The things we love about summer—sunshine and beach days and outdoor bbqs—lead to some major seasonal drawbacks. These months are all about trying to avoid burns, heat rash, bug bites, melasma, and as we’re so often told, cosmetic treatments.
“The biggest challenge that comes with undergoing skin treatments during the summer months is increased sun exposure, even if you are using sunscreen and staying in the shade,” says Dr. Jaimie DeRossa, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who practices in Boston and Palm Beach, Florida. “The treatments that should be avoided are the ones that cause sensitivity to sunlight as well as those that could cause hyperpigmentation,” she says. That largely means many lasers and light-based treatments and, more specifically, heavy resurfacing procedures, such as ablative lasers, and treatments for pigmentation, such as IPL, since very strict sun avoidance afterward is critical, notes Dr. Richard Westreich, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. Dark spots may come right back—and can even get darker if your skin is exposed to the sun, he says.
All that being said, this doesn’t mean you need to wait until after Labor Day to book your next appointment. Here, five treatments that doctors say are totally fine to do during the summer.
1. Microneedling
Microneedling—during which multiple tiny needles create microscopic points of injury to the skin, stimulating collagen production—is a choice way to help improve the overall texture and tone of the skin during the summer. You’re not exposing the deeper layers of the skin to UV rays and, because it’s not a light- or heat-based treatment, the melanocytes, or pigment-creating cells, aren’t being stimulated, explains Dr. DeRossa. In short, there’s no risk of hyperpigmentation, making this not only a good treatment during the summer but also one that’s safe and effective for all skin tones, she says.
New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank agrees, adding that microneedling is very popular in the summer season because there’s less downtime as compared to many laser treatments. He prefers RF microneedling treatments, such as Vivace or Morpheus8, which address textural changes, such as acne scars and wrinkles, and have a skin tightening effect. Either way, plan on about one to three days of downtime (mostly redness) and be extra generous with the sunscreen for a week after.
2. Aquagold
“This is the most popular summer-friendly skin treatment,” says Dr. Frank. Tiny hollow needles deliver microdoses of botulinum toxin and/or hyaluronic acid filler into the superficial layers of the skin for what he calls a “skin-boosting” effect—that looks like increased radiance, plumpness, and smoothness. “The downtime is only a few hours, making it a great quick fix, especially before any kind of summer social event,” he adds. There’s also no real need to avoid the sun (any more than you usually would or should), though ideally, staying out of direct sunlight for two days is best, says Dr. Frank.
3. Clear + Brilliant
Even though lasers are usually ill-advised during the summer, this particular one is the exception to the rule. While any laser will increase sun sensitivity to a certain degree, because this falls on the milder end of the spectrum (it comes with only a day or so of downtime), it’s okay to do during the summer, says Dr. Frank. Dr. Westreich agrees: “It doesn’t cause a significant amount of injury to the epidermis, so there is less concern with pigmentary issues during healing, even if there is some sun exposure,” he says. Still, make sure you’re on top of your sunscreen application game for one to two weeks afterward. And while optimal results occur after a series of treatments, you will see, overall, more even, brighter skin in as little as a week.
4. Ultherapy or Sofwave
The summer is a great time to have a skin tightening treatment, such as Ultherapy or Sofwave, because it doesn’t break the skin or target pigment or redness, notes Dr. Westreich. Instead, high-intensity ultrasound energy is delivered into the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production for a tightening effect. There’s no downtime and no real risk of sun exposure, and since it takes anywhere from three to six months to see the results, doing this during the summer ensures you’ll be ready to go for all those holiday photo ops.
5. Emsculpt Neo
“It’s medically fine to have liposuction on the body during the summer—however, it will take two to three months for the swelling to abate,” says Dr. Westreich. Many people don’t want to be swollen in public, especially during the summer when it’s not as easy to cover up certain areas, he adds. While the nonsurgical Emsculpt Neo isn’t a direct substitute, the fat-burning and muscle-building effects (derived from a combination of radiofrequency and electromagnetic energy, respectively) make it a good alternative to address trouble spots without any unwanted swelling. Similarly to Ultherapy, you’re not breaking the skin or affecting the epidermis, Dr. Westreich notes, so this can be done year-round. And while a series of four sessions typically yields the best results, these are typically done in quick succession over the course of two to four weeks, meaning you’ll be able to enjoy your results while it’s still summer.
