Yes, yes, summer is here! For students, it is a break from the usual school activities. For most adults, it is also a time for families to bond better. For children and toddlers, there are much more places to roam and play around. So we head out to the beach, the mountains and other places to engage in outdoor activities, exposing our skin to the sun and hot/humid environment. And while we don’t begrudge enjoyment of most people in such activities, they should be free from certain worries. A word of caution therefore is in order. Like, we don’t like our skin to suffer from sunburns, have dry, irritated skin (which can be very, very itchy), prickly heat or other skin rashes. The bane of teen agers are acne break outs/bacterial infections. Knowing what causes them and the precautions to avoid them would be very nice and a few hints on how to deal with them are in the next paragraphs
Acne break outs/bacterial infections. Extreme heat causes people to sweat more. If the skin is not kept clean, pores have a tendency to be blocked causing bacteria and other germs to cluster in the area where they multiply fast, thus leading to acne and other skin irritations. Washing hands every four hours is a recommended good practice. Sweat must also be blotted with clean towels or facial tissue. And if you use face products, these must at least be non-comedogenic and oil-free. And kindly wash sweaty or used clothes and towels before re-using.
Dry, irritated skin tends to be itchy. So, a person scratches the area and if dirty, can lead to item above. Cosmetically, a dry skin also does not become any person at all. Prevention is easy- just take lots of water and juices this summer to prevent dehydration. Eat fruits with high water content and since this is summer, indulge yourself with melons and watermelons.
Sunburn. Common during summer as people head out to the outdoors. To avoid, limit exposure to sunlight- the peak times when the sun is at its hottest Is said to be from 10 am-4pm. If not, then ladle yourself with sunscreen (at least with an SF of 15 or more). Remember to apply them before heading out and re-apply every 2-4 hours. For additional eye protection, wear sunglasses (preferably the polarized type to even out glare). And when the skin is affected, cool down immediately.
Prickly heat/heat rashes. When body heats up, and there is accumulation of dust, sweat and oil in the skin, the sweat glands get blocked up building up pressure on the skin. To prevent them from happening, try to avoid hot or humid conditions. Use cooling equipment like electric fans or air-conditioners when possible. Bathe regularly to cool the body down and use bacterial soap to avoid build-up of bacteria in the skin. When outdoors, try to use lightweight or loose clothing. Clothing made of cotton is preferred as they allow air circulation in the body and can absorb sweat better than synthetic materials.
