Sunny Woes And DIY Treatments

Watch Out Here Comes Summer:

As the mercury shoots high, the sun takes the bloom off your face. Here are some of the reasons you lose your cool.

Prickly Heat: The hot and humid climate takes a toll on your skin with prickly heat. The outer layer of the skin swells and clogs the sweat glands, hindering it form releasing toxins to cause itchy, prickly rash. “Wear light cotton clothing and avoid too much exposure to the sun. If despite everything you get some prickly heat, then cooling the skin eases the irritation. One way to do this is to try a cool compress.

DIY Treatments:

• Cool Compress: Make it by soaking a washcloth in a mixture of baking soda in a cup of ice-cold water. Apply to the affected area for 5-6 minutes. Repeat this procedure at least 4-5 times a day.
• Face Pack: The paste made from equal parts of sandalwood, coriander seeds, tubercles of nut grass, roots of khuskhus grass (poppy seeds plant) powdered together and mixed with rosewater applied on the body gives immediate relief.

Pigmentation:More sun exposure equals more pigmentation worries. Hyper (or excess)pigmentation appears as brown spots and blotchiness.  However wearing a sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 and above is a must in a hot, tropical countries. Tanning blemished skin is a don’t, for even when it heals, there can be a discolored mark, often referred to as post-inflammatory pigmentation.

DIY Treatment:

• Honey, Curd and Chickpea Flour Paste:  It can be controlled with regular use of daily vitamin C treatments with a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a tsp of honey. You can also try a tbsp of curd with a tsp of chickpea flour. It will help you shoo the tan.
• Oil And Tea Cream:Make 1/2 cup strong tea , remove from heat and strain. Melt 4 tbsp lanolin, 3 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp almond oil in an enamel bowl over a water bath. Bow slowly add the tea and beat continuously with a wooden spoon. Add perfume when it is cool.

Photo-allergic Dermatitis: It is usually termed as sun-induced allergy. The skin reacts whenever exposed to the sun. This can happen either by itself, or can trigger off due to excessive use of perfumes or use of perfumed cosmetics such as moisturizers, sunscreens et al. If the rash is too painful and the skin is peeling off or there is reddishness, then you are advised to visit your dermatologist.

DIY Treatment: At home, you can apply cream of milk for temporary relief. But it is better to avoid any home remedy because it may aggravate the condition.

Ingrown Hair: As the temperatures soar you tend to shed some clothes for cool comfort and so your need to wax your arms, legs and underarms increases. This at times leads to ingrown hair and inflamed bumps if your wax job goes wrong.

DIY Treatment:

• To keep this problem at bay, use a gentle body exfoliating scrub in the shower every day.
• Dab a small amount of witch hazel on the skin after shaving
• Mix 2 tbsp Fuller’s earth, 2 tbsp ordinary milk or whey, 1 tbsp orange flower water, 1 tbsp honey, a pinch of ground clove and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. Make a paste and apply for 20-30 minutes.

Eczema:If you are a victim of eczema, it might just get aggravated during summer. Since those who suffer from eczema have sensitive skin, they should avoid soaps and use body wash and face wash. They should never use astringent or toners. During summer the skin tends to dry, so they should apply cold creams and moisturizing lotions. And always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

DIY Treatment:

• Mix equal amounts of lime water and linseed oil and apply.
• Mix turmeric powder with rose water and glycerine for mild eczema
• Apply neem leaves as a poultice

Freckles and Spots:Freckles and spots increase with exposure to the sun and reduces with reduction to sun exposure. They can be prevented by using a sunblock with SPF 30 and more. Use of sun protective clothing such as clothes with long sleeves and full pants are useful. It is best to avoid the sun during the peak hours of the day.

DIY Treatment:

• Apply cottonseed oil daily. It clears spots on the skin.
• Beat 1 egg white, and then add to it 1 tsp Kaolin, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp carrot juice and 1 clove garlic and make a paste. Apply and wash off.

Related articles

• Summer Skincare (www.101beautysalon.com)
• Quick Herbal Remedies To Common Skin Problems (www.101beautysalon.com)
• Ayurvedic Skincare (www.101beautysalon.com)
• Homemade Herbal Skin Care Products (www.101beautysalon.com)
• How to Protect Your Skin from the Sun | Ways to Protect Your Skin (massageenvy.com)
• Skincare in the Sunshine State (myadvancedderm.com)