The Sun May Be Causing Your Breakouts—Here's Why

Over summer, my skin suddenly erupts with volcanoes (read: cystic acne), for what appears to be no reason at all.

- Charlotte Bitmead

It's never that time of the month and I don't tend to swap out any of my skincare, but what does always change is the weather. So, is the summer sun the reason I break out?

Winter usually gets a bad rep in the skin department; bitterly cold winds that strip you of any moisture and radiators working in full force to do the same, but I'm starting to think that summer is the source of my seasonal acne.

So much as five minutes away from my heroic fan has me sweating way beyond looking like a dewy dumpling. This is more clammy than glam. Pimples like to take up residency on each side of my nose where my sunglasses sit, and my hot and bothered, ruddy cheeks aren’t a lot of fun either. I feel like a dog chasing its own tail trying to mattify my complexion and keep my makeup from literally melting off my face.

With heatwaves imminent, I sought advice from medical consultant and founder of the Adonia Medical Clinic, Ifeoma Ejikeme, on all of my summer skincare questions.

DON'T SWEAT IT

Sweat might not be the most glamorous, but it’s also important to remember we're only human and sweaty skin is pretty much a given in the heat.