How to Fight Acne in the Hot Tropical Climate of the Maldives?

Living in the Maldives with a tropical climate comes with its own set of skincare problems. The hot and humid weather in the Maldives causes your skin to create more sweat and oil. the pores of the skin are more likely to open or become enlarged which makes skin more vulnerable to dirt, oil, toxins, UVA rays and pollution from the environment. This increases the likelihood of acne, blemishes, inflammation and other allergic reactions.  Add the sun’s drying effects to the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for erratic, hard-to-handle breakouts.

Humidity and Acne do not get along!

Humidity envelops the skin in a thick blanket of heat and moisture, which can force the pores to expand and increase sebum production. This excess sebum can lead to congestion and the blocking of pores, and can cause breakouts, particularly blackheads and whiteheads. This can be even worse if you're cranking up the AC. The air-conditioning can dry out the air, even pulling moisture from the skin, causing it to overcompensate and over-produce oil, leaving your skin feeling matte and tight, but with sebum production on overdrive inside. Thats why most of the Maldivians who deal with acne tends to have an oily and dry skin in the same time.

Struggling with maskne

 Maskne is the result of clogged pores. You already have oil, bacteria and dead skin cells on the skin surface, but when you wear a mask, these substances build up and occlude pores. Thanks to breathing, speaking and sweating, this creates a warm environment and lots of friction, both of which can cause irritation.

Here are some tips to take good care of your skin in the Maldives and avoid aggravating your acne.

1. Use a gentle foaming cleanser for acne-prone skin

It’s very important to wash your face in humid weather but it’s equally important not to overdo it – as tempting as it may be to constantly wash your face. Twice a day is just enough: once in the morning and then in the evening. It’s vital that you thoroughly wash the day off your face in the evening, get rid of make-up, dirt, excess oil, pollution and allow your skin to breathe and retain oxygen. Beware of washing your face too much, you run the risk of disrupting your skin's protective barrier and causing it to be more prone to breakouts.

2. Hydrate using a lightweight Moisturizer

Your skin retains more moisture in humid climates due to the moisture in the air but that doesn’t mean you should skip moisturizer – just pick a lightweight one. Our sweat contains salt and water and when it evaporates it dehydrates our skin. Without proper hydration, your skin will produce more sebum to compensate for the dryness and this can lead to breakouts and irritation. If your skin isn't protected, a flare-up is more likely. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by drinking lots of water.

SPF

Wearing SPF and sun protection is essential in all climates but it becomes even more critical in tropical climate like the Maldives as direct sun exposure is more likely. Sun damage is the biggest culprit for aging skin, the sun emits UVA rays which penetrate the deeper layers of skin and interfere with connective tissues and blood vessels. This causes the skin to lose its elasticity and wrinkle more rapidly. For tropical climates, recommended SPF is 30-50 and above depending on exposure to sun, and it's important to re-apply it throughout the day if you’re under the sun.

It is so important to opt for skincare options that restore the moisture balance of your skin while fighting acne bacteria. Your sweat glands are more prone to clogging and acne wounds have a higher rate of getting irritated when the bacteria festers on your moist skin. 

Ingredients like tea tree, lavender, salicylic acid, Niacinamide, propolis and Centella asiatica are great acne fighters as they limit pore clogging and inhibits inflammation on blemishes. 

Here are a few products that contain these effective ingredients which are 100% natural, not harsh on your acne and concentrated enough to heal and repair the damage:

1. Charcoal & BHA Clarifying gentle cleanser:

2. Centella asiatica & Tea tree blemish face cream

3. Propolis & BHA Blemish-Acne clearing face serum

4. Try our ACNE-OUT peel treatment