A Month-by-Month Skin Health
Calendar for Long Island

Skin on Long Island follows the seasons. Winter brings dry air, eczema flares, and cracked hands. Spring brings pollen, rosacea flushing, and the return of the sun. From May through August the UV index is high to very high most afternoons, which makes those months the time for sunscreen, skin cancer screening, and monthly self-checks. Fall is the time to book a post-summer skin exam, start winter moisturizing early, and use flexible spending account funds before they expire on December 31. This calendar lists what to watch for, what to schedule, and the national awareness month for each part of the year.

January: Repair Winter Skin and Set a Baseline

January on Long Island is cold and dry, with indoor heating driving humidity down. Skin loses water faster than at any other time of year.

• Switch to a thicker, fragrance-free cream and apply it within three minutes of bathing. See dry vs. dehydrated skin.
• Run a humidifier in the bedroom and keep showers short and lukewarm.
• Eczema and psoriasis flare in dry air. Restart your maintenance plan before the itch begins, and see eczema vs. psoriasis if you are not sure which you have.
• Schedule your annual skin exam. January is the least busy month for appointments and a clean start for a yearly baseline.

February: Hands, Lips, and Cold-Weather Rashes

The driest weeks of the year. Chapped hands, cracked fingertips, and lip splitting peak now, and winter itch on the shins and arms is at its worst.

• Keep hand cream at every sink and wear gloves outdoors and for wet work.
• Use a plain petrolatum lip balm, not a flavored one; licking and flavored balms make chapping worse.
• Cold, itchy, red bumps on the fingers or toes after being outside can be chilblains. Warm gradually and see a dermatologist if they blister.
• Still wear sunscreen on bright days, especially for skiing: UV reflects off snow, and altitude increases exposure.

March: Transition Season and Allergy Skin

Days lengthen and the UV index starts to climb from its winter low. Tree pollen begins, and allergy season shows up on the skin as well as the nose.

• Reintroduce a daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen on the face if you dropped it over the winter.
• Itchy eyelids, a rash on the neck or face, or a flare of eczema in spring can be seasonal allergies or a contact allergy to a new product. See contact dermatitis and patch testing.
• Rosacea often flares as weather swings between warm and cold. Review triggers before April.
• Check your sunscreen’s expiration date and replace any bottle more than three years old.

April: Rosacea Awareness Month

April is Rosacea Awareness Month. Warmer days, more sun, and spring flushing make this the month rosacea becomes visible again. Pollen counts peak on Long Island.

• Persistent redness, flushing, or acne-like bumps after age 30 may be rosacea rather than adult acne. See acne vs. rosacea and rosacea treatment.
• A mineral sunscreen is the single most useful daily step for rosacea-prone skin.
• Plan laser or BBL treatment for redness and visible vessels now; results are best when sun exposure is limited afterward.
• Teens and pre-teens: prom and spring-sports season is a good time to get acne under control. See acne treatment.

May: Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. The first Monday is Melanoma Monday, and the Friday before Memorial Day is Don’t Fry Day. The UV index on Long Island reaches high levels by mid-month.

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Book a skin cancer screening if you have not had one in the past year.
• Learn the ABCDE warning signs and check your own skin once a month. See a dermatologist for any spot that is new, changing, bleeding, or not healing.
• Belaray performs about 2,200 Mohs surgeries a year, nearly two-thirds for cancers of the head and neck, which is where sun exposure is heaviest. Hats and sunscreen on the face, ears, and scalp matter most. See skin cancer statistics.
• Buy sunscreen for the summer now. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher (see the sunscreen guide), and it is eligible for your FSA or HSA.

June: Acne Awareness Month and the Start of Beach Season

June is Acne Awareness Month, and June 25 is World Vitiligo Day. On Long Island, beach season opens and the UV index reaches its annual peak around the summer solstice.

• Apply one ounce of sunscreen (a shot glass) for the body and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
• Heat, sweat, and sunscreen can trigger breakouts. Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen and shower after exercise.
• Vitiligo, the loss of skin pigment in patches, is treatable. Belaray manages vitiligo with topical therapy and narrowband UVB phototherapy.
• Kids: check for swimmer’s itch, impetigo, and molluscum, which spread in pools and camps. See pediatric dermatology.

July: UV Safety Awareness Month

July is UV Safety Awareness Month. It is the hottest month on Long Island, with the UV index very high most afternoons and the highest sunburn rate of the year.

• Seek shade between 10 am and 4 pm and wear a wide-brimmed hat, UPF clothing, and sunglasses.
• Treat a sunburn with cool compresses, a plain moisturizer, and an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. A sunburn that blisters widely, or that comes with fever or chills, needs medical care.
• Poison ivy peaks in July. See poison ivy, oak, and sumac for treatment and prevention.
• Sweat-related rashes (heat rash, folliculitis, athlete’s foot) and excessive sweating are at their worst. See hyperhidrosis treatment.

August: Psoriasis Awareness Month and Back-to-School

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. Many patients with psoriasis improve over the summer because of sun exposure, which is also why narrowband UVB phototherapy works. School supply lists and camp physicals bring families in.

