PharmEasy Blog

5 Tips to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Introduction

With the summer season finally showing its true colours, it is time to roll up your sleeves and take the measures necessary for protecting yourself from the scorching heat of the sun. 

With summer, comes a wide variety of skin and health issues. But here is the conflict, it is also the season when you can finally flaunt your beach body.

So, what can be done about it? Rule number one is to be aware. Being aware of what is good and what is not for your body and what are the symptoms of some common summer-related health issues is essential. Rule number two is to eat healthily and take care of your skin internally. And lastly, rule number three is to take care of your skin and body externally. 

Skin healthy food items to eat during summer

Summer is a tricky season. It is a season when you can enjoy most of the outdoor activities while it is also the season when you have the maximum chance of falling sick. Nourishing your body with the essential nutrients in adequate quantities is very important to boost your immune system and improve your overall well being.

 Eating clean and healthy is also known to provide a natural youthful glow, as a result of all your organ systems working efficiently. Below are some skin healthy food items that you can enjoy during the summer season.

Sunscreen and Hydration are 2 most important things.  During the long days of summer, when the sun’s rays are the most intense, exposed skin is more susceptible to the effects of photoaging, or the premature aging of skin cells caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. In fact, as much as 90% of the visible signs of aging on your skin are a result of sun or UV exposure. This makes sunscreen most important skin care regimen in summer.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

5 Tips to take care of your skin during summer

There are several habits you can adopt to keep summertime skin woes at bay. Let us explore some ways we can keep our skin healthy during summer.

  1. Apply sunscreen- Applying sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, generously to all the exposed parts of your body is essential to protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen for at least 15-20 minutes before stepping out in sun. Do not forget to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours as it wears off with time.
  1. Wear clothing appropriate for the season- Wear loose clothes made of breathable fabric and cover up as much as possible. 
  1. Stay hydrated- Drink plenty of water and other fluids (coconut water, lemonade, buttermilk) to make up for the loss of water through perspiration.
  1. Avoid too much sun- Try to keep out of the harsh rays of the sun as much as possible as too much exposure can cause sunburns, rashes or even skin cancer. Try to avoid direct sunlight during the peak hours of 11 AM to 3 PM.
  1. Follow CEM- Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize your skin regularly to maintain healthy skin.

The key to healthy and supple skin during the months of summer is to consume nutritious seasonal fruits and veggies and follow a summer-friendly skincare regime. Avoiding too much sun exposure, staying hydrated and taking care of your skin will certainly let you flaunt that youthful glow! 

Also Read: Ice Bath Benefits: Immersive Research Into a Cool Therapy

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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How To Take Care Of My Hair & Skin During Holi?

Holi is unequivocally the most colourful, vibrant and cheerful festival not just in India but around the globe. Traditionally Holi was celebrated with dry gulal and buckets of water. Unfortunately, today it comes with splashes of synthetic pigments, the after-effects of which not only causes discomfort to our skin, hair, eyes but also can be hazardous to our health. Hence, being a little precautious goes a long way. Along with all the Holi party fun, it’s also important to care for your skin during the celebration. So, before you step out for Holi this year, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Pre Holi Skin & Hair Care Tips:

Oil is your best friend. Apply oil on your face and the exposed parts of the skin or areas of your body that would come in contact with the colour. You can use coconut oil or almond oil, which will help protect your skin from colours. A day before Holi, apply body oil all over your body and massage it into the skin. This not only hydrates your skin but also ensures that less colour is absorbed the next day. In addition, you can also oil your hair to form a protective shield on the strands. Apply oil generously all over the body. Do not forget the smaller areas like the earlobes, nail crevices and skin behind the ears.

Don’ts:

Try to avoid shampooing your hair right after playing Holi. Instead, apply a hair mask and leave it for 45 minutes before shampooing. This will help remove the colours and reduce any damage. Hair oil like almond or coconut is helpful to apply before going out to play.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Do’s:

Use of Natural Colours and PROPER GENTLE TIMELY CLEANSING is very important. Post cleansing adequate moisturization is very important as well.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Post Holi Skin & Hair Care Tips:

It’s best to remove colours when it’s wet, as it is difficult to remove them once they’ve dried. Take a shower as soon as you reach home.  Use a gentle face wash and body wash and gently scrub the skin with a loofah to get rid of the color. Use a clarifying shampoo to rinse color from hair. After the shampoo, apply conditioner along with the length of hair. Leave it on for a couple of minutes and rinse with cold water. Use colour protect conditioner for color-treated hair. While removing colors, don’t rub your skin vigorously, this can cause more damage to your skin. Instead, use oil to remove colors gently. After you shower, don’t forget to apply nourishing body lotion and face moisturizer as the skin tends to become dry due to excess colour and sun exposure. If you find your skin breaking out mildly, apply Aloe-Vera gel or Lacto-Calamine lotion which have anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the skin. Take an anti-allergy medicine, but if the rash doesn’t subside in a day, visit a dermatologist without further delay. Get a facial done only a week after, provided you don’t have any skin trouble or issues.

Protecting your skin and hair during Holi requires you to follow all the pre and post-care tips as well as the do’s and don’ts mentioned above. It’s always a good idea to use more water and flower petals and less colour. If you have to use colour, go organic or use natural colours like haldi, beetroot juice and organic gulal.

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Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.

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