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By the skin of your face

With the Sun beating down mercilessly, it is time for you to take special care of your skin

FRESH AND FLAWLESS Facials are a great way to keep the skin glowing Photo: K. Ananthan

As temperatures soar, it is not just you that is feeling the heat. Your skin too is. Beaten into submission by the searing Ultra Violet (UV) A and B rays, it tans and the protein in its cells break down to cause wrinkles and leathery-looking skin.

This is the time you should take the hint and head to a dermatologist.

Though use of cosmetic and medicated sun blocks is on the rise, it is just not enough.

"Summer in the South is very harsh. So, it is better to avoid getting direct exposure to sunlight when it is intense. That is when the maximum damage is caused," says Amee Daxini,Bangalore-based Associate Medical Coordinator, Kaya Skin Clinic.

When the sun strikes

When the rays of the sun hit the skin, melanosomes, the melanin-producing pigments inside the melanocytes (cells) in the epidermis, increase in size.

This results in tanning, wrinkling and ageing of the skin; reason why some people look a lot older than they are.

How many of us have ignored scaly white patches and tiny white eruptions, presuming they'll just go away.

Most tend to ignore the skin's pleas for help.

This year's sizzling summer has only increased the number of people developing skin problems.

Each one of us needs sunlight to produce Vitamin D, but too much of anything can cause problems.

Common complaints include tanning, sunburn, polymorphic light eruptions on the face and arms, fungal infections in the folds of the skin because of sweat accumulation and pityriasis rosea - multiple eruptions that can spread to the body.

Fabric-wise

When it comes to skin infections, prevention is the best bet. So, stock up on sun blocks, hats, umbrellas and clothes that cover you well.

The first thing that people do in summer is switch to sleeveless clothes and light cottons.

But dermatologists advise that you wear a full-sleeved shirt and opt for fabrics that are closely-knit (Tip: Hold a swathe of fabric against a 100-watt bulb. You must not be able to see the filament).

Another myth is that only sunlight can trigger an allergic reaction.

"Many people wonder why they are getting eruptions even though they work out of air-conditioned offices and hardly travel in the sun. Tube lights and other neon lights also radiate UV rays. They can either initiate or worsen a lesion. So, you need protection," says Manveen Kaur, consultant dermatologist.

Blocking harmful rays

So, wear a sun block with a sun protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 twenty minutes before you step out.

Preferably use pharmaceutical products, not cosmetic ones. Reapply block every one-and-a-half to two hours.

The sun shines brightly on a cloudy day too.

Take that into account. "In fact, on a cloudy day, tanning is more because of increased reflected heat," she adds.

Summer is also the time when children head to the pool.

"Children are likely to get a sun burn then. When the skin is hydrated, the chances of getting a sunburn increase. Tanning too," says Prof. C R Srinivas, dermatologist.

Though tanning is not harmful (it eventually wears off), it is best to protect yourself against it. Use a water resistant or very water resistant sunscreen before hitting the water, he advises. The colour white is great for the summers because it reflects light, but if your clothes are soaked with sweat, it will cause harm. So, choose carefully, he says.

In fact, Amee advocates the use of physical barriers like a hat or umbrella to reduce the harmful effect of sunrays.

Other than sunburn and tanning, this is also the season when pimples flare up.

So, if you usually drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, drink 12 in the summer.

Go fruity

Gorge on fresh fruits, especially citrus ones, and sip on juices like muskmelon and watermelon. Your skin will thank you for that.

Facials are a great way to keep the skin glowing too. Kaya offers an Advanced Kaya facial and Kaya Glow, both special masks that help rehydrate the skin.

Or try this home remedy. Grind cucumber and apply the paste on the face.

Wash off after 15 minutes for that refreshing feeling.

What to do

Use sunscreen of SPF 15

Carry an umbrella

Wear wide-rimmed hat

Drink a lot of water

Eat citrus fruits

Wear full-sleeved shirts

Opt for close-knit cottons

Avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

SUBHA J RAO

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