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Water Water Everywhere!! Monsoon is here. In monsoon, the cool weather makes you drink less water. It’s important to stay hydrated, so don’t wait until you feel thirsty to take a drink. By the time you’re thirsty, you may already be dehydrated.

Water is one essential nutrient no person can live without. Water composes 50% to 70% of the body’s weight. Drinking water is essential to the health of the skin and body because:

* It sustains the health of the cells
* Helps in the elimination of toxins and waste
* Helps regulate the body’s temperature
* Aids in proper digestion

It is estimated that 75% of Indians are chronically dehydrated. Even mild dehydration will slow down metabolism by as much as 3%. Drinking lots of water can help stop hunger pangs for many dieters. Lack of water is number one cause of daytime fatigue.

Is water really essential for the appearance of your skin?

While not everyone agrees, we think the answer is a resounding yes! Skin is intricately tied to the overall health of your body. When your body is properly hydrated, you’ll look better and feel better. Water gives you a radiant complexion and in addition, bloating and puffiness often disappears.

How much water is needed?

The amount of water needed by an individual varies, depending on body weight and level of daily physical activity. Also illness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are special situations that demand greater fluid consumption. Drinking too much water may lead to a rare condition called Hyponatremia. Check with your physician for recommendations.

At Kosmoderma, we follow an easy formula to help you determine how much water is needed every day for maximum physical health:

-Take your body weight in kilograms
-Divide this number by 8
-The resulting number approximates how much 8-ounce glasses of water you should drink every day.

For example, if your weight is 50kg, you should drink 6 glasses of water every day. If you are involved in intense physical activity, add 2 extra glasses of water to the final number.

Consuming lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for healthy skin will satisfy some of your body’s fluid requirement. Also milk, juice, and other healthy beverages are part of your daily total. Just make sure that most of your daily fluid is pure, clear water. So keep a large bottle of water on hand daily and keep the body hydrated.

HAIR FALL IN TEENAGERS

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. The average scalp contains about 1,00,000 hairs. On average a person loses about 100 hairs per day. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What are the causes of excessive hair loss?

Many people suffer from hair loss due to various factors like:

Stress
Prolonged illness
Nutritional deficiency, Crash diets that lack sufficient protein, Iron and Vitamins
Hormonal imbalance – thyroid gland problems (either overactive or under active)
Chemical and Physical stress to the hair shaft from Hair Coloring, Perming, Permanent straightening or lengthening.
Severe emotional Stress
Infection of the scalp – Fungal infections
Medications

Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?

Yes. If you use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss.

Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called “perms”) may cause inflammation of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

When to seek Medical Help?

You are losing hair in an unusual pattern
You are losing hair rapidly or at an early age (for example, in your teens or twenties)
You have any pain or itching with the hair loss
The skin on your scalp under the involved area is red, scaly, or otherwise abnormal
You have acne, facial hair, or an abnormal menstrual cycle
You are a woman and have male pattern baldness
You have bald spots on your beard or eyebrows
You have been gaining weight or have muscle weakness, intolerance to cold temperatures, or fatigue

Medication and Birth Control Pills

A teenager taking medication for a medical condition could notice a loss of hair as a side effect of the medication. This is also true of young girls who start to take birth control pills. In some instances of male pattern baldness, teenage boys could start to experience this at an early age. When hair loss occurs in teenage years, it is a cause for alarm and parents should take their children to a doctor to determine the underlying reasons. Long periods of illness, chronic diseases, surgery etc. are also reasons why hair sometimes starts falling more than it should, but this is often temporary, nothing that a good diet and adequate rest won’t solve.

Vitamin Deficiency & Nutrition

When a teenager starts to notice hair loss it could also be a sign of a vitamin deficiency in the diet. Since teenagers like to eat a lot of junk food, the lack of proper nutrition could be the cause of thinning or balding. The lack of proper nutrition can also cause other illnesses in addition to hair loss. Meat or foods rich in protein and vegetables are usually not high on the list of foods a teenager likes to eat. Therefore, dietary supplements can help prevent any further loss of hair.

Hair Spray & Braids

For young female teenagers, the way they wear their hair could be the cause of the hair loss. Having the hair tied back very tightly, as in the case of French braids, pulls on the roots and causes them to fall out prematurely. Excessive use of hair spray has also been linked to balding among young girls because of the build-up of oils and chemicals on the scalp that can block the follicles and keep them from growing as they should. A solution for this is to try not to use too much spray and to wear the hair loose on alternate days so as to avoid scarring of the scalp, which is a cause of permanent hair loss in teenagers.

