SAY GOODBYE TO PRICKLY HEAT
Are the red itchy bumps on your skin stopping you from wearing your halter tops? Here are a few skincare tips that can help.
When the heat waves take a toll on your skin it is not just tanning that irks but another skin problem that bothers most people is prickly heat. Prickly heat is the itchy heat rash that erupts on the skin when the sweat glands get blocked usually in a hot or humid environment. Bacterial infections, obesity and underdeveloped sweat glands can be other reasons for it. Recently I have also been its victim but that was the first time and the last time. Why I am so sure that it was the last time? Answer is the tips from aesthetician Ruby Biswas that proved effective in solving this problem and also prevent it from coming back. Read on to know the skincare measures that need to be followed for preventing and treating it:
– Wear light cotton clothes, preferably loose fitted, whenever planning to go out in the sun. This will avoid it from occurring. Even after getting the prickly heat you need to wear them so that the skin remains dry without sweat. Tight and non-breathable clothes can aggravate the problem.
– Take shower atleast 2 to 3 times on a very hot summer day to prevent it. The rash clears up in few days if you keep the skin cool. A few drops of a soothing essential oil like chamomile oil or even a chamomile tea bag in your bath water may help.
– Avoid using any oil-based product as that can worsen the problem clogging the sweat glands more. Use talcum powder like Boro Plus Prickly Heat Powder in Neem and Tulsi, Dermi Cool Prickly Heat Powder and Nycil Cool Classic Prickly Heat Powder that would keep the skin dry.
– Try avoiding being in places that are hot or humid. Places that have fans, air-conditioners keep this problem at bay. Avoid indulging in a physical activity that leads to excessive sweating. So swimming, water aerobics and aqua yoga could be good alternatives to maintain your fitness regime.
– Use over-the-counter products to deal with the problem. Calamine lotion (Calskin Lotion and Calak Lotion) and hydrocortisone cream (Tendrone cream and Lycor cream) can relieve itching and irritation.
– Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
For such skin woes one can always depend on the ingredients present in your kitchen. Here are a few natural skin care remedies by Biswas for you to try:
1) Mix gram flour (besan), neem leaves and tamarind paste to form a pack. Apply this pack on affected areas for 15-20 minutes or till dry. Wash off with lukewarm water and pat dry. Gram flour helps in clearing up the skin, neem has anti-bacterial properties which can heal the infectious blisters and tamarind paste dissolves the dead skin bringing above a smooth skin from beneath.
2) Take 1 portion apple cedar vinegar and dilute it with 3 portions of water. Apply it on affected area and leave it for 15 minutes and rinse it off.
