BE KIND TO THE SKIN YOU’RE IN
Simple
lifestyle changes and better product choices can give new life to your skin.
Here are a few tips on how to get that glow
Did that red, angry-looking pimple
on your chin act as a partypooper recently? Have you cut down on outings with
friends because of persistent acne breakouts? Skin irritations and problems are
a problem faced by many people, but on the plus side, it is possible for you to
solve these problem by following some easy home remedies.
Pollution, not using a good quality
sunscreen, insufficient water intake, using chemical-based make-up products as
well as chemically-based makeup removal items, eating junk food, stress and
dandruff are a few factors that can wreak havoc on the skin, especially during
teenage years when our skin’s oil glands get activated and block pores.
Apart from acne, which is the most
common skin problem, skin specialists routinely receive complaints of
hair-fall, pigmentation around eyes and mouth, acne scars and dry skin amongst
younger people.
Doctors, however, strictly warn
against going to a beauty parlour to look for a remedy to your skin troubles.
“It is scary how girls prefer to go
to an untrained person in a beauty parlour instead of a doctor for skin
treatment,” says Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, who runs The Skin and Hair Clinic in
south Delhi’s Defence Colony. “They get a bleach done on their facial skin, not
realising that it has ammonia that does further damage to their sensitive
skin.”
Making certain changes to your
lifestyle, such as including lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables in your
diet, drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day, getting undisturbed sleep for
six to eight hours in a day and minimising junk food is the least one needs to
do to maintain healthy skin.
While taking care of your skin, the
natural route is the best way, say experts. Follow a daily routine that
includes washing your face with a natural face wash that has few chemicals and
avoid fragrant ones as fragrance means there is chemical in the product. Wear a
good quality sunscreen that has a sun protection factor of 26 or above 20
minutes before stepping out. Keep reapplying it after every three to four hours,
even on a cloudy or a rainy day.
Night cream is a must. “People have
this misconception that sleeping is enough; it’s equally important to apply a
good night cream for skin rejuvenation and regeneration,” says Dr Bhardwaj.
For oily and pimple-prone skin use
creams with vitamin A, E and C or that have kojic acid, licorice or blueberry
extracts, and for normal to dry skin opt for evening primrose oil, extracts of
aloe vera and cucumber that refresh the skin.
Instead of chemically-laced
over-thecounter products, people with oily skin can use a paste made of rose
water, multani mitti (fuller’s earth) and sandalwood. It is a good idea to boil
rose petals in water and strain the liquid to refrigerate it for use in the
paste. However, as there are no preservatives in this rosewater, one must not
use it beyond two days. Those with normal to dry skin can clean face with
pre-boiled milk and rub fruits like strawberries, papaya and cucumbers to clean
their skin.
Alcohol-based toners should not be
used for cleaning off make-up. Sleeping at night without removing make-up is
worse. Use cleansing milk for face and baby oil or liquid paraffin wax to
remove eye makeup. Leaving eye make-up on could lead to severe eye infection,
especially in the corners where tear glands are situated.
Dandruff is another major cause for
skin inflammation. “Mix two teaspoons each of white vinegar and lime juice and
apply two to three hours before you shampoo your hair to control dandruff,”
says Dr Bhardwaj. For normal hair, a final rinse of beer after shampooing is
beneficial.
Doctors also have a tough time
dealing with patients who have self-medicated and, in turn, done further damage
to their skin.
“Fifty per cent of the youngsters
that I see have made their condition worse by self-medicating. This group tends
to selftreat after reading stuff on the Internet,” says Dr Nitin Walia, senior
consultant, department of dermatology, Max Healthcare. “Another important
advice is to not fiddle with acne with nails as it leaves scars that are difficult
to remove.” Dr Walia also advises against using overthe-counter products
claiming to cure acne and other skin problems without proper medical
supervision.
“These products by themselves may
not be of much use unless a doctor diagnoses and prescribes treatment for the
problem. What people must know is that the more they delay in visiting a doctor
and getting a medical opinion, longer will be the duration of therapy. Also,
the type and expense of the procedure also shoots up,” he says.
In the initial stages, antibiotics
with creams that peel away skin are sufficient, but with time medicines that
are vitamin A derivatives, chemical peels and even lasers may be required that
may take sittings of up to a few months or even a year.
Rhythma Kaul HT140323
No comments:
Post a Comment