Fitness
Skin saviours for a rainy day
During the monsoon, humidity can play havoc with your skin causing many infections. All these problems can be avoided by following a few simple skincare guidelines
Dr Anup Dhir

Showers, heat and humidity during the monsoon can make the skin prone to infection and irritation. The humidity increases sweat and oil secretions and raises the risk of skin problems. The basic texture of the skin also gets considerably changed. The normal skin becomes oily and the oily skin gets oilier. Whereas the dry skin has its own complications, because dryness is a sign of dehydration, the problem of lack of vitamins needed for skin repairing gets worsens.

In the monsoon, the skin gets wet often. With the constant wetting and drying, much dehydration can take place. Fungal and bacterial infections are also common because moist and damp skin leads to these infections. Also, one can get rashes and ringworm and skin even gets discoloured. In the monsoon, oily skin can darken and get rashes and pimples.

All these problems can be avoided by following a few simple skincare tips, based on your skin type. If your face gets wet, just dab it with a tissue and apply moisturiser whenever the face skin feels dry. Wash your face thoroughly and rub an ice cube over it for five to 10 minutes to lower the perspiration rate.

Use some homemade face packs to remove excessive oils. A powder-based sunscreen is useful in the monsoon which can act as a blotter to control shine and it also protects your skin against the UV rays, which can create problem like pigmentation, freckles etc. For those with dry skin, apply oil-based creams which heal eruption.

During the monsoon, a lot of airborne and waterborne microbes are in air. A good anti-bacterial toner can help in preventing skin infections and eruptions. Use an anti-bacterial face wash, too. Those with dry skin need to use a mild skin toner. Use five drops of chamomile oil in a one tsp milk to tone dry skin and 10 drops of lavender oil in one tsp water to tone an oily skin.

Also keeping the body dry can tackle various skin infections. Switch to cotton clothes as these allow your body to breathe. Allow damp hair to dry before tying them again. To circumvent allergies from mosquito bites, wear full-sleeved clothes and use a mosquito-repellent cream. Bathe twice a day to keep the skin problems at bay.

For fresh and glowing skin

A moisturiser increases the water content of the outer layers of the skin and gives it a soft, moist look. It is a must for dry skin. A mixture of glycerin and rose water is ideal to keep skin soft.

If your skin is oily, astringent is your best friend, if your skin is dry or normal, opt for a alcohol-free toner after rubbing an ice cube to cool and refresh the skin.

For combination skin types, the dry area requires gentle cleansing and regular moisturising. The oily part needs to be deeply cleansed and toned with regular scrubbing.

Sunscreen is must

Sunscreen is very important even when it is cloudy or raining. Most people make the mistake of not using a sunscreen in this weather but we should use a sunscreen which should be water resistant, oil free and have high level of Vitamin C. For those with normal skin should use a sunscreen with high SPF while a person with the oily skin should go for sunscreen with mineral fillers.

Tips for better care

  • During the rains, the level of humidity in atmosphere is high so evaporation from the face is minimum. One should wash his/ her face with a mild soap four to five times a day.

  • Since we are washing our face many times, the face skin loses moisture. Apply a good moisturiser after every wash. It would keep the skin hydrated.

  • Deep cleansers should be used frequently if you have oily skin because oily skin tends to accumulate dust and grime in this weather. This can lead to closing of pores which then leads to acne and pimples.

  • At night always remove the makeup on your skin and let the skin breathe. It is very essential to remove the makeup. Use an oil-free makeup remover followed by a nice shower and followed by moisturising.

— The writer is senior consultant and plastic surgeon, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

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