They are two of the parts of our body that suffer the most from exposure to the sun and chlorine. Hydration is one of the keys to regain their appearance, but we cannot forget to check spots and moles
The combination of sun, chlorine, saltpeter, sand and wind that our body has accumulated in recent weeks is sure to have been great for our mood, but the same cannot be said for the appearance of hair or hair at this time. the skin, two of the parts most punished during the holidays. “Despite what one might think, the return of summer is the time of year when skin and hair look the worst. It is true that tanning can be very flattering, but unfortunately sun exposure takes its toll on our body, ”warns dermatologist Isabel Aldanondo, from the Pedro Jaén Group. To regain the health of hair and skin after weeks of carefreeness, it is important to follow a series of guidelines, in addition to being constant with treatments, “especially with hydration,” the experts agree.
From dull hair to fur
Apply a mask and avoid using the dryer
Hair is one of the parts of our body that suffers the most during the summer. Both the sun, the chlorine from the swimming pools or the saltpeter from the sea spoil the outer layer (cuticle) a lot and contribute to the hair being split more easily, frizzy and losing its shine. “To help restore the cuticle, you can use moisturizing treatments such as masks, serums or essential oils and even more intensive hairdressing treatments,” advises dermatologist Angela Hermosa, spokesperson for the Trichology group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology ( AEDV). The use of the dryer should also be avoided.
Hair loss
The critical months are usually October and November
In addition to the loss of luster, another consequence of exposing our hair to the sun for so long is that it will fall more during the next few weeks. And this is not a myth. It is so. “There is a type of fall that is seasonal and usually coincides with fall,” says Dr. Hermosa. Experts believe that it is because as in summer we are exposed to much more light, the hair stops growing. And as the hair begins to shed a couple of months after it has stopped growing, it may be that for this reason we notice “a little more fall” in the months of October and November. “It usually lasts less than three months and recovers spontaneously, so it is not a concern. However, if it is prolonged in time, a decrease in capillary density is observed or an appearance of alopecia plaques occurs, a dermatologist should go to the dermatologist to rule out other pathologies that can also occur with an increase in hair loss, such as it could be alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disease, “insists the spokeswoman for the Trichology group of the AEDV.
How can we stop that hair loss? “There are treatments that can help prevent hair loss, stop it earlier than it would stop on its own and even make hair that has fallen out more quickly, such as the use of minoxidil, either topically or oral, platelet-rich plasma mesotherapy or the use of melatonin. ‘
Goodbye to tanning
Exfoliate the skin twice a week and check spots and moles
Returning from vacation is a good time to exfoliate the skin once or twice a week, “especially if there is a lot of seborrhea or acne tendency. In this way, dead cells are eliminated and epidermal renewal is favored ”, point out the experts. Dr. Hermosa advises using day creams with antioxidants such as Vitamin C Serum to help cells repair DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, while retinols or alpha hydroxy acids can be applied at night. Now, if what we need is to revitalize the skin and hydrate it in depth, “you can resort to treatments such as mesotherapy with vitamins and low cross-linking hyaluronic acid or biostimulation of collagen with platelet-rich plasma.”
Another very common phenomenon during the summer months is the appearance of spots or moles, which must be evaluated and treated by a dermatologist. Once the type of stain has been analyzed, it will be treated with depigmentation agents, peels or light sources such as lasers and pulsed light.
With a tanned body we tend to find ourselves more favored, but that tan that we like so much is still an attack on the skin. «Ultraviolet radiation is the main source of oxidative stress, it induces the destruction of collagen and the elastic fibers that keep it firm and causes pigmentation alterations such as lentigos and melasma. On the other hand, it damages the epithelium producing precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses that can, over the years and with repeated sun exposures, turn into malignant tumors ”, recalls Dr. Aldanondo.
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