Monsoon season brings relief from the scorching summer heat, but they are also an invitation to many common skin and hair concerns if not taken proper care of. You may expect a fair share of humidity-related issues that need special attention. Through this blog, we are uncovering the common skin and hair care mistakes to avoid and how to tackle any problems you may face during the monsoon season.
Skincare Mistakes To Avoid During Monsoon Season
Some of us think that neglecting some points while taking care of the skin will have no impact on the skin’s health. However, during monsoon season extra caution to maintain skin health amidst extreme humidity and fluctuating temperatures. Below are some skincare mistakes that should be avoided during monsoon season:
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Neglecting Sunscreen: One of the most common skincare mistakes during the monsoon is skipping sunscreen. What you need to understand is, that sunscreen is not meant only for sunny days. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can penetrate and damage your skin. Hence, a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 should be applied every 2 hours to protect your skin from UV and UVB rays.
Read here to understand Why SPF is essential all around the year.
Product Recommendation: FCL Chemfree SPF 30 is a physical sunscreen that contains the physical sun blockers in micronized form. It ensures a non-whitening texture with a uniform texture. Suits all skin types including the most sensitive skin.
Refer to the FCL official website to check out the sunscreen range suitable for your skin type and concerns. - Reduced hydration: A humid environment is not a sign to reduce your water intake. Just like any time of the year, staying hydrated during monsoon is crucial to keep your skin healthy. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin and flush out toxins from the body. Use a hydrating mist on your face and body to provide extra hydration to keep it fresh.
- Good moisturization: You need to apply a moisturizer in addition to sunscreen to hydrate and retain the moisture in your skin. Your skin's tendency to get dry increases in humid environments and therefore requires additional attention.
- Not keeping the skin dry: Once you get wet in the rain, take a shower and dry off properly with a microfiber towel. This will reduce the risks of fungal and bacterial infections. A gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser should be used to wash the skin. If you have sensitive skin, choose gentle, hypoallergenic, and specially formulated cleansers.
- Over-exfoliation: Over-exfoliation can strip your skin of natural oils and disturb the natural skin barrier, leading to dryness and flaking. Stick to a mild exfoliator to keep your skin dirt-free and healthy. Exfoliate the skin 2-3 times a week if you have oily skin. Adding chemicals like glycolic acid and AHA will assist with dry skin. For sensitive skin, exfoliating once a week is sufficient to eliminate any chance of irritation. However, before utilizing any product, a patch test is required.
- Using heavy moisturizers and products: The humidity can make your skin feel greasy during monsoons and applying a heavy moisturizer will lead to clogged pores. Make sure your moisturizers and creams are lightweight, water-based, and non-comedogenic when choosing them for your skin, especially in the rainy season. This will keep the skin's moisture levels balanced and prevent blocked pores.
- Not Addressing Monsoon Acne: Increased humidity can lead to breakouts easily. Incorporating ingredients or products containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide into your skin care regimen will help you treat acne and breakouts effectively. These anti-acne ingredients efficiently reduce the bacteria that cause acne, leaving your face clean and healthy.
Monsoon Skin Problem Solutions
Every skin type has its unique set of qualities and requires special care meant especially for them. The monsoon season can be difficult on your skin because of the variations in humidity. Let's take a look at how to take care of each skin type this monsoon.
- Oily Skin Care Monsoon: The increased humidity during the monsoon season causes the skin to produce more sebum or oil. An oil-free cleanser containing salicylic acid, niacinamide, retinol, or glycolic acid is necessary to help balance the excessive oil. Make sure any product that you use doesn’t accumulate in the pores leading to acne and breakouts. Abstain from using oily or thick cosmetics on your skin to keep the skin light and clear.
- Dry Skin Care Rainy Season: The chances of dryness and flakiness are particularly high during monsoon. You’ll need a gentle cleanser, exfoliator, lightweight moisture, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen to control the aggravated dryness during monsoon. Products containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lactic acid, Vitamin E, aloe vera, or tea tree oil will help you tackle this issue quickly and effectively.
Monsoon Acne Treatment
- Monsoon acne is a common issue faced by many. The dramatic fluctuation in temperature and humidity are the root cause of these acne outbreaks, which can worsen if left untreated. These may appear as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and even skin inflammation.
- Before moving on to monsoon acne treatments, let's take a look at what causes monsoon acne.
- Fungal acne or pityrosporum folliculitis may affect the skin and result in flare-ups of acne. During monsoon, the increased humidity allows fungi to thrive in the skin. The overgrowth of these pathogens irritates the skin leading to acne.
- Increased humidity also leads to increased sweat production which tends to clog the pores causing breakouts on the skin. The issue is further worse by debris and dead skin cells that collect in the skin's pores together with excess sebum generated by sebaceous glands during monsoon.
- The warmth and humidity of the skin draw bacteria to thrive in the skin. Propionibacterium acnes, a skin bacterium that causes inflammation and breakouts grows rapidly under given conditions.
- The pollutants in the environment, and lifestyle practices such as skipping the shower, spending too much time in the shower, getting wet in the rain, etc cause the toxins to accumulate in the skin resulting in acne.
The weather changes don't always necessarily mean that your skin has to go through a difficult phase of combating the issues. With the help of a proper skincare routine, these problems can be easily tackled.
Natural Remedies for Monsoon Skin Problems
Incorporating natural remedies is always a good option if you are unsure about what products suit your skin. Here are a few common ones for you:
- Aloe vera gel: an excellent remedy to soothe and hydrate all skin types including dry and sensitive skin.
- Honey: a natural anti-bacterial agent that works well on oily and acne-prone skin.
- Natural oils: Avocado oil and almond oil are two light oils that can retain moisture on the face during monsoon.
