Myth bust with RAS: Skin gets oilier in summer

Who doesn’t love the feel of those first rays of sunshine but when summer sets in, so too does the heat and UV rays which can all make our skin feel extra sensitive. Hot environments cause the production of more sweat, increasing sebum secretion, TEWL(TransEpidermal Water Loss), and greasiness and reducing skin pH. Hot weather increases water loss from the body, leading to dehydration. After acclimatization, skin hydration decreases because of sweat evaporation. 

It is a myth that increased sebaceous gland production means that moisturizers can take a summer break. Moisturizing is just as important in summer as any other season. Moisturizer  with hyaluronic acid which is great for hydration for AM — and  nightly face oil could help level out your skin’s natural sebum production.

Most commonly, people make the mistake of using harsh foaming cleansers (i.e., ‘for oily skin’), which will strip the skin entirely of oil, and then skip the moisturizer. This can make problems worse, because the skin will compensate by producing even more oil.

During the summertime, it is essential that our skin is being fed the necessary ingredients to maintain hydration.” When you think about it, it makes sense: Excessive sweating dehydrates the inner layers of your skin, since all that moisture is being drawn to the surface.

Myth 1: Wearing sunscreen every day makes skin even more oily – hotter weather means going out more and basking in the sunlight. With that you need a more potent form of protection from harmful UV rays so moving from SPF 30 & 50 to keep your skin safe and healthy.

Myth 2: Oily skin does not need a moisturiser-  Moisturisation is essential for all skin types and it also prevents your sebaceous glands from secreting excess oil. One needs to find the right moisturiser depending on their skin type. Using a light weight gel based moisturiser containing hyaluronic acid and non-comedogenicprovides enough hydration and will not clog pores.

 Myth 3: A conditioner can make your hair appear oily during summers– The summer heat has a high possibility to wreak havoc on your hair and scalp. It leads to dull and frizzy hair while leaving your scalp dry and flaky. Hence, conditioning becomes imperative during summers.

You can boost hair growth by adding rosemary oil in your shampoo & hair oils.

Myth 4: over-cleansing to control oil production– over-cleansing removes the natural oils present on your skin, which increases the sebum production; thereby giving you acne. Apart from this, over-cleansing is also one of the main culprits behind dry and flaky skin. Do not over exfoliate and use harsh scrubs with microbeads.

Use a gentle cleanser that is exfoliating & softening at the same time but isn't harsh on skin.