• Psoriasis that improved over summer often flares in fall. Set up a maintenance plan now. See psoriasis treatment.
• Back-to-school: treat acne, warts, molluscum, and eczema before the first day. Head lice checks start in September; see head lice treatment.
• Late summer is prime time to book a skin check for anyone who spent the season outdoors.
• Keep applying sunscreen; August UV on Long Island is as strong as June.

September: Post-Summer Skin Check

The UV index falls through September but stays moderate to high on clear days. A full summer of sun is a good reason for a full-body exam.

• Book your annual skin exam if you did not have one in the spring. New or changed spots after summer deserve a look.
• Sun spots, melasma, and uneven pigment are most visible now. Treatment with BBL/IPL or resurfacing is best started once daily sun exposure drops.
• Hair shedding often increases in late summer and early fall. It is usually seasonal and temporary; see hair loss if it lasts more than a few months.
• FSA reminder: open enrollment season starts for many employers. Decide how much to set aside for next year’s dermatology care.

October: Eczema Awareness Month

October is Eczema Awareness Month. Cooler, drier air and the first days of indoor heating bring the first eczema flares of the season.

• Start the winter moisturizing routine in October, not December: thicker cream, shorter showers, humidifier. See eczema in children and dry vs. dehydrated skin.
• Halloween: patch-test face paint and costume adhesives on the inner arm a day ahead, and remove them with a gentle cleanser.
• Fall sports: treat athlete’s foot and jock itch early, and do not share towels or gear.
• Three months of FSA left. Schedule the visit you have been putting off.

November: Healthy Skin Month and the Year-End Push

November is National Healthy Skin Month. Indoor heat is on full time, and December appointment slots fill fast because every FSA plan shares the same deadline.

• Use your flexible spending account before it expires. Medical visits, skin checks, prescriptions, and sunscreen are eligible; cosmetic treatments are not. See our FSA and HSA guide.
• Winter itch begins: dry, flaky skin on the shins, arms, and hands. Moisturize twice daily and avoid hot showers.
• Cold weather and holiday stress are common triggers for hand eczema, psoriasis, and cold sores.
• Daylight is short. People who rely on summer sun for psoriasis or vitiligo improvement can ask about narrowband UVB phototherapy.

December: Last Call for FSA Funds and Holiday Skin

Most flexible spending accounts expire December 31. Both Belaray offices are open through the month, with holiday hours that may vary.

• The date of service is what counts for FSA eligibility. Book now; December fills first.
• Stock up on eligible sunscreen and over-the-counter skin care before the deadline.
• Holiday travel, alcohol, and rich food trigger rosacea flushing and acne for many patients. Keep your routine steady.
• Plan next year: put your annual skin exam on the calendar for January, and start the year with a baseline.

How Often Should I See a Dermatologist?

Most adults benefit from a full-body skin exam once a year, and more often with a history of skin cancer, many moles, fair skin, heavy sun exposure, or a weakened immune system. The best month is the one you will keep: January and September are the least busy at Belaray, and May is the month most people think of it. Any spot that is new, changing, bleeding, or not healing should be seen promptly regardless of the calendar. Both offices, in Hicksville (358 S Oyster Bay Road, Hicksville, NY 11801) and Stony Brook (2500 Nesconset Hwy #20B, Stony Brook, NY 11790), see patients year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the UV index highest on Long Island?

From May through August, when the UV index is high to very high on most clear afternoons, peaking around the summer solstice in late June. Even in September it stays moderate to high on sunny days. Sunscreen, shade between 10 am and 4 pm, and protective clothing matter most in those months, but UV reflected off snow and water can burn in any season.

How often should I get a skin check?

Once a year for most adults, and more often if you have had skin cancer, have many or unusual moles, have fair skin, spend a lot of time outdoors, or take medications that suppress the immune system. Check your own skin once a month using the ABCDE rule, and see a dermatologist promptly for any new, changing, bleeding, or non-healing spot.

When should I start wearing sunscreen in the spring?

Year-round is ideal for the face, but if you stopped over the winter, restart a daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 in March, when the UV index begins to climb. By mid-May the UV index on Long Island is high, and sunscreen on all exposed skin, reapplied every two hours outdoors, is essential through August.

Why is my skin worse in winter?

Cold outdoor air holds little moisture, indoor heating dries it further, and hot showers strip the skin’s oils. The result is dry, flaky, itchy skin and flares of eczema and psoriasis from November through March. Thicker fragrance-free moisturizer applied right after bathing, shorter lukewarm showers, and a bedroom humidifier prevent most winter skin problems.

What is Melanoma Monday?

Melanoma Monday is the first Monday in May, designated by the American Academy of Dermatology to open Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. It is a reminder to check your skin, learn the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma, and schedule a professional skin exam. Don’t Fry Day, the Friday before Memorial Day, closes the month with a sun-safety message for the summer.

When should I use my FSA for dermatology?

Before December 31 for most calendar-year plans, since the date of service is what counts. Medical dermatology visits, skin cancer screenings, biopsies, prescriptions, and SPF 15+ sunscreen are eligible expenses; cosmetic treatments are not. December appointments fill first, so booking in October or November gives the most choice of dates.

Related reading: annual skin exams, how to check for skin cancer, dry vs. dehydrated skin, our FSA and HSA guide, and the patient education hub.