Simple Skin, Hair and Health Care Tips for Monsoon After a hot and sweaty summer, the monsoon comes as a relief but the humid and damp weather takes a toll on the skin, hair and eyes. Monsoon brings humidity and it’s bad news for all type of skins. Dry Skin type To restore moisture to dry skin, choose a heavier, oil-based moisturizer that contains ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated. For very dry and cracked skin, petrolatum-based products are preferable. They have more staying power than creams do and are more effective at preventing water from evaporating from your skin. Drink as much water as you can. Water consumption hydrates your body and flushes out all the unwanted toxins. Oily skin type The main reason behind having oily skin is hormonal changes that are genetically determined. There is nothing much one can do to change skin condition permanently, however little changes in the way you take care of your skin will bring about a slow and gradual change in the way it feels and looks. Follow these easy tips to keep your skin in good condition: Wash your face almost 3-4 times a day to get rid of the excess oil from your face. Use facial scrubs regularly as it will help in unclogging your pores and also exfoliate your skin by removing the dead cell layers from it. Try and use natural scrubs instead of chemical based ones. Stay away from using heavy cleansing products. Use home remedies such as pack made of green gram powder and milk, lemon and honey etc that rejuvenates your skin and leaves it looking fresh and glowing. Try using warm water to wash your face instead of cold water. This will help in dissolving the oil on the skin in a better way thereby leaving it supple and soft. Combination skin type As it is a combination of oily and dry skin, such skin types should be taken extra care. The dry part of it should be cleansed and moisturized regularly and the oily part of it should be cleaned, scrubbed and toned to match the dry skin type. Be it any skin type there are few tips that needs to be followed religiously to keep it in a healthy condition, these include: Try to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water everyday and you would definitely notice a drastic change within 2-3 months. Wash your face a 2-3 times daily with a mild face wash. Just dab dry the face and don’t rub it with a towel. this will make the skin look rough and dry. Moisturize the skin regularly. Use face packs depending on your skin condition. As far as possible use natural home remedies than chemical based products. Skin Care Tips: Keep the skin moist by using soap free cleansers and scrubs Toning needs to be done with an alcohol free toner to prevent dryness of the skin. Water proof light make up will be a better choice in rains than heavy cream based make ups. Prevent the lips from cracking by using milk cream regularly and avoiding dark color lipsticks. The skin of the whole body must be kept clean with the help of manicure, pedicure and waxing. Use warm water instead of cold water to clean the face after coming home from outside. Hair Care Tips Monsoon is the time of humidity which creates itchiness on the scalp. It is recommended that warm coconut oil massage will help to get rid of itchiness. If there is dandruff in the scalp, massage with lemon. Prevent the hair from getting drenched in rain, but if does happen it is best to shampoo the hair as soon as possible and then dry them. Monsoon season demands a conditioner after a mild gentle shampoo. Natural herbal products are better than heavy chemical shampoos in rains as they help to maintain the shine and natural look of the hair. Try the hairstyles that are more natural in look than elaborate ones. Avoid blow driers and try to dry hair with a towel to retain the moisture. Tips stay healthy in Monsoon season Most of the diseases are associated with food during monsoon causing fungal bacterial and viral infections in the body. Healthy diet is the best option to avoid these problems. Prohibit mosquito breeding since they are also carriers of deadly germs. Do not let water accumulate in your surroundings. Put a few drops of Kerosene or phenyl in stagnant water to check the undesired mosquito breeding. Mosquito nets should be used wherever possible. All the vegetables and fruits must be washed to clear the worms and germs thriving on them. Drink plenty of filtered water to avoid dehydration. Different virus attack on the body when it is cool, hence the body must be kept warm. Vegetable soups will help to keep the body warm There is greater possibility of germs developing on uncooked foods and salads during monsoon which should be avoided. Freshly cooked food is the safest. Salads can be blanched in warm water to disinfect them. Keep the body clean. Spices like ginger, garlic, pepper andcoriander should be added in the diet to help in improving the immunity system and to assist in digestion. Regular exercise will help to keep the body healthy and fit. Some believe that heavy physical exercises during monsoon must be avoided. Humidity and dampness lead to fungal infections. It is advisable to light loose clothes and keep the skin dry.