Summer of Beauty

The sun is no longer mellow, rather fierce and is going to stay so for months to come with dogged determination. With the rise in temperature you need to tweak your skin care regime to avoid beauty bloopers like suntan, rashes and prickly heat. Summer is also the time for increased skin-show; after all we drop our cover-all garbs. Hence, all the more need for satin-finish glowing skin. Keep reading to learn simple beauty tips, which will do the needful.

The biggest enemy of your skin is the sun. Dermatologists all over the world concur that almost all skin problems—leathery skin, freckles and wrinkles have sun damage as the root cause. 

Dr. Charulata Bose, cosmetic dermatologist with Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon says, “Ageing of the skin occurs because the sun damages the collagen in the inner layers of the skin resulting in loss of tone, elasticity and wrinkles.” No doubts, 15 minutes of sunshine nourishes you with vitamin D, but the same time is enough to damage the skin. The skin starts thickening to protect itself from sun’s rays. This can result in leathery texture, acne and freckles.

• Sun Protection Factor—SPF. Use sunscreen before you leave home. Dr. Charulata advises sunscreens with SPF 15 to 30 for Indian skin tone. Refrain from quick swipes of sunscreen, instead use them half an hour before you head out in the sun. Stop skimping on sunscreen at once and reapply them every two hours. Accessories as sunglasses and wide-brimmed hat can help you boomerang the rays of the sun.
• Scrub time. Select a good scrub, which can remove dead skin cells without damaging pores.
• Talcum talk. We sweat more in the summer months, so a coat of talcum powder can help absorb excess perspiration and prevent problems with summer acne.
• Suntan. Tanning is the most common downside to exposure of skin to direct sunlight. It varies with skin type— fair skinned people being more susceptible than those with a darker complexion. Trust tomato for removing tan. Smear tomato pulp on your face, neck and hands—the vulnerable zones for tanning and let it stay for half an hour. Wash with lukewarm water and your skin will thank you for this. 
• Prickly heat. Another condition named prickly heat is caused due to sweating, excess humidity and the resultant bacterial infestation, which result in severe itching, rash and tiny boils in the affected region. Apply medicated talcum powder and keep the area dry and clean. Despite the self-care prickly heat insists to stay, consult a dermatologist.
• Body odour. Though we want to deny its existence the fact remains that body odour exists. Shower regularly and if possible two times in a day in summers particularly after a workout or a sport. Underarms trap sweat. Keep the area clean. Hygiene goes a long way in eliminating body odour. Shower twice a day, especially after you have sweated out. Change socks and undergarments everyday. Deodorants are good in masking smell, but refrain from using roll-ons. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices and avoid pungent foods. And if these don’t work, consult your dermatologist.
• Going for a swim. Remember to wet your hair well so that the chlorinated pool water does them no harm. Your hair is like a sponge, the wetter it becomes, less likely it is absorb chlorinated water.

Satin smooth skin

Waxing is one single beauty treatment, which women go for more often in during summer. Dr Dhruv Gupta, consultant dermatologist, Paras Hospital shares some tips -

• See that the person doing the treatment is qualified and using a good wax
• Before putting up the wax please see that it is not too hot (feel it on the back side of your arm), particularly when going for the face.
• Avoid sun exposure immediately after waxing and apply a good sunscreen (SPF >20).
• Use a good antibacterial soap or body wash to prevent infection

This summer, you can experiment with laser therapy to get relief from those unwanted hair. Dr Dhruv Gupta suggests, “Laser permanently damages the hair follicles. There may be a little redness after the procedure which goes away in a day or two.” He adds, “Before going for laser treatments enquire about the machine and the cooling methods used. Ask for the treatment to be done by the doctor himself and not the technician. Don’t go to a place, which guarantees you 100% hair removal, as there is never complete removal. However, laser helps you reduce hair up to 80-85%.” “The cost of laser hair reduction for underarms (both) is approximately Rs. 2500-3500 per sitting,” he concludes.

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