During the summer season, many people unexpectedly notice breakouts, and it is not entirely out of the blue. Summer can be tough on the skin, with record-breaking temperatures, sweat, sticky humidity, pollution and, of course, layers of sunscreen making the face feel greasy and clogged.
Because of this, after returning from a gruelling day outdoors, many people end up washing their face repeatedly to clean away the grime, sweat and oil. But how much is too much? Can you go overboard with the cleansing step of your skincare routine?
The very intention of cleansing is to keep the face clean, fresh and healthy. However, when done too often or too aggressively, it can become counterproductive, sometimes triggering the very breakouts you are trying to avoid.
In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, cosmetic dermatologist, dermatosurgeon, Dr Smita A Nagpal, founder of Anya Skin Clinic, in Ahmedabad informed us about the risks of overcleaning and how they may be contributing to the summer breakouts.
“For most people, intense summers often lead to an over-cleansing trap that disrupts the protective film in our skin. When this delicate balance is thrown off, your skin becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and excess sebum causing acne and breakouts,” Dr Nagpal said, suggesting that washing face too much can trigger acne.
The dermatologist shared with us 5 mistakes you are making as you clean your face during summer
1. Over-cleansing strips natural oil
- Washing more than twice a day can strip away essential lipids, leading the skin t to produce even more oil.
- Stick to using facewash twice a day.
- If midday refresh is needed, use a simple water mist or oil-blotting papers instead of a full cleanse.
2. Using harsh, alkaline soaps
- Many ‘deep-clean’ summer face washes are highly alkaline.
- While they provide that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling, they destroy the acid mantle. The skin is naturally slightly acidic.
- Maintaining a pH of 5.5 keeps the skin barrier tight, locking in moisture and keeping acne-causing bacteria at bay.
- Switch to a pH-balanced, soap-free cleanser specifically labelled as ‘pH 5.5.’
3. Avoid hot water:
- Hot water feels like it might ‘melt’ the oil away, but it dilates blood vessels and can inflame existing acne.
- Heat can cause extreme dryness, leading to micro-tears in the skin barrier. Always use lukewarm or cool water.
- Cool water helps soothe the inflammation caused by summer heat and reduces redness.
4. Aggressive physical scrubbing:
- Summer breakouts often feel ‘clogged,’ leading people to reach for grainy scrubs.
- In reality, friction triggers more inflammation.
- Scrubbing active breakouts can spread bacteria to other parts of your face, leading to a ‘breakout chain reaction.’
- Use a chemical exfoliant (like salicylic acid) once or twice a week or simply let your pH-balanced cleanser do the work with gentle, circular motions.
5. Forgetting to moisturise post-cleanse:
- Common myth is that oily summer skin doesn’t need moisturiser. In reality, this is the way skin gets damaged.
- Cleansing, even with a gentle wash, temporarily shifts your skin’s environment.
- Without a moisturiser to seal the barrier, your pH remains unstable for longer.
- Use a lightweight, gel-based moisturiser. This helps reset your skin to that ‘magic’ 5.5 level immediately after washing.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
