Charleston summers are wonderful, but they are a lot for our skin. By fall, the doctors at Mara Dermatology are seeing the cumulative effects of UV exposure, heat, humidity, sweat, saltwater, chlorine and, hopefully, lots of sunscreen.

So, what now? Consider this your post-summer skin reset.

A tan may fade, but that doesn’t mean the effects of UV exposure disappear with it. Fall is when patients often notice more freckles and brown spots, uneven pigmentation, redness, rougher texture or simply a duller complexion.

It’s also a good time to ask: Did anything on my skin change this summer? A spot that is new, changing, bleeding, persistently scabbing, painful, not healing or noticeably different from your other spots deserves an evaluation by a board-certified dermatologist.

“The skincare industry has done an excellent job convincing people that they need a separate product for every square inch of their face,” the doctors say. Most people simply don’t need a 10-step routine.

Their foundation is surprisingly simple:

Morning: Gentle cleanser, Vitamin C antioxidant, moisturizer if needed and broad-spectrum SPF 30+.

Evening: Gentle cleanser, a retinoid if appropriate and tolerated, and moisturizer.

As the humidity drops, your skin may need more moisture, but follow what your skin is actually doing. As the doctors put it, “Charleston winter skincare is not Minnesota winter skincare!”

Fall and winter are some of Mara’s favorite months for corrective treatments because avoiding intense sun before and after treatment is easier.

Depending on your skin and goals, lasers, light-based treatments and chemical peels can address brown spots and uneven tone, while resurfacing treatments and microneedling may help with texture, fine lines and overall skin quality. Sometimes dull, dry skin needs something much simpler: gentle exfoliation, hydration and skin-barrier repair.

And if you want your skin looking great for the holidays, don’t wait until December. Fall is the time to make a plan.

Beautiful skin usually doesn’t come from one dramatic treatment or the newest viral ingredient. The biggest transformation usually comes from doing the right, simple things over and over again.

Their philosophy? Protect in the morning. Repair at night. Don’t overcomplicate it.

And the one thing neither doctor changes with the seasons? Sunscreen. In Charleston, that’s a year-round product, not a summer product.