Summer is a time that brings with it many skincare concerns. Acne, rashes, tanning, lackluster skin are just a few of them. And the reasons for these issues range from environmental factors such as the harsh sun, hot winds to even physiological factors such as lack of hydration, eating too much junk food and not keeping the skin clean. But if you want to really glow in the summers, despite rampant pollution, there are easy steps to incorporate in your lifestyle and skincare regime.
Keep hydrated: The first visible effects of pollution are seen in dry skin and hair, dullness and lack of brightness. Not only must you drink at least 8-10 glasses of water, but have fresh fruits and vegetables. Follow the cleansing, toning, and moisturizing routine daily – once before stepping out during the day and once before you retire for bed in the night. For the hair, oil your hair with warm oil every alternate day and wrap a warm towel so the oil seeps into the scalp. Do not rub vigorously, instead, use fingertips to apply gentle pressure on the scalp.
To create a barrier between skin and the polluted environment, include occlusives in your skincare and haircare routine that prevent the contact of chemicals to skin and create a sort of protective layer. The same can be done for hair by applying a leave-in conditioner or hair serum.
Don’t apply any unknown chemical on skin or hair. Not only can they cause reactions as the skin is sensitive in this changing weather, but both skin and hair are dry and the chemicals can further damage the cells of both skin and hair.
Take care to remove any chemical products from skin and hair – including makeup, hair styling gels, etc as soon as is possible. Also, I strongly recommend using oil to do this and not any chemical removers. So if you have used gel in your hair, take some coconut oil and apply it on hair strands. Let it stay for 10-15 minutes before you shampoo it off. Similarly for removing makeup, simply massage your face with some coconut oil to dissolve the makeup before wiping gently with a damp muslin cloth. Wash your face with a mild face wash after that. Under no circumstances should you rub your skin or hair.
Applying a Vitamin C based serum to your skin during the night to pamper your skin. Also, for your hair, break open a capsule or two of Vitamin E into warm oil before you massage your scalp. This is just a ‘booster’ to provide nourishment to hair that is constantly ravaged by the harmful effects of chemicals and pollutants.
If any itching or burning or pigmentation is there on the skin, don’t delay allergy tests or ‘patch tests’, because early detection of allergy and avoiding of that chemical will be good, to prevent complications like persistent sensitive skin, dry or wet eczema, pigmentation, patchy spotted skin.
(Dr B L Jangid, MD Skin is one the top dermatologists of Delhi, with more than 10 years of experience in new treatments, technology and research into skin and hair problems, skin surgeries, hair transplant surgeries, Lasers and anti-ageing. He practices at SkinQure in Saket.)
