It’s summer, and we’re all on the go. The beach, the park, the patio—the outdoors are calling. Enjoy them, but be sure to take care of your skin as you do, protecting it when you go out, and nurturing it when you return. At LIV Wellness Lounge, we’ll help you do both with our guide for summer skincare in LaSalle and everywhere else you go!
LIV Wellness Lounge is a unique aesthetic and wellness experience unlike any other. As a luxury medical spa in LaSalle and Ottawa, we have a distinct philosophy on what a “med spa” can be. Contact us to learn more about our services or give our personal consultation tool a try.
Knowledgeable yet fun and approachable, our team’s goal is to make you feel welcome and leave you feeling better than ever. It’s a beautiful partnership—us as experienced providers and you as a valued friend.
What the summer does to your skin
We love summer! Vacations, the outdoors, blue skies with plenty of adventures under them—we are so ready to get out there.
However, nothing’s perfect, and summer has its flaws. Humidity can lead to bacterial infections due to sweat, clogged pores, and acne breakouts. Air conditioning in summer can dehydrate the skin (We agree: that’s just not fair!). Then there’s UV from the sun, windburn, the effects of water and chlorine, and so many seasonal factors that impact your aesthetics.
To start your guide for summer skincare in LaSalle, here’s the LIV Wellness Lounge short-list of the most common challenges that give you the summertime blues.
Summer SkinCare Challenge 1: Sunlight
The sun can really do a number on your dermis. Here’s a list of what could be waiting for you when you head outside.
Sun allergy
Isn’t it enough that there’s hayfever, poison ivy, and bug bites for warm weather allergies? Some of us have to add the sun to that list of reaction-causing summer bummers.
If you have a sun allergy, you can develop hives when you experience prolonged exposure to the sun. These hives can be scaly, red, bumpy, and extremely itchy. In the worst cases (and we are so sorry!), a person with a sun allergy can even get blisters.
A sun allergy isn’t to be confused with our next summer skin menace: sunburn.
Sunburn
Too much sun means a sunburn, and that’s bad. Sunburns can set you up for serious and sometimes life-threatening issues later in your life.
A first-degree sunburn damages the outer layer of your skin. This makes your skin red and feels painful and hot to the touch. Most often, you’ll see the symptoms show up 6 hours or more after you go out into the sun and peaks within 24 hours. It usually heals in a few days on its own.
A second-degree sunburn drills that damage into the inner layer of your skin too. It starts like a first-degree sunburn but continues peaking longer, sometimes by 48 hours later. The skin can swell, and you might have flu-like symptoms. This includes a fever, chills, headache, and nausea.
Here’s where blistering happens. The damage is deeper, and might even affect nerve endings. Blistering can leave the underlying skin open to infections, and can cause scarring depending on your skin temperament.
A second-degree burn is first-degree serious. It can take weeks to heal, and if the burn warrants, you might require a doctor’s attention.
Melasma
You know those gray-brown patches on your skin, maybe your face, that we’re managing together at LIV Wellness Lounge? That’s melasma, and being out in the sun can make them more noticeable.
Summer SkinCare Challenge 2: Heat
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity, right? Nope. Sometimes, it really is the heat that’s the issue.
Prickly heat/heat rash
The summer heat makes us sweat. OK, it might make you “sheen” (we can work with that). But either way, if your sweat glands get blocked, it can create a condition called “prickly heat.”
When that sweat can’t escape the gland, it builds up under your skin, causing a rash and little bumps that itch. When the bumps pop and the sweat (“sheen fuel”) escapes, you might feel a prickly sensation that’s not particularly pleasant.
Dry/irritated skin
It might be very humid outside, but the fact is you could still come away with dry, irritated skin. Sunlight can dry and heat your skin. Add to that pool chemicals and the comfortable but moisture-robbing effect of air conditioning, and your skin can become flaky and itchy.
