Fall Is the Perfect Time to Reset Your Skin — and Check It, Too
When fall arrives, most of us are ready for a reset. We swap out our wardrobes, change our routines and—hopefully—take a closer look at what our skin needs after months of summer sun, heat, swimming and outdoor activities.
As a licensed esthetician for more than 24 years and the founder of Espieve Mineral Sunscreen, fall is one of my favorite times to talk about skin health. Not only is it the perfect season to repair and replenish summer-stressed skin, it’s also an ideal reminder to really look at your skin.
Because healthy skin isn’t just about how it looks. It’s about paying attention to what may have changed.
Your Fall Skin Reset
After summer, I commonly see clients dealing with dehydration, uneven tone, rough texture, congestion and increased pigmentation. This is the time of year I like to simplify the focus: repair, hydrate, protect and reassess.
Start by restoring hydration and supporting your skin barrier. If your skin feels tight, flaky or more sensitive than usual, consider pulling back on aggressive exfoliation and focusing on gentle cleansing, hydrating serums and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type.
Fall can also be a great time to address sun-related discoloration and texture with professional treatments and targeted skincare. But before focusing on correcting every brown spot, take a moment to notice whether any spot looks new, different or changing.
That brings us to something much more important than cosmetic sun damage: skin cancer awareness.
Know Your ABCDEs
We spend a lot of time talking about preventing sun damage, but early detection matters, too. Get familiar with your skin so you’re more likely to notice when something changes.
Dermatologists use the ABCDE rule to help identify warning signs associated with melanoma:
A — Asymmetry: One half of a mole or spot doesn’t match the other.
B — Border: Look for borders that are irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.
C — Color: Pay attention to spots containing different colors or shades rather than one consistent color.
D — Diameter: Melanomas are often larger than 6 millimeters when diagnosed—roughly the size of a pencil eraser—but they can be smaller.
E — Evolving: This may be the easiest one to remember: Is something changing? A spot that changes in size, shape or color—or begins itching or bleeding—deserves attention.
Don’t rely on the ABCDEs alone. A new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, a rough or scaly patch, or simply a spot that looks noticeably different from everything around it should also be brought to the attention of a medical professional.
A self-check doesn’t replace an examination by a dermatologist. Think of it as another way to become familiar with your own skin so you can recognize changes and bring them to your dermatologist’s attention.
Don’t Put Away the SPF With Your Swimsuit
One of the biggest skincare mistakes I see when summer ends is people becoming less consistent with sunscreen.
UV exposure doesn’t have an off-season.
We may spend less time at the beach or pool during fall, but we’re still exposed while driving, walking the dog, watching our kids’ sports, exercising outdoors or simply going about our day.
That’s why sunscreen shouldn’t be considered a “summer product.” It’s a 365-day skincare essential.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Sunscreen should also be reapplied approximately every two hours when you’re outdoors, as well as after swimming or sweating.
And sunscreen isn’t the entire sun-protection plan. Shade, hats, sunglasses and sun-protective clothing all play a role.
Make Fall Your Annual Reminder
Here’s a habit I’d love to see more people adopt: when you’re transitioning your skincare routine for fall, make it your reminder to schedule your professional skin check.
Then, once a month, take a few minutes at home to look over your skin from head to toe. Don’t forget places we tend to overlook—the scalp, ears, back, backs of the legs, between the toes and soles of the feet.
Take photos of spots you’re watching so you have something to compare them with over time. And if you notice something new, changing or unusual, don’t wait for your next facial or annual appointment. Have it evaluated by a dermatologist.
As an esthetician, I can help my clients improve the health and appearance of their skin, but there is an important distinction: an esthetician does not diagnose skin cancer. If I see something concerning or unusual, my role is to encourage that client to have it evaluated by a dermatologist.
That relationship between prevention, professional care and early detection is part of truly taking care of our skin.
The Takeaway
Fall skincare doesn’t have to mean completely overhauling your bathroom cabinet. Hydrate your skin. Support your barrier. Address summer damage appropriately. Continue wearing sunscreen every day.
And most importantly, look at your skin.
Know your ABCDEs. Know what’s normal for you. Schedule your professional skin exam, and don’t ignore something simply because it’s small or doesn’t hurt.
Beautiful skin is wonderful.
Healthy skin is the goal.
