Sunburn and sun tan
Although most people in Indian suffer from tanning as opposed to sun burn, the cause is the same for both – super harsh UVA and UVB rays. While you can’t see the damage immediately, it may take more than two weeks for the tan to fade out.
Preventing it: Avoid stepping out in the sun post 10am and before 4pm when the sun’s rays are at their harshest and make SPF 30+ sunscreen (our fave is the Lakmé 9 To 5 Hydrating Super Sunscreen or the Lakmé 9 To 5 Mattifying Super Sunscreen with an SPF 50 Pa+++)a compulsory ingredient in your summer beauty routine.
Acne
With so much sweat, lotion and sunscreen application blocking those pores, summer’s a great time for acne causing bacteria to form a colony of any part of your skin. That compounded by the fact that many of us don’t even alter our skincare products when the seasons change can only be that much more detrimental.
Preventing it: Switch your skincare routine to include a gentle face wash (such as the Dove Deep Pure Face Wash) and a mild exfoliant or scrub that won’t sap the moisture from your skin (we recommend the Pond's Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam.) Use a toner to get rid of the excess oiliness and do not vigorously scrub your skin if you’re dealing with breakouts or a rash. That can only irritate your skin further.
Skin rashes
If you have very sensitive skin or aren’t wearing the right kind of garments and showering enough, you stand the chance of developing summer skin rashes which generally exhibit themselves as clusters of tiny pink skin abrasions on certain areas of the body.
Preventing it: Choose loose fitted clothing and natural fibres such as cotton that allow your skin to breathe. If you tend to sweat a lot, make it a habit to shower twice a day with a light, cleansing agent and pat your skin dry completely before you get dressed.
Dry skin
Summer can suck the moisture out of your skin making it dry, itchy and more prone to infections.
Preventing it: While it’s necessary that you use a sunscreen with moisturiser, also ensure that your keep yourself hydrated by drinking a lot of water and upping your intake of fresh fruits and greens.
Written by Girija Naiksatam on Feb 18, 2015