If you like extremely hot showers or seriously strong soaps or cleansers, these don’t help either. This is probably a good time for your milder soaps and showers, especially when you clean off after a dip in the pool.
Folliculitis
Your hair grows out of an opening called a “follicle.” Hitting the pool, enjoying a hot tub, diving into the ocean—these can introduce bacteria and more that can infect your follicle, and voila—you’ve got folliculitis.
An infected follicle looks much like a pimple, but it’s itchier and quite tender. Side note: wearing tight clothing for prolonged periods in the heat? That can cause folliculitis too.
Summer SkinCare Challenge 3: Water (salt & chlorine)
Saltwater is a two-sided treat. It can be beneficial for your skin, as it has a natural ability to neutralize bacteria, destroy infected skin cells, draw out toxins, and even work as a gentle exfoliant. So, where’s the downside?
Prolonged exposure to salt, sand, and sun can irritate your skin and dry it out. If you have a history of dry skin or other issues—think eczema—a day at an ocean beach is like a dream vacay that gets a little nightmare-y later.
Even if you’re not heading to a beach, summer skincare in LaSalle includes chlorinated pool water. Chlorine seems like a modern evil because most of us prefer a salt pool over the community pool of our youths. However, chlorine can work to break up oils and toxins that hide way down in your pores. Yay!
And now for the “boo.” Prolonged chlorine exposure and incorrect pool chlorine levels can irritate your skin. When mixed with water, chlorine becomes a weak acid (hypochlorous acid). Sure, it kills bacteria, but it also can age your skin and cause rashes for those with higher skin sensitivities.
Being around those bodies of water also tends to give you more sun exposure through reflection. Sunlight bounces off the water and the lighter-colored surfaces around you (sand, cement, white chaise lounges, etc.), and lands on you.
Summer SkinCare Challenge 4: High altitude (hiking in the mountains)
Looking to add some 13er or 14er notches to your hiking belt? That’s awesome. There’s nothing like seeing the world from that far up, where the air is so clean and clear.
However (you knew this was coming, didn’t you?), when you’re up at the peak, you’re also at the peak of exposure to UV rays. Higher altitude air is thinner and doesn’t protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun like it does at sea level.
Mountain air is also dryer the higher up you go, and that can rob your skin of moisture. Cracked skin and chapped lips—these issues occur more frequently in higher altitudes, which can lead to infections and scarring.
Summer SkinCare preparation in LaSalle
That was quite the list of summer fun buzz-killers, wasn’t it? Don’t worry—LIV Wellness Lounge has your treatments and products to face the summer with your actual face, arms, legs, all of you. Fun stays fun, when you prepare for it.
SkinBetter sunscreen
At LIV Wellness Lounge, our award-winning SkinBetter products use science-backed formulas to achieve healthier skin. A SkinBetter consultation from LIV Wellness Lounge will help with your summer skin issues, including:
- Acne
- Hyperpigmentation/melasma
- Dryness
- Enlarged Pores
- Sun protection
SkinBetter process
Before we can find the right products for your skin, we start with a complimentary consultation. We use VISIA Skin Analysis as a tool to get an in-depth look at your skin.
Once your analysis is in hand, your LIV Wellness Lounge provider will make recommendations for Skinbetter products. We’ll help you achieve your aesthetic goals and protect your skin for summertime exposure.
Weight loss (less skin issues, body healthier to repair damage)
Achieving your recommended body weight helps your health in general. It also means summer activities with less sweat, less exhaustion, and longer-lasting energy.LIV Wellness Lounge helps you lose weight and keep it off.
Healthier food choices mean less fatty and greasy dishes. Those kinds of heavy food can make your body react, resulting in increased acne breakouts and more summertime colds.
Unhealthy eating habits that include lots of foods high in sugar and fat can make you more prone to infections, too. Reaching your healthiest weight heading into summer—and the rest of your life—is all-around a great idea.
Weight loss process
Before your treatments for medical weight loss at LIV Wellness Lounge, you will meet with us for a complimentary consultation. We’ll assess your medical history, weight loss goals, and expectations.