- Lemon: Applying lemon juice on the skin removes impurities and excess oil present in the skin while brightening it.
- Turmeric paste: Mixing turmeric paste with rose water/milk and applying it on the skin can boost the skin’s natural glow.
Common Hair Problems During Monsoon
Frizzy Hair Monsoon Tips
Frizz is a common problem due to the high humidity. Hair, made up of three layers of cells, has a cuticle as the outermost layer. When the hair gets damaged, the cuticles, the protective layer, open up which results in moisture loss. Be gentle with your hair while combing and protect your hair from heat to prevent damage. Frizz can be efficiently controlled by incorporating protein-rich and anti-frizz products into your hair care routine.
Hair Fall During Monsoon
Hair fall and breakage increase during the monsoon due to the damp and humid environment. Both oily and dry scalp can lead to these hair issues as the natural skin barrier is disrupted. These weaken the roots leading to hair fall. Keeping your scalp clean using a mild shampoo and conditioner and using protein and moisture will help reduce hair fall.
Note: Remember to wash your hair to get rid of any bacteria or fungus that could thrive on your scalp and hair after being outside in the rain
Monsoon Dandruff Treatment
Dandruff is exacerbated by the monsoon weather conditions. These are caused by a fungus called Malassezia that grows under the scalp. The humidity in the hair along with the lack of sunlight promotes the growth of these fungi. With the help of an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner, these microbial growth can be prevented. To keep the moisture in your hair and avoid infections, use cold or lukewarm water instead of hot water.
Product Recommendation: FCL T-Shampoo: A safe and effective formulation to treat dandruff and scalp psoriasis. The shampoo-based formulation offers a high degree of patient compliance.
Haircare Mistakes To Avoid During Monsoon
- Regular hair wash: Even though regular hair wash may keep your scalp clean, it strips your hair off its natural oils resulting in dryness. Remember that the thumb rule for washing your hair is to do it at least thrice a week.
- Getting Caught in the Rain and Not Washing Your Hair: Rainwater often disrupts the scalp's natural pH, which causes dry, frizzy hair. It also creates a humid environment in the scalp and hair that attracts fungi and bacterial growth. As a result, after getting caught in the rain, you must wash your hair with an anti-frizz shampoo that is specially made for your scalp and hair type.
- Skipping conditioner: The high levels of humidity during monsoon leave the hair dehydrated. To combat this issue, applying a conditioner after shampooing is necessary to reduce breakage and split ends caused by dehydration.
- Leaving oil in your hair for too long: Overnight application of oil is beneficial for dry hair if the right amount of hair oil is applied. However, it is not advised for people with oily hair. Reducing the time of leaving oil in your hair may protect your hair and scalp from seborrheic dermatitis and greasiness.
- Excessive use of hairspray: Excessive use of hair spray and styling products may put your hair at risk of hair breakage and hair loss. Prolonged use of these products weakens the hair strands and damages the cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair shaft. The alcohol in the products may even leave your hair frizzy during the monsoon.
- Ignoring scalp health: The risk of a bad scalp is higher during monsoon compared to other seasons due to increased humidity. The sweat and humidity easily get trapped in the scalp, clogging the follicles on the skin. This has to be cleaned properly to avoid breakouts, acne, and other skin problems. During monsoon, you must not miss this step since the scalp is exposed to various germs and fungi. Making sure to wash your hair and scalp with a mild yet effective shampoo and conditioner is essential.
Here is a dermatologist-approved hair care routine by FCL to protect your hair during monsoon :
- Hair oiling: As a part of pre-conditioning, a light, natural hair oil that retains moisture on the scalp can be applied 30-60 minutes before washing.
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Hair wash: Wash your hair using gentle cleansers:
Product Recommendation: FCL Strengthening shampoo is designed as a preventive solution to hair loss and thinning hair concerns ideal for frequent usage. - Conditioning: If you have an oily scalp, you can go for normal conditioning. FCL offers a Strengthening conditioner that works by smoothening down your hair to make it look silky and shiny. While using a shampoo opens your hair cuticles, a conditioner seals it back by locking in the useful nutrients. This strengthens your hair shaft and prevents breakages, split ends, and hair loss.
- Applying Hair Masks: FCL Strengthening Hair Mask is an instant revival treatment for weak and damaged hair. Enriched with proteins, antioxidants, and 98% natural nourishing ingredients, this creamy mask provides deep conditioning and hydration to dull, lifeless, and brittle hair, and also restores hair elasticity and shine.
Note: Do not comb or tie wet hair as it causes hair breakage. During monsoons, the sweat accumulation may increase too, resulting in acne.
Your Monsoon-Proof Beauty Routine to keep your skin and hair healthy
With the temperature and humidity levels fluctuating every day, monsoon is a crucial time to give your skin and hair special attention. Navigating the monsoon season can be challenging but made easier with a proper skin and hair care routine, by avoiding common mistakes and adopting a monsoon-specific beauty routine. Infections, breakouts, dryness, dandruff, inflammation, etc can occur on any hair type and need to be addressed more seriously. During the monsoon, people who have sensitive skin may have rashes, extreme itching, and redness more frequently. If the symptoms persist, you must consult a dermatologist for advice.
Opt for breathable, loose and easy dry clothing during the rainy season to combat excess humidity. Linen and cotton are great alternatives for monsoon as they are airy and allow sweat and moisture to evaporate easily. It's crucial to stick to a balanced diet in addition to choosing skin-friendly products. Avoid hot and oily food during monsoon. Protein and vitamin-rich food including berries, nuts, spinach, and sweet potatoes, eggs, etc can be added to the diet as they benefit skin and hair health.
With the right products and practices, you can enjoy the rainy season without compromising on your skincare and haircare goals.
