Why Summer Skin Gets Angry - And What to Do About It
By Sonia Rishi (Skin & Sanctuary), June 2025
Summer brings sunshine, rooftop drinks, lighter clothes… and for many of us, skin that suddenly starts to act out.
If you’ve noticed breakouts flaring, redness peeking through your SPF, or a dullness where you expected glow—you’re not alone.
Even our most diligent, skincare-savvy clients come in asking:
“Why is my skin so irritated when I’m doing everything right?”
Here’s what’s really happening - and how we treat it differently at Skin and Sanctuary.
1. Heat + Light = Inflammation (Yes, Even With SPF)
You might be wearing SPF 50 every day (well done). But summer skin stress isn’t just about UV exposure - it’s about the cumulative effect of heat, light, pollution, sweat, sunscreen layers, and hormonal shifts.
Your skin isn’t “overreacting.”
It’s overloaded.
Excess heat dilates blood vessels and increases inflammation, while UV exposure - even with protection - can trigger sensitivity, pigmentation, and breakdown of the skin barrier.
The Treatments to Help:
➤ Hydrafacial + LED: Deep cleans, infuses hydration, and uses red light to calm inflammation.
➤ Fire & Ice Facial: Uses potent, pregnancy-safe actives to cool, soothe, and strengthen the barrier.
➤ Microneedling + Hyaluronic Infusion: Supports longer-term barrier repair and moisture retention.
2. You’re Losing More Moisture Than You Realise
Between city air, air conditioning, alcohol, and sun exposure, trans-epidermal water loss increases significantly in summer.
That “tight” feeling post-wash?
The dullness that makeup can’t fix?
Often, that’s invisible dehydration - not dryness, but water loss.
What Helps:
➤ A tailored barrier-focused home routine (Vitamin C + peptide + lipid-based moisturiser)
➤ In-clinic Lymphatic Drainage to reduce water retention, puffiness and stagnation
➤ Hydrafacial with customised booster serums for hydration without congestion
3. Summer Skin Is Often Hormonal Skin
Summer holidays, changing light cycles, disrupted sleep and travel… it’s a hormonal rollercoaster.
For peri- and menopausal women in particular, oestrogen dips + heat + cortisol = unpredictable flare-ups in pigmentation, texture, and tone.
You may also see:
➤ Chin/jawline breakouts
➤ Red patches around cheeks or nose
➤ Increased skin sensitivity or reactivity
What Helps:
Functional Health Consults with Dr. Mayoni to assess underlying inflammation, stress and hormonal imbalances
➤ Nutritional support with Swati to understand how our diet impacts out gut and hormones
➤ Skin consultations that combine diagnostics + education
➤ Emerald Laser support for low-grade inflammation and lymphatic detox
What to Book Now
If you’re struggling with:
➤ Puffiness
➤ Redness
➤ Hormonal skin changes
➤ Dull or dry-feeling skin
We recommend starting with your own Summer Skin Reset:
Hydrafacial + LED + Lymphatic Drainage - all part of our Hydrafacial Platinum (we also include a sneaky shoulder massage)
Final Thought: Angry Skin Isn’t Bad Skin
Summer is about light and growth - but it’s also a time of friction, exposure and intensity.
Your skin is just trying to keep up.
If you’re noticing signs of imbalance, don’t power through or try 10 new products.
Pause. Listen. Let us help.
📍 Book your Summer Skin Reset or Consultation via the booking tab - or call 020 3905 5555 and ask any questions you might have. We’re here, and we see you.