Chamjin Korean Medicine Clinic
ACNE & CHARMJIN
[Health Week] Sweaty Summer: Beware of Skin Problems
Today, the 20th, the daytime temperature in Seoul will soar to 30 degrees Celsius. In particular, the Gyeongsang region is expected to see temperatures soar above 33 degrees Celsius, leading to a heat wave warning. It's best to prepare for the full-blown summer. Summer is a season that demands a lot of attention to skin care. The sweat that forms during the sweltering summer heat can be a major irritant to sensitive skin. Furthermore, masks, a daily necessity, are also contributing significantly to skin problems.

Our skin's sebum production increases by 10% for every degree our body temperature rises. As the weather gets warmer, sweat weakens pore walls and stimulates sebaceous glands. This increased sebum and sweat create an environment conducive to the growth of acne bacteria.

Wearing a mask can also be toxic to acne-prone skin. The increased temperature and humidity inside the mask, especially during the summer, can lead to increased sebum production and the proliferation of acne bacteria. Frequently removing and putting on a mask can also cause friction and irritation on the skin, worsening acne.

To maintain healthy skin in such a hot and humid environment, you must first lower your skin temperature. Overheating not only increases sebum production, but also destroys skin regeneration factors and disrupts the phospholipid balance, disrupting the skin barrier and leading to various skin conditions like dryness and itchiness.

Therefore, maintain your skin temperature at around 31 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit). If your skin becomes hot after outdoor activities, use a gel with soothing and cooling ingredients, such as aloe gel, or a mask pack after washing your face to reduce the heat. Avoid leaving a mask pack on for too long, as this can trap heat inside the mask and further dehydrate the skin through osmotic pressure.

Washing your face is always important, but it's especially important in the summer when sweating is high. This is because sweat, sebum, cosmetics, and dust clog pores, making it difficult for sebum to be secreted, which can lead to acne.

Dr. Lee Jin-hyeok, director of Chamjin Oriental Medical Clinic, explains, "When washing your face, it's best to use a mildly acidic cleansing product to remove impurities and preserve the lipids and natural moisturizing factors that form the skin barrier." He adds, "This is because healthy skin maintains a mildly acidic pH." He continued, "Excessive rubbing of the face can further irritate the skin, so it's important to wash gently with minimal pressure."

Skin can be easily sensitive to heat, so proper cleansing and maintaining the right temperature can help maintain healthy, stable skin.

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Reporter Yeom Su-jin: See other articles

Original article: https://www.healthweek.co.kr/news/view.php?bIdx=3564 
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