A conversation worth having
A holiday in the sun is one of the most aesthetically demanding things you can do to your skin. UV exposure is the dominant driver of visible facial ageing, and a week in strong sun does the visible damage of months of normal UK life.
Most clients don't think to talk to their clinician about this. They should. The right pre- and post-holiday protocol significantly reduces the cost of the trip — to your skin, anyway.
What to pause two weeks before holiday
Retinoids. Retinoids increase skin sensitivity to UV. Stop your retinoid at least seven days before travel, ideally two weeks. Restart two weeks after.
Chemical peels. Any AHA, BHA, or TCA peel should be at least four weeks before holiday. Freshly peeled skin pigments dramatically in strong UV.
Aggressive microneedling or laser. Same logic. The freshly remodelled skin is photosensitive and prone to pigmentation.
Filler in the lip and perioral area. Sun-induced swelling can interact unpredictably with recent filler. I generally avoid these treatments in the two weeks before holiday.
What is fine to do close to holiday
Profhilo and skin boosters. These work below the surface and don't increase photo-sensitivity meaningfully. Hydrated skin actually tolerates sun better than dehydrated skin.
Botox. Standard upper-face Botox isn't affected by sun exposure. Just don't book treatment less than 48 hours before flying.
Gentle facial treatments without exfoliation. Hydrating facials, LED, gentle peptide-focused treatments.
During the holiday
High-SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen, reapplied every two hours when exposed. Mineral sunscreens often perform better in heavy heat than chemical ones. A hat. Avoid direct sun between 11am and 3pm.
Hydrate aggressively. Skin holds water poorly in dry heat. Internal hydration matters as much as topical.
What to pause for two weeks after holiday
Strong actives. Skin is often barrier-compromised after a holiday — even if no obvious burn. Restart retinoid gradually. Pause acids for a week.
Strong peels. Wait at least three weeks. Skin needs to recover before more aggression.
What works brilliantly after a holiday
A gentle lactic peel three to four weeks post-holiday. A Profhilo course to address sun-induced dehydration. Microneedling with brightening actives if pigmentation has appeared.
A realistic post-summer protocol at Verse
For clients coming back from a sunny holiday, the typical sequence is: two weeks of barrier-repair routine at home, four-week-out lactic peel, six-week-out first Profhilo session, ten-week-out second Profhilo session. By autumn, the holiday damage is reversed and skin looks better than pre-trip.
Booking a consultation
If you have a holiday coming up or are returning from one and want a tailored protocol, a free consultation is the best place to start. I'll assess your skin and design a plan that respects the timeline you're working with.
