3 Top Skin Concerns Dermatologists See Every Fall

Dermatologists have seen it all — from irritating poison ivy rashes to pimples that just won’t seem to fade, patients are often in and out of the office for all sorts of reasons. In the fall especially, dermatologists see these three skin-care concerns more often than the rest. Ahead, we consulted with board-certified dermatologists Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, and Michael Kaminer, MD, to find out what they most commonly see come the fall.

Skin-Care Concern #1: Summer Sun Damage 

For most of us, the summer season is spent outdoors reveling in the warm weather and the sunshine. All while hopefully wearing broad-spectrum SPF. However, Dr. Kaminer explains, when summer turns to fall he sees an increase in appointments focused on sun damage, especially in women who are prone to melasma. Melasma is a form of skin discoloration characterized my brown darkening of the skin, typically in patches on the face. While it may be nicknamed the “mask of pregnancy” melasma isn’t solely reserved for expectant mothers. In fact, like most forms of skin discoloration, melasma is often caused or made worse by prolonged sun exposure. So, it’s no wonder dermatologists see more complaints in the fall, once their patients are done soaking up the summer sun and are hoping to do something about the appearance of sun-induced skin discoloration. “They just get so far behind the eight ball and have a hard time all fall and winter getting their skin where they want it to be,” Dr. Kaminer says.

“I also see the same concern in women who simply regret getting so much sun, knowing that they may have done irreversible damage,” Kaminer explains. While the deed may already be done you can prevent your skin from succumbing to the sun’s harmful UV rays even more. Even though it’s no longer beach season, the sun can still cause harm to your skin so be sure to apply sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more every single day.   

Skin-Care Concern #2: Dry Skin From Low Humidity 

As the humidity levels plummet and the weather becomes more dry in the fall, Dr. Bhanusali says that one of the top concerns he sees is dry skin. Dry skin caused by lower levels of moisture in the air can be avoided if you follow the right skin-care steps. Use a hydrating body wash when you shower, pat your skin dry — never rub — and immediately lock in hydration with a body butter, lotion or cream. Same goes for your facial skin —reach for creamy cleansers and emollient creams this time of year. 

Skin-Care Concern #3: Contact Dermatitis 

Once your bikinis and sundresses are in storage and fall layers have become the normal, skin-care concern number three begins to pop up: “We also see a lot of contact dermatitis due to reactions to wool and other cold weather clothing,” says Dr. Bhanusal. To avoid this type of skin irritation we recommend either avoiding these fabrics all together or consider wearing a soft cotton shirt underneath to create a barrier between your skin and the fabric. 

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