Summer Skin: Acne or Clear?!

It is summer and I’m in love! If you don’t know me (this is Tarrah writing, btw!), I am super pale, and I slather myself and my children in SPF, not to mention we reapply like crazy, and I am constantly evangelizing “safe sun habits” to my huge client base! BUT! Whenever summer time rolls around, I’m as excited as my kids to get that pool open and get outside! I jokingly sing in my best Olaf impersonation, “In Summer” to my husband. He swears I hate the outdoors, when he doesn’t realize, I love to be outside playing! Not working like he always does! Plus, I love warm hugs! (I’ve clearly seen Frozen a few times! So I will be like Elsa and “Let it Go…..”)

Where was I going with this blog post? Oh yes! Summer skin!!! There are some interesting things that happen to our skin in the summer time, and it can become unpredictable for some clients! Of course, SPF is talked about more this time of year than ever; but what about some of the other things that we see in the mirror this time of year………..

While there are so many directions I could take this post, I’m sticking with the topic of Acne, or perhaps, the lack thereof this time of year! Let’s talk about Summer Clearing for a minute, since many don’t want to draw attention to that topic! (And keep reading even if you don’t clear up in early summer! There is info for you, too!) What if, you battle with acne almost all year, until summer rolls around? You wouldn’t be alone! In fact, there are a handful of skin conditions that respond seemingly well to UV! Note that it is not standard acne cases that clear up with some sun exposure. It is usually seen on the face, but specifically in the T-Zone, or on the back or chest, and does not discriminate between males and females. These are usually small “pimples” that are typically red around them, and they never truly “come to a (white)head.” They wax and wane all year long, but then you notice in the summer sun, they go away. This gets you thinking, when it rolls back around in the late summer or fall, maybe you should hit the tanning bed……….

WRONG ANSWER! I have a solution that is way safer and, actually, much less expensive! But before I start doling out the advice or shoot straight to a product, I want you to know what you have! Also, there are a few factors that play into this!  Malassezia folliculitis is most likely what is at play here, and this is actually NOT acne at all! It’s what we as Acne Specialists refer to as an Acne Imposter, because it reminds you so much of acne! This particular form of folliculitis is actually caused by YEAST! That’s right! Our skin is an amazing microbiome, and small amounts of yeast, bacteria, germs, etc., are commonly found on the skin. However, under certain conditions, these things can get out of control!

The first thing to consider if you believe you are dealing with this yeast overgrowth, is stop feeding it sugar! Cutting out things like pop, sweet tea, and other sugar drinks, cut back on the carbohydrate intake, and start drinking more water, eating cleaner foods, etc. The next thing to consider, is that this folliculitis loves sweat! This is why you will typically see it clear up a bit in early summer, but by late summer/early fall, the humidity is so thick and temperatures are high! This keeps us pouring the sweat, and creates a perfect environment for this yeast to grow like crazy! In this case, you will need a couple heavy hitters to knock it out! (If this does not describe the breakout you are experiencing, be sure to click here and read this post for more advice on inflamed acne or to point you in the right direction!)

Yeast is also a fungus (sorry to gross you out!), so you will need ANTI-fungal products and ingredients. The problem with these OTC products, is that they can be drying or irritating, because they are not meant to be used everyday, all the time! One ingredient that can be used daily, however, is Mandelic Acid. Mandelic is similar to Salicylic because it reduces inflammation (which is brought on by folliculitis), but it is also like Lactic Acid in that it brightens and doesn’t strip the skin of its healthy oils. It is also anti-fungal by nature! This is the perfect acid for almost all acne sufferers, for these reasons. My number one, holy grail, accessible to all product for this condition is Nizoral, which is an anti dandruff shampoo! I love recommending this because it works great, and it is not loaded with a bunch of ingredients that are bad for the skin in other ways! Even with its miracle clearing abilities, though, Nizoral contains an active ingredient that should only be used in short intervals, not daily with no end in sight! I recommend starting the Nizoral every other day, and wash all affected areas with this, alternating it with our Mandelic Face and Body Wash. If after 2 weeks, you are not clearing as you should, then I will have you wash daily with the Nizoral for one week. After that week, move ahead with the Mandelic Wash and Nizoral alternating schedule. (& I do have one additional step if your case is more severe, but you are going to have to message to find out! If I type it here, you all will go to that extreme first, and then have a negative response! We do give out free advice on that topic, by the way! LOL!)

Remember how I mentioned the sun/UV can be good for other skin conditions? Well, most of those are conditions relating to your skin’s microbiome! Dandruff, Folliculitis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, sometimes even eczema and psoriasis can behave a little better with some sun! I’m in no way a doctor, even though I joke that I play one on TV! Haha! But if any of these sound like what you are dealing with, let your Dermatologist know exactly what you are seeing! This can sometimes help them guide you toward the right diagnosis and best topicals to use. Baking in the sun to try and rid yourself of these ailments will introduce a whole other host of problems down the road for you! Not worth it, friend!

This post, while informative, is not meant to replace a relationship between you and your physician and/or skin therapist! Most times, when we see the presence of folliculitis, it is running parallel with another skin condition or type of acne. This is a delicate balance to keep both in check, but absolutely achievable! So what do you think? Does any of this apply to you specifically? Send us a message and let us know. We love knowing if we have helped out a friend!