It is summer time and the days to ignore your jeans for shorts have arrived. But summer time can be harsh on the skin and body so it's important that you learn to take care of yourself.

Unless you wish to land up with tanned and dry skin, of course. That's why today we got an expert image consultant to tell you ways you can look drop dead gorgeous even during summers. To begin with, one must know that in summer excessive sweating common so you are more likely to suffer from problems like Rashes, Rosacea, Acne on the face as well as your back, Tanning, Prickly Heat, Hair Damage Skin Infections and Sunburn.

Dr Abha kashyap, Medical Image Consultant says, "During summers, the rays of the sun seriously damage the skin. It's important to take extra care in summers because sometimes ignorance can lead pay you serious damage."

Rosacea

The hot weather sets off the occurrence of Rosacea. Dermats suggest minimizing sun exposure. Always apply a sunscreen before stepping out in the sun. Often due to the sweltering heat, flare-ups could happen. Excess heat causes the blood vessels to dilate. Perspiration could also act as an irritant to the skin. Approximately 80 per cent of people who suffer from Rosacea state that excess heat is a significant trigger.

UV (ultra-violet) rays are said to cause this problem. The iron content in the skin is said to be affected which eventually leads to Rosacea Dr Abha suggests, "In Rosacea it is better to avoid direct sunlight. Always use a good sunscreen with SPF 30+ before stepping out in the sun. Face wash should be soap free and mild."

Sunburn

Scorching heat burns our skin. "The ultra-violet radiation in sunlight burns through the outer layer of skin and causes serious damage which shows up as patches of darkened skin peeling away. Too much exposure to the sun results in the redness and pain of sunburn. It usually appears within hours and may take weeks to fade.

Sunburn prevention

Use sun block lotion of SPF 30 for normal skin and of SPF 45 for light skin, to be applied every three hours as the effect of these lotions is for a few hours.
Mix together the juice of six peeled cucumbers, two cups powdered milk and two teaspoons dried lavender flowers.
Apply the above paste directly on the affected areas of the skin.
One cup of the mixture added to lukewarm water can be used as a skin smoothening balm

Skin tan

Tanning is the most common downside to exposure of skin to direct sunlight. It varies with skin type— fair skinned people being more susceptible than those with a darker complexion.

Skin tan prevention

Avoid sun block to be repeated every two to three hours. Skin lightening treatment and therapies like rehydration helps.

Prickly heat

In summers one comes face to face with discomfort caused by prickly heat. "This condition is caused due to sweating, excess humidity and the resultant bacterial infestation, which manifests in severe itching, rash and tiny boils in the affected region."

Prickly heat prevention

Having cold showers, wearing loose clothes, putting talcum powder after a bath, applying calamine lotion on the rashes.
Apply medicated talcum powder.
Keep the area dry and clean.

Foot infection

Due to excessive sweating there is increase chance of fungal infection of feet.

Acne

Aggravation of acne (pimples) as the heat, humidity, dead skin cells and oil tend to clog the pores thereby leading to comedones (blackheads) and then acne. Hygiene plays an important role.

Acne prevention

Applying a mud-pack once a week to absorb the oil.
Having plenty of water and taking supplements of Vitamin A, zinc and antioxidant and applying an erythromycin gel at bedtime.

Dandruff

Dandruff is a result of over-secretion of oil on the scalp mixed with increased dead cell turnover, sweats and the pollution around. This leads to a 'scale' formation on the scalp which is not only unhygienic but can also lead to hairfall, itching and eventually pimples on the forehead and back.

Dandruff prevention

Washing your hair often in summer. Using a medicated shampoo containing 2 per centketaconozole and ZPTO (zinc pyrithione).
Using home remedies like lemon juice or curds on scalp before washing the hair.

Increased pigmentation

Normal skin and skin with pigmentation problems seems to look darker when exposed to the summer sun. This is because exposure to sun activates the melanin to rise to the upper layers thereby increasing pigmentation.

"If to take these precautions in this hot summers seriously then you wouldn't suffer any skin problems and you easily flaunt wearing LPD( little pink dress) to look fresh and gorgeous." Says Dr.Abha Kashyap, Medical Image Consultant, Med spa.