How to care for your skin after a long, hot summer

When the sun does decide to shine on our damp island, it is nigh-on impossible to resist basking in its rays, even if almost every dermatologist and skin expert insists that the sun — and UV rays in particular — are the single worst thing for the skin.

If you are a sunbather, it is important to get check-ups — wrinkles have never killed anyone, but skin cancer has. At OneWelbeck in Marylebone, central London, where a squad of specialist surgeons, doctors and consultants are housed under one roof, is a state-of-the-art Vectra WB360 mole mapping machine — the only one in the UK. You stand inside it, arms akimbo, and within seconds multiple images have been taken of your skin, creating a 360-degree image of your body, with all moles, lesions and areas of pigmentation rendered in high-resolution 3D.

This image is then assessed by a dermatologist, such as Professor Jane Setterfield, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the field. The image is stored on a USB stick and can be compared with subsequent images to monitor changes (this is offered as a standalone check-up, or part of the comprehensive OneWelbeck Health MoT).

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The Montrose Clinic in Belgravia uses the Canfield IntelliStudio device, which maps, using the highest-resolution cameras, and magnifies, with the help of AI, any moles that should be monitored or removed then tested with a diagnostic biopsy. Since Montrose is the home of consultant plastic surgeons and derma-tologists, all of this can be done in the comfort of its immaculate interior-designed clinic.

The Montrose Clinic in Belgravia

Having dealt with the health of our skin, we can then turn to its surface and structure. Dr Suha Kersh, the co-founder of the quietly brilliant clinic 23MD in Chelsea, says she sees a surge in patients come September, when “after months of sun exposure, heat, humidity and travel, our skin tells the story of summer. And while the glow may be flattering, there are the (many) downsides: dehydration, pigmentation, inflammation, congestion and collagen breakdown.” In summary, the skin looks older and is left damaged and compromised.

Kersh’s advice is to give your skin a “thoughtful reset: one that doesn’t just treat the surface but works in synergy to repair, replenish and prepare for the cooler months ahead”. This involves stacking treatments:her signature approach of marrying complementary procedures into what she calls “a multilayered workout for your skin”.

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All her treatments are bespoke, but a session might go as follows. First, a painless, non-invasive HydraFacial to deeply cleanse the skin, ridding it of any congestion and leaving its buffed surface prepared for her to inject polynucleotides — biostimulators that support collagen repair. This part stings a bit as she injects different points across the face; however, Kersh employs one of the steadiest and speediest techniques we’ve tried, and apart from waiting for the little telltale bumps to diminish (usually within 24 hours), there is no downtime. When paired with Exilis, a needle-free radiofrequency and ultrasound device that gently tightens and tones, it gives a temporary, almost instantaneous lifted look, while the plumped and smoothed results take about six weeks to start showing.

Dr Suha Kersh, the co-founder of the 23MD clinic in Chelsea

To work on the surface and reduce one of the most common post-summer skin complaints, hyperpigmentation, she recommends microneedling. Using active serums, this can reduce dark spots and uneven tone, and refine skin texture too.

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Laser resurfacing is the gold standard for pigmentation but is better suited for a little later in the autumn, when a possible Indian summer is over. But all this investment — of time and money — is worthless if you’re not using SPF to protect and repair every day. Some of our favourite formulas, to apply all year, include those made by Heliocare (a brand often used by dermatologists), Sisley and Augustinus Bader. If used from an early age, they can help maintain skin health for life.

Mole mapping from £200, onewelbeck.com, and £495, montroseclinics.com. A HydraFacial with Dr Kersh costs £250 and further treatments from £500, 23md.co.uk. Heliocare 360 Oil-Free Gel Sunscreen SPF50, £31 for 50ml, cantabrialabs.co.uk; Sisley Sunleya Anti-Ageing Sun Care SPF50+, £223 for 50ml, sisley-paris.com; Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50, £105 for 30ml, augustinusbader.com