The summer months can be the worst months of the year for your skin; pollen, pollution and UV exposure levels are at their highest.

In the months of June, July and August in particular it is important to take good care of your skin, so which UK locations should you be avoiding?

Recent research by Transform Hospital Group has highlighted which locations across the UK should be avoided if you are planning a staycation but also want to maintain glowing and healthy skin.

London uncovered as the worst location for those with pollen allergies

Every summer pollen causes havoc across the UK, as those suffering from hay fever struggle with itchy, inflamed, and uncomfortable skin. It is usually locations that have plenty of green space that can cause the most discomfort.

Southern UK cities are most likely to cause problems for those with pollen allergies, as they have particular plants that produce high amounts of pollen. Therefore, it is no surprise that London and the South-East have the highest pollen counts in the UK, with the South-West not far behind.

Therefore, it may be wise for those who suffer badly with pollen allergies to take a trip to the North of England on their staycation this summer, with North-West England and Yorkshire having the lowest pollen counts in the UK.

Yorkshire cities at greatest risk of UV exposure

Although Yorkshire may be ranked as one of the lowest regions for pollen count in the UK, they can cause the skin harm with high levels of UV exposure. Bradford, Sheffield, and Leeds all rank in the top 10 cities in the UK for UV ray exposure.

It may not be present constantly, but the UK sun can still have a damaging impact on your skin, even after five minutes if SPF protection is not applied. Experts have even advised that for those who are receptive to damage from UV exposure should look to cover their skin with long sleeves and trousers on days that have particularly strong UV levels. If you don’t look after your skin during warm and sunny days it can have long lasting impacts on the skin, such as burns, premature aging and in the worst-case scenario, skin cancer.

Can Pollution impact your skin?

Pollution may not be the first thing that springs to mind, when thinking about skin irritation. However, it is a large contributor to skin, eye, nose and throat irritation and even more so in the summer months when the sunshine and heat combine to create a more ground level ozone pollution (pollutants get stuck at ground level, so are more likely to cover the skin).

It comes at no surprise that locations in London are top of the most polluted locations in the UK. According to IQAir’s recent pollution data, Feltham, Hayes and Kensington all fall in the top five polluted areas in the UK. Pollution gets trapped in between buildings, so coastal areas are the best locations to avoid pollution although it doesn’t mean you will be able to avoid it altogether.

Helen Green, Skincare Expert at Transform who offer solutions to those who suffer from skin irritation such as Facial Peel and Hydrafacial summarised the findings:

“Many of us will be having staycations in the UK this summer so it’s important to be aware of the risks associated with this and to choose the location wisely.”

She also stated that pollution, pollen, and UV exposure can lead to the skin looking tired and dead skin is a common issue that people have. So, it is important to look after your skin during the summer months but also get treatment to rectify any previous skin issues to make you feel more comfortable.