Scars are affected by the weather, which means you have to change up your skincare routine with the seasons. In summer, sun, heat and humidity affect scarring buy making them look more pronounced if you don’t wear sunscreen. It also contributes to skin cancer, premature wrinkles, and dry skin.
In fall and winter, the air dries out and so does your skin, prompting the need for a heavier protective moisturizer. No matter what season we’re in, though, applying Scarfade to reduce the appearance of scars can be done all year long.
Cold to Warm and Warm to Cold
All these seasonal changes can wreak havoc on your skin – and your scars. In colder weather, the temps and humidity levels plummet, which makes your skin work overtime to stay hydrated. Wind and cold take away necessary hydration, which is what gives you dry, chapped skin. They also leave any scars you may have feeling itchy, too. Cold weather is notorious for inflammation and cracks in winter, then the opposite happens in the warm weather.
With the onset of more humidity, your skin, like your wardrobe, has to adjust to the change. Your skin may feel more oily and greasy, as oil tends to stick to your pores in this season. Use an oil-removing cleanser in combination with a lighter gel, moisturizer, or lotion. Use a lighter moisturizer in summer and always apply sunscreen, especially on scarred areas. Ask your dermatologist about sunscreens designed specifically for sensitive scarred skin. For SPF, don’t go higher than 50, as extremely high SPF lotions tend to contain extra ingredients and chemicals that may lead to irritation (think: hives and rashes).
Applying a silicone gel like Scarfade is also crucial, as it adds moisture to the wound, to be sure, but it also hastens its rate of healing. This makes it look less noticeable – a desirable effect in summer in particular.
Spring brings its own skin challenges. You’re likely to be scratching and sneezing more often, so you’ll have to be extra careful about not picking at the scarred area. Rubbing and scratching this vulnerable area may cause permanent damage, either by thickening and further scarring the skin or reopening the wound.
In fall, when humidity is low, be sure to use a nourishing body wash followed up with a thicker cream moisturizer than you had in summer. The cream should contain things like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin. Try not to take long, scalding showers, as these dry out the skin. Don’t take long baths either. Avoid them if you are prone to dry skin.
Check Out More Resources From Scarfade
Treating your scar correctly while ensuring a regular routine of applying a scar-gel treatment such as Scarfade is important. Throughout all seasons, protect the skin you’re in! In the meantime, browse more resources from Scarfade, from blogs to infographics.