Skip to content
Summer Skin Care Guide
With skimpy clothing and revealing bathing suits during the summer, it's hard to hide any flaws — flaky, dry skin being one of them. Unlike winter's bulky turtlenecks and baggy corduroys, summer's style follows the skin-is-in theory. So how do you avoid dry skin, or xerosis, in the summer and keep your skin looking great in that itsy, bitsy, polka-dot bikini?
Skip Dry Skin This Summer: Preventive Tips and Tactics
Lucky for you, winter is much worse for dry skin than summer. That's because steamy summer humidity keeps moisture in the air. Think of your skin as a sponge — the more moisture and oils it can retain, the less likely it will dry or crack.
"In general, summer is a better time than winter for dry skin — if you just behave yourself," says Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Summer can still assault skin, especially if you live in a dry, low-humidity climate, like the Southwest. Here are the common culprits of summer that can make your skin go from smooth and supple to parched and scaly:
Remember to keep moisturizing this summer — after showering, shaving, even washing the dishes. If dry skin becomes increasingly itchy, painful, or inflamed, no matter what season, it's best to see your dermatologist.
The Latest in Xerosis
The Most Effective Moisturizing Ingredients
Over-the-counter skin-care products can help soothe dry skin. Here's how to find the right one for you.
Picking at Your Psoriasis Scales? Do This Instead
It’s tempting to peel and pick at those itchy scales, but if you can help it, there are better ways to cope.
What Black Patients Need To Know About The Effects of Psoriasis
Psoriasis can look differently on darker skin than on lighter skin — and knowing how to spot the symptoms is an important first step of the treatment ...
Ways to Protect Your Eye Health — and Preserve Your Vision — With Psoriasis
How to keep the skin condition from negatively impacting your vision.
6 Health Issues You Could Be at Risk for if You Have Hidradenitis Suppurativa
HS is more than just a skin condition. It can affect your health in many other ways.