Prevention:

Stress management and eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins (especially biotin) and minerals (particularly zinc) are, therefore, extremely necessary to arrest hair loss. Consume plenty of dal, soybean, paneer, channa, egg whites, white meat like chicken or fish, nuts and leafy vegetables

Hair treatments – perming, straightening and colouring – are also damaging to your mane and lead to hairfall. Be prepared for at least a 10 percent reduction in hair volume two months after any such treatment. To minimise damage, do not repeat these treatments too often – once or then twice in a year at the most. Always go to a professional and ask for a hair protecting serum before treatment. Also use appropriate aftercare products.

Another big no-no is over-enthusiastic massaging during oil application, in the mistaken belief that this will increase the scalp’s absorption and stimulate follicles. In reality, a vigorous massage will only serve to uproot hair in the telogen phase and lead to hair trauma.

Hair is at its weakest when wet, so never roughly comb it after a wash. Disentangle the strands gently with a wide-toothed comb or wait till they are semi-dry.

Holding a hair dryer too close to the scalp is another reason for hairfall – the heat can cause lasting damage. Use a diffuser attachment on the dryer, holding it at least eight to 10 inches away and never wait till your hair is bone-dry – always leave a little moisture in. Cold air drying is, in fact, the best method. Also avoid hot rollers and tongs if you value your locks.

Steer clear of tight hairstyles that pull your hair taut. Indian mothers enthusiastically twist their daughters’ hair into tight plaits, thinking this will increase hair length – it actually only serves to encourage a receding hairline and balding in the frontal areas of the scalp. So keep your hair looking neat, but don’t pull and manipulate it too hard.

What are the treatment options?

There are various treatment options available.

1. Minoxidil
2. Finasteride
3. Low level Laser therapy
4. Dermaroller
5. Mesotherapy
6. Stem cell hair rejuvenation
7. Hair weaving
8. Hair transplant
9. Nutritional supplements

What diet should be followed to get good and strong hair?

Just like your skin and body, your hair also needs a balanced diet to stay healthy. By including sources for essential fatty acids in your diet, you can give your hair back its strength and lustre. Foods such as tuna, sardines and such oily fish, and nuts, olives and avocados are rich in essential fatty acids. Sprinkling flaxseed and pumpkin seeds over your salad is also another great way to get these Essential fatty acids in your diet.

To keep your hair well hydrated, be sure to drink 6-8 glasses of water everyday. Also try to include foods which contain silica such as rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry, cabbage, cucumber, celery, cauliflower and green leafy vegetables. Silica is vital to the strength of hair, and can stop hair breakage. A lack of vitamin B in the diet can lead to oily greasy hair. To fight greasy hair, be sure to eat lots of whole grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, eggs, wheatgerm, legumes and green leafy vegetables. Although the link between premature graying and diet hasn’t been established, evidence does suggest that the aminoacids tyrosine – which acts as a precursor to color producing pigments in the hair and skin – can help!

Thinning hair or hair loss may be a sign of iron deficiency. Be sure to eat plenty of iron rich foods, such as red meat, eggs, legumes, whole grain cereals, dried fruits and green leafy vegetables. Since hair is composed mostly of protein, your hair will most likely respond well to the addition of high protein foods such as meats, eggs, cheese, seeds and nuts. These foods can help reinforce the hair follicles and prevents the hair from falling out.

With the summer it’s all about the sun, radiation, tanning and protecting the skin from the Sun. In the Monsoon it’s about the skins hydration and moisture level.


So what can we do in the monsoon to care for the skin???

Cleanse skin with gentle cleansers:
The high humidity during the monsoon months can cause sweat to run in rivulets over your body. This can create a build-up of dust, dirt, grime and other toxins on the surface of your skin
Skin will also have a tendency to go drier and gets easily dehydrated in the monsoon season, so use a gentle cleanser unless you have acne prone or very oily skin.
For normal to dry skin: use a soap free cleanser as soap is very dehydrating for the skin.
For acne prone / oily skin: use a Salicylic acid based cleanser once a day in the morning and a soap free cleanser at night.

