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The skin of the body after summer: what to assess and how to recover
Dryness, uneven tan, new spots and moles to watch: what summer leaves on the skin of the body, how to recover in September and what to treat in autumn.
Rúben BritoAuthor
Dr Michelle CampagnoliClinical review · OM no. 69467
In this article
September arrives and, with it, the skin shows the marks of summer. The legs feel tight and flake, the tan fades unevenly, spots appear that were not there before, the elbows and heels are rough, and there is that mole on the back that someone said looked different.
The end of summer is the ideal time to look after the skin of the body: to see what the sun has left, treat what needs treating and keep an eye on what needs to be seen by a doctor. And it is also the start of the best season for treatments that do not go with sun.
Three ideas to remember.
Fica por baixo do resumo, se existir uma segunda foto.
What summer does to the skin
Dryness
In summer, the skin is exposed to various aggressors that strip away water and lipids:
- Sun: radiation and heat increase water loss and alter the skin barrier.
- Sea water: salt, as it dries on the skin, draws water from the surface layer.
- Pool chlorine: removes lipids and can irritate.
- Wind and sand: friction and evaporation.
- More baths and more detergent: after the beach, the pool and sweating.
The result, at the end of summer, is often drier, rougher, scaly skin, especially on the legs, arms and feet.
Accumulated sun damage
Even without burns, each sun exposure adds damage to the DNA of cells and to collagen. A tan is precisely the skin's response to that damage. In the short term it shows up as spots and uneven texture; in the long term, as skin ageing and a higher risk of skin cancer. Sunburn, especially with blisters, increases that risk.
The tan that fades
A tan fades as the skin renews itself, over weeks. It often does so unevenly, because some areas shed skin faster, the sunscreen was not applied evenly or there are areas with more friction. This is not a problem, but it sometimes reveals spots that had been disguised.
Typical end-of-summer problems
| What you notice | What it may be | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, rough, flaking skin | Dryness from sun, salt, chlorine | Daily moisturising; gentle exfoliation; lukewarm baths |
| New brown spots in exposed areas (shoulders, décolleté, forearms, hands) | Freckles, solar lentigines, post-inflammatory marks | Sunscreen; observe; treat in autumn after confirming they are benign |
| Light or brownish spots, slightly scaly, on the chest, back and shoulders, which did not tan | Pityriasis versicolor, a superficial fungal infection caused by a yeast that normally lives on the skin and multiplies with heat and sweat | Assessment; treated with topical antifungals or, sometimes, oral ones. The normal colour may take months to return |
| Small, round white spots on the legs and arms, in older people | Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, associated with cumulative sun exposure | Benign; sun protection; no simple treatment |
| Small bumps around the hairs, sometimes itchy, after a pool or hot tub | Folliculitis, including “hot tub folliculitis” | It usually resolves; see a doctor if it persists, hurts or there is fever |
| Ingrown hairs on the legs, groin, armpits | Frequent hair removal | Gentle exfoliation; a pause in hair removal; consider laser in autumn |
| Cracked heels | Sandals, dry skin, friction | Creams with a higher concentration of urea; special attention in diabetes |
| Dark spots on the face and décolleté that have worsened | Melasma | Strict sun protection; treatment in autumn |
| Reddish or brown spots in the shape of drops or lines, after contact with lemon, figs or perfumes in the sun | Phytophotodermatitis | Benign; lightens with time; sunscreen |
| Bites that do not improve, with spreading redness or a ring | Infection or reaction; in a spreading ring after a tick bite, consider Lyme disease | Medical assessment |
Checking your moles: the September check-up
The end of summer, with the skin exposed and the recent sun fresh in the memory, is a good time to check the moles and marks of the whole body.
How to do it at home
- With good light, a large mirror and a hand mirror (or someone's help).
- Check the whole body, including the back, scalp, nape, behind the ears, palms, soles, between the toes and nails. The back is one of the areas where melanoma frequently appears and where we look least.
- Photograph the moles you want to monitor, to compare in the future.
What to look for
- ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, irregular Borders, uneven Colour, Diameter above 6 mm, Evolution (change in size, shape, colour or symptoms).
- The “ugly duckling”: a mole clearly different from the others.
- New moles after the age of 40.
- Lesions that bleed, crust over or do not heal within 3 to 4 weeks.
- Persistent rough patches in highly exposed areas.
