At the plastic surgery practice of Dr. Michael F. Bohley, we realize that caring for your skin during summer may be one of the furthest things from your mind, given the endless amount of warm-weather fun to be had! However, slipping up in your summer skincare routine may lead to beauty problems down the road. Here, we share five summer skincare mistakes you might be making — as well as how to fix them.

#1: Relying on the Sun to Fix Breakouts

Although tanning your face to help dry out blemishes seems like a good idea and may work in the short run, sunbathing without proper SPF protection yields disastrous effects in the long run. Over time, the sun’s harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays irritate your skin, causing it to harden and increasing your risk of experiencing future breakouts. In addition, overexposure to the sun causes visible signs of aging and increases your risk of skin cancer. To address blemishes the smart way, spot-treat them with products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

#2: Shaving Immediately Before Swimming

Remember how your mom told you to wait a while after eating before swimming? Well, the same is true for shaving! We understand the desire to have smooth legs and under arms before hitting the pool, but diving in immediately after shaving can irritate your skin. Instead, wait a few hours after shaving before taking that dip in the water.

#3: Forgetting to Rinse Off after Exiting the Pool

It’s easy to go directly from the pool or ocean to your lounge chair without rinsing off first. However, letting the chlorine from the pool or the salt from the ocean sit on your skin for an extended period of time can dry out your skin and make it feel irritated. To keep your skin at its best, rinse off after you take that refreshing dip in the water.

#4: Skipping Sunscreen

Again, though it may seem like a good idea to skip the sunscreen to get a glowing tan, in reality the short-term pay off of a tan is not worth the long-term negative effects of exposing your delicate skin to the sun’s UV rays. Not only does sunbathing without using a sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 15 or higher increase your risk of developing skin cancer, it also leads to premature signs of aging, including wrinkles and dark spots. A good rule of thumb is to apply 1 ounce of UV-protecting sunscreen at least a half hour before going out in the sun. Also, don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen every two hours, and after you have been sweating or swimming.

#5: Ditching Your Sunglasses

Your eyes — and the skin around your eyes — are sensitive to the effects of the sun, too! Ditching your sunglasses while the sun is out can cause wrinkles to creep up around the corners of your eyes, as well as increase your risk of skin cancer. Why not look chic while protecting the sensitive skin around your eyes by donning your favorite pair of shades?

To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Bohley to learn more about your facial rejuvenation treatment options, please contact his practice by calling (503) 253-3458 today.