Different skin types, different skincare routines—it’s a well-known golden rule. But, what many of us don’t realise is that our skincare regime also needs to adhere to the season while catering to the specific needs of our skin type simultaneously. Even the slightest transition in the weather can influence the humidity levels, thereby causing a shift in the moisture present in the air. “Humidity implies the presence of water in the air, so higher humidity is equivalent to the high moisture content in the air,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, a Mumbai-based celebrity dermatologist, simplifying the humidity and skin relationship.
We’ve fully swung into the monsoon season now, which means there’s been an obvious shift in the humidity, which has a different effect on different skin types. We speak to Dr