Warm weather can be wonderful. Longer days, lighter clothing, outdoor exercise, swimming and holidays all give us more opportunities to get out and enjoy ourselves.
But summer also changes the conditions on the surface of our skin.
Heat increases sweating. Moisture becomes trapped beneath clothing and within skin folds. Skin rubs against skin, fabric, footwear and jewellery. Small marks or lesions that barely troubled us during winter can suddenly begin to feel sore, catch repeatedly or become much more noticeable.
Understanding what is happening can help you keep your skin comfortable—and recognise when a problem needs professional advice.
Sweat is an important part of the body’s cooling system. However, when sweat remains on the skin, particularly in an area with limited airflow, it can contribute to irritation.
The combination of heat, moisture and friction can affect areas including:
The skin’s surface can become sore or inflamed when it is repeatedly rubbed. Once the skin has been irritated, continued sweating and friction can make the problem more uncomfortable. Warm, moist skin folds can also provide conditions in which fungal or bacterial infections are more likely to develop.
This is not necessarily a sign that you are failing to keep your skin clean. Even people with good hygiene can experience irritation when the weather, their clothing and their activity levels create the right conditions.
Heat rash—sometimes called prickly heat—usually happens when heavy sweating causes sweat glands to become blocked.
It can cause:
On lighter skin, the rash may look red. On brown or black skin, the colour change may be less obvious, and the spots can sometimes look grey or white. Heat rash is usually harmless and often settles within a few days once the skin is kept cooler.
Loose cotton clothing, cool showers and avoiding heavily perfumed products on the affected area may help. Our pharmacists can also advise whether a treatment such as calamine lotion or another suitable product may relieve the symptoms.
Chafing happens when skin repeatedly rubs against skin, clothing or another surface. Sweat can make this worse by leaving the area damp and increasing irritation.
It is common during:
At first, the area may simply feel warm or tender. If the rubbing continues, the skin can become increasingly sore, cracked or raw.
Chafing commonly affects the thighs, underarms, feet, nipples and skin folds. It can make walking or exercising uncomfortable and may take some of the enjoyment out of activities you would normally look forward to.
Acting when you first notice irritation is usually easier than waiting until the skin becomes very sore.
Areas where skin rests against skin can hold warmth and moisture for longer. This can produce an inflamed rash known as intertrigo.
The area may become:
Intertrigo is particularly common beneath the breasts and in other skin folds. Heat, sweating and repeated skin-to-skin contact are important contributing factors, and infection can sometimes develop within the irritated area.
Gently washing the skin and patting it dry—rather than rubbing—can help. Clothing that supports airflow and reduces skin-to-skin rubbing may also make the area more comfortable.
Ask our pharmacists for advice if the skin is persistently sore, itchy or inflamed. Different causes may require different treatments, so it is better to seek advice than to repeatedly try unsuitable creams.
A small skin tag, wart or raised lesion may be easy to ignore during colder months. In summer, however, lighter clothing and increased activity can leave it more exposed to rubbing.
A skin tag on the neck might catch on a necklace or clothing collar. One beneath the arm may rub during walking or exercise. A verruca can become more uncomfortable when you spend more time walking in sandals, swimming or taking part in outdoor activities.
The lesion itself may not have suddenly changed. The conditions around it have.
Summer can also make us more conscious of visible areas of skin. That does not mean ordinary skin must be made flawless. However, it is reasonable to seek professional advice when a lesion is repeatedly catching, becoming uncomfortable or affecting how confident you feel.
Do not cut, burn, freeze or tie off a skin lesion yourself. It is important to establish what the mark is—and whether it is suitable for removal—before attempting to treat it.
A few practical changes can make a significant difference.
Choose loose, breathable clothing where possible. Taking breaks from the heat and changing out of damp clothing can also reduce the amount of time sweat remains against the skin.
After washing or swimming, gently pat vulnerable areas dry. Avoid aggressive rubbing, particularly if the skin is already irritated.
Wet swimwear and sweaty exercise clothing can hold moisture against the skin. Change into clean, dry clothing when you have finished swimming or exercising.
Check whether seams, straps, jewellery or footwear are repeatedly rubbing the same area. Better-fitting clothing, supportive garments or changing the position of a strap may help.
Perfumed shower gels, lotions and deodorants can sometimes irritate already sensitive skin. Consider using a mild, unperfumed alternative while the area recovers.
Scratching can damage the skin further. Picking at a wart, scab or other lesion may also cause bleeding, infection or scarring.
A pharmacist can help you decide whether an over-the-counter treatment is appropriate. This is especially important when you are unsure whether the problem is heat rash, eczema, a fungal infection, contact dermatitis or another condition.
Seek professional advice if:
Many skin problems can appear similar, but their treatments can be very different. Something that looks like simple irritation may be eczema, contact dermatitis, a fungal infection or another condition requiring a different approach.
Changing or unusual lesions should be assessed rather than assumed to be harmless or treated cosmetically.
At Dears Pharmacy, we offer several services to help you understand and manage skin concerns.
Our Mole Scanning Consultation provides professional assessment of a particular mole or skin lesion. Detailed dermatoscope images are securely reviewed by a UK consultant dermatologist, with a written report explaining whether further assessment is recommended.
For suitable benign lesions, including certain skin tags, warts and verrucae, our Cryotherapy Service provides targeted treatment following a suitability assessment. Cryotherapy is not appropriate for every mark, and changing, bleeding or unusual lesions should be assessed rather than removed.
Selected skin services are available at participating Dears Pharmacy locations across Lothian, Fife, Glasgow and Tayside.
Whether something is sore, repeatedly catching or simply causing concern, you do not need to diagnose it alone. Speak to your local Dears Pharmacy team or book the most appropriate skin service online.
