How To Keep Your Skin Cool In The Heat

There’s lots to love about summer – long days, toasty weather and not having to remember your umbrella every time you leave the house to name a few. But sometimes the warmth can get a little bit much, especially if you’re on holiday, leading to unhappy skin that feels irritated and overheated. 

Read on to find out what happens to your skin in the heat, and what you can do to stay cool, calm and collected all summer and beyond. 

What happens to your skin in the heat? 

When you get hot you usually start sweating, and this sweat can get trapped in your sweat glands – sorry, it’s not glamorous, but we’re dealing in facts here. This trapped sweat can then irritate the skin, causing what we know as heat rash or prickly heat. 

The resulting rash appears red on paler skin, but can be less easy to see on deeper skin tones. Tiny spots can sometimes appear too along with some mild swelling. It often feels hot, itchy or uncomfortable, but it’s only temporary and not at all harmful. 

You’re also probably well aware that your skin can burn in hot, sunny weather, but we wouldn’t be the skincare experts that we are if we didn’t mention it. “Even a tan without burning is your skin telling you that it’s been damaged by the sun’s rays,” explains Dr Jason, Head of Medical at Skin + Me. “Although the symptoms of sunburn are temporary, lasting damage to your skin cells’ DNA remains.”

And, when the temperature rises, your skin can also become dehydrated. Loss of water can lead to dryness and flakiness – as Consultant Dermatologist at Skin + Me, Dr Ben Esdaile says, “Dehydrated skin on the face can appear dull, often with more prominent fine lines and surface wrinkles. Other clues include more prominent shadows under the eyes as well as sunken appearing eyes.”

How can I look after my skin in the heat? 

Firstly, you need to make sure you’re always wearing sunscreen with at least a SPF of 30. The best sunscreen is one that you like to wear, so you never go a day without it. Skin + Me Daily Defence Oil-free SPF 50 Sunscreen is designed for all skin tones and types. It won’t clog your pores, so it will keep your skin well protected without triggering heat rash. 

You might have seen the recent trend for gadgets such as ice rollers and ice globes, and they can be a nice way to cool down your skin if you’re suffering from prickly heat or puffiness. Fill them with water and pop them in the freezer, before rolling them across your skin for an instantly soothing effect. 

However, you can cool your skin without specific tools. Wrap some ice cubes in a soft, clean towel and hold them to your irritated skin for a soothing effect that helps stop itchiness and irritation. Take cool showers or baths, and don’t overload your skin with heavy, comedogenic products – keeping it simple is best. 

Some skincare products are specifically marketed as having a cooling effect – tea tree, aloe vera and peppermint are common features. Just remember to be careful, especially if you’re using them on sensitive skin, as some of these ingredients can cause irritation. 

And, we all know that prevention is better than cure. In the heat it’s best to wear loose, natural fabrics like cotton and linen to help your skin breathe and stop sweat getting trapped. Keep windows open and fans on for a breeze, and seek shade whenever you’re out and about in the sunshine. 

I’m sunburnt — what should I do? 

It’s really important that you do everything you can to avoid getting burnt – however, if things do go wrong and you notice redness, heat and peeling, your skin will need some TLC to get back to normal. 

“Products like aftersun can help improve the symptoms of redness and soreness,” explains Dr Jason. “They’ll usually contain moisturising ingredients and soothing ingredients such as aloe vera that can make the skin more comfortable and cool.” 

After you’ve slathered on the aftersun, take extra good care of yourself and your skin for a while. “Sunburnt skin shouldn’t be exposed to the sun until it’s fully healed,” says Dr Jason. “So, if you’re on holiday and get burnt it’s best to avoid the sun and seek shade or cover up with clothing until your skin has settled back down. It’s also advisable to drink lots of water and take pain relief such as paracetamol.” 

Do I need a skincare fridge for summer? 

If you’re on skincare TikTok, you’ve probably seen your share of stylish mini fridges stacked with equally stylish beauty products. A skincare fridge seems like the ultimate in hot weather selfcare – but is it really necessary to buy a tiny appliance to keep your products cool? 

Well, not really. As long as you’re following the instructions on the labels then you don’t need to put them in the fridge. Cleansers, moisturisers and treatments will all survive just fine at room temperature. Even notoriously unstable actives, like vitamin C products, will be fine as long as you keep them out of direct sunlight and replace them as often as their label recommends. 

However, when the mercury rises, it can be nice to have some chilled products to help cool your skin down. A facial spray might feel extra refreshing at the end of a hot day if it’s been kept at a lower temperature. You might like the feeling of a chilled aftersun on thirsty skin, and under eye cream or patches can have a de-puffing effect on tired eyes. Feel free to stick them in your normal fridge though – as long as you keep them away from the cheese.

The bottom line 

Prickly heat is uncomfortable but can be easily avoided and treated with at-home remedies that will soothe your irritated skin. If you’re dealing with sunburn, then you’ll need to be really careful for a while – and don’t forget that sunscreen is a daily essential.