5 skin treatments you should avoid during the summer: from IPL sessions and chemical peels to sclerotherapy, body sculptors to laser resurfacing – excessive sun exposure can reduce their efficacy

Jul 14 , 2023

As dermatologists and experts know well, the efficacy of skin treatments can depend on the season. Photo: Handout

As the sun beams down on us and temperatures rise, it’s time to switch up our beauty routines to ensure we take the best care of our skin. However, while countless beauty treatments are available, not all are suited to the sunny season.

Some procedures are better left for the colder months, as they may require healing time and limited sun exposure to work their magic. “When it comes to beauty treatments, fillers, LED therapy and radiofrequency are year-round safe options as they don’t disturb the skin barrier or carry the risk of sun-related hyperpigmentation,” says aesthetician and skin therapist at Fild Studio Keiko Negishi.

On the other hand, she points out that invasive lasers, chemical peels with associated downtime and body-sculpting treatments “are better suited for the autumn or winter seasons, providing enhanced safety and optimal results”.

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If you are uncertain which procedures are suitable for which season, here are some treatments that industry professionals recommend you wait until winter to undergo.

1. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments

IPL is considered an effective treatment for combating skin concerns. Photo: Handout

While IPL is a fantastic option for combating various skin concerns, it’s crucial to avoid it in the summer. The treatment targets pigment irregularities, but sun exposure can increase skin sensitivity, leading to potential complications like burns or hyperpigmentation.

Your skin may be more sensitive during the summer. Photo: Handout

Moreover, if the skin surrounding the targeted brown spot is tanned, the laser may struggle to distinguish the specific spot, resulting in the generation of heat over a larger area, which can potentially lead to skin damage and burns. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious and avoid IPL when the skin is tanned or exposed to the sun.

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2. Chemical peels

Chemical peels aren’t ideal during the summer. Photo: Handout

Although chemical peels work wonders in renewing and rejuvenating the skin, they’re not the best choice for sun-kissed summer days. These treatments are beneficial for addressing acne scarring, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, but they involve exfoliating the top layer of skin, making it more vulnerable to UV radiation.

It’s important to take care of your skin, especially in the summer heat. Photo: Handout

It’s crucial to avoid exposing the skin to the sun immediately after the treatment, as it not only heightens the risk of sunburn and skin cancer but can also counteract the procedure’s benefits. Deeper chemical peels – such as retinol-based ones – that require downtime are best saved for the cooler months, as the newly revealed skin is delicate and requires time to heal.

3. Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is often treated for spider veins. Photo: Handout

If you’re seeking treatment for unsightly varicose or spider veins, it’s ideal to postpone sclerotherapy until after summer is over. This procedure involves injecting a solution into the veins to make them shrink and fade; however, sun exposure and heat can interfere with the healing process and increase the likelihood of discolouration.

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It’s better to do sclerotherapy in the winter, says experts. Photo: Handout

Following sclerotherapy, patients may experience physical side effects: the treated veins can become lumpy and more noticeable for a few months before eventually dissolving; discolouration, such as spotting and ruptured blood vessels, may also appear and take several months to fade away and due to the process of stimulating blood clots inside the veins, bruising can occur and last for up to six weeks.

4. Body sculptors

Body sculptors are considered a non-invasive way to tone the body. Photo: Handout

Non-invasive body sculpting treatments offer a convenient way to tighten, trim and tone your body. However, the results take time to manifest. For instance, body contouring procedures such as CoolSculpting Elite typically involve multiple sessions a few months before the final outcome is evident.

Anti-cellulite and anti-fat therapy in beauty salon. Photo: Handout

In the case of liposuction, patients are required to wear support bandages immediately after the procedure, and in some cases, for weeks to minimise swelling. However, wearing these bandages during the summer months can be bothersome, and moisture from activities like sweating or swimming can potentially lead to infection, making it important to exercise caution and keep the bandages dry.

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5. Laser resurfacing

With limited sun exposure, laser treatments targeting spots and lines tend to be more successful. Photo: Handout

Laser resurfacing can work wonders for minimising wrinkles, scars and other skin imperfections. However, most dermatologists would rather perform intensive laser treatments during winter, particularly ablative CO2 lasers, as they effectively address significant sun damage, deep lines and stubborn wrinkles due to reduced UV exposure.

It’s important to check what’s best for your skin to prevent undoing your hard work. Photo: Handout

With limited sun exposure, laser treatments targeting spots, textural issues and lines tend to be more successful. The skin requires a few days to shed and rejuvenate, and lasers can disrupt the skin’s barrier.

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Skincare

With the sun beating down relentlessly, our skin becomes more sensitive and prone to UV rays, which is why it’s important to pick and choose your skin treatments wisely during summer
IPL is great for targeting pigment irregularities, but exposure to sun can reduce its impact – the same goes for chemical peels and laser resurfacing, while liposuction requires bandages to heal