Summer is coming to an end and the top two skin qualms I hear post-summer in my 20+ years of rescuing skin are:

1) Pigmentation and 

2) Roughness that clients don’t typically have other than shortly after summer.

This summer accumulation of skin cells that seem to hold on for dear life instead of shedding like it normally does causes frustration with the skin feeling rough and products not absorbing properly. 

Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) creates oxidative stress in the skin that leads to the formation of free radicals. While it is good to consider antioxidants during the summer months, it is in the fall when antioxidants are a great addition to your daily skin care regime to help ‘mop up’ the free radicals. 

But, be warned. A common mistake is over-exfoliation of the skin during the transition time of summer to fall. Remember that exfoliation removes the uppermost cells of the skin called the corneocyte, which acts as the second line of skin barrier defence. Think twice before exfoliating! 

My top recommendations for antioxidants are Boswellia, green tea extract, vitamin C, and vitamin E, to name a few. 

The cooler months with lower UV exposure allow the opportunity to start corrective skin care programs that target pigmentation in a safer way. That’s why it is always advisable to treat pigmentation in cooler months. Anti-aging programs are also good to pursue in the cooler months. While it can be done during the summer months I always consider the investment better in the fall and winter because UV increases an enzyme called collegenaise in the skin which in turn breaks down collagen firbrils. If our clinical treatments are targeting the production of collagen, it makes sense to protect the new collagen as best we can. 

On the topic of collagen and aging, hormonal imbalances can bring about premature aging or accelerated aging. While it is outside the scope of practice for an aesthetician to address hormonal imbalances, we do often see early signs as we observe changes in skin structure and hair growth. It is a good thing that a cell called the fibroblast, responsible for making collagen and elastin, has a strong stemcell resource and we can encourage the production of collagen quite effectively. 

Pigmentation on the other hand is a little harder, as the melanocyte, responsible for the production of pigment, does not have such an abundant resource. It is long living, slow cycling and can cause us a little trouble as its function declines with age, and the decline is accelerated by excessive sun exposure. 

It is in fact easier to treat aging than it is to treat pigmentation. 

My favourite corrective treatment to address aging and pigmentation, however, is Collagen Induction Therapy (also known as Microneedling or Dermal needling) and it has the bonus of helping the skin cells turn over. Hence, in the fall, it is a good choice to help overcome that post-summer sluggishness and restore a healthy glow (with the support of great skin care of course).
It is time to increase the lipid content of your skin care regime and pull out some hydrating cream masks. Our favourite is the dermaviduals Vitamin Cream Mask. If you are travelling, however, the DMS Mask with Vitamins is your best long-haul travel companion. Get your hands on them today by visiting your closest local supplier, or reach out to us to learn how your clinic can become a dermaviduals partner!