Have an Acne Free Monsoon! An All Inclusive Guide
Do you feel that your skin breaks out more than usual during the monsoon? Is it that you know your way around all the creams, lotions and serums, but you still get those annoying eruptions and none of your skin care routine seems to yield results? Here’s why you are suffering from monsoon related acne.
Understanding the Connection between Acne and Monsoon
Your body has a natural mechanism to tackle humidity and heat – sweating. Sweating is meant to cool the body down. When there is humidity in combination with a lot of heat, it is difficult for the sweat to evaporate quickly, given the high moisture content in the air. As a consequence, your skin is left with a greasy, slick layer. This sets off clogging of the pores, encourages bacterial multiplication and causes acne flare-ups. When you crank up the AC to battle the heat and humidity, you make it by far worse. The AC dries out the air, and pulls moisture from your skin as well. This in turn causes your skin to over compensate and over produce oil, by kicking the sebaceous glands in to high gear. Clogged pores are the perfect setting for acne breakouts.
Link between Monsoon Season and Acne Flare-ups
The pathophysiology of monsoon acne is – the sebaceous glands going in to an overdrive, stimulating the production of large amounts of sebum in your skin, which blocks your pores; this in turn encourages bacterial multiplication and inflammation, and consequently causes awful acne flare-ups – all because of the intense humidity.
Increased Humidity and Acne
During the monsoons, the humidity in the atmosphere is at an all time high. The high level of humidity, in combination with a great degree of heat, substantially increases the manufacture of sebum in your skin, making it extremely oily. This creates the perfect ground for bacterial infection. What’s more, a greasy, sticky skin attracts dirt, grime and dust, thereby plugging your pores and causing pesky eruptions.
Common Myths about Rainy season and Acne
- Myth: You can afford to skip hydration during the monsoon season.
- Fact: Drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water everyday is essential irrespective of the weather/ season. Water keeps the liver, kidneys, and GI tract healthy, throws out toxic wastes, and keeps the skin hydrated and moisturised; all this promises you a blemish free, clear skin.
- Myth: Over cleansing the skin is necessary during the rains.
- Fact: over cleansing and over exfoliation makes the skin loss its natural oils. As a result the skin Is stripped of all natural oil and it becomes excessively dry. In order to compensate for the dryness, the skin starts manufacturing large amounts of sebum, and this can either trigger or worsen your acne. Thus, cleanse your skin, once daily, using a mild cleanser.
- Myth: You should not use a moisturiser during the monsoon.
- Fact: The humidity, the rains and an oily skin are not indicators whether your skin is getting adequate hydration. If your skin does not receive enough hydration, it’ll get dry and stimulate increased sebum production. A dry skin also causes micro-tears and skin damage. Hence, your skin needs to be moisturised everyday, irrespective of the weather conditions.
Effective Skin Care Routine during the Monsoon Season
Here’s your skin care routine during the monsoon!
Importance of Double Cleansing
The double cleansing technique deep cleanses your skin twice – first, with an oil based cleanser and thereafter using a water based cleanser. Double cleansing is the most crucial step to help keep acne at bay. The oil based cleanser eliminates the stubborn, pore clogging and acne causing grease and grime which do not dissolve in the water based cleanser. Follow up an oil based cleanser with a mild water based cleanser which will sluice your skin clean of all impurities! To battle acne you simply must jump on board the double cleansing bandwagon!
Role of a Moisturizer during the Monsoon
It is extremely difficult to find the right moisturizer for an acne prone skin – one that will hydrate your skin well; but won’t clog the pores, irritate the skin, or make the skin greasy. It can definitely be a bit of a challenge finding a moisturizer that’ll be the best fit for you. Nonetheless, moisturising your skin daily is an absolute must. Opt for a moisturizer that’s oil-free and non-comedogenic. Pick up one that’s water based and contains glycerin or hyaluronic acid – these are humectants, that help retain plenty of moisture in the skin.
