Look Hot in the Durham, NC Heat!
Durham, North Carolina is known for a lot of things….The Bulls, Duke University, The City of Medicine. It’s full of culture and fun things to do, and it’s HOT here in the summer. It’s not the dry heat of the dessert, it’s the oppressive, humid, sticky, uncomfortable withering heat. If you’ve ever spent a summer here, you know.
Here’s some advice from the Aesthetic Wellness Team at Oak and Glow MedSpa in Downtown Durham to keep you looking and feeling fresh through the heat.
First, and most importantly…Stay Hydrated. We can’t emphasize this enough- drink that water! Signs of dehydration show up in how you feel and in your skin. Dry skin, chapped lips and low energy are signs of mild hydration. Severe dehydration can cause confusion, clammy skin and fainting. Drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated in the heat, a general guideline: drink half your body weight in ounces; so, a 180lb person needs 90 oz of water daily.
In more humid places like Durham, after drinking alcohol or caffeine, and after exercise, you may need more water than that. One of our favorite treatments for dehydration here at Oak & Glow is IV infusion therapy.
IV (intravenous) infusion therapy delivers fluids, vitamins, and nutrients directly into your bloodstream through a vein. Because it bypasses digestion, your body absorbs everything immediately. Common ingredients include:
Fluids (saline for hydration)
Electrolytes
Vitamin C
B vitamins (like B12)
Magnesium
Antioxidants
Most sessions last 30 to 60 minutes for a standard IV drip, and for General Wellness an IV is recommended 1–2 times per month, though some people get a drip before or after a vacation or big event.
Secondly, protect your skin from the sun. Make sunscreen non-negotiable in your daily routine. Every day, at least SPF 30. Did you know most of the photoaging you see on your skin is from daily exposure? Walking to the mailbox, driving in the car, going for a jog. If you're outside, the sun will find you. Plus, UV rays can get you on cloudy days, or days that don’t feel particularly warm at all. The sunblock in your makeup is not enough. Use sunscreen as the final step in your skincare routine each day before applying makeup. Remember to apply to other areas as well, neck, chest and hands see the sun as much as your face.
In addition to sunblock (everyday, we cannot stress this enough), when outside, wear a hat and sunglasses. Be sure to reapply your sunblock after swimming, exercising, every 2 hours if you're going to be outside for an extended duration, and after excessive sweating.
Speaking of excessive sweating, ‘Tox can help! We’ve all heard the phrase, “Sweating like a Sinner in Church!” How accurate! Sweating is inconvenient and embarrassing. Sometimes even the best anti-perspirant can’t hold back excessive sweating, but Botox can. Carefully placed units in the hands, feet and underarms will keep you dry and fresh. This treatment takes about 30 minutes and lasts 4-6 months. It’s an ideal way to get through summer, an awkward first date, or job interview.
We can’t avoid the heat here in Durham, but we can put up a good fight against it. But, air conditioners can dry out your skin, weaken your skin barrier and make fine lines more noticeable. We recommend a daily moisturizer for your skin type, daily exfoliation and a sprinkle of ‘Toxin for those fine lines.
It will always be hot in the summer here in Durham. But, just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you have to wilt away.
