The key to staving off summer acne is a sensible routine, not some kind of tactical operation for your face. Use lighter fare for products, be gentle with the washing once you have been hard at it and put on some SPF without working yesterday’s residue back into your pores. Hot weather in Australia brings its own brand of humidity and strong sun, and between the friction and the oil there is an ideal environment for clogged pores.
I am Richard Redfern and I was taught that lesson in an annoying fashion. One warm Adelaide weekend I put on my sunscreen for a walk along the coast, sweated under my hat and put it on again twice over, only to later question what had incited such a small uprising on my forehead. The sunscreen was hardly to blame; more like the confluence of salt, heat, dirty hands and putting off a good wash.
In this guide I set out how to deal with summer acne and pick a sunscreen suited to your skin, all without having to scrub your face raw. There is advice here on breakouts from sweating, balanced skin in humidity, reapplying your SPF, proper cleansing and when to seek a professional opinion.
Heat And Sweat Are Trouble Makers
It is easier to prevent if one knows the cause. Sweat will not of itself give you acne but it has a way of mingling with bacteria, dead skin and whatever oil or debris is on top of it. Put on a helmet strap or a damp cap and the pores are likely to get blocked or irritated.
Then there is the matter of people in these parts being more inclined to put their hands to their face or linger in wet clothes after a workout. In the more humid reaches of Australia the sweat does not evaporate in a hurry so the skin stays warm and moist. Not a welcome state of affairs for anyone, mozzies aside.
Sweat Pimples Or Is It A Rash?
Do not assume every red bump is run of the mill acne. What you call a sweat pimple may be an inflamed follicle, whereas a heat rash will give you a crop of tiny prickly ones where the sweat is trapped. True acne will have its blackheads and whiteheads and the odd tender lump; a heat rash is usually more uniform and itchy.
They can be hard to tell apart on the forehead or back for instance. Do not make a diagnosis of every spot from a cursory glance in the mirror. Should you have something that is spreading fast or looks infected, put in a call to your pharmacist or doctor.
Friction Will Aggravate It
People do not always see the part friction plays. The chin strap of a mask or helmet, a pair of sunglasses, a backpack or even a collar can be rubbing at the same patch of skin. With the added heat and moisture any blemish is going to be made worse.
Wear something breathable and give the fabric that comes in contact with your face a regular wash. Follow the manufacturer on keeping your hatbands and helmet pads in order. If you must use a towel, pat dry. Your face is no barbecue plate and a bit of vigorous polishing is not going to help.
A Way To Cool Down
To answer the question of how to avoid summer acne, make sure sweat and oil do not have time to settle in. That means having a plan for the beach or a long day outdoors, though you need not be washing every hour.
Start with something manageable before you head out and stick with it on the way back. Something you can adhere to when you are sun-flushed and would rather be thinking of an iced drink.
Put In Place A Post-Sweat Routine
A rinse with lukewarm water and a clean towel will do after a little exertion. Make it a point to use a mild cleanser following a hard session. If a shower is not on offer, put some clean water to the task or a fragrance-free option and do a proper job of it at home.
Do not let hours go by with sweaty clothes to your skin. Damp activewear and the like should be changed. For the chest and back it is important to have a post-exercise shower as residue can build up under clothing even if your face is unscathed.
Have A Heat Kit To Hand
Whether for the office or a trip to the beach, a few things in a kit will save you from being rushed. Have your sunscreen, a cleanser and a face towel. But leave them in a cool place, not the car where the heat will ruin the formula and make a mess of your bag.
- Pre-activity: put on a bit of lightweight moisturiser where necessary and follow with broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- When you are active: be sure to reapply your sunscreen in accordance with the directions, particularly if you have been in the water or used a towel; blot any sweat in a gentle manner.
- Post-activity: get out of damp clothes, cleanse at your convenience and do not pick at skin that has been softened.
Should a workout leave you with nothing but a minute, make clean water and a towel and a change of clothes your priority; there is no need for a full routine until you get home. An elaborate system that is merely decorative in the bathroom is no match for consistency.
Lighter Summer Products
There is no one size fits all when it comes to a good sunscreen for acne-prone skin. What you want is something you can put on liberally and reapply without any stinging or the prospect of congestion. You will see non-comedogenic or oil-free on the label of a suitable product, but consider them pointers as much as anything.
Reactions vary from one skin type to another. Those with oily or combination skin might find a water-based formula more agreeable, whereas some may prefer a mineral SPF to avoid the irritation of certain chemical filters. The finish is important too; a greasy feel will only prompt you to rub and wash off what you have applied, making the whole process more of a chore.
Read The Whole Formula
“Oily skin” on the packaging is not the whole story. Step outside into the warmth and in ten minutes you will know if the texture is to your liking; what seems fine in an air-conditioned bathroom can turn slippery.
Before you put new skincare all over your face, try it on a small patch. Bring in one product at a time so there is no ambiguity as to the source of any breakouts. Put down the cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen on the same day and your skin will tell you about it in the most disorganised fashion.
An oil-free moisturiser is called for when hydration is needed. Some will feel tight and be tempted to overdo it with harsh products if they forgo moisturiser entirely. Lightweight does not preclude a comfortable layer of hydration.
SPF Numbers
Think of SPF as a rating of protection rather than how long you can bask in the sun. Under test conditions an SPF 30 will let through about 1/30 of the UVB radiation (some 96.7% is filtered) and an SPF 50 about 1/50 (or 98%). It is a useful difference, not a miracle.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen in quantity and reapply as the label instructs. A breakout is not the fault of the sunscreen per se, but of a formula that is irritating, or residue left to mix with sweat and debris, or a job of removal not done properly. For the Australian position on regulation and product requirements, the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s guidance on sunscreen is authoritative.
