Australia’s summers are often hot, harsh, and unrelenting. While trips to the pool and ocean keep you cool, the hot weather can lead to skin flare-ups. Along with excessive sweat and greasy skin, there are other common summer skin problems you can experience during the long hot summer.
We’ve prepared a list of typical summer skin problems and ways to help prevent each one. We’ll also suggest a treatment, from coping with an acne breakout to ensuring you book a skin cancer check following a bad sunburn.
Know the importance of regular skin checks.
Read on to learn more about some of the most common skin problems our experienced GPs see during summer.
Acne
Many people associate acne with adolescence, but adults can also experience acne outbreaks, especially during warmer months. Typically, increased sweat on your skin mixes with bacteria, natural oils, and sunscreen, clogging pores and leading to breakouts. Those with oily and acne-prone skin often experience increased breakouts during summer. Acne is distressing at any age, but excellent treatments are available for this condition.
Treatment
Use a cleanser containing salicylic acid. These help to control the production of excessive oil on your face. Please consult one of our GP skin specialists for individual treatment.
Prevention
Use non-comedogenic skincare and makeup products. These won’t clog pores and keep acne and breakouts at bay.
Sunburn
The Australian sun is known for its harshness. It is essential to protect your skin from its aggressive UV rays. Daily application of good quality, non-comedogenic sunscreen is a necessity. However, we have all been caught out once or twice, and if you feel yourself starting to burn, the first thing to do is get out of the sun.
Treatment
Aloe vera lotion can help soothe sunburned skin; in some cases, hydrocortisone ointment can also help. Avoid any creams containing alcohol. Try keeping an emergency bottle of moisturiser in the fridge, just in case.
Prevention
Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply regularly. Seek shade and avoid overexposure.
Dry, irritated skin
Exposure to the sun, pool water, and air conditioning for long periods can dry out your skin, leading to scaly, itchy patches. If you notice your skin is feeling particularly dry and irritated this summer, book an appointment at Clinicare’s skin check clinic.
Treatment
After you shower, apply a fragrance-free moisturiser while your skin is still damp. Using creams this way helps retain moisture and prevents your skin from feeling dry.
Prevention
Use a mild cleanser to wash your skin and try showering with warm water instead of hot water. Moisturise regularly.
Folliculitis
Each hair in your skin grows from an opening called a follicle. You can develop folliculitis when these follicles get infected due to bacteria or dirt build-up. This condition looks like a series of pimples on the skin’s surface and is tender to the touch and itchy. Folliculitis is a typical summer skin problem you can quickly treat at home.
Treatment
Apply an antibacterial lotion to the affected area. Book an appointment with your GP if you have any concerns about your skin’s condition.
Prevention
Avoid spas and pools without controlled acid and chlorine levels. Spas are a common breeding ground for folliculitis-causing bacteria.
Heat rash
The Australian summer’s hot and often humid climate causes you to sweat much more than usual. You can develop prickly heat or heat rash if your sweat glands get blocked. The heat rash looks like tiny and itchy bumps. They fill up with fluid, then burst, releasing sweat which causes itchiness.
Treatment
Apply aloe vera gel to calm the itchiness and heal the bumps on your skin. Aloe has calming and soothing properties. If you are still concerned, book an appointment with your GP.
Prevention
Wear loose, breathable fabrics during summer. Wipe the sweat off your skin and bathe after working out or sweating excessively.
Clinicare’s Skin Cancer Checks
It’s no surprise that Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world. The Melanoma Institutes recommends annual skin checks, and you can book one today with one of our experienced skin specialists. Did you know that if you have suffered a sunburn, you are at an increased risk of skin cancer? Early detection and treatment can cure Melanoma in 90% of cases. We recommend you book an appointment with your GP to help detect and examine any suspicious moles or skin changes.
Our GPs will examine your skin thoroughly and provide information about risk factors. Our GPs can treat some forms of skin cancer and can refer you to a dermatologist if needed.
Clinicare’s Skin-related Health Services
If you have any concerns about skin conditions you’ve developed over the summer, book an appointment with a GP. Our initial skin check appointments are generally booked as standard 15-minute consultations. Early detection and treatment are essential to maintaining good skin health.
Clinicare’s Skin GP Specialists
While all our GPs can provide skin checks, Dr. Patrick O’Sullivan, Dr. Matt Long, Dr. Catherine McBride, and Dr. Ovida Vipulaguna have a specialised interest in skin cancer. We provide onsite pathology collection, with the analysis performed by the highly credentialed pathologists at Histopath in Melbourne.
Choose Clinicare for all your health needs
A skin cancer prevention plan from Clinicare is an investment in your future health. Our GPs can help you determine the best method to monitor your skin health for changes and abnormalities.
Medicare rebates cover a portion of consultancy and procedure fees. One of our friendly Clinicare receptionists will offer an informed estimate of out-of-pocket costs, dependent on the procedure type.
Book an appointment to check and discuss your skin health at Clinicare North Fitzroy and Clinicare Fitzroy online if you have concerns about a skin condition or want a general skin exam.
