Summer Skin in Texas: Heat, Sweat, and What Actually Protects You

High temperatures increase circulation and oil production, which can mean more breakouts — especially if you're wearing heavy products that aren't designed for humid conditions. Sweat itself isn't bad for skin, but sweat mixed with sunscreen, makeup, and surface bacteria creates a perfect environment for congestion and inflammation. A lot of summer skin problems are actually product problems — too heavy, too occlusive, not reapplied correctly.

Sun damage is cumulative, and Dallas sun is aggressive. Even on overcast days, UV rays penetrate cloud cover and continue breaking down collagen and triggering pigmentation. Most Dallas women who come in concerned about uneven skin tone and dark spots trace those issues back to years of inconsistent SPF use in summer. The damage happens gradually and shows up years later.

The gold standard is still broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher applied every two hours when you're outdoors. In practice, most people apply it once in the morning and call it done — which leaves you largely unprotected by noon. Powder SPF products designed for reapplication over makeup have gotten significantly better and make midday reapplication realistic. They're worth adding to your routine if you spend time outside.

Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) tend to hold up better in heat and sweat than chemical filters, which can degrade with heat exposure. They're also gentler on reactive or post-treatment skin. The tradeoff is that some mineral formulas leave a white cast, though modern versions have improved considerably. If your skin is on the sensitive side or you've recently had a laser or chemical peel, mineral SPF is the safer call.

Some medspa treatments require sun avoidance for a week or more after the procedure. Laser resurfacing, deep chemical peels, and aggressive microneedling all leave skin more vulnerable to UV damage while healing — and the Texas summer is unforgiving. Timing matters. Many clients in Dallas front-load aggressive treatments in late winter and early spring so they're fully healed before peak sun season.

That doesn't mean summer is off-limits for all treatments. Botox, filler, and lighter hydrating treatments are appropriate year-round. Lighter chemical peels designed for summer use can be done with proper SPF follow-through. Your provider should be guiding you on post-treatment sun protocols — if they're not, ask specifically what to avoid and for how long.