If you’re feeling anything like us, you are NOT loving this heat wave! And, tbh, it’s making us think more about the effect high heat can have on our skin. It goes without saying that hot and humid weather, sticky sunscreen, and sweat can lead to clogged pores. But one thing many people don’t realize is that heat alone can trigger pigmentation changes in your skin. Let us explain why it’s 100% true that heat can cause skin discoloration…and give you some easy strategies for preventing heat-induced hyperpigmentation.
UV damage vs. heat damage to skin
UV damage occurs when the sun’s rays penetrate your skin, and specialized skin cells called melanocytes start working overtime to produce pigment. That’s the reason why your skin develops a tan from unprotected sun exposure—and why a tan is actually a sign of sun damage. Now here’s the part that often comes as a surprise to most people: Heat by itself (without any UV rays) can trigger melanocytes to produce more melanin, leading to dark patches, spots and discoloration.
People who experience melasma (flat, brownish-gray patches that usually occur on your forehead, cheeks, nose, upper lip and chin) are especially prone to heat-induced discoloration. In addition, high heat can also trigger inflammation. Inflammation is bad news for your skin, because it leads to breakdown of collagen and elastin, which are the “building blocks” that keep our skin firm, bouncy and youthful looking.
The bottom line? The combination of heat damage and sun damage is a recipe for discoloration. But don’t stress, there are steps you can take to help undo the damage and maintain an even skin tone.
How to prevent hyperpigmentation in hot weather
The best skincare routine for heat-related hyperpigmentation? Keep your skin calm, cool and protected…and support it with a skincare routine that’s designed to help prevent hyperpigmentation and minimize any existing dark spots.
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day
While sunscreen doesn’t protect against heat, it does help guard against UV damage. Need some tips for choosing the best formula for your skin? This article will help you decide!
• Stay cool
This sounds super obvious, but it’s an important point nevertheless! Jogging at noon on a hot summer day, for example, exposes your skin to UV damage and heat damage.
• Seek shade
It’s best to limit your direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you need to be outdoors, wear wide-brimmed hat and UV protective clothes, and seek shade or air conditioning whenever possible. (You don’t have to tell us twice!)
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Drinking cold water lowers your core body temperature when you’re hot. Stay cool by drinking plenty of water, especially if you’re working out or if it’s a hot day.
• Use a well-formulated brightening serum
A serum with niacinamide can help visibly fade hyperpigmentation and improve your skin barrier. HYDRAFLASH Active Cocooning Serum includes niacinamide and is ideal after exfoliation…which brings us to our next point.
• Exfoliate regularly
Gentle, consistent exfoliation can help “break up” clumps of melanin that cause hyperpigmentation. LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning is a dermatologist-approved method of exfoliation and only needs to be done once a week. (Bonus: it also removes peach fuzz.) And to reassure you it works, an instrumental analysis done with the VISIA® system showed that after 4 weeks, 94% of LUXE+ users had a reduced appearance of dark spots.
