SUMMER can bring on its own unique set of lumps, bumps, itchy patches and rashes.
But one can often look similar to the other and can be difficult to tell what caused your skin to break out and how to treat it.
If you’re having trouble telling them apart, here’s your comprehensive guide summer skin hazard guide, with accompanying pictures.
1. Sunburn
GettySunburn will make your skin red, hot and sore[/caption]
Sunburn is a pretty common summer complaint and it should be pretty straightforward to tell if you have it.
Your skin might feel hot and sore after spending too much time in the sun and it’ll have a distinctive reddish-pink hue. The burnt areas will probably start to flake and peel after a few days and may even blister in severe cases, according to the NHS.
You should be able to treat sunburn at home and make sure to avoid sun exposure for a good few days until your skin has fully healed and wear lightweight but covering clothing.
Reapply plenty of sun cream when you’re out and about.
2. Sun allergy
A sun allergy can cause an itchy burning rash
Sometimes you might have a severe reaction to a sunburn or your sun can be extra sensitive to sun exposure, causing you to break out in hives or an itchy, burning rash.
According to LloydsPharmacy, a sun allergy rash can have different appearances. These include:
small red spotsred or white bumps (like hives)red areas with blisters that can turn into large, dry patches
The rash will usually appear in parts of the skin exposed to sunlight – including the head, neck, chest and arms – up to two or three days afterwards.
Careful avoidance of the sun can help you manage the rash, according to the NHS, as well as using a sun cream of SPF 50 or above with a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars.
Apply this thickly and evenly 15 to 30 minutes before heading out and reapply every two hours.
3. Heat rash
Heat rash can feel prickly and itchy
Also called prickly heat, heat rash results from sweat getting trapped in your pores.
The symptoms of heat rash are:
small, raised spotsan itchy, prickly feelingmild swelling
The rash often looks red, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, according to the NHS.
To calm the itching and pricking and keep your skin cool, why not:
apply something cold, such as a damp cloth or ice pack wrapped in a tea towel for up to 20 minutestap or pat the rash instead of scratching itdo not use perfumed shower gels or creamstake cool baths or showersdrink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration
4. Swimmer’s itch
Swimmer’s rash appears as small, itchy red bumps that can turn into blisters
Cercarial dermatitis, also known as swimmer’s itch, is an itchy rash caused by a tiny parasitic worm.
It’s contracted by swimming or wading in infested fresh water lakes or ponds.
It’ll begin to itch and appears while you’re is still in the water. While the itching and rash might disappear after a few hours, you it could pop up again after 10 or 15 hours and last about a week.
The rash appears as small, itchy red bumps that can turn into blisters.
When you do swim, rub your skin briskly with a towel afterwards to prevent parasites from burrowing in and giving you a rash. And definitely avoid water that’s given other people the rash before.
Use anti-itch lotion and cool compresses to treat it at home.
5. Insect bites and stings
Insect bites and stings can often be grouped together in one area
They can also get raised and itchy
All sorts of creepy crawlies can emerge during the summer months, sending you into itchy agony if they decide to nibble on you.
The bites aren’t usually serious, but you might notice a little pain and small, swollen lumps on the skin – sometimes there’ll be lots grouped together in a small area.
The skin might also become itchy and raised around the sting or bite.
But bear in mind, bites from some insect can cause illnesses: for example, ticks can give you Lyme disease if they’re infected and mosquitoes in other parts of the world can give you malaria or dengue.
So it’s worth trying to protect yourself from them, by using insect repellent, wearing long clothing and sleeping with a mosquito net.
6. Acne
GettyAcne can be exacerbated by the sun, heat and bacteria on damp towels[/caption]
For many, acne can be a year-round thing but summer can herald fresh breakouts to anyone prone to them, with sweat, bacteria and oils clogging pores.
Sunburns and higher temperatures can also make your skin inflamed.
According to the NHS, there are six main types of spots caused by acne:
blackheads – small black or yellowish bumps that develop on the skinwhiteheads – have a similar appearance to blackheads, but may be firmer and will not empty when squeezedpapules – small red bumps that may feel tender or sorepustules – similar to papules, but have a white tip in the centre, caused by a build-up of pusnodules – large hard lumps that build up beneath the surface of the skin and can be painfulcysts – the most severe type of spot caused by acne; they’re large pus-filled lumps that look similar to boils and carry the greatest risk of causing permanent scarring
Dermatologist Lian Mack suggested switching to lightweight products like a gel or water-based moisturiser and making sure all your makeup products are oil free.
Meanwhile, dermatologist Nazanin Saedi told Byrdie that wet and damp towels will often harbour unwanted bacteria that you’ll want to keep away from your face and spot-prone areas.
So you should make sure to wash these frequently and be gentle when you’re wiping away water or sweat.
But don’t even think about skipping sun cream – if you have acne prone skin you need to be especially careful to avoid sunburn, as it “can dry out your skin, lead to an increase in oil production, and therefore cause more breakouts”, according to Saedie.
7. Melasma
GettyMelasma can cause dark patches on your skin, especially on your nose, cheeks and forehead[/caption]
Melasma is common condition that will cause darker patches on your skin, primarily on your face.
They’ll most commonly pop up on:
the bridge of your nosethe foreheadthe cheeksthe upper lipthe chin
It’s most common in people with light brown skin tones, according to Medical News Today.
Frequent exposure to the sun can trigger melasma, so it’s important to wear plenty of sun cream when outside, as well as a hat and sunglasses.
8. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is caused by inflammation of your hair follicles
The tiny pockets in your skin that body hairs grow out of are called hair follicles – when these get infected with bacteria or blocked, this causes a condition called folliculitis, causing groups of red bumps that look like spots or blisters.
Tight clothes, acid and chlorine from hot tubs, or damage from shaving and waxing can be the cause.
To lower your chances of irritating your hair follicles, shave using shaving cream and a clean blade in the direction your hairs grow and only dip into hot tubs only if you know for sure they are clean and well-maintained.
9. Sea creature stings
Jellyfish stings can cause and itchy rash
It’s not uncommon for you to be stung by a jellyfish if you’re going for a swim in the UK, though most are not serious and can be treated with first aid.
The main symptoms of sea creature stings are intense pain where you’re stung and an itchy rash.
Jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war stings can also cause raised circular areas on the skin (welts).
The NHS notes that you should consult a lifeguard or someone with first aid training if you do get stung.
10. Plant rashes
Credit: Martyn Ferguson/Pen NewsGiant hogweed can leave you with pus-filled, golf-ball sized blisters[/caption]
If you’re going on walks and brushing up against various plants, chances are you might get a rash or allergic reaction to them.
Some like the giant hogweed can leave Brits with pus-filled, golf-ball sized blisters.
But touching other plants can leave you with more mild reactions like hives.
The Royal Horticultural Society has put together a full list of plants in the UK that could put you at risk of skin reactions, allergies or poisoning in rare cases.
11. Snake bites
GettyYou’ll notice two puncture wounds at the site of a snake bite[/caption]
Though the NHS notes that most snake bites in the UK are not serious, it’s still important to get all snake bites checked as soon as possible.
Only three types of snake are found in the wild in the UK: adders, which are grey or reddish-brown, with a dark zig-zag shaped stripe down their back and poisonous; grass snakes are usually green, with dark spots down their sides; and smooth snakes which are usually grey or brown with a dark pattern.
Aside from the obvious, you’ll know it’s a snake bite if you have puncture marks at the wound, as well as redness, pain and swelling.