You have your own specific needs and goals, so we will customize your treatment plan solely around you. It may consist of medications, resources, and professional support as you work toward your weight loss goals.
Summer Skincare treatments from LIV Wellness lounge
Your guide to summer skincare in LaSalle doesn’t stop with preparation. Once you’re in the summer, we have treatments to keep your work going and repair any damage the sun has already done.
HydraFacial
Did your skin get dry, maybe a bumpy, maybe textured, while you enjoyed your time out? Talk to us about our one-of-a-kind, medical-grade HydraFacial.
HydraFacial has the technology to remove impurities and deliver skin-loving products deep into your skin. It helps remove damaged skin and reveals a brighter, more youthful appearance with zero downtime.
When you book a HydraFacial at LIV Wellness Lounge, it can treat:
- Acne
- Congested skin
- Uneven Complexion
- Enlarged pores
- Texture
- Tight skin/poor elasticity
- And more
Geneo oxygen facial
Similar to a HydraFacial, a Geneo oxygen facial at LIV Wellness Lounge uses natural ingredients and specialized non-invasive, gentle technology to exfoliate your skin. Geneo’s oxygenation process triggers your body’s natural ability to increase oxygen levels in your skin. Now your dermis is ready to absorb the rest of Geneo’s nutrient-rich facial treatment.
Ask your LIV Wellness Lounge provider about a Geneo oxygen facial. It can treat:
- Uneven pigmentation
- Dirt and impurities
- Acne
- Large pores
- Dryness
- Oiliness
- Skin irritation
- And more
Dermaplaning
If you follow our guide for summer skincare in LaSalle, you’ll avoid getting a sunburn. Sunburn kills skin cells on the surface and in more severe cases go much more deeply. So should you get a sunburn, don’t fear.
After your body has had time to finish reacting to that sunburn , LIV Wellness Lounge is ready to remove those dead skin cells and rough patches with dermaplaning. This exfoliation technique promotes skin cell turnover and collagen regeneration, This helps your skin repair damage and increase skin health to make you look rejuvenated.
During your dermaplaning treatment, we’ll use a surgical-grade scalpel to sweep away debris, dead skin cell buildup, and vellus hairs (peach fuzz). Afterwards, make way for new skin cells at the surface for skin that looks brighter and feels smoother.
Dermaplaning treats:
- Dry skin
- Texture
- Acne scarring
- Sun damage
- And more
Microneedling
Well, that day at the beach tightened up your skin, did it? Good news- we’ve got help to get back the suppleness that left with the tide. For your summer skincare in LaSalle, we recommend microneedling at LIV Wellness Lounge. It stimulates your skin’s response system to produce more collagen and more elastin for more relaxed, youthful-looking skin.
Microneedling uses tiny micro-needles to create controlled injury in the skin, causing your skin’s natural healing process to increase collagen production and regeneration from within. Also, we offer an option to combine microneedling with PRP (platelet-rich plasma). PRP uses your body’s own natural growth factors to stimulate even more regenerative results.
Microneedling treats:
- Hyperpigmentation
- Enlarged pores
- Skin laxity/tightness
- Acne scars
- And more
Summer skincare in lasalle for the whole season
Book a free consultation with LIV Wellness Lounge, and let’s discuss services and products that can help make sure your summer will sizzle, but your skin won’t.
Keeping your skincare routine consistent is like going to the dentist. For the best results and the best health, have regular check-ups, and seek high-quality professional products and treatments.
Your LIV Wellness Lounge provider in LaSalle and Ottawa will talk openly and honestly with you. We’ll listen closely to your goals and concerns and give professional guidance on what will work best for the results you need.
Our locations in LaSalle and Ottawa reflect our ultimate goal: helping our clients feel more energetic and confident in a comfortable environment. Our virtual consultation tool provides instant treatment recs personalized to you.
Have further questions? Contact us!