Who should have regular check-ups with a doctor
- People with many moles (more than 50) or atypical moles.
- Personal or family history of melanoma.
- Very fair skin that burns easily.
- A history of sunburn, especially in childhood.
- Immunosuppression.
If in doubt, it is always better to show a mole to your family doctor or dermatologist. Examination with a dermatoscope is quick and painless.
Recovery plan
In the first weeks
- Daily moisturising of the body, with a cream rich in humectants and lipids, straight after the bath.
- Creams with urea or lactic acid on the roughest areas: shins, elbows, knees, heels.
- Gentle exfoliation, once or twice a week, to even out the fading tan. Never on burnt or irritated skin.
- Short, lukewarm baths, with a gentle cleanser.
- Sunscreen on areas still exposed (face, neck, décolleté, hands). September and October still have relevant UV radiation in Portugal.
- A break from shaving with a razor or waxing, if there are many ingrown hairs.
For uneven tanning
- Regular gentle exfoliation and moisturising help the skin renew itself evenly.
- A self-tanner can disguise transitions while the tan fades.
- Avoid “lightening products” of dubious origin on the body.
For the feet
- Urea cream (at a higher concentration) on the heels, at night, with cotton socks.
- Gentle filing of thick skin, with the skin dry, without overdoing it.
- In people with diabetes or poor circulation: do not cut or file calluses aggressively; see a podiatrist or nurse.
Autumn as a season for treatments
With less sun and the skin losing its tan, autumn and winter are the best time for several treatments:
- Sun spots and melasma: peels, depigmenting agents and technologies that require little sun exposure. New spots should be assessed before any treatment.
- Laser hair removal: needs skin without a tan and several sessions; starting now allows you to reach next summer with results.
- Body peels: for texture, spots, keratosis pilaris and rough skin.
- Stretch marks that are still red: they respond better when treated early.
- Firming, cellulite and contouring treatments: without the urgency of summer, with time to complete series.
At Luxmed, at the end of summer we carry out an assessment of the skin of the body: what the sun has left, what needs to be seen by a doctor and what can be treated in the autumn and winter months. We set out a plan that also prepares you for the following summer.
Talk to us
The assessment is a conversation, with no obligation. Tell us what concerns you and our team will reply.
Telephone 214 044 241 · info@luxmed.pt
This article is for information purposes and does not replace a consultation. Moles that have changed or suspicious lesions should be assessed by a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my skin so dry after summer?
Because of the combined effect of sun, salt, chlorine, wind and more baths. Daily moisturising and short, lukewarm baths help recovery within weeks.
White patches appeared on my back after summer. What are they?
It may be pityriasis versicolor, a superficial fungal infection that stops the skin from tanning in those areas. It has treatment; speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
How can I even out the tan that is fading?
Regular moisturising and gentle exfoliation. A self-tanner can disguise it in the meantime.
Do freckles and new spots go away?
Freckles tend to fade in winter. Solar lentigines generally do not disappear on their own, but can be treated once assessed.
When should I show a mole to a doctor?
If it is new, has changed, is different from the others, bleeds, crusts over or does not heal.
Can I have laser hair removal in September?
If your skin is still tanned, it is better to wait a few weeks. Autumn and winter are the best time.
Do I still need sunscreen in autumn?
Yes, on exposed areas. UV radiation is still relevant in September and October and does not disappear in winter.
Scientific references 7
- Gupta AK, Foley KA. Antifungal treatment for pityriasis versicolor. J Fungi (Basel). 2015;1(1):13-29. Artigo
- Abbasi NR, Shaw HM, Rigel DS, et al. Early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma: revisiting the ABCD criteria. JAMA. 2004;292(22):2771-2776. Artigo
- Grob JJ, Bonerandi JJ. The «ugly duckling» sign: identification of the common characteristics of nevi in an individual as a basis for melanoma screening. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134(1):103-104. Artigo
- Garbe C, Amaral T, Peris K, et al. European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for melanoma. Part 1: Diagnostics: update 2022. Eur J Cancer. 2022;170:236-255. Guideline
- Hughes MCB, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(11):781-790. Artigo
- Gregory DW, Schaffner W. Pseudomonas infections associated with hot tubs and other environments. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1987;1(3):635-648. Artigo
- Falabella R. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. Dermatol Clin. 2007;25(3):363-371. Artigo
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