Are you someone who regularly spends a lot of time outdoors? Whether you’re outside a lot due to work or for fun, doing so can leave your skin exposed to the outdoor elements and at risk for damage or developing a deeper skin condition.


What Skin Conditions Can Outdoor Exposure Cause?

  • Dehydration
  • Wrinkles
  • Peeling
  • Skin Cancer
  • Skin Chafing
  • Dryness
  • Windburn or Wind Damage
  • Higher Risk of Skin Irritant Exposure
  • Inflammation

Let’s unpack some of the above.


Time spent outside may mean you’re not hydrating enough, which can lead to becoming dehydrated. Dehydration goes beyond simply feeling thirsty, it can affect the way your skin appears as well. For example, wrinkles may become more prominent and your skin may have less elasticity.


If you frequently spend a lot of time in the sun, your skin could become damaged due to exposure to harmful UV rays. This can lead to sunburn and premature aging skin, and you are at a higher risk of developing cancer.


Playing or working outside on a hot day can also lead to excess sweat, where body parts rub up against one another or your clothing, and end up as skin chafing. On a windy day, long exposure can dry out the stratum corneum, the outer layer of the skin.


Even if you start off wearing sunscreen, the wind can damage the outer layer and remove the sunscreen with it, making you more susceptible to UV rays. Windburn is a skin irritation and can happen whether the weather is hot or cold, although cold windburn is more severe.


Ultimately, you are left with no protective skin barrier, your skin has a harder time retaining moisture and this can lead to increased exposure to irritants, and ultimately result in more dryness and inflammation of the skin.


Lastly, environmental pollutants can dry out the skin further, damage the stratum corneum, or cause allergic reactions. If you suffer from another skin condition, such as Psoriasis or Contact Dermatitis, you are even more at risk to the outdoor elements and it’s even more important that you develop a personal skincare routine.


Outdoor Exposure Protection and Treatments


One of the quickest and easiest ways to protect your skin from the outdoor elements is to wear the appropriate clothing. If you find that your skin is more susceptible, covering it up in layers can really help. Putting sunscreen on is not just meant for the summer months, but should be done all year round.


Find shade during the hottest times of the day when the sun is the most damaging. For those times when you can’t stay inside, cover up, or because you don’t always want to have to do damage control, we suggest including the following products as part of your skin wellness routine.


Dermal Therapy Barrier Protection Lotion


Defend yourself against the elements with our Barrier Protection Lotion. Featuring 10% urea and 1% Alpha Hydroxy Acids, our unique formula not only shields your skin from irritants but also enhances its resilience.


Dermal Therapy Alpha Hydroxy Lotion


For those moments when you need more than simple maintenance, our Alpha Hydroxy Lotion. The Alpha Hydroxy Acids gently exfoliate, revealing fresh, elastic skin, while silk proteins contribute to a silky, smooth texture, leaving your skin protected, refreshed, and irresistibly touchable.


Sources:
https://www.jivome.com/articles/outdoor-activities-affect-our-skin/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5916788/
https://www.skincancer.org/blog/against-the-wind/
https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/windburn

Defend yourself against the elements with our Barrier Protection Lotion. Featuring 10% urea and 1% Alpha Hydroxy Acids, our unique formula not only shields your skin from irritants but also enhances its resilience.

Featured

For those moments when you need more than simple maintenance, our Alpha Hydroxy Lotion. The Alpha Hydroxy Acids gently exfoliate, revealing fresh, elastic skin, while silk proteins contribute to a silky, smooth texture, leaving your skin protected, refreshed, and irresistibly touchable.

Featured