Hydrating Your Skin Correctly in Humid Conditions
If you are dehydrated, your skin tends to synthesize an excess of oil, to hydrate the skin and this unfortunately results in acne. Sebum is an oily substance that keeps your skin healthy by hydrating it as well as shielding it from outside stressors. Dehydration will push the sebaceous glands in to high gear and thus cause them to release large quantities of sebum, which blocks the pores, and subsequently triggers unsightly breakouts. Adequate hydration keeps your skin healthy and free from flare-ups. Make sure you consume a minimum of 2 litres of water in addition to lots of fresh fruit juices, soups and herbal teas.
Importance of Exfoliation
Gently exfoliating the skin twice a week helps get rid of stubborn dirt, toxins and dead skin cells. It prevents clogging of the pores and bacterial infections, and ensures that your skin looks radiant and healthy. If you are vulnerable to acne, exfoliation ought to be the chief focus of your skin care routine. Always look for expert approved ingredients in your exfoliator. Physical exfoliators such as salt and powdered sugar are ideal. Chemical exfoliators, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid do an excellent job. Plant enzymes found in papaya and pineapple are incredible natural exfoliators.
Role of Sunscreen during the Monsoon Season
You must put on sunscreen every single day, all the year-round, even during the monsoon. Most people avoid wearing sun block for fear of it triggering breakouts; but sun protection is extremely critical for the acne-prone skin. Choose a sun block that is oil free, non comedogenic, and fragrance free – these work well for people who are trying to fight breakouts.
Importance of Steaming the Skin during the Monsoon Season
Steaming your skin will open up your pores and increase blood circulation. Steam your face once a week and avoid fidgeting with the eruptions. The steam will release the trapped sebum from the skin, ward off bacterial multiplication, and hence will prevent acne.
Home Remedies for Acne in Monsoon
Foods such as lime, honey, and neem are perfect cleansers and toners. They are super hero home remedies for monsoon acne! They eliminate dead cells and grime, whilst absorbing all the extra sebum, leaving your skin healthy, smooth, supple and acne free.
Dietary Changes to Manage Monsoon Related Acne
Its imperative that you start an acne battling, skin friendly diet, especially during the monsoon. Including natural remedies for acne needs to be the backbone for your monsoon skin care routine.
Foods to Avoid during the Monsoon to Keep Acne at Bay
- Replace milk with nut based or coconut based, dairy free substitutes; this will help do away with the compounds which cause acne.
- Cut out refined sugar completely, it will result in fewer acne outbreaks. High glycemic foods send the synthesis and release of insulin in to an overdrive. This subsequently disrupts the delicate balance of all other hormones and results in the occurrence of annoying breakouts. The high glycemic foods set off a domino effect.
- Restrict the amount of fatty, greasy foods you eat; they cause undue inflammation and provoke breakouts.
Foods to Include in to your Monsoon Diet to Combat Acne
- Make sure that you follow a low glycemic index diet – fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole cereals.
- Probiotics such as – yogurt, kimchi, kombucha help get rid of toxins in the body and improve the working of the GI tract; you must load up on them.
- Foods that are brimming over with zinc, such as, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds boost immunity, fight off bacteria and stave off acne flare-ups.
- Vitamin A laden foods, such as carrots and spinach, promote skin healing, enhance detoxification and combat free radicals, making your skin healthy and acne free.
- Vitamin C rich foods such as limes, lemons, apples, berries, papayas, oranges, mangoes are acne fighting warriors!
Role of Hydration in Controlling Acne during the Monsoon
Experts advice drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water everyday for optimum health. On the other hand, if you are susceptible to acne flare-ups, you should consume 3 litres of water daily.
- Water sluices your entire system clean of all toxins and noxious wastes, as a result your pores won’t clog and this thwarts acne breakouts.
- Water keeps your skin well hydrated and prevents it from drying out, thus staving off excessive production of oil, which subsequently prevents acne eruptions.