Moisturize your skin:
Monsoons can cause a de-hydrating effect on dry skin and an over-hydrating effect on oily skin. Use a good moisturiser.
For normal to dry: Use a cream based moisturiser or a rich lotion
For acne prone / oily: Use a light lotion, avoid heavy moisturisers

If skin feels very dry you can also use a hyaluronic acid based skin serum with the moisturiser to keep the skin soft and hydrated

Use Sunscreen:
Just because the clouds have moved in and it is not so bright or sunny anymore, it does not mean that you can stop using the sunscreens or stop bothering about sun exposure.

True, the days are dull and not so bright but what you have to remember is that the clouds block only 20% of the radiation, so you are still being exposed to the harmful sun rays and this can lead to long term skin damage like pre mature ageing, lines, wrinkles and sagging.

You can use a lesser strength SPF than the summer time. SPF 24 – 30 is ideal in the monsoon times. Use a water proof sunscreen so that should you get drenched in the rain, the sunscreen still stays on.
The sunscreen has to be reapplied every 4 – 5 hrs

Use skin fresheners on a regular basis:
Use skin fresheners, like rose water or thermal waters that can be sprayed onto the skin. This keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dehydration. This is especially useful for persons who work in a air conditioned environment.

Go for Detox & Hydrating facials:
This is the time to have detox facials that help drain the body lymphatics and toxins.

Protect your skin from fungal infection: Humid weather in the rainy season brings with it one of the major skin care issue of fungal infections. Fungus grows easily in areas where warm moisture can accumulate and foster growth, like between your toes, armpits and groin. One way to take care of this is to bath with an anti-fungal soap and apply anti-fungal powder after the bath. Try to avoid keeping your skin wet for a long time and if you have been in rain, take a bath in lukewarm water.

Eat Right:
It is essential to eat healthy at all times not just during monsoon. Nutritional supplements are usually advised to give extra protection and care for the skin during the monsoon. Take Vit E, Fish Oil (Omega 3) capsules. These are rich in oils and will help with skin nutrition and nourishment. Also take a multi mineral tablet that contains zinc as this is essential for skin healing processes. Also take Vit C so that you can boost your resistance during the monsoon.

Let your body rest:
Try to get at least 6 – 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep at night so that the body gets time to recover and recoup for the next day. During this period your skin also vitalizes itself.

Avoid heavy makeup:
Let your skin breathe, so avoid heavy makeup, at least during the day. Use light water based foundations if you must use a foundation during the day. Avoid cake / heavy solid foundations during the monsoon. Opt for water proof make up so that it does not run if you should get wet in the rain.

So protect your skin and have a blast this Monsoon!!!

MONSOON HAIR FALL

Rain! Rain! go away! Come again another day! Remember this nursery rhyme? After the scorching heat, the rains definitely come as a relief, but they also signal the need for extra protection, be it of our homes, our vehicles or even ourselves. Most importantly, maintaining those lovely, long, shining tresses- the hair. Like summer, in Monsoon too we face some hair care problems.

After summer, when the monsoon comes, the quantity of humidity and moisturizer affects our hair the most. Again rainy and damp weather makes it difficult to dry hair normally and as a result hairs become weak and greasy. Sunlight is absent, air is full of extra moisturizer, thus creating difficulties like limpness, greasiness and hair fall.

One reason why hair may fall at a higher rate during the monsoon could be that, as a coincidence, hair may be in the end phase of its life cycle. This coupled with humidity, weakens the hair making it easily breakable and you could have a problem.

If you get drenched in the rain, shampoo your hair as soon as you get back home. Rainwater carries atmospheric pollutants that weaken the hair roots causing hair fall. Along with rainwater, another danger in the monsoon is the municipally-treated water. During the monsoon, the municipality guards against bacteria with additional chlorine in the water. This concentrated chlorine compound may kill the bacteria but can also be harmful to your skin. Chlorine can cause dry skin, dry hair, itching, flaking and hair loss. This may be why the monsoon is the time for dandruff proliferation. A regular use of a mild anti-dandruff shampoo is recommended.

Avoid hot hair-treatments such as perming, straightening or coloring during the rainy season. These are not advisable since these treatments need time to settle on your strands and are likely to be washed away in the rain. When combined with wet weather, these treatments tend to weaken the hair shaft and promote breakage and hair fall. Ironing the hair repeatedly is not advisable either as the repeated flow of hot air can cause breakage and split ends.

