Staying Cool And Avoiding Seasonal Woes (Part 2)

Sun exposure causes tanning, premature aging and wrinkling of your skin, warns Dr. Satish Bhatia Dermatologist & Dermatosurgeon, Dermatology Fellowship (Israel), attached to Indian Cancer Society. Sunlight contains two forms of ultraviolet energy, UVA and UVB. Use a sunscreen that will protect you from both. Most products are effective against UVB, but many fail against UVA. Look for a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen; ingredients such as avobenzone and ecamsule are good for UVA, while oxybenzone and octocrylene add UVB protection. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide protect against both. Many sunscreen brands contain a mix of ingredients that provides protection against UVA and UVB.

Sunlight contains two forms of ultraviolet energy, UVA and UVB. Use a sunscreen that will protect you from both.

Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. (Brands worth trying – Avene SPF50, SunKroma Nano (SPF-50), Photoban aqua gel if you have sensitive skin)

Apply it liberally 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure; the most common mistake is not forgetting to use sunscreen, but using too little. Remember to reapply it every two hours and after you swim or dry yourself with a towel. Even sweating can wash away protection.

The most common mistake is not forgetting to use sunscreen, but using too little. Remember to reapply it every two hours. Even sweating can wash away protection.

Above all, don’t let sunscreen give you a false sense of security. The only foolproof protection is to avoid sunlight as much as possible. Stay in the shade when you can, especially between 10 AM and 3 PM, when the sun’s rays are strongest. Try to stay away from reflective surfaces. Wear a hat with a wide brim, pants, and long sleeves.

Try to stay away from reflective surfaces. Wear a hat with a wide brim, pants, and long sleeves.

·         Stock up on Zyndet bar soap and Clotrimazole powder, commonly known as absorb powder, to treat fungal and other infections caused by excessive sweating. These help eliminate BO too.

·         An Astymin Z Forte multivitamin pill daily will keep you glowing. Women should add folic acid.

·         Antioxidants like lycopene and phloretin – along with vitamins like C and E – appear to help the skin naturally handle more sun.

·         Use a face wash containing an alpha hydroxyl acid in lieu of soap. (Brands: Fash for oily skin, Cetaphil, Ethiglo). The AHA will also exfoliate your skin leaving it looking brighter and fresh.

·         Got body odor? Splash Aldry lotion under your arms.

·         Change underwear twice daily to avoid infection.  

·         A Depiwhite face peel – off mask gel keeps your face glowing.

·         Don’t forget your daily cleansing, toning and moisturizing ritual.

·         Elbows, hands, face and neck darken the most. Detanning creams like Melaglow, Melalite, and Eukroma cream keep these neglected areas looking good.

·         Banish sweat aggravated acne with a Benzoyl Peroxide gel 2.5%.

·         Lipsticks and foundations provide additional sun protection. But use products which are tested and clinically approved like MAC and Dermalogica.

Beat the Burn

If you slip up and do get burned, your skin will be red, sore, and swollen. To alleviate

·         Apply soothing cold compresses.

·         Relieve inflammation and pain with aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen, and others) or paracetamol.

·         Drink loads of fluid, especially water; no alcohol, which is dehydrating.

·         Apply an OTC 1% hydrocortisone cream liberally on the burn.

·         Back home, take a cool shower, dab skin dry and apply soothing Aloe Vera gel every 3 hours.

·         Get plenty of rest.

Hair

The scorching rays not only take a toll on skin, but also on your lustrous mane. “Long-term exposure to sun and humidity can make your hair lank or frizzy and brittle,” warns Dr. Bhatia. To prevent

Long-term exposure to sun and humidity can make your hair lank or frizzy and brittle

·         Wash your hair daily with a mild shampoo in lukewarm or cold water (Brands: Xgain, Triglow, Renocia). Follow up with conditioner. If you have dandruff use a shampoo containing Ketoconazole (2%) or Coal Tar.

·         A serum tames frizz and keeps hair looking satiny.

·         Oil your scalp once a week.

·         A 2 % minoxidil solution for women (5 % for men) arrests hair loss. Apply at night.

·         Green leafy vegetables, almonds, pistachios, provide Vitamin E and zinc that help strengthen hair follicles.

·         Wear a scarf or a hat when you step out in the sun to prevent your hair dye for dulling.

·         Apply conditioner before swimming and don a cap. Chorine does strange things to hair color.

·         A once-in-a-fortnight hair repair mask reverses some of the damage caused by the UV rays.

·         Reduce usage of hair dryers, hair curlers.

·         A monthly trim prevents split ends and also helps get rid of damaged hair that eventually affects the hair roots.

Clothes

·         Choose cottons, Rayons, poplins, Mul Muls, chiffons and georgettes. These fabrics are sweat absorbent and dry out easily, explains Mumbai based Fashion Designer Swapnil Shinde. “Even if they get stained it’s easy to get rid of the patch which is why these fabrics work better for summer”. Stay clear of jerseys made of lycra which cling to your body, trap heat and, make you uncomfortable. “They even become transparent with sweat!” A cotton- lycra mix is a better idea.

·         Girls: Hot colors this summer are sunny yellow, bright orange, and pink. Pastels never go out of fashion.

·         Surprise – men are getting adventurous and experimenting with bright colors like acidic pink, neon green, baby pink, sky blue, mint, and lavender. Wear them on formal trousers/skinny jeans teamed with a fitted blazer. If you much have prints choose small graphics.

Choose cottons, rayons, poplins, mul muls, chiffons and georgettes. These fabrics are sweat absorbent and dry out easily

·         A fitted silhouette has replaced the boxy ones of the past.

·         Lengths have gotten shorter, minis, micro minis and rompers are back, with a difference – they’re low wasters!

Feet

·         Buy shoes that allow your feet to breathe, advises Kolkata based footwear designer Rohan Arora. These days even oxfords come in a mix of leather and bright prints. Calf skin leather is light and breathable. Sneakers are good for casual Fridays. Flip-flops, Roman gladiators and lace ups are okay for lounging around.

Buy shoes that allow your feet to breathe

·         Women are spoilt for choices – strappy sandals, ballerinas in flats or heels, platform heels, peep–toes and sling-backs... You can now get footwear in fabrics like khadi, cotton, matka silk and raw silk. They come in fruity colors, red, aqua, peach, orange, light green and bright and dull shades of pink. After all, a summer is about being bright and quirky. Men get to choose from mehendi green, tomato red, burnt sienna, royal blue and onion pink.

·         Shoes get destroyed fast in summer due to sweat, so keep them well aired under a fan during the night, if you’ve worn them the entire day. This will also prevent them from stinking up the place.

·         Wrong footwear can cause shoe bites /blisters and sometimes can even do permanent damage to your foot. So, don’t be swayed by design alone. Comfort is king.