1. Soothe a sunburn, stat
To reduce pain and swelling, pop two aspirin or ibuprofen as soon as possible, saysFrancesca Fusco, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Next, do a milk compress: Soak a washcloth in a bowl of ice-cold whole
milk (skim won't cut it), and drape it over the burn until the cloth is
room temperature. Ahh, that's better.
2. Ward off skeeters
If
you're planning a trip to a mosquito-y place-or you always seem to
attract the little buggers-start taking a daily vitamin B12 supplement,
suggests Vivian W. Bucay, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in
San Antonio. "Studies show that it causes your skin to give off a scent
that repels mosquitoes," she says. (And no, humans can't smell it.)
3. Shrink a pimple in minutes...
...with
Fusco's clever trick: Wet the tip of a cotton swab with Listerine and
dab it on the spot. "The alcohol in the rinse dries up a zit fast," she
says.
4. Beat back summer dandruff
Steamy
weather revs the oil production on your scalp into high gear, which
slows down your natural skin-cell exfoliation process. When this
happens, dead cells build up and dandruff gets worse. Control it with a
flake-fighting shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione-use it at least
once a week. A good one is Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy
Complete Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $6; amazon.com.
5. Quit breaking out from sunscreen
For acne-prone skin,
"try a mineral sunscreen-the active ingredient listed will be zinc
oxide, titanium dioxide, or both," says Bucay. "These sit on top of the
skin rather than being absorbed, so you're less likely to react." (We
like Aveeno Natural Protection Lotion Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF
50, $10.99; ulta.com) If you have dark skin, avoid the ghostly cast of a
mineral formula and go with a sunscreen that says oil-free and
non-comedogenic on the label, such as Coppertone Oil Free Faces
Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+, $8.99; amazon.com.
6. Stay drier, longer
An
antiperspirant labeled clinical strength contains the highest levels of
sweat shields to block sweat glands temporarily. (Try Secret Clinical
Strength Stress Response, $7.99; amazon.com) After swiping it on your
underarms, glide a thin coat on other hot spots like your lower back or
cleavage to keep dry there, too.
7. Avoid backne by rinsing shampoo and conditioner off your skin
They
can leave oils and film behind on your shoulders and back-and that can
lead to breakouts. So make sure your hair and skin are rinsed before you
hop out of the shower.
8. Get your face squeaky clean
Sunscreen,
particularly a water-resistant one, can be hard to wash off-and any
residue left behind can clog your pores. An oil-based cleanser such as
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleansing Oil, $25; ulta.com,
breaks down the product so it rinses away completely. Here's how you can
tell: If, after you've rinsed, the water beads on your skin, you didn't
get off all the sunscreen, so wash your face a second time.
9. Stop midday shine, permanently
Apply
a retinol treatment to your T-zone nightly, "and over time, it helps
slow down overactive oil glands, so you'll be less likely to develop
that afternoon oil slick," says Noëlle S. Sherber, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC. Try RoC Multi Correxion Skin Renewing Serum, $24.99; amazon.com.
10. Calm razor burn
Even
the most careful shaver can burn the heck out of herself. Next time it
happens to you, apply a thin coat of one-percent hydro cortisone cream,
or Aquaphor Healing Ointment,
$5.49 for 1.75 oz; drugstore.com, to soothe inflammation. "Then keep
the area out of the sun until it heals, since UV exposure can worsen the
bumps and irritation," says Bucay.
11. Nix those weird white spots
Are
little flat white spots cropping up on your chest, back, arms, or legs?
Don't be alarmed: It's probably a type of benevolent fungus (gross, we
know) called tinea versicolor that occurs in warm, humid weather and
acts like a bleach that lightens skin, says Neal Schultz, M.D., a clinical professorof dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in
New York City. "Because this infection lives only in the upper dead
layers of skin, it can be treated simply with an exfoliating body wash
that contains salicylic or glycolic acid," he says. (We like Phisoderm
Anti-Blemish Body Wash, $6.99; amazon.com) Leave the product on the
spotty areas for five to 10 minutes before rinsing, and repeat every day
for 10 days to prevent more flare-ups.
12. Zap a pimple while you cover it
Blend a few drops of a clear, salicylic-acid zit treatment like Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Treatment Gel,
into a dollop of foundation and use a small concealer brush to pat the
mix on the spot. It'll cut the pimple's lifespan in half-and hide it
from the world.
