Best & Worst Skin Treatments for Summer: What to Avoid & What’s Safe

The skin is more vulnerable in summer for several reasons:

• UV radiation is stronger, increasing the risk of post-treatment complications like hyperpigmentation and burns.
• Heat and humidity boost inflammation and impair recovery after intensive procedures.
• More time outdoors makes it harder to comply with strict sun-avoidance protocols.

Certain treatments, while beneficial overall, are best scheduled for cooler seasons, whereas others, when performed with care, can be safely done year-round.

Knowing how to time your treatments with the wether can make all the difference in preserving your progress and protecting your skin.

Here’s a breakdown of the top treatments to avoid during hot, sunny months.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a non-invasive treatment that targets pigmentation, sun spots, broken capillaries, and even unwanted hair or spider veins. It works by using broad-spectrum light to heat and destroy specific chromophores (pigmented areas) in the skin.

• Why it’s risky in summer: These treatments require total sun avoidance before and after. Even brief sun exposure can lead to burns, rebound pigmentation, or patchy results.
• Instead, consider: Waiting until fall or winter when UV exposure is lower and it’s easier to stay covered up. If you do wish to start treatments, go for areas that are not sun-exposed, like underarms.
• If you still want IPL in summer: Stay out of the sun for at least 2 weeks before and after treatment. After that, make sure you take extra precautions with sun protection: if you are outside, you need SPF 50 every day with reapplication every two hours, wear a hat for extra protection, and stay in the shade when possible.

A chemical peel is a treatment that uses acid-based solutions to exfoliate the top layers of skin, revealing smoother, more radiant skin underneath, improving discoloration and fine lines.

• Why It’s Not Ideal for Summer: Strong peels remove protective skin layers, making your skin extremely vulnerable to UV rays. If you get a chemical peel during peak sun exposure, you risk long-term damage or even reversing your results.
• Instead, consider: Gentler, enzyme-based at-home treatments that offer exfoliation without compromising your barrier. Our Polish Enzymatic Exfoliator uses fruit enzymes and ultra-fine powders to resurface skin without irritation or photosensitivity.
• If you still want a peel in summer: Schedule downtime carefully to avoid sun exposure entirely during healing. Be strict with aftercare and layer on a breathable barrier balm post-peel to protect healing skin and accelerate recovery.

Exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic are widely used to treat acne, texture, and dullness. And, with increased sweat and oil during summer, it can feel like your top layer of skin needs more of an extreme clean, but this can backfire if you're not careful.

• Why it’s problematic in summer: These acids increase photosensitivity, and the newly exposed skin is more likely to burn or develop hyperpigmentation. Chlorine, sweat, and heat compound the risk of irritation and barrier disruption, which can trigger breakouts or redness instead of glow.
• Safe swap: Avoid acids in the summer that can thin the skin, and instead look for natural at-home exfoliation treatments like Polish as your primary exfoliator.
• How to properly exfoliate in the summer: Avoid any type of at-home exfoliation before and after prolonged sun exposure. If your skin is feeling sensitive, limit exfoliation to 1–2x per week. Follow exfoliation treatments with Enrich to replenish moisture and support skin barrier resilience.
  
  

Not all treatments need to pause during warmer months. These non-invasive or minimally disruptive options allow your skin to thrive without the risk of UV complications—especially when supported by barrier-repairing products and diligent sun protection.

Professional facial treatments cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, and extract buildup from the skin, which is ideal for resetting your complexion after sunscreen, sweat, and environmental exposure.

• Why they’re beneficial for summer skin: They are a low-risk treatment with little to no downtime, as they don’t compromise your skin barrier. They provide instant refreshment without triggering UV sensitivity, instantly enhancing skin hydration and glow. They also help replenish moisture lost to the sun, leaving skin softer and smoother.
• Best practices: Avoid direct sun for 24–48 hours, and apply SPF 30+ every day afterwards. Support your skin barrier with a daily skincare routine to maintain results, including a gentle cleanser to keep skin free of impurities and antioxidants to keep it protected.

Microneedling creates micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving firmness, pores, and acne scars.

• Why it’s still safe in summer: Minimal downtime that doesn’t create long-term photosensitivity.
• Important precautions: Avoid direct sun for a few days post-treatment. Apply barrier repair products like Enrich for faster recovery. Use mineral SPF and wear a hat to protect the newly treated skin.

Botox relaxes targeted facial muscles to smooth dynamic wrinkles like crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines, and filler can be used for small, focused corrections, such as subtly plumping the lips or restoring volume in under-eye hollows.

Used strategically, Botox and selective filler applications can offer subtle enhancements to your appearance without compromising your summer skincare goals.

• Why these injections are safe for summer: Since injections don’t involve surface injury, these is no impact on your skin barrier or added risk of sun sensitivity. These treatments have minimal downtime, and are good if you're looking for a quick fix, with results appearing gradually over several days.
• Best practices after injections: Avoid intense exercise, direct heat, or sun exposure for 24 hours. Continue your regular skincare routine, including daily SPF.
  
  
  

While treatment timing matters, your daily skincare routine is the most influential factor in your long-term skin health. That’s where the KaramMD Trifecta System shines.

Why Trifecta works in every season:

• Rinse Daily Cleanser supports the skin’s pH, which is key for preventing inflammation, especially when exposed to sweat and SPF.
• Quench Vitamin C Serum shields skin with powerful antioxidants, reducing oxidative damage from heat and UV exposure.
• Illuminate Anti-Aging Cream repairs damage and stimulates collagen with a retinol-delivery system that works safely in summer.

And to support treatment recovery, barrier health, and seasonal shifts:

• Polish Enzymatic Exfoliator offers non-irritating exfoliation that maintains glow without risk.
• Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm seals in hydration and helps skin bounce back faster from any seasonal or procedural stress.
  
  

There’s no need to pause your skincare goals during warmer months.  Instead:

• Avoid aggressive treatments that increase photosensitivity
• Swap in safe, supportive treatments like facials and microneedling
• Maintain barrier resilience with Polish and Enrich
• Stick to a daily skincare routine that supports optimal skin health all year long
  
  Let your skincare routine work with the seasons, not against them. When you consistently nourish, protect, and support your skin—especially in summer—you build lasting radiance and resilience.