Sun and acne: how to avoid the rebound effect?

Summer is fast approaching and with it, long sunny days and trips to the beach. For many of us, this season means vacations, colorful cocktails and golden tans. But for acne sufferers, it's often a real headache.

The sun, this false friend of acne, may seem to be the miracle solution to make unsightly pimples disappear . But be careful, behind this apparent friendship hides a formidable enemy: the rebound effect. You know, that famous situation where your pimples, having gone on vacation for a while, come back more numerous and more fierce than ever. Because if the sun seems to improve the appearance of acne-prone skin , the illusion is only superficial and short-lived!

In this article, we will give you our best advice for enjoying the benefits of the sun without experiencing a breakout at the start of the school year . Pleasure without the drawbacks!

The effects of the sun on acne

While you are relaxing on your deckchair, the sun's rays are active and alter your skin. They act on the sebaceous glands, the source of sebum production, and cause drying of the surface layer of the epidermis. Due to repeated swimming, this phenomenon is accentuated by the drying effect of sea salt and chlorine in the swimming pool.

The slowing down of sebaceous secretions and the drying of the skin lead to a reduction in the proliferation of bacteria responsible for acne, in particular Propionibacterium acnes (or Cutibacterium acnes).

Under the action of UVB, the epidermis defends itself and thickens to form a natural protective barrier and thus preserve the basal cells. Melanin production is accelerated and a tan appears. Luminous and tanned, the skin adopts a healthy glow that blurs and camouflages spots.

Less oily skin, smoother and more even skin texture, said like that, you might think that the sun is beneficial for treating acne ... But that's without counting on the rebound effect!

What is the rebound effect?

The improvement in skin quality thanks to the sun is in fact short-lived and its drying effect only temporary. If acne seemed to have disappeared during the holidays, it is finally back at the start of the school year, more visible than ever! This is called the “rebound effect”.

Attacked, dried out and weakened by exposure to the sun, the skin has no other means to protect itself than to produce excess sebum in order to compensate for the deficiencies. We then notice a reactive hyperseborrhea caused by the “revenge” of the sebaceous glands.

But as the skin has thickened, impurities, dead cells and sebum have difficulty evacuating. They get stuck and accumulate. The pilosebaceous follicles, which cannot evacuate them properly, become clogged and the pores become clogged. The accumulation of sebum, heat and perspiration create a favorable environment for the development of bacteria responsible for acne.

On the program: appearance of blackheads, comedones and microcysts on the face, back and neckline, with an increased risk of inflammatory lesions.

But acne after sun does not only concern people who have acne-prone skin. It can also affect those who normally have little or none at all. Vigilance in the face of the rebound effect is therefore essential for everyone!

Actions to adopt to avoid the rebound effect

If in the short term, the sun seems to have positive effects on pimples, the medium and long term effects push us to find solutions to effectively protect our skin.

Here are our best tips for avoiding breakouts at the start of the school year :

Maintain your skincare habits

To start, don't forget to take care of your skin and keep your good old reflexes even on vacation! Morning and evening, clean your face thoroughly using a gentle cleanser to free the skin from accumulated impurities and excess sebum.

Because oily and acne-prone skin also needs to be hydrated, especially to combat drying caused by the sun, apply a suitable moisturizer. In the evening, complete it with an anti-blemish serum to cleanse your skin and fight against spots and acne scars.

Finally, once or twice a week, use the essential duo of gentle scrub + mask to eliminate dead cells, free pores and improve the penetration of treatments and active ingredients.

Limit exposure to the sun

You probably know the saying “better safe than sorry”. Well know that it is very important in the fight against acne after sun . By avoiding exposure during the hottest hours, you considerably reduce the harmful effects of the sun on your skin: spots, premature aging, appearance of pigment spots, risk of skin cancer, etc.

I promise, your skin will thank you!

Protect your skin from the sun

Applying sun protection during each exposure helps maintain perfectly healthy skin ! However, choose a sunscreen suitable for acne-prone skin, that is to say non-greasy and non-comedogenic, and be sure to reapply it every 2 hours.

Preferably opt for very high protection sun care (SPF 50+). In addition to protecting your skin from sunburn, it slows down skin aging and preserves your (precious) solar capital. You can also wear a hat or cap to provide additional protection to your face from UV rays.

If applying sun protection is essential for everyone, it is even more so for people suffering from acne scars . Protecting scar lesions from UV rays means preventing them from becoming hyperpigmented once the tan fades.

Eat right and drink enough

Because the health of your skin depends in part on your diet , make sure to eat healthily and in a balanced way, remembering to drink at least 2L of water per day. Melon, watermelon, strawberry, apricot, peach, tomato, cucumber or even zucchini, enjoy tasty seasonal fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and nutrients!

By following these recommendations, you will be able to prevent the rebound effect, limit the appearance of imperfections and reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation from acne scars.

What not to do in summer when you have acne-prone skin

People with acne-prone skin should be particularly vigilant in summer regarding the risk of photosensitization . Indeed, certain molecules present in treatments to fight acne are likely to cause skin reactions in the event of exposure to the sun: redness, blisters, etc. This is particularly the case for retinoids and antibiotics from the family of cyclins. If you take an acne medication, whether orally or in the form of an external application, remember to check that it is not photo-sensitizing.

In order to avoid any risk of skin rashes, the formulation of our anti-blemish food supplements has been carefully thought out and tested. With them, you can continue to actively fight acne even during the summer !