How the Ireland heatwave affects your skincare routine

Ireland is experiencing some intense heat this summer, with the country officially declaring a heatwave on 10th July. Temperatures in some parts of the isle have exceeded 30C.

With even more hot weather expected, it’s vitally important your skin gets the care it needs to avoid sun damage.

Before we explore the best ways to protect your skin, let’s look at the effect that intense heat has on your skin.

How the heatwave affects your skin

1. Extra sweating means dehydration, redness and irritation

One of your body’s main responses to the heat is to sweat more. But this can lead to problems for your skin. When sweat leaves our body and sits on our skin it causes a number of issues, including:

• Clogged pores, which can prevent sweat from evaporating and lead to skin dehydration and rashes
• Leftover salt from the sweat gathers on your skin, drying it out and causing irritation
• Fungal infection - if you experience prolonged exposure to high temperatures and excessive sweating.

In any case, you’ll need to adapt your skincare routine to protect yourself from these ill effects.

2. Strong UV rays could lead to sun damage

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures and strong UV rays can be damaging for your skin. 

For example, they can activate destructive enzymes that break down collagen and elastin - two proteins that are essential for maintaining the firmness and elasticity of your skin. Over time this can lead to sagging, sun-damaged skin.

The skin also responds to UV exposure by producing more melanin (the pigment that darkens skin). Melanin acts like a tiny umbrella that deflects UV rays. But when excessive melanin is produced, it can result in permanent sun spots, freckles and an uneven skin tone.

3. Increased oil production leads to blocked pores and greasy skin

When your skin is exposed to high temperatures, an oily substance called sebum is produced to keep it hydrated and protected. But if too much of this is produced then it overflows onto the surface of your skin, clogging up skin pores and causing greasy skin.

If sebum sits on the surface of your skin for too long, it could even lead to bacterial infections such as acne. It’s one of the reasons why it’s important to treat your skin regularly during a heatwave through a dedicated skincare routine.

How to protect your skin during the Irish heatwave

Focus on high-SPF moisturisers

During a heatwave it’s a good idea to switch to high-UPF moisturisers. The added sun protection these provide you with ensure your skin stays hydrated and protected from the skin without layering your skin with too many products - something which could do more harm than good.

We would recommend the Smart Tone Broad Spectrum SPF 50 and Daily Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50 because they offer excellent protection against UV rays whilst also being non-greasy.

Look out for cooling ingredients like aloe vera

When your body is heating up, it’s essential to cool it down using the right type of skincare product. So when you’re putting together your heatwave skincare routine, look out for products containing cooling ingredients such as cucumber extract, peppermint oil and aloe vera. They will help to cool your skin down and prevent irritation.

Something like the Skin Balance Serum contains aloe vera extract that cools the skin and helps to reduce heat-related redness, itching and irritation.

Oil-free, water-based solutions are your friend

Your skin often runs into problems during hot weather because it gets oily and greasy, leading to irritation and potential infection. For that reason, try to stick to oil-free, water-based skincare solutions during a heatwave.

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The Complexion Clarifying Serum from ZO Skin Health is a water-based serum that reduces surface oil and prevents redness, whilst the Mesoestetic Heliocare 360° Oil-Free Gel provides oil-free, high-UPF protection from the sun.

Keep an eye out for common skin conditions during a heatwave

When temperatures increase, so do your chances of experiencing conditions such as eczema, melasma and rosacea. It’s why it’s so important to keep your eye out for the telltale signs of these skin conditions, which include dark, brown-grey patches for melasma and flushing, redness, spots or thickened skin for rosacea.

If you have noticed any of these conditions, consider a specialised treatment for melasma or rosacea that can stop the issue from getting worse. In most cases this will involve a course of specialised skincare products, but in cases involving rosacea, IPL treatment may be necessary.

Don’t overcompensate

Even though it may be tempting, try not to add too many serums and creams to your normal skincare routine during a heatwave. This can sometimes magnify the negative effects of high temperatures and create extra problems for your skin.

Instead, prioritise light gels and serums designed for sensitive skin. Apply sun cream every few hours, stay hydrated, and consider storing your skincare products in the fridge for the extra cooling effects on your skin.