Summer is such a fun time of the year. But nothing kills the buzz like waking up with bad skin—think redness, acne, sunburn, dryness—basically, inflammation! And there are dozens of reasons why we could be experiencing it. The mounting sleep deficit, overstaying our welcome in the sun, allergic reactions - daily life is a minefield for our skin. Simply put, skin inflammation is our body's natural response to bacteria. When our skin inflames, it turns red because blood rushes to the site with immune cells to fix the damage. And once it's done fighting the infection, it stops - the swelling goes down and the redness disappears. But what happens when the infection goes out of control? What soothes inflamed skin and control the chaos then? Some tender, loving care and these 8 genius tricks.
01Avoid the sun
Sun damage is one of the prime causes of skin inflammation. And you could do more harm to the already inflamed area if you continue to hang outside, as prolonged exposure aggravates the skin further and increases its potential for infection. But if you must step out, be sure to protect with a hat, sunglasses, and some sunscreen.
02Rinse with cool water
A cool shower always goes a long way to soothe inflamed skin. Avoid using harsh scrubs, loofahs and opt for oatmeal based soaps. However, remember to not soak for long periods of time and be cautious about turning up the temperature (of water), as both will dry out the skin further and strip it of its natural oils.
03Give your regular skincare routine a break
Skin inflammation can make your skin extra sensitive to ingredients you typically use without a problem, causing common products to worsen the situation. Keep things as simple as possible with a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. Lastly, resist the urge to cover up the redness with makeup, which can also act as a skin irritant.
04Moisturize
While inflammation leaves the outer layer of your skin in shambles, a moisturizer can help seal the top layer of broken skin, offering protection from infections until the skin repairs itself. Prefer opting for aloe vera based moisturizer such as the Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Body Lotion for their anti-inflammatory and cooling nature.
05Use kitchen ingredients
Opt for natural home remedies that work by cooling and soothing the skin. Regular use of oatmeal, green tea, honey and cucumber as cleansing ingredients will help ease redness, due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
06Check your diet
Avoid dairy, sugar and processed foods that will block your pores further, causing your skin to produce excess oil and thus, acne. Stick to green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and refill your glass of water a little more often.
07Wear comfortable clothes
Tight clothing can trigger further inflammation on skin that's already damaged. So, opt for loose clothing that doesn't stick to the skin and keeps it cool.
08Pop an anti-inflammatory
And if there's still no improvement, see a dermatologist for a stronger anti-inflammatory cream or tablet. Finally, we can only do our best to protect our skin, so don't beat yourself up!
