

Naturally dry skin might actually look and feel better in warm summer, but oily skin might feel even more oily under the sweltering heat and humidity of the lovely summer days. Dermatologists' recommend starting your cleansing regime with a soap-free cleanser and end it with an alcohol-free skin toner.

More sweating

Dr Arlene Rose, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, also indicates that there are certain conditions, brought on by increased sweating, that can cause rashes in the folds of body.

"Be sure to dry these areas thoroughly after a bath or shower. If a rash develops in these areas, see a dermatologist for the appropriate management," she advises.

But Rose actually said that because skin is not as prone to be scaly, dry and ashy in summer as in the colder months, it is generally easier to have beautiful summer skin.

"(This is) unless one has a type of eczema called seborrhoeic eczema, which thrives on heat and humidity. This causes scaling at the corners of the nose (or nasolabial folds), around or inside the ears or in the eyebrow region commonly," she said. "If this is present it should be treated by a dermatologist."

eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com

Skin care tips

Here are some other summer skin care tips offered by Rose:

1 Skin care should still include cleansing, toning and moisturising. If you have very oily skin, ensure that the moisturiser is not too greasy or heavy. In fact, some people may not need to use a moisturiser at all during the warmer months.

2 It is important to use a sun block to minimise sun damage. Use a product with at least SPF 15 protection.

3Be sure to wash your hair at least once or twice weekly, as greasy, dirty hair can contribute to fine papules (or bumps) on the forehead.

4Summer time is bikini time. Try to minimise cellulite by cutting down on greasy foods, reducing salt and sodium intake and increasing water consumption.

But Rose has some good news for troublesome cellulite. There are methods currently available which successfully reduce stubborn cellulite. These successful methods include laser therapy, endermology and lymphatic drainage massage.