Taula de Continguts
- Why it makes sense to think in terms of an annual plan
- An indicative calendar by season
- Autumn and winter: the window for lasers and peels
- Winter in Madrid: heating, dry air and the skin barrier
- Spring: finishing series and planning ahead
- Summer: protection, maintenance and what to postpone
- How we work at Santé Madrid
- Frequently asked questions
An annual aesthetic plan means spreading your treatments according to the season, keeping for autumn and winter those that require sun avoidance afterwards and reserving summer for maintenance and protection. It is not a rigid calendar: it is a way of ordering sessions so they fit your skin, your schedule and the climate. In this guide we explain the logic of each season in Madrid, what to watch at each point and how the plan is adapted to each person after an assessment.
Key points
- Sun exposure is the factor that shapes the calendar most: lasers and peels usually fit better in the months with less sun.
- In winter, dry air and heating can dry out the skin; it is a good time to look after the skin barrier and hydration.
- Body treatments with gradual changes, such as cryolipolysis, are worth planning well ahead.
- Summer is a season for strict sun protection and gentle maintenance, not for treatments that require sun avoidance.
- The plan is a guide: the medical team adjusts it after assessing your skin, and results vary from person to person.
Why it makes sense to think in terms of an annual plan
Many people save aesthetic treatments for when an event is coming up or when they notice a change that worries them. That is understandable, but it often leads to rushed decisions: a pigmentation laser in June, a peel just before a beach holiday or a body treatment that has not had time to show any change. Thinking about the whole year helps avoid these situations.
The logic of an annual plan rests on three simple ideas. The first is that some treatments depend heavily on sun exposure, before and after the session, so the month in which they are done matters. The second is that several treatments are not resolved in a single visit: they need several sessions spaced over time or produce gradual changes that take a while to appreciate. The third is that skin changes over the year, and it does not need the same thing in the depths of winter with the heating on as it does in August.
An annual plan does not mean having more treatments, but having them in the right order and at the right time. In many cases the plan includes periods without in-clinic treatments, with a well-designed routine at home. If you are interested in the practical side of scheduling, our guide on when to schedule an aesthetic treatment covers events and recovery times.
An indicative calendar by season
This table summarises how the year is usually divided. It is a general guide, not a prescription for you: your skin type, your history, your travel plans and what concerns you can change the order completely. The specific proposal is always made after an assessment.
| Season | What is usually prioritised | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Assessing the effects of summer; starting lasers and peels if indicated | That there is no remaining tan or sunburn before the session |
| Winter | Continuing laser or peel sessions; hydration and care of the skin barrier | Dry air and heating; daily sun protection is still necessary |
| Spring | Finishing series that require sun avoidance; planning body treatments with gradual changes | Rising ultraviolet radiation; stepping up sun protection |
| Summer | Gentle maintenance and hydration, depending on the assessment | Avoiding lasers and peels on tanned skin; keeping an eye on pigmentation and melasma |
Notice that the table does not say which treatment suits you, but which type of treatment fits better at each point. That difference matters: the calendar organises the options, but the choice depends on a diagnosis. For example, two people with pigmentation may need different approaches, and one of them may not need a laser at all.
Autumn and winter: the window for lasers and peels
The main reason for concentrating these treatments in the colder months is the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology explains that if you arrive for a laser treatment with tanned or sunburnt skin you cannot be treated, because the laser could cause a serious burn or change the colour of the skin, and that after treatment the skin must be protected from the sun until it heals (AAD, laser treatment).
Something similar applies to chemical peels. According to the same academy, after a medium peel complete sun avoidance is recommended until the skin heals, tanning beds should not be used and, once healed, sunscreen should be applied every day (AAD, chemical peels FAQs). In autumn and winter the days are shorter, we tend to spend more time indoors and it is easier to follow these guidelines than in the middle of summer.
That is why autumn is usually the time to assess the pigmentation or uneven tone left by the summer and, if indicated, start a laser treatment for pigmentation or a series of peels. As these usually involve several sessions spaced over time, starting in autumn leaves room to complete them before spring. The number of sessions and the interval are decided by the medical team after assessing your skin, and results vary from person to person.
Winter in Madrid: heating, dry air and the skin barrier
Madrid's continental climate usually brings cold winters and dry air, and on top of that there is heating at home, at the office and on public transport. In many people this combination can leave the skin tighter, flaky or dull-looking.
There is data that supports this impression. A study carried out in Korea with women with healthy skin analysed the effect of spending several hours a day in a heated indoor space in winter: after several hours of exposure, roughness, redness and the visibility of pores and wrinkles increased on the face, and water loss through the skin increased on the forearm (Park et al., 2023). It is a single, short-term study, but it suggests that the indoor environment in winter also counts.
