Can you guess what's irritating your skin?
You know you need to shield
your skin from harmful UV rays, but did you know that you needed protection
from your cell phone or that fasting may make you wrinkle faster? Here's more
Great skin is not only the
result of using a cleanser, sunscreen or moisturiser religiously. Aside from
genetics, your skin may be affected by various other aspects of your daily
regimen. Your lifestyle choices and how you go about your day may dry out your
skin or cause acne breakouts -in short, undo all the effort you put into your
skin care routine.
A number of habits may be
keeping you from achieving your goal of having glowing, flawless skin, but the
good news is these are easy to get past. Experts tell you how and list a few
surprising things that may be harming your skin.
Spending long hours in an air-conditioned room
It's hard to imagine a long
car ride or even being at the office, or getting a good night's sleep without
the airconditioner on full blast. Without properly ventilated apartments,
breathing articificially cooled air is now part and parcel of Mumbai life.
Cosmetic physician Dr Manjiri Puranik, founder of Instasculpt, explains how
damaging this can be to the skin. Not only does it lead to dryness, poorly
maintained AC systems, she says, can be detrimental to your overall health too
as it causes bacteria to blow all around. “If you already have skin conditions
like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, air-conditioning can make these worse, by
disturbing the skin's natural moisture balance,“ she says.Even if you don't
suffer from any of these conditions, air-conditioning can make your skin itchy
and flaky. Dr Puranik thus recommends having a moisturiser at hand, and
applying it at least thrice a day.“This will counteract the drying effect. Also
make sure you're drinking at least eight glasses of water daily to stay
hydrated.“
Long, hot showers
Cranking up the water
temperature for a super-hot shower may seem like a good idea, and may even feel
soothing, particularly on a rainy day but it is the last thing your skin needs.
“A lukewarm water bath is ideal as far as the skin is concerned,“ says Dr
Bharti Patel, Founder, Yashi Skin and Hair Clinic. “It helps clean the skin
without robbing it of moisture. Hot water, on the other hand, strips the
epidermis of oils, leading to dry, itchy skin. It also removes the protective
oils and lipids from your skin, damaging the skin's protective barrier. This
further increases transepidermal water loss. If you must bathe with hot water,
make it a point to apply a good moisturiser or oil first; also, use a gentle
soap or body wash. And, keep the duration of the bath short,“ she says.
Exfoliating or waxing frequently
Dr Nina Madnani, a
dermatologist associated with the P D Hinduja Hospital says that people often
develop rough, irritated skin by exfoliating more often than necessary. “It's
fine to exfoliate your skin once in few weeks using a gentle scrub. But doing
this too often may damage the natural skin barrier of the skin, and lead to
redness, irritation, sun sensitivity, eczema or pigmentation,“ Madnani
explains.She points out that the skin is naturally exfoliated every day, just
by water, wind, bathing, wiping, shaving etc., so exfoliation is really not required.
But if you still feel like using a grainy substance to achieve a deep cleanse,
she recommends ensuring that the cream you use is not too harsh and to limit
usage to once a week.
Waxing, an effective hair
removal method also has its downside. “Done frequently, this may cause itching,
pus filled lesions, pigmentation or skin burns,“ says Dr Kiran V Godse,
Consultant Dermatologist, Apollo Hospital. Most people who undergo waxing
develop some skin redness and irritation; others may develop reddish bumps, rashes
and minor subcutaneous bleeding as well. “This can be avoided by using calamine
lotion after waxing and not covering the waxed area,“ Dr Godse says, adding
that keeping a gap of at least three weeks between two waxing sessions is
advisable.
Talking on the cellphone
Spending too much time on
mobile phone gives rise to a condition called mobile phone dermatitis or
allergic contact dermatitis. The most common allergen to blame here is nickel,
but electromagnetic radiations can also trigger allergic reactions.
“Besides, holding a mobile
phone close to the skin can cause swelling, redness, itching or blistering near
the cheekbones, ears, jaw or hands due to germs on the screen,“ explains Dr
Puranik. In addition, looking at the screen constantly also leads to crow's
feet around the eyes and wrinkles around the tech-neck area, i.e. the area
underneath the chin and around the neck. To avoid the premature wrinkles this
may cause, hold your phone at eye level and increase the font-size.
Dr Puranik also recommends
using hands-free devices like headsets or putting your phone on speaker mode
whenever you can, to avoid direct contact with the skin. Also, wipe the screen
with anti-bacterial wipes at least once a day.
Skipping meals
Sometimes even a lunch
break looks difficult on a busy work day but missing a meal is not only bad for
your tummy, it brings its fair share of troubles for the skin too. “Skipping
meals depletes the body of nutrients, leading to dull skin. It can also make
your skin lose its elasticity, expediting the appearance of wrinkles“ says Dr
Godse. “So make sure you take your meals on time and balance your meals with
green leafy vegetables and fruits. Also, drink plenty of water, as this helps
the skin glow.“
Your bra straps
Dr Godse explains that clothing
dermatitis can be caused by wearing clothing -fabrics that come into contact
with the skin.He points out that this is mainly the case with synthetic
materials.“The source of the skin problem may be the fabric itself or more
commonly a contact allergy to the chemical additives used in processing the
fabric.“ The allergic skin reactions, he says, are most often a result of
resins, dyes, glues, chemical additives and tanning agents.
To avoid it, one should
wear breathable fabrics -particularly for undergarments. “Creams and ointments
may be used to help control itching, swelling, and redness, and in severe
cases, oral antibiotics may be prescribed,“ says Dr Godse.
Wearing artificial jewellery
Dr Bharti Patel points out
that artificial jewellery contains nickel, a common allergen that causes
dermatitis or eczema. Dr Puranik adds that jewellery may also be designed with
hollow portions, areas where dirt and moisture build up, and these may irritate
the skin too. “Rings and stud-style earrings are the worst offenders.Besides,
often, silver jewellery has no plating on it at all, and this can trigger
allergic symptoms and irritate skin.“
Dr Puranik stresses that if
you cannot do without wearing costume jewellery, apply a skin protecting cream
first -this would form a protective layer on the skin and keep it from being
affected by the metal. “Also, limit how long you wear this for.“
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Sumi
Sukanya Dutta
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MM24AUG17
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