- Adequate hydration promises to keep your skin profile looking good. Ample water boosts the production of elastin and collagen, speeds up skin rejuvenation and helps deal with pigmentation too. This plays a pivotal role in tackling acne scars successfully.
- Importantly, when your water is good, your blood sugar level as well as your hormone profile are healthy. Oscillations in blood glucose levels and hormone levels are major acne triggers. Therefore, balancing these via sufficient water consumption, puts a stop to as well as manages acne wonderfully well.
Medications to Treat Acne
You don’t have to live with the unsightly blemishes and eruptions. This super effective array of dermatologist approved therapies promises good results. You have a host of acne treatment options to choose from. Blemish free skin? Yes please!
Retinol – A Marvel!
A derivative of vitamin A, retinol works by unblocking the pores and getting rid of the obstinate bumps and eruptions. It exfoliates the topmost layers of the skin and decreases the formation of acne.
Salicylic Acid – A Miracle Agent!
What makes salicylic acid such a winner? Salicylic acid lessens the inflammation in the skin, unclogs pores and gently exfoliates. It is a lipophilic acid, meaning, it is an oil soluble one which penetrates the skin and sluices out the greasy grime. Salicylic acid is an acne prone skin's best friend!
Benzoyl Peroxide – An Outstanding Worker!
Benzoyl peroxide most certainly lives up to its name! It kills the acne causing bacteria, reduces the production of sebum and has strong comedolytic properties. It’s the ideal weapon in your acne fighting armament!
When you embark on to these treatments, begin with the lowest percentage. If pregnant or are likely to get pregnant, do not use. Furthermore, you need to ascertain that you aren’t allergic to any of these, so always do a patch test first.
When to Seek Professional Dermatology Help
It is always prudent to consult a dermatologist who will guide you better and give you a more structured skin care regimen. Getting professional treatment for acne is always advisable.
Our team of qualified dermatologists will provide you with a skin diagnosis to establish the exact condition of each area of your face. We tailor a skin care solution for you to make sure that you have the best treatment possible. At The New Roots Hair and Skin Clinic, we are committed to helping you feel confident by empowering you to understand your skin type, the cause for your acne, and what your skin loves; and we create personalised, expert skin care solutions for maximum results.
Your Takeaway!
Most dermatologists and aestheticians advocate a customised treatment regimen for flare-ups, and these skin care routines are truly effective. Follow an integrated approach comprising of the correct diet, medications and topical applications to deal with your acne; it will yield quicker results. Because acne can be a tough code to crack, it is imperative to discuss with your dermatologist to understand what is going on with your skin.
FAQs
Experts suggest that you exfoliate your face twice a week, not more, or it could prove to be counter effective. Over exfoliation causes irritation and redness, and will leave your skin in a worse condition than what you started with.
There are 2 exfoliants – physical exfoliants (such as scrubs and clay masks) and chemical exfoliants (such as peels and acid serums). These are super effective at sluicing out dirt, grime and dead cells, and brightening the skin and clearing the pores out. Confer with your dermatologist and see which one is the best fit for you.
Humidity and heat are high during the monsoon. Your skin is enveloped in a thick blanket of moisture and heat, this makes your pores expand and also increases the production of sebum. Large amounts of sebum blocks the pores, provokes bacterial growth and causes breakouts.
These three guidelines will help you combat acne that comes on during the rainy season quickly and effectively.
- Tea tree – When it comes to acne fighting, tea tree sure is a heavy weight. Undoubtedly, the most recommended natural acne treatment, tea tree essential oil kills bacteria, is strongly anti-inflammatory and manages eruptions well.
- Green tea – A superhero, green tea soothes the skin, decreases sebum, and throws out toxins.
- Steaming the skin – Steaming the skin opens up the pores. It releases trapped sebum from the skin, wards off bacterial infection, and prevents acne eruptions.
Touted as the most potent acne fighting agent, retinol yields quick and fabulous results. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A which helps regulate the turnover of the skin cells, prevents an accumulation of dead skin cells and checks clogging of pores.
