Monsoon Skincare: Follow these tips for healthy skin during rainy season

The monsoon season brings with it the necessity and opportunity to implement specific lifestyle practices While people are quick to adopt weatherappropriate clothing and choose monsoon travel destinations an often overlooked area that requires special attention during monsoon is skincare The humid weather causes several challenges for the skin like dampness and clogged pours making implementation of special monsoon skincare measures importantIn a conversation with middaycom Dr Taniyaa Bakshi a Delhibased homeopathy expert and director of Bakson Group shares the importance of monsoon skincare and essential tips one must follow to keep the skin radiant and healthy during rainy seasonWhy is it importantSeasonal change necessitates special skincare practices ldquoMonsoon means more humidity When therersquos more humidity our skin tends to produce more sebum an oily secretion that hydrates the skin Thatrsquos why in monsoon the skin feels damp and dewy Now the problem is that with too much humidity bacteria can also start accumulating on your skin It also attracts dirt which stays on the skin for a long time So taking care of your skin is extremely essentialrdquo Dr Bakshi explainsMonsoon Skincare Tips1 Wash face with cleanserWashing your face with a cleanser really works well You can use a hydrating cleanser not something that strips all the moisture off but gives a good cleaning effect It is especially important to wash your face before sleeping because the whole dayrsquos dirt and bacteria are on your skin People apply sunscreen moisturizer makeup and other skincare products on a daily basis If you donrsquot wash all this off it will stay on your skin and clog the pours2 Use an exfoliatorSince humidity attracts a lot of dirt an exfoliator helps in further cleansing In this weather the pores start showing due to increase in sebum So using exfoliators scrubs and masks two to three times a week work well on the skinImage for representational purposes only Photo Courtesy iStock3 Apply light moisturizerDonrsquot use a thick moisturizer It can clog your skin during the rainy reason Use lighter moisturizers or lotions that have less oil and hydration properties4 Manage use of activesAvoid including a lot of actives like hyaluronic acid glycolic acid retinol etc People donrsquot use one skincare product They use three to four and they have different actives For example combinations of several different actives like vitamin E vitamin C and retinol can completely destroy the skin barrier People just find products on the internet and start using them without knowing their properties and effects on specific skin types This should be avoided Skin naturally has bacteria which act as a barrier and protect the skin People who have a weak skin barrier can make it worse by using activesNutrition is KeyWhile most people associate skincare to applying something on the skin its scope extends far beyond thatldquoYour skin is just 20 per cent of what you apply and 80 per cent of what you watrdquo Dr Bakshi states Gut health greatly influences the skin hence diet plays a key role in skincareNutrition Tips for Monsoon Skincare1 Avoid street foodHumidity is the best environment for harmful bacteria to thrive The same street food doesnrsquot trouble us a lot in summers because the high temperature kills the bacteria So eat home food as much as you can If you crave dishes like samosa and pakoras minimise its impact by cooking at home2 Consume local and seasonal fruitsPeach apricot pear jamun apple papaya are all available in monsoon and most of them have antioxidant properties Cherries are also great for the skin If you donrsquot wish to eat them raw you can use them to prepare innovative dishes like peach iced tea3 Have detox waterA detox drink can be prepared by infusing water with antioxidantrich fruits and vegetables For example cut a cucumber in thin long slices and add it in water along with a lemon slice This turns the water alkaline which is good for the skinImage for representational purposes only Photo Courtesy iStockThese simple yet effective steps are important to maintain healthy skin during the monsoon While what you apply on the skin makes a difference what you eat is equally significant A balanced approach between the two will lead to rejuvenated and glowing skinAlso Read MIDDAY EXPLAINS Why is nutrition important during the monsoon season Mumbai nutritionists tell you how to boost immunity