3 Top Skin Concerns Our Skincare.com Dermatologists See Each Fall

Dermatologists have seen it all. From gnarly poison ivy rashes to pimples that don’t seem to budge, patients are often in and out of the office for all sorts of reasons. But, in the fall especially, our Skincare.com consulting dermatologists see three skin care concerns more often than the rest. To discover the top three skin problems our experts see in the fall, keep reading. 

SUMMER SUN DAMAGE 

For most of us the summer season is spent outdoors, reveling in the warm weather and the sunshine—while (hopefully) wearing broad-spectrum SPF. However, as board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant Dr. Michael Kaminer explains, as summer turns to fall he sees an uptick 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 by 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 have already been done, you can prevent your skin from succumbing to the sun’s harmful UV rays even more—because, even though it’s no longer beach season, the sun can still cause harm to your skin—by applying and re-applying a sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more every single day.   

DRY SKIN FROM LOW HUMIDITY

As the humidity levels plummet and the weather becomes more dry in the fall, board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali says that one of the top concerns he sees this time of year 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 in the shower or bath, pat your skin dry—never rub!—and immediately lock in the 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. If you need a place to start, we share three affordable drugstore creams and lotions for dry skin, here. 

CONTACT DERMATITIS

The bikinis and sun dresses are in storage and your fall layers have become the normal, but did you know some of those heavy fabrics are to blame for fall skin care concern number three? In addition to dry skin, Dr. Bhanusali says, “We also see a lot of contact dermatitis [due to] reactions to wool and other [cold weather] clothing.” To avoid this type of skin irritation we recommend either avoiding these types of fabrics all together. If you simply can’t be without your wool fabrics, consider wearing a soft cotton shirt underneath to create a barrier between your skin and the fabric. 

Now that you know what concerns to look out for, check out our round-up of skin care habits to adopt into your routine this fall!