While hair loss may not be a disease in the conventional sense of the word, it can still cause a lot of suffering. Traditionally, hair loss has been regarded negatively and subconsciously associated with aging and even loss of beauty. Thus, hair loss, especially if it is premature, is capable of causing great emotional turmoil and may, in some cases, even lead to social withdrawal.

In monsoon hair does not dry totally leading to dull, frizzy, damp hair. To avoid limp and flat hair you should follow a fitness regime for your hair exclusively in monsoon season. Here are some handy tips and helps for your hair to protect it from the damages causing in this season.

1). Choose the right product: Always use a brand that suits your hair texture best and makes it clean and silky with less hair fall. Mild shampoo is a good option. Medicated shampoos are available nowadays to revitalize the hair and to clean it. Check with your dermatologist for options

2).Don’t wash hair frequently as this can lead to drying and breakage. Wash twice to thrice a week maximum.

3) Condition your hair after each wash as this will coat the hair fibers and protect it from environmental damage.

4). Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. Protein and fruit vitamins are necessary to fight against hair fall in monsoon. Hair fall is very common in this season. So you have to make your hair strong from inside.

5) In your diet make sure there is adequate intake of Biotin, Iron (Ferrous) and Proteins. These are available as oral supplements. Ask your dermatologist to recommend one for you.

6) Warm oil applications to the scalp is very good. Use gooseberry / Amla oil as this is very nourishing to the scalp and hair. Leave on for minimum 45 mins and wash off.

7) Warm compress to the scalp and hair after applying oil or conditioner is excellent. This will help penetrate the nutrition into the hair root

If you are having hair fall (normal is up to 100 follicles a day), see your dermatologist immediately

With the summer it’s all about the sun, radiation, tanning and protecting the skin from the Sun. In the Monsoon it’s about the skin's hydration and moisture level.

So what can we do in the monsoon to care for the skin???

Cleanse skin with gentle cleansers:
The high humidity during the monsoon months can cause sweat to run in rivulets over your body. This can create a build-up of dust, dirt, grime and other toxins on the surface of your skin
Skin will also have a tendency to go drier and gets easily dehydrated in the monsoon season, so use a gentle cleanser unless you have acne prone or very oily skin.

For normal to dry skin: use a soap free cleanser as soap is very dehydrating for the skin.

For acne prone / oily skin: use a Salicylic acid based cleanser once a day in the morning and a soap free cleanser at night.

Moisturize your skin:
Monsoons can cause a de-hydrating effect on dry skin and an over-hydrating effect on oily skin. Use a good moisturiser.
For normal to dry: Use a cream based moisturiser or a rich lotion
For acne prone / oily: Use a light lotion, avoid heavy moisturisers

If skin feels very dry you can also use a hyaluronic acid based skin serum with the moisturiser to keep the skin soft and hydrated

Use Sunscreen:
Just because the clouds have moved in and it is not so bright or sunny anymore, it does not mean that you can stop using the sunscreens or stop bothering about sun exposure.

True, the days are dull and not so bright but what you have to remember is that the clouds block only 20% of the radiation, so you are still being exposed to the harmful sun rays and this can lead to long term skin damage like pre mature ageing, lines, wrinkles and sagging.

You can use a lesser strength SPF than the summer time. SPF 24 – 30 is ideal in the monsoon times. Use a water proof sunscreen so that should you get drenched in the rain, the sunscreen still stays on.
The sunscreen has to be reapplied every 4 – 5 hrs

Use skin fresheners on a regular basis:
Use skin fresheners, like rose water or thermal waters that can be sprayed onto the skin. This keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dehydration. This is especially useful for persons who work in a air conditioned environment.

Go for Detox & Hydrating facials:
This is the time to have detox facials that help drain the body lymphatics and toxins.

Protect your skin from fungal infection:
Humid weather in the rainy season brings with it one of the major skin care issue of fungal infections. Fungus grows easily in areas where warm moisture can accumulate and foster growth, like between your toes, armpits and groin. One way to take care of this is to bath with an anti-fungal soap and apply anti-fungal powder after the bath. Try to avoid keeping your skin wet for a long time and if you have been in rain, take a bath in lukewarm water.

