How to take care of your skin in the rainy season

The rainy season can be refreshing for many, but it can wreak havoc for people with sensitive skin. It can cause several skin problems. Increased humidity, frequent rain, and changing temperatures can lead to oily skin, breakouts, and dullness. Though, it may seem difficult to take care of your skin in the monsoon, but there are simple yet effective ways to follow to combat skin problems.Let's understand what can help us to keep our skin healthy during the monsoon.

1. Cleansing the skin thoroughly
In the rainy season, the air gets damp, which makes dirt and pollution stick to your skin more easily. To keep your skin clean and prevent clogged pores, it's important to wash it well. I recommend using a herbal, soap-free cleanser two times a day for clear and healthy skin. Look for cleansers with natural ingredients like neem or tea tree oil, as these can help stop breakouts with their antibacterial properties.
2. Exfoliate once a week
To keep your skin healthy during the monsoon, it's important to exfoliate. Use a mild scrub once a week to remove dead skin cells and renew your skin. You can also make a homemade scrub using oatmeal and yogurt or besan and milk, as these ingredients gently exfoliate the skin while nourishing it deeply.
3. Combat excess oil
Excessive humidity levels can contribute to an increase in sebum production, which can result in oilier skin and lead to acne and breakouts. To combat the effects of excess oil, consider using oil-absorbing face masks or clay masks in your skincare routine on a weekly basis. These specialized masks, like charcoal, rice starch, cornstarch, gram flour etc, are formulated to effectively absorb surplus oil and impurities, thereby promoting a matte, refreshed complexion. You may find that a do-it-yourself mask using multani mitti (Fuller’s Earth) and rose water delivers remarkable benefits for managing oily skin.

4. Moisturize adequately
It's important to prioritize skin hydration. Opt for a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer to maintain soft and supple skin without adding to its oiliness. Choosing a gel-based moisturizer containing hydrating ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin-e, glycerin or cucumber are good and can nourish the skin. These ingredients effectively provide moisture to the skin without clogging pores, ensuring a balanced and healthy complexion.

5. Use sunscreen
Be aware that harmful UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds and cause damage to your skin. This is why it's crucial to apply sunscreen as an indispensable part of your skincare regimen, irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions. Select a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to ensure comprehensive protection. Moreover, I suggest reapplying sunscreen every few hours, particularly when spending time outdoors, to maintain optimal skin safeguarding.
Inputs by Shahnaz Husain