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Acne/pimples: Tips for managing acne at home from a dermatologist

Acne is a common condition and can be quite frustrating. They sometimes pop up even when we are taking treatment. Here are some tips you can follow to keep them away:

  1. Keep your skin clean: Wash your face twice daily especially at night and after workouts, swimming and sweating. Choose a mild, non-abrasive facewash and use lukewarm or room temperature water to wash your face. Avoid hot water, scrubs, harsh soaps, and loofahs on your face.
  2. Choose the right skin care: Use products according to your skin type. Choose gentle products. Avoid products which irritate or sting your skin. Look for the word non-comedogenic on the labels of moisturizers, sunscreen, and other products. Avoid products which contain oil.
  3. Keep your scalp clean: Shampoo your scalp before it becomes oily. The oil on the scalp can increase acne, especially forehead acne. Also, watch what you’re using on your hair, hair products can also lead to clogging and cause acne.
  4. Don’t change your treatment: Don’t change your anti-acne treatment often. It takes time for medications to work. Give at least 4 to 6 weeks, before assuming that it is not working. Also changing your gels and cream often can irritate and dry out your skin.
  5. Keep your hands off your face: Don’t pop that zit. Always remember it’s easier to treat acne than scarring.
  6. Moisturize and sun protect: Acne treatment almost always focuses on reducing oil production, leading to dryness of the skin. They also make your skin sensitive to sunlight especially products containing retinoids. Always moisturize your skin and use a sunscreen of SPF 30+ or more.
  7. Cut back on food causing acne: Avoid processed food and sugar. It is known to increase acne and skin inflammation.
  8. Lastly, avoid stress and get enough sleep to keep the acne away.

If you have persistent acne, book an appointment with a qualified dermatologist. We can help you get rid of the existing acne, prevent new ones from coming and more importantly, the right treatment will prevent the scarring and pigmentation.

 

Image by Kjerstin Michaela Noomi Sakura Gihle Martinsen Haraldsen from Pixabay

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Holi Skin Care Tips

Colour is what you make it – Genevieve Kreuger

HOLI SKIN CARE TIPS: 

Holi is a festival of colours and water. It is celebrated and enjoyed all over India and now even in other countries. However, it is a tricky condition for our skin, hair, and nail, as it involves exposure to lots of colours and chemicals.

The harsh chemicals in colour can cause:

  • Dry skin
  • Dry hair
  • Brittle nails
  • Allergic/irritant contact dermatitis
  • Flare of Atopic dermatitis, acne, dandruff, psoriasis, and many other skin ailments

So here are the tips or things you should do while you get ready to splash that colour.

Starting with the pre-Holi week:

  1. Avoid getting any facials, lasers, chemical peel or any skin treatment as it can make your skin sensitive to external factors, esp colours.
  2. Avoid using products having glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinoids, azelaic acid and other such actives on your face.
  3. Start hydrating your skin and use moisturizer regularly. You can continue using hyaluronic acid-based products.
  4. Don’t forget your sunscreen.
  5. Use a gentle cleanser. Avoid any scrubbing or rubbing of skin.

On the day of Holi:

  1. Choose herbal colours.
  2. Avoid wearing contact lenses. Wear your spectacles or sunglasses for the protection of your eyes.
  3. Gently wash off colours as soon as possible
  4. Wear full-sleeved clothes. That will protect your skin.
  5. Moisturize your skin well. If you have dry to normal skin, use coconut oil/liquid paraffin or thick moisturizer all over your body and face. It will form a barrier and protective layer between your skin and colours. If you have oily skin, use a good moisturizer all over.
  6. Wear sunscreen over exposed body parts, preferably a waterproof one with an SPF of 50.
  7. Protect your lips by layering them with a thick layer of white petroleum jelly.
  8. Coat your eyelashes and eyelids with white petroleum jelly
  9. Oil your hair with coconut oil, it will nourish the hair shaft and again decrease the absorption of colours and protect them from the harmful effects of colour.
  10. Tie your hair into a braid or bun and cover them with a Dupatta or Bandana.
  11. Do not forget your nails. Apply a coat of nail paint, to protect your nail plate. Also, coat your cuticles with white petroleum jelly
  12. In case of eye exposure, rinse your eyes with cold water for 10 minutes. Do not rub your eyes.

Post-Holi care:

  1. Cleansing: Double cleanse your skin i.e. with an oil-based cleanser or baby oil followed by a water-based gentle cleanser. It will remove the deep-seated colour from your pores.
  2. Apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing over damp skin on the face and all over the body.
  3. Use plenty of conditioner after shampooing your hair.
  4. If you have acne, use Clindamycin gel. Avoid retinoid and Benzoyl peroxide for a few days, till your skin recovers.
  5. For mild irritation or rashes, you can apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. You can also take a non-sedative, anti-allergic tablet like Levocetirizine.
  6. In case of persistent allergy or rashes, visit your dermatologist.
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Skin Care Routine

A simple, three-step approach that includes cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin can help in keeping your skin healthy. This is the least and a must, you should do for your skin.

  1. Cleanse your skin: before applying skin care products in the morning and before going to bed. A cleanser or facewash removes dirt, oil, and debris, and helps in preventing clogged pores and breakouts. To prevent irritation, limit face washing to twice a day and after sweating.
  2. Moisturizer: use moisturizer on damp skin. Moisturizer traps water in your skin, helping it look brighter and younger. Keeps your skin barrier and its protective function intact. It is important to moisturize your face, body, and lips, even if you have oily skin.
  3. Use sun protection to help prevent wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. Whether you seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, or apply sunscreen, sun protection is an important part of your daily skin care. Apply sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing. The SPF should be 30+ and above. Also look for a PA factor of +++ or above.
  4. Consider using dual-function products, such as a moisturizer with sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen is broad-spectrum and has an SPF of 30 or higher, and remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
  5. Read the label. Look for products for your skin type that say “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.”

To maximize results and minimize potential irritations, choose products that will work best for your skin type.

Skin types

  • Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use
  • Normal skin is clear and not sensitive
  • Dry skin is flaky, itchy, or rough
  • Oily skin is shiny and greasy
  • Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Before starting any skin care routine, know your skin type. Our skin type can change over a period of time and according to lifestyle.

To know your skin type Book an appointment

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