Treatments to Reset Your Post-Summer Skin Damage for Fall

With summer in the rearview, you may be ready to dive into all things fall. But there’s more to everyone’s favorite season than sweaters and fall beauty. As the temperatures begin to cool, your skin is likely ready for a reset. Long days spent under the hot summer sun can take a toll on even the healthiest skin. Adjusting your skin-care routine is a good start, but incorporating a treatment (or two) has even more benefits. Below, we tapped four dermatologists to get their take on the best treatments to revive and replenish your skin post-summer sun damage.

Featured Experts

• Tina Alster, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington D.C.
• Gilly Munavalli, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Charlotte, NC
• Roberta Del Campo, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and the chief medical officer at Skin Laundry
• Mona Gohara, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, CT

Why does skin need a reset after summer?

Naturally, a change in weather can cause a shift in your skin’s needs. However, the leap from summer to fall comes with other issues. The first being sun exposure. Even if you’re limiting exposure during the summer and protecting skin with SPF, Washington, D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD says sun can still wreak havoc once the season has ended. “Most people receive more ultraviolet light exposure than desired during the summer,” she says. Charlotte, ND dermatologist Gilly Munavalli, MD adds that post-summer skin often has more dark spots and exacerbated residual facial hyperpigmentation. “This can lead to a dull and drier appearance, with rough textural changes.”

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Since you can’t avoid the sun entirely during the season, having a reset routine in place helps restore the health and balance of your skin. “Repairing sun damage, replenishing hydration, clearing congestion and strengthening the skin barrier are all important moving into the cooler and drier months,” says dermatologist and Skin Laundry chief medical officer Roberta Del Campo, MD.

In-office treatments to reset your skin after summer

DiamondGlow Facial

The DiamondGlow facial is a unique treatment that resurfaces and exfoliates the skin while infusing it with beneficial ingredients. It uses a diamond-tipped wand to buff the skin and rid it of debris while simultaneously extracting impurities. Next, it delivers professional-grade serums straight to the source, targeting issues like dullness, dehydration and uneven texture. It’s also customizable and can be tailored to your top concerns. Think of it as a one-stop shop for reviving your skin. With this treatment, you’re not just removing layers of dead skin—you’re also replenishing it with much-needed serums and TLC and protecting it against environmental stressors.

Fractional Laser Treatments

Lasers are a go-to treatment for evening tone and reducing scars. In that vein, Dr. Alster says they can be beneficial for reviving your skin post-summer. “Fractional laser treatments, such as Fraxel or UltraClear, are great for diminishing skin dyspigmentation and stimulating collagen production,” she says. Essentially, they work to fade issues caused by sun damage by breaking down excess pigment and damaged cells. Once your summer tan begins to fade, she recommends giving your skin a clean-slate refresh. Beyond evening out dark spots, a laser treatment can also give you a rejuvenated look and make your skin appear refreshed.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

IPL is a different type of laser treatment with a similar effect. “These treatments are ideal for removing accumulated pigment in the skin with minimal downtime,” says Dr. Munavalli. By using intense pulsed light technology, the devices address discoloration and laxity, which is another common issue with sun exposure.

Radio Frequency Treatments

The effects of sun damage post-summer go deeper than the surface. Fortunately, there are treatments that work to repair at the cellular level, such as Skin Laundry’s Resurfacing Facial. Unlike a regular facial, this treatment uses nanofractional radio frequency technology to jump-start the repair process beneath the skin. “The technology rapidly transfers heat to the skin and creates tiny controlled wounds in the skin, starting the journey to repair,” says Dr. Del Campo. It also breaks up unhealthy pockets to stimulate the production of new collagen and fresh elastin, resulting in healthier skin.

Chemical Peels

“A series of milder superficial chemical peels can also help to restore skin texture and radiance after summer,” says Dr. Munavalli. For congested skin, Dr. Del Campo recommends opting for a treatment featuring acids like glycolic, ferulic, mandelic or lactic acids to break up dead skin cells, detoxify and tighten enlarged pores.

Reseting your skin at home

A consistent skin-care routine, paired with a solid treatment plan, will make all the difference in your skin as the season transitions. However, it’s important to assess your skin’s needs first. “Gentle exfoliation with glycolic acid-based cleansers, and resuming consistent use of vitamin C topicals and retinoids can be beneficial in helping reset the skin,” says Dr. Munavalli. The goal is to protect and repair. “Antioxidant serums and mineral sunscreen in the morning and retinol products overnight are an easy system that keeps your skin healthy and happy,” says Dr. Alster.