In practice, winter is a good time to step up hydration at home and, if it suits your skin, to consider treatments aimed at skin quality and hydration, such as HydraFacial or skin boosters, always after an assessment. It is also important not to give up sunscreen: even if the sun feels weaker, skin treated with laser or peels still needs daily protection.
Spring: finishing series and planning ahead
Spring is a season of transition. As the days get longer and ultraviolet radiation increases, it is worth finishing the series of treatments that require sun avoidance after the session and moving to stricter sun protection. If you want to know how strong the sun is each day, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency publishes a forecast of the ultraviolet radiation index for the peninsula (AEMET, UV radiation forecast).
It is also the time when many people start thinking about summer and about body treatments. Here the calendar matters a great deal, because some treatments do not produce immediate changes. In the case of cryolipolysis, a clinical review explains that changes in subcutaneous fat are not noticeable right after treatment and develop gradually over the following months; it is also intended for localised fat deposits, not for weight loss (Krueger et al., 2014).
If you are interested in a body treatment for a specific date, the logic of the annual plan is to start discussing it early, in late winter or early spring, and not a few weeks beforehand. The indication and the number of sessions are decided in a medical consultation, and results vary from person to person.
Summer: protection, maintenance and what to postpone
In summer, the main goal of the plan is to protect what has been achieved during the rest of the year. Lasers and peels that require sun avoidance are usually postponed, especially if you are going to spend time at the beach, in the mountains or outdoors, or if your skin tans easily.
If you have melasma or a tendency to pigmentation, summer deserves special attention. Melasma is characterised by relapses related to sun exposure, and a study carried out in summer in the south of France observed that daily use of a sunscreen with high UVB and UVA protection helped prevent those relapses; the study adds that visible light also plays a role and that tinted sunscreens offered additional protection (Polena et al., 2025). It is a single study, carried out with the involvement of a cosmetics manufacturer, so it should be read with caution.
This does not mean summer is a period without care. Depending on the assessment, gentle maintenance treatments, hydration and a home routine adapted to the heat may fit in. At the end of the summer, a new review shows how the skin has responded and helps prepare the next cycle.
How we work at Santé Madrid
Santé Clinics Madrid is at C. de Amador de los Ríos, 1, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00; the clinic is closed on Sundays.
The annual plan starts with a conversation. In the free aesthetic consultation with a Beauty Coach we review your skin, your routine, what concerns you and your calendar for the year: trips, holidays, events and sunnier seasons. If a medical condition, medication or a medical treatment is involved, it is assessed in a medical consultation, which costs €50 and can be facial, body or hair. The clinic also has the Observ 520x skin analysis, which can support the assessment.
With that information, the Santé Madrid medical team proposes an order of treatments for the year, with the sessions it would make sense to do in each season and the rest periods. The plan is reviewed at each visit and adjusted if your skin responds differently, if your plans change or if something new appears. We do not promise results: results vary from skin to skin, which is why we prefer to explain what you can expect in your case before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that I cannot have a laser treatment in summer?
It depends on the treatment, your skin and your sun exposure. According to the AAD, tanned or sunburnt skin cannot be treated with a laser, and afterwards the skin must be protected from the sun until it heals. That is why many lasers are planned for autumn and winter, but the decision is made after assessing your case.
When is it a good idea to start a treatment for pigmentation?
It is usually considered in autumn, when sun exposure drops and there is room to complete several sessions before spring. Before treating any spot, the medical team assesses what type it is, because not all spots are treated the same way.
Do I need sunscreen in winter?
Yes, especially if you are having laser treatments or peels. After a peel, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying sunscreen every day once the skin has healed.
How far ahead should I plan a body treatment before summer?
Well ahead. Treatments such as cryolipolysis produce gradual changes over the following months, not immediate ones. It is reasonable to discuss it in late winter or early spring, and the indication is decided in a medical consultation.
Is there a season for treating hair loss?
There is no need to wait for a particular season. If you notice more shedding than usual, the first step is a medical hair consultation to assess the cause. Treatments such as hair mesotherapy, PRP or exosomes usually require several sessions, depending on the assessment, so it is worth including them in the plan early.
What can I do in summer if I have melasma?
Protect your skin every day with a sunscreen with high UVB and UVA protection, which can also be tinted, and avoid treatments that irritate or require sun avoidance. The medical team will tell you which care and maintenance treatments suit your skin.
Is the annual plan the same for everyone?
No. The seasonal table is a general guide. Your skin type, your history, your goals and your schedule change the order, and the plan is reviewed at each visit.
If you would like to organise your treatments for the coming year, a consultation at Santé Madrid will help you see what makes sense in each season for your skin. We will calmly explain the reason for each step and adjust it with you throughout the year.