A Gentle Cleansing Routine
The point of cleansing is to rid the skin of its sweat, oil, sunscreen and debris while leaving the barrier intact. Too much of it dries and irritates the skin, which can make blemishes appear worse and invite more fiddling.
For the majority, a gentle night-time cleanse and one after any heavy sweating will do. In the morning a rinse with water is sufficient if your skin is in good order, otherwise put on the cleanser. How often you do it is a matter of what you use and how active you are.
Cleanse In The Right Order
Makeup and sunscreen should be taken off at night as per the instructions. Micellar water or a mild first cleanse will do to break down a water-resistant formula before you use a cleanser. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat to dry. Hands should be washed before you put them to your face and keep the cleanser from your eyes unless it is made for them. Make a habit of cleaning your pillowcases, phone screen and hats, in hot weather especially.
Acne Actives
Salicylic acid is of assistance to some in opening up pores by way of dead skin cells. Benzoyl peroxide has the ability to cut down on inflammation and the bacteria behind acne, but it can be drying and will bleach fabrics. Pick one and give it time to work.
Resist the urge to put on a number of strong treatments because a breakout has got you in a hurry. The line between irritated skin and worsening acne is not always clear. Discontinue the product for any persistent rash, swelling or burning and consult a doctor if the situation warrants it.
| Situation | Practical response | What To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light sweating | A gentle blot and carry on with your sunscreen. | Rubbing at your face with unclean hands. |
| After a hard workout | Put in some time to get clean and put on dry clothes at the earliest opportunity. | Do not make a habit of wearing your activewear and the sweat with it for hours on end. |
| In the pool | A rinse is in order when you can, and put on sunscreen as the label would have you. | On the assumption that water-resistant equates to waterproof. |
| A new brand of sunscreen | Before you are out all day, do a patch-test. | Or put it to the test for the first time ahead of something important. |
| When acne will not go away | See your GP, dermatologist or a pharmacist. | There is no point in picking at it or scrubbing over and over. |
Reapplying SPF without making a fuss
You cannot be outdoors and forgo reapplication of your sunscreen, yet with a face that is shiny and perspiring the whole affair can be awkward. The way to not break out is not to leave it off but to put down a good layer with clean hands after you have dealt with any excess grime or sweat.
Should you be dripping, find some shade and blot gently. At the beach one might as well make use of the facilities to wash the salt and sand from your face before patting it dry and reapplying. If you have makeup on, follow what the sunscreen instructions say for reapplication instead of rubbing thick coats over an unclean face.
To avoid build-up and transfer
Hands should be washed prior to application, especially if they have been in contact with a rail on public transport, the gym or a towel on the sand. Share nothing in the way of face towels, makeup tools or sunscreen sticks. And if hair products are inclined to put bumps on the forehead, keep them there.
For a proper cleanse at the close of the day, be thorough if gentle. One does not want a squeaky, tight feeling, just skin that is clean. With a water-resistant product you may have to put in a few more minutes rinsing than a hasty splash would allow.
Reality check
It is expected that “non-comedogenic” will see to clear skin. In fact, while pore blockage is less likely, reactions are individual.
One might think sweat pimples are reason to give up exercise. They are not; a sensible wash after sweating and keeping your hands off your face are of more consequence.
Or that throwing more treatment at acne will hasten results. Too many actives will only irritate and complicate things in summer. Habits that are unexciting but can be repeated tend to be of more use.
Expert help is warranted
If several weeks of basic care has done nothing for deep, scarring or widespread breakouts, or they are painful, then professional advice is called for. A pharmacist is on hand for over-the-counter remedies; a dermatologist or GP to look at persistent cases and anything that looks like acne.
Any sign of infection, fever, considerable pain, swelling or redness that is spreading quickly demands prompt medical attention. So too does a serious allergic response, facial swelling or trouble breathing from a product.
Be on your guard if you have eczema, rosacea, very sensitive skin, a propensity for severe acne or allergies to what is in your skincare. Those who are pregnant or nursing ought to put their treatment plans, particularly medicated ones, to a health professional for approval.
Some questions on summer skin
How to stave off a breakout once you have been working up a sweat?
A clean towel to blot with, a change of damp clothes and a gentle cleanse. No scrubbing or leaving a sweaty collar to the skin. If a wash is not right away, a rinse with water will do until later.
Why the hot weather brings on acne?
The heat makes for more oil and sweat which can combine with bacteria, dead cells and your sunscreen, while the humidity puts the brakes on evaporation. Then there is the irritation from helmets, hats and the like. It is not the only cause but it can aggravate matters.
Is it the sunscreen and the sweat?
Not of itself. You may have an irritating formula, clogged pores or you touch your face too much. Go with a non-comedogenic product you can live with and put it on and take it off as you should.
So how to not break out with your SPF?
Find a broad-spectrum one with a texture, water-based or light, that is agreeable to your skin. Cleanse at night, test it first and do not skimp on reapplication to spare yourself a blemish.
What is the answer for sweat-induced acne?
There is no one size fits all. Start with some salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide if you are careful, but a qualified professional is needed for anything that is painful or scarring.
A calm approach
In Australia’s climate the key to averting summer acne is to limit the irritation and build-up. Lighten up on the skincare, put on your sunscreen, wash the sweat off and see that anything in contact with your face is clean. Same whether you are on a tram in Adelaide or having a sticky time by the coast in Brisbane.
I have learned that the sunscreen is not to be feared, it is the lazy evening routine and a dirty hat that are the problem. Make for balanced skin in the humidity with something you can put into practice when the Aussie sun gives you a warm handshake.
Perfection is not required of the skin, only protection and patience, and a bit less in the way of heroic experiments in front of the mirror.
