When the words skin and summer come together, the first thing that comes to mind is the procedures performed in autumn to eliminate the negative effects of the sun, especially on the face. Well, is it not necessary to prepare the skin for summer? Stating, “Rather than preparing the skin for summer, it is necessary to protect the skin from summer. For this reason, I recommend our patients use medical sunscreen regardless of whether it is summer or winter. Before leaving the house, even if it snows outside, I recommend using sunscreen”, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist, adds: “This is a rule that must be followed, especially in the summer months. During the summer, it may be necessary to apply the cream not once, but several times, and it is recommended that the cream be at least SPF 30. Sunscreen has other benefits as well. It can also have antioxidant, concealing, or extra protective properties against staining. These need attention.”

The Power of Water is Important!

Hydration is another important point when it comes to skincare. Especially in the summer months, besides the winter months, it is necessary to use a skin moisturizer. It is recommended that these products be moisturizing, not lubricating. While everyone thinks of expensive brands when it comes to skin moisturizers, it is of great importance to choose medical products with a price-performance balance. At this point, Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist mentioned the importance of water consumption and said, “It is necessary to drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water a day to ensure skin hydration. Today, we have patients who prefer solarium rather than sunbathing. However, we do not recommend solarium as it can lead to skin cancers and skin aging in the future. It should not be forgotten that the more ultraviolet rays you are exposed to, the more DNA damage and skin aging will occur in your cells. It is essential to protect the upper lip, nose, and auricles very well from the sun. Skin cancers and aging usually begin to develop in these areas, as these are the most exposed and protruding areas. It is of great importance to consult a dermatologist by taking the wounds that do not heal for two weeks in the said areas seriously.”

There Are Many Applications Made Especially for The Face Area

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist answered our questions about the treatments that should be done to prepare your skin for summer. There are many applications made especially for the face area. Are they appropriate and necessary for everyone? For example, chemical peeling, collagen therapy, hyaluronic acid, fractional laser, dermapen... 
While many applications are recommended, they are not necessary for everyone. For example, those under the age of 18 need to be more protected from the sun. Because sunburns that occur in childhood come to the forefront as a risk factor that facilitates the formation of skin cancer in the later stages of life. Therefore, it is of great importance for children to use sunscreen or medical lipstick with sunscreen effect. It is recommended to use products that moisturize the skin for people over the age of 18. 

It Is Important to Use Protective Sunscreen

None of the claimed properties of collagen, such as creating new skin, reducing wrinkles, and giving moisture to the skin, have yet been proven. As such, I am not suggesting anything that hasn't been proven. Although there may be limited benefits after burns, surgery, or injury, this is also controversial. On the contrary, heavy metals are detected in the contents of these products. For example, if it is obtained from fish, since the fish are fed with GMO corn, we get harmful substances into our bodies indirectly. On the other hand, because fish are exposed to lead, cadmium, mercury, and other heavy metals from underwater currents in the oceans and farms, they also pass into the fish's collagen. For this reason, we recommend that those who still insist on using collagen prefer reliable brands.
Hair Transplant Patients Should Not Go Out in The Sun
In the summer months, it is absolutely necessary to stay away from procedures such as fractional laser or chemical peeling. These procedures mustn't be carried out between the end of March and the beginning of October. It should be taken into account that those who will have hair procedures in the face area should never go out to the sun when there is redness in that area after the procedure in order to avoid spots. The biggest cause of spots, especially in the mustache area, is exposure to the sun after such a procedure.

What is the ideal Period for Botox and Filling? 

There is no ideal period for Botox and filling. It can always be done. It is unnecessary to do it for periods of less than six months. Since there are so many filler brands, there are many time options. The shortest one can start from three months and extend up to 1.5-2 years. In the choice of filler, fully meltable material is less risky in terms of reaction. It should also be noted that the fillers must be approved by the pharmaceutical and health institutions of various countries, such as the FDA. 
Applications containing Botox, fillers, and hyaluronic acid are important in order to retain and regain moisture in the dehydrated parts of the body. Botox is applied to the areas between the eyes and eyebrows, especially in the summer months. Since we squint our eyes due to sunlight in summer, these areas become more wrinkled. One of the most important tasks of hyaluronic acid in our body is to retain water in the subcutaneous tissue. The use of hyaluronic acid on the lips to moisturize the lips that have been exposed to the sun, and salty or chlorinated water stands out as an effective anti-aging method. In conclusion, although medical sunscreen and moisturizer are the most effective products for the negative effects of sun rays, it is necessary to avoid cosmetic products in this area.

As A Physician, What Care Do You Think Is Beneficial Before the Summer?

The most important reasons that cause a person to age are genetic factors and the sun. Controlling genetic factors are not in our hands at the moment, but it is possible to control our relationship with the sun. Since the face and the area especially around the eyes are the areas with the thinnest skin structure of the body, their sensitivity to the sun is also at the highest level. It is not surprising that there are areas where aging first begins to appear from the age of 30. It is also of great importance to use large-framed and high-quality sunglasses that will protect the eyes as well as the areas around the eyes, in the fight against aging around the eyes. In summary, wide, and high-quality sunglasses, quality sunscreen, and moisturizer should be among our must-haves before the summer.
“The use of hyaluronic acid on the lips to moisturize the lips that have been exposed to the sun, salty or chlorinated water stands out as an effective anti-aging method.”
“Botox is used to open coarse facial wrinkles, and filler is used to make the face fuller and more convex.”

Watch Out for The Sun Coming from The Left!

Even if sunglasses are used in the summer, squinting the eyes causes wrinkles called "crow's feet" to appear around the eyes. Since the sun comes from the left side, it is seen that the left side of the face is affected more than the right side, especially for those who drive. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist draws attention to the fact that sunscreen should be applied more on the left side of the face if there is no film on the vehicle windows. 

Botox For Sweating Problem

Botox plays an important role in combating sweating, which is a common problem for many people, especially in the summer months. Saying that people with such problems can have armpit, hand, or even foot Botox before summer, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist continues as follows: “With one or two applications, we reduce the sweating of our patients to almost zero for six to eight months. Since sweating is a social problem, we ensure that patients feel comfortable with a higher self-confidence by not sweating in the summer months, by doing these applications, especially in the spring months.”