Eat Right:
It is essential to eat healthy at all times not just during monsoon. Nutritional supplements are usually advised to give extra protection and care for the skin during the monsoon. Take Vit E, Fish Oil (Omega 3) capsules. These are rich in oils and will help with skin nutrition and nourishment. Also take a multi mineral tablet that contains zinc as this is essential for skin healing processes. Also take Vit C so that you can boost your resistance during the monsoon.

Let your body rest:
Try to get at least 6 – 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep at night so that the body gets time to recover and recoup for the next day. During this period your skin also vitalize itself.

Avoid heavy makeup:
Let your skin breathe, so avoid heavy makeup, at least during the day. Use light water based foundations if you must use a foundation during the day. Avoid cake / heavy solid foundations during the monsoon. Opt for water proof make up so that it does not run if you should get wet in the rain.

So protect your skin and have a blast this Monsoon!!!

There are plenty of sunscreen options in the market today and with all the advertising and marketing it gets harder and harder to decide what is best for you and your skin.

One has to choose a sunscreen that is best at blocking harmful ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation that cause sunburns, wrinkles, and certain skin cancers.

Before purchasing a sunscreen, you need to ask yourself the following:
What is my skin type?

Oily / Dry / Combination / Sensitive

This will help you decide on the consistency of the sunscreen
Oily: fluid / spray / gel
Dry: cream / lotion
Combination: fluid / spray
Sensitive: hypo-allergic & fragrance free

How much sun exposure do I get in a day?

1 - 2 hrs ( I get to work and stay there till evening)
3 - 5 hrs (I run errands and spend a large amount of time in the sun)
> than 6 hrs ( Outdoor job / play a lot of sports)

This will help you decide on the SPF factor.
The SPF factor determines how long you can be in the sun without getting burnt. On average a SPF pf 26 is recommended. and re- application after 4 hrs is mandatory.

If you get more than 3 - 4 hrs of sun exposure in a day, apply a SPF of 50 and above.

Regardless of the SPF, sunscreen have to reapplied after 4 hrs

How much to apply?

The lab tests for SPF grading is conducted using 5 ml / 1 teaspoon full of the product.
In reality we only apply a pea size or a 25 paise coin size which is about 1.5 - 2 ml

So effectively we are only getting half the SPF of protection unless you apply 1 teaspoon of the product on the face.

Hence it is recommended to use a higher SPF daily

What label to look for?

Remember to look for a broad spectrum SPF as this covers UVA & UVB.


Which areas should I apply the sunscreen on?

Apply the SPF to all exposed areas - face, ears, neck, hands and feet for total protection.

These are some tips to help you with choosing a suitable sunscreen

The summer is a time to enjoy the sun and spend time with friends and family outdoors. Its also a time to forget the dryness that winter bought upon your skin.

But the frolicking times of summer come with its own set of summer skin issues, most commonly rashes on the skin and in sensitive skin, there can be extreme redness and sunburn even.

There are various rashes that can present itself in the summer: I will discuss the common ones:

Heat rash / Sun allergy rashes:

This is the commonest rash people get during the summer. It occurs on exposed areas of the body, commonly, cheeks, chest and arms.

They can appear as tiny skin coloured or red bumps which are very itchy and irritating to the skin. Rarely do you even get blister on exposed areas if you have a sun sensitivity disorder (Photo sensitivity). Commonly this is referred to as sun allergy, it is actually sun sensitivity.

Best is to prevent this from happening by using a strong sunscreen with SPF of 26 minimum and reapplying the sunscreen every 4 hrs on exposed areas. This will protect the skin from UV radiation. In extra sensitive skin types, applying a topical antioxidant and also taking oral antioxidants will boost your sun immunity.

If the rashes have appeared, then cool the area with ice cubes and apply aloe gel / cream with calamine lotion, twice to thrice a day. This will soothe the skin and cool the area.

If there is blistering, you need to see your dermatologist immediately.

Prickly heat rashes:

This is another common rash during summer. It is by sweating which is a common reflex in the summer sun. Prickly heat rashes occur when the sweat ducts become blocked or if there is too much perspiration / sweating. Due to this, the ducts tend to break open and this causes the sweat to leak just under the skin. This leaked sweat irritates the skin and leads to skin rashes.

This can be controlled by using sweat absorbing powders post shower in the summer time and also by wearing fabrics that allow the skin to breathe so that there is air circulation.

Photo allergic Dermatitis / Photo sensitivity

This is a reaction of the skin due to sun sensitivity caused due to products that you may be applying to the face or due to any medications or supplements that you may be taking orally.
Commonly cosmetics, perfumes and soap can cause this kind of rash. Sunscreens and moisturizers are also known to cause this kind of rash on sun exposed areas.

Common medications like birth control pills, certain antibiotics and some blood pressure medications can lead to darkening of the skin on exposure to sun.

One of the ways to avoid photo sensitive reactions is to use sunscreen and stay in the shadow as much as possible. You can also take an oral antioxidant to protect you from the
As soon as you notice any sensitivity to the sun, stop the product and consult your dermatologist. Meanwhile you can apply calamine lotion in the affected area.

Insect Bites

Insect bites are quite common in summer as more insects are drawn to the heat. The bite can be painful and cause a nasty, itchy little rash / swelling. This can happen indoors and outdoors during the summer. Best is to protect yourself from a bite and keep areas covered or use insect repellent creams or sprays on exposed areas.

Make sure you wash of the repellent at night before going to bed.
Once you get a swelling or rash from a insect bite it can be itchy and sore. Avoid scratching the area however tempting it may seem. If you scratch the area, it can get infected and this can lead to pus formation and even fever. Best is to apply a antibiotic cream on the bite, in case there is pain and swelling meet the dermatologist / physician at the earliest.

These are some of the common rashes that you may get this summer.

So protect yourself and face the summer with a carefree attitude !!!

You can follow me on www.twitter.com/kosmoderma and www.facebook.com/kosmoderma to get tips on skin and hair care.

The summer sun is here to stay, earlier than ever this year.
With the summer season comes skin tan, skin burning for the sensitive ones, pigmentation of the skin and other sun & heat associated skin issues like fungal infections, excessive sweating, and body odour.

Most frequently I am asked the following questions by my patients

- How to protect my skin this summer from the sun and damage?
- What sunscreen shall I use?
- What do I do before swimming or a picnic?
- How can i prevent a tan?

Here are a few tips to protect your skin this summer:

CLEANSE THE SKIN:
The skin sweats more in summer hence increased dirt and grime. Wash the face with plain cool water every few hours; this will wash off the dirt and sweat. There is no need to use a cleanser more than twice a day unless it is after playing sports.

Use a soap free or PH balanced cleanser so that the skins acidity is maintained.

MOISTURIZING THE SKIN:
If the skin is dry to normal or stressed out by constant exposure to air condition make sure you apply moisturizer to the skin before heading out.Otherwise apply the moisturizer at night before bed time on a clean face.

USE SUN PROTECTION:
Use a sun protection cream –sunscreen or sun block with SPF of at least 24 daily.

There are many options available. Creams / lotions / gels. If you have oily skin, use a lighter formulation like lotion or gel, for normal to dry skin use a cream form.

The sun protection has to be applied every 3 - 4 hrs liberally onto areas of exposure from face, ears and neck to arms and feet. Don’t be stingy with the sun protection.

If you are going to be outdoors for a long time you can use SPF of 50+. For water based and active sports use a sweat proof and water proof sun protection cream.

The ideal amount to be used is 5 ml. But it is slightly impractical as the face gets a whitish or grayish sheen. Use a 50 paisa coin size amount for the face. Apply the sun protection at least 20 mins before stepping out. Time is required for the absorption of the sun protection cream / lotion.

Don’t forget to reapply, as the protection only lasts for 3 – 4 hrs.

After water sports or sweating, wash the area with cool water and reapply the sun protection cream.

The sun protection cream is the last layer to be applied. All other creams / lotions should be applied beneath this.

EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN:
At the start of the summer exfoliate your skin at least once a week to remove all dead cells and flakes left over from the winter. Exfoliate gently using micro beads as opposed to harsh exfoliation with larger beads as this can injure the skin and make it sun sensitive.

After about 4 – 6 weekly exfoliations, bring it down to once in 2 weeks in the summer.

SHOWER TIPS:
A hot shower might feel great, but cool water is better for the skin, especially in the summer. The cool water cools the body and skin temperature and retains oils and moisture in the skin.

Don’t dry the skin roughly with towel. Gently pat it dry. Do leave some moisture on the skin so that when you apply the moisturizer the skin can absorb it fully and seal it in.

Follow these few tips and your skin will be at its glowing best this summer.