Skin care tips to take into account in early autumn and September

Late summer period

Taking Tokyo as an example from last year (2023), we can see that early September (up to about the 10th) saw some days record highs of 35°C, high humidity, and summer-like weather. This lingering summer heat period can be said to be a period when skin care is needed just like in midsummer.

early autumn
From the 10th to the autumnal equinox, although temperatures are high, there are almost no records of extremely hot days and the humidity starts to decrease, making it a comfortable early autumn period. The risk of skin problems caused by sweating is also reduced, making this a good time for skin care to soothe summer skin.

The Beginning of Autumn <br data-mce-fragment="1" data-sanitized-data-mce-fragment="1">After the autumnal equinox, when the days and nights are the same length, the nights continue to get longer as we approach the winter solstice. The autumn equinox, a Buddhist event, refers to a week with the autumnal equinox as the middle day, and as the old saying goes, "the heat and cold last until the equinox," in autumn, after the autumnal equinox both temperatures and humidity drop further, marking the beginning of autumn.

The dry season is upon us in autumn

Understanding the causes of dryness, which is the skin's greatest enemy, and taking measures to prevent dryness is important for surviving autumn and winter and maintaining healthy skin.

Dry skin refers to a condition in which the skin lacks not only moisture but also sebum. Areas that are particularly prone to dryness include the shins, knees, elbows, and soles of the feet, which do not produce much sebum to begin with, and on the face, dry symptoms appear on the cheeks, eyes, and around the mouth. It is important to understand and be conscious of the causes of dry skin and live a lifestyle that replenishes moisture with moisturizing cosmetics.

Causes of dryness
1. Dry air caused by air-conditioned environments Winter is the dry season, but air-conditioning, which has become indispensable today, reduces indoor moisture, whether in cooling or heating mode. As a result, in an air-conditioned environment, the air is constantly dry, and moisture is stripped from the skin.

2. Dryness due to improper face washing and bathing Washing or scrubbing too much, or using cleansing products or facial cleansers with strong cleansing power, can wash away sebum as well, causing dry skin due to a lack of sebum. The barrier function is also weakened, leading to various skin problems. Bathing at temperatures above 42°C also strips the skin of necessary lipids, leading to dry skin and weakening the barrier function.

3. Dryness due to aging As we age, the amount of sebum secreted, the amount of ceramide (intercellular lipid) produced, and the amount of NMF (natural moisturizing factor) produced decrease, so the skin naturally becomes more prone to dryness.

4. Dryness caused by UV rays In addition to skin troubles caused by UV rays such as age spots and wrinkles, the stratum corneum, which is constantly exposed to direct UV rays, is damaged and its barrier function weakens, resulting in the skin being unable to retain moisture.

5. Dryness due to lack of B vitamins B vitamins help maintain normal skin turnover, so if you are deficient in B vitamins due to an unbalanced diet, your skin's turnover will be disrupted, causing a decline in the skin's barrier function, and as a result, your skin will not be able to retain moisture. Foods that are high in B vitamins include pork, eel, liver, nuts, bonito, tuna, and saury.

Let's understand the causes of dryness and take measures to prevent dryness. We have told you about skin care from the end of summer to early autumn to autumn in September! The next theme will be "Fruitful autumn, cosmetics as skin food."