With the start of the new school year, dermatology experts are highlighting the need to repair the effects of summer on the skin. Dehydration, dark spots and lack of radiance are frequent consequences after the holiday months, according to two dermatologists and a pharmacist consulted on the subject.
After summer, it is common to find skin that looks more dull and seems to have deteriorated suddenly. Not only has sun exposure impacted the skin, but also heat, salt, chlorine and air conditioning, which may have compromised its barrier function. The result is skin with less radiance, irregular appearance with visible spots, uneven texture and lack of moisture and smoothness.
Many people believe that protecting the skin consists solely of applying sunscreen, but specialists stress that daily care is fundamental and simpler than it seems. Aurora Muñoz, a pharmacist specializing in active cosmetics, stated that "for a routine to be effective, the use of an antioxidant in the morning routine is essential, not vitamin C specifically, but any antioxidant".
According to Dr Andrea Combalía, author of the book "Healthy Skin in a Healthy Body", morning antioxidants help neutralise free radicals that are generated daily by factors such as solar radiation, pollution and cellular metabolism. This helps to limit oxidative stress, which is involved in premature ageing, loss of radiance, the appearance of spots and collagen degradation. Combalía added that without daily antioxidant use, even though the skin maintains its own natural antioxidant systems, you forgo that extra protection against oxidative damage that accumulates day after day.
Among Combalía's preferred antioxidants are vitamin C for its action on radiance and collagen synthesis, vitamin E which works well in combination with other antioxidants, ferulic acid and active ingredients such as resveratrol. The experts agreed that ideally you should look for formulas that combine several antioxidants, since they can act in a complementary way.
Dr María Segurado, head of department at the Southeast Madrid hospital and director of SClinic centre, explained that "the antioxidant is applied in the morning to prevent damage before it occurs, before we are exposed to the sun, pollution and other environmental factors that generate free radicals in our skin".
Muñoz recommended that an effective routine should include three mandatory steps: facial cleansing both day and night, a good antioxidant in the morning and sunscreen as the final step. At night, the expert stated that she would never go to bed without double cleansing with an oil and then an aqueous product, as well as good exfoliation once a week. In the morning, after cleansing, an antioxidant and sunscreen should be applied, while at night the double cleansing should be followed by a retinol serum combined with other ingredients according to the specific needs of each skin type.
