Have you ever admired a bighorn sheep, perched on the edge of a boulder, coat glowing in the sun, not a care in the world? No eczema. No rashes. No itching. No worries about what last week’s wildfire smoke might have done to its complexion.

Our desert wildlife is perfectly adapted, built for heat, wind, dust and sun. Humans, on the other hand, are still catching up. We love desert living, but our human coat can be a bit temperamental, which is why there are more human dermatologists than
sheep dermatologists.

Heat isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s inflammatory

During periods of extreme heat, we sweat more, we lose fluid, and bacteria flourish. We itch, we rub, we fuss, and by the time we finally see the dermatologist, the situation may have already calmed down. Then another heat spike hits, and we’re triggered again. For older, thinner skin, these effects are amplified.

Aging skin is bad enough, but when you add heat, dust and smoke, it’s quite the challenge — especially now that so many of us are choosing to live here year-round.

Wildfire smoke: the most challenging skincare season

Wildfires are no longer rare disruptions. They’ve become a recurring part of life in the West. Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter that triggers oxidative stress; essentially a chemical assault on the skin’s protective systems.

For people with eczema or psoriasis, whose barrier function is already compromised, pollutants penetrate more easily. Even healthy skin can become reactive under repeated exposure.

The Salton Sea: a local environmental skin stressor

Here in the Coachella Valley, we also live with a profoundly local environmental issue: the Salton Sea.

As the sea recedes, it exposes dry lakebed dust containing fine particulates and agricultural residues. When winds pick up, those particles become airborne, contributing to poor air quality across nearby communities.

Most of the conversation focuses, rightly so, on respiratory effects. But skin is also an interface with this environment.

What are we desert dwellers to do?

All the usual recommendations apply: stay hydrated, stay inside, wear a hat, wear sunblock. Nothing new here.

But there are a few things that are easy to do, and easy to forget.

In the morning, wash your face. Yes, even if you’re a man. Yes, even if you don’t wear makeup. Using an oil cleanser or balm cleanser might seem counterintuitive, but once you’ve tried it, you may find your skin already feels moisturized by the time you’re done. Then comes the mist.

If you like the idea of products that actively care for your skin, morning is the time for vitamin C, green tea, and algae-derived extracts, which may help reduce oxidative stress from pollution exposure. These go under sunscreen, never over it.

Whatever your routine, the last thing you reach for is a zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens don’t just block UV, they create a physical barrier against environmental particles like dust and smoke. In desert conditions, that matters. And if you shave, don’t worry: zinc doesn’t sting compromised skin.

At night, before you head to bed, wash your face again. Then — at the very least — put something with lipids on your skin. If you get grumpy thinking about spending money on skin care, use Vaseline, olive oil, or whatever you already have on hand. Rub a baby back rib across your cheeks. Whatever. Lipids are the best friend your skin can have in this climate.

Remember: Cleanse. Mist. Lipids. Sunblock. It’s that easy. It isn’t about vanity; it’s about spending three minutes taking care of your skin so the only time you see your dermatologist is at a cocktail party or your yearly skin check.

Now you’ve evolved. You can be one with the bighorn and stand tall on the golf course, on the court, or at the bar knowing you may not be as adaptive as a sheep, but you can read and learn. And that counts for something.

Brook Dougherty of Indio is the co-founder of JustUs Skincare and welcomes your questions. She can be reached at (310) 266.7171 or brook@justusskincare.com. For more information, visit www.justusskincare.com.