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 holidays, colorful cocktails and golden tans. But for acne sufferers, it's often a real headache.

The sun, acne's false friend, may seem like the magic bullet to make unsightly pimples go away . But beware, behind this apparent friendship hides a formidable enemy: the rebound effect. You know, that famous situation where your pimples, gone on vacation for a while, come back more numerous and fiercer 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're going to give you our top tips for enjoying the benefits of the sun without suffering a back-to-school breakout . Pleasure without the inconvenience!

 

 

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The effects of the sun on acne

While you are lounging on your deckchair, the sun's rays are activated and alter your skin. They act on the sebaceous glands, the source of sebum production, and cause the superficial layer of the epidermis to dry out. Because of repeated swimming, this phenomenon is accentuated by the drying effect of sea salt and chlorine from 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. The production of melanin is accelerated and the tan appears. Luminous and tanned, the skin adopts a healthy glow effect that blurs and camouflages pimples.

Less oily skin, smoother and more regular skin texture, said like that, one might think that the sun is beneficial for treating acne … But that was 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 the 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”.

Assaulted, dried out and weakened by exposure to the sun, the skin has no other way to protect itself than to produce excess sebum in order to compensate for the deficiencies. There is then a reactive hyperseborrhoea caused by the "revenge" of the sebaceous glands.

But as the skin has thickened, impurities, dead cells and sebum have difficulty in evacuating. They get stuck and accumulate. The pilosebaceous follicles, which fail to evacuate them properly, become clogged and the pores clog. The accumulation of sebum, heat and perspiration thus create a breeding ground for the development of bacteria responsible for acne.

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

But after-sun acne doesn't just affect people with 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!

 

Steps to take 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 top tips for avoiding back-to-school breakouts :

 

Maintaining Your Grooming Habits

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

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

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

Limit sun exposure

You probably know the saying “prevention is better than cure”. Well know that it finds all its importance 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: pimples, premature aging, appearance of pigment spots, risk of skin cancer...

We promise, your skin will thank you!

 

Protect your skin from the sun

Applying sun protection during each exposure means keeping your skin in perfect health ! However, choose a sunscreen suitable for acne-prone skin, ie non-greasy and non-comedogenic, and be sure to renew its application every 2 hours.

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

If the application of sunscreen 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 has faded.

 

Eat right and drink enough

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

 

By following these recommendations, you can prevent the rebound effect, limit the appearance of imperfections and reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation of 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 against the risk of photosensitization . Indeed, certain molecules present in treatments to fight against acne are likely to cause skin reactions in the event of exposure to the sun: redness, blisters, etc. This is particularly the case with retinoids and antibiotics from the family of cyclins. If you are taking acne medication, either orally or applied externally, be sure to check that it is not photo-sensitising.

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