Summer is here and with the mercury levels rising every day, the heat and humidity play a major role in our lives, keeping us hot and bothered. Summer brings with it a host of skin problems , some of which are:
Skin tan and burn: A suntan is actually the body's defence mechanism against strong sunlight and the visible evidence of damage to the skin. Severe sunburn results in the redness of the skin, skin peeling and sometimes itching. The treatment for this lies in:
Avoiding sunlight and using a calamine lotion during the day. Also taking an allergic tablet during the day and night for a week along with a very mild steroid lotion at bedtime will help.
Acne: Aggravation of acne (pimples) as the heat, humidity, dead skin cells and oil tend to clog the pores thereby leading to comedones (blackheads) and then acne. Hygiene plays an important role. The treatment is in the form of:
Applying a 'mud-pack' once a week to absorb the oil.
Having plenty of water and taking supplements of Vitamin A , zinc and antioxidants and applying an erythromycin gel at bedtime.
Prickly heat: Excessive sweating and increased dead cell turnover blocks the sweat glands and causes a rash-like picture commonly known as 'prickly heat' especially in the folds of the skin where the sweat accumulates and maybe also on the the back. This leads to itching. The treatment lies in the form of:
Having cool showers, wearing loose clothes, putting talcum powder after a bath, applying calamine lotion on the rashes.
Rosacea: This is characterised by red and inflamed skin especially on the cheek, chin and frown areas of the face. The rash can also lead to tiny boils on the cheeks and maybe even to severe acne if left untreated. The treatment is in the form of:
Avoiding sunlight, using a soap-free face wash and a good sunscreen, reducing stress with yoga, meditation, having an antacid or aloe vera juice in the morning on an empty stomach......continued
