Skin care tips for rainy season

After hot and steamy summers, the showers of monsoon bring relief. We all love the good things about the rainy season; the cloudy weather, cool gentle breeze, rain drops, hot tea and pakodas. But unfortunately this damp and humid weather brings with it many skin and hair problems. Fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections are common in rainy season. Dull, oily looking skin and hair fall are other common complaints in this season. In this post, we would discuss common skin problems of rainy season and also give some skin care tips to counter these problems.

Common skin problems in rainy season

Infections

• The commonest skin problem during rainy season is fungal infections. Fungus thrives in humidity. The wet skin folds rubbing against each other get macerated easily, providing easy entry to fungi and yeast. As a result, an itchy, circular, reddish, rash develops at skin folds in groins, underarms or under breasts in women.
• Athlete foot or combined bacterial/fungal infection of foot is another common form of infection that affects people whose feet stay wet for hours, especially after exposure to dirty water. Common symptoms include a scaly and itch patches which may be associated with foul-smelling discharge or pus. Fungal infections and athlete foot is more common in diabetic patients.
• Scabies is caused by itchy-mite that preys on both adults and children commonly during rainy season. The common complain is intense itching especially at night and rashes or red bumps on hands, wrists, underarms, abdomen, groin and buttocks. This condition is highly contagious and invariably spreads to other family members if not treated properly.

Sweat rash or Prickly heat

This is common due to profuse sweating in hot humid climate. It is more common in children and infants. The common complain is small red raised bumps with intense itching and prickling or stinging sensation.

Oily skin problems and acne breakouts

• Those with an oily skin will face a host of problems in humid climate, as their sebaceous glands become overactive secreting more oil. Sickly, dull, oily-looking skin is common during the rainy season.
• Increased oil secretion causes blackheads, whiteheads and acne breakouts.

Skin care tips to counter skin problems faced in rainy season

• Keep your body dry. Use umbrellas & raincoats when going out in rains. If caught in unexpected showers, dry yourself as soon as possible. Change wet undergarments and clothes as soon as possible.
• Switch over to cotton clothes and undergarments as they allow body to breathe. Wear to full sleeved clothes to avoid mosquito bites in rainy season.
• Avoid wearing leather, plastic or canvas shoes. It’s better to wear slippers or sandals as they let your feet breathe. If you are wearing shoes, then apply anti-fungal powder on foot to avoid infection.
• Try not to keep your nails long during the monsoon season as long nails promote fungal infection on feet.
• Always wash your feet thoroughly after wading through stagnant water and dry them completely.
• Take special care of your foot if you are having diabetes.
• If you develop an itchy rash on foot or body, consult your dermatologist.
• Use face wash containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid to freshen your skin. Wash your face with it at least twice a day. But don’t wash excessively as it may cause sebaceous glands rebound overactivity.
• Use a face scrub twice a week to exfoliate dead cells.
• Do not skip sunscreens when weather is cloudy, as your skin is still unprotected from harmful ultraviolet rays of sun. So always step out with sunscreen with SPF at least 15 in daytime irrespective of cloudy sky.
• Avoid heavy moisturising creams or oily foundations. Use a light mousse or a matte compact or simply a few drops of tinted moisturiser as a makeup base.
• if you have oily skin, use non-comedogenic water based makeup.
• Though oily skin is the main problem in humid rainy season, some people feel dry and dehydrated skin in rainy season, especially those with already dry skin. In such cases, frequent moisturiser application is recommended.
• To avoid sweat rash or prickly heat : avoid humid sweaty weather by staying in air conditioned rooms, take cool shower, wear light cotton clothes and apply talcum powder.
• If you have developed prickly heat, apply calamine lotion to soothe the area. In most cases, heat rash will clear up on its own in a few days if the affected area is kept cool and dry.If it doesn’t regress or causes excessive discomfort, consult your dermatologist.
• And of course, **eat balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and drink 8-10 glass of water daily **to maintain everlasting glow on your skin.

Hope these skin care tips help you to enjoy blissful rainy season without worry. In our next post, we would discuss hair related problems in monsoon and common tips to overcome them. Have a healthy monsoon!