Glowing this monsoon

The rainy season brings with it an increase in humidity, grime and pollution, which has the potential to play havoc with our skin. To fight all the skin woes, one is required to follow a simple but effective skin care regime.

Expert tips by Dr. Sangeeta Amladi to keep skin fresh and glowing:

Skin Care

· Good and effective cleansing using a soap free cleanser is recommended. You could also use a gentle scrub (with uniform mild beads) once a day

· Cleansing should be followed by toning using an alcohol free toner, since increased humidity could open up your pores

· Use a sunscreen even on cloudy days

· Use a light lotion-based moisturizer or serum which will gently rehydrate your skin and also brighten it up

· Avoid heavy makeup and use waterproof make up when necessary

· Remember to nourish your skin from the inside too - eat salads blanched in boiling water to disinfect them, vegetable soup which will keep you warm and healthy and drink the usual 8-10 glasses of water. Your skin is always thirstier than you are!



Foot Care

· Effective cleansing of feet is very important as they would be exposed to lot of grime and muck

· Do not forget to completely dry your feet so as to prevent fungal infections

· Avoid wearing boots as these would hold water for a longer duration, creating a soggy environment for your feet

· A home pedicure should be done once a week. This would consist of soaking feet in warm water to which you can add 3-4 drops of Savlon, for 15-20 minutes, followed by cleansing your nails and scrubbing your feet with a foot scraper. Complete the pedicure by applying a light moisturizer

· When you go for pedicure, ensure that the instruments used are sterilized/ cleansed with disinfectants, or if possible use your personal instruments. Also instruct your aesthetician to avoid pushing the cuticles as toe nail fungal infections are very common in monsoons


Hair Care


· Good and effective cleansing using a volumising shampoo twice or thrice a week is highly recommended as hair tends to go limp in this season

· Conditioning your hair becomes twice as important during this season. Don't shun it if you have sticky hair, instead opt for a light conditioner that is suited for limp, oily hair

· Keep the scalp dry to avoid scalp conditions like fungal and bacterial infections, which are more prevalent during the monsoon

· If you need to blow dry your hair, apply a leave-on conditioner prior to it

· Go easy on styling during this season. Excessive use of hair gels and sprays will only cause further damage

· Take time off from your busy schedule and book yourself a hair spa therapy appointment

· Oiling once a week would help but make sure you wash your hair well as residue oil can attract dust and grime, which along with sweat, can cause dandruff and even scalp infections

· Keep your hair trimmed and short during the season

· Food for hair – milk and milk products, nuts, soya products


While following these tips, one should also adhere to the below mentioned daily skincare regime to keep sparkling this season:


Monsoon skincare regime

It is possible to enjoy healthy, glowing skin without a high-maintenance routine. Here are some rules that we should try and adhere to.

· Cleansing

Washing the impurities away from your skin allows it to breathe. To protect the skin's natural oils, avoid anti-fungal and perfumed soaps. Instead use a non-soapy cleanser that ensures deep pore cleansing


· Toning

This helps to tighten the pores and prevent pimples. A non-alcoholic toner incorporated into your basic cleansing regime every morning and before going to bed will prevent skin infections and eruptions


· Moisturizing

People who spend a lot of their time in an air-conditioned environment need to keep their skin moisturized. However, those with oily skin should do so only twice every day. Their skin's natural oils will keep it hydrated


· Don't rub your face while drying it

The facial skin is very delicate so rubbing it with a towel can cause hyper-pigmentation. Gently pat it dry, avoid any kind of friction


· Don't step out without sunscreen protection

As long as there is daylight, our skin needs protection from UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you step out and re-apply every three to four hours


· Regular Maintenance

For glowing blemish free skin, adhere to your skin treatments like facials, cleanups, skin polishing, peels, etc, as suggested by your dermatologist. In fact the monsoon season is are a very good time to do peels and lasers, as post care is much less due to the absence of direct sun rays