Why your skin barrier needs extra care during the rainy season

The arrival of the monsoon may seem like a happy break from the hot summer sun; however, the monsoon presents its own unique challenges, often faced by people in the way of skin care procedures required in the rainy season. With the humidity increasing, rainwater brings along all the dirt and pollution on the skin; the humidity escalates the sweat and the bacteria, and thus people fail to consider that there is more skin research being conducted than usual during the rainy season.

Your skin barrier is the top layer of the skin that protects your skin and keeps the moisture in instead of allowing germs, pollutants, and other irritants to enter it. Skin that has its barrier intact is soft and supple; however, damaged skin has many issues, among which are dry patches, itchy skin, redness, or acne in some cases.

Although during the monsoon the humidity suggests that your skin is oily, it is not guaranteed that your skin is effectively hydrated. According to research, the impact of rain, sweat, and regular washing makes your skin dry.

Over-cleansing is one of the top errors in the monsoon season. Some individuals tend to neglect the fact that due to the humid conditions, they need not wash their face several times a day with effective cleansers. Washing the face is important; however, over-washing may take away the natural oils, which ensure that the skin remains healthy and functions well. People need to wash their face only twice a day and use mild cleansers both times.

The moisturizing process should never be skipped by people with oily skin. Moisturizers are required to keep the skin moist and in good condition. Some people don’t use moisturizer in humid weather, but this makes their skin overproduce oils to compensate for the lack of moisture.

When buying skin care products, it is necessary to pay special attention to the active ingredients, such as ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol, which help lock in moisture. Also, compositions that help “moisturize” the skin barrier should be mentioned. If the skin is already irritated, it is better not to apply products that contain a lot of alcohol, strong scents, or strong exfoliating acids.

Taking care of your skin with sunscreen is necessary in all seasons. Even the rain cannot stop UV rays from affecting your skin. The advisable minimum SPF for your sunscreen is 30.

Rain leads to a rise in humidity. This means that it will be easier for different kinds of infections, such as fungal infections, acne, and clogged pores, to develop. For this reason, you should pay attention to taking care of your skin but avoid doing too much of it.

In terms of taking care of the skin, make sure that your skin stays clean, shower if you get wet, change your wet clothes immediately after getting wet, and do not touch your face with dirty hands. To conclude, skin health can also be affected by your daily lifestyle. Skin needs to receive enough water, a proper diet, and good sleep to recover on a regular basis. If possible, eat food that is high in vitamins A, C, and E and healthy fats.

As a final point, you should visit a dermatologist if you have symptoms influenced by skin care treatment or lack of treatment.

A simple skin routine, which includes gentle skin cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and effective everyday skin habits, will protect your skin. Remember, for effective skincare, it is more important to protect your skin than to spend money on expensive skincare products.

Healthy skin requires a healthy skin barrier. By coming up with some additional practices in the rainy season, you can overcome several skin problems and enjoy perfectly healthy and glowing skin.

(The writer is a managing director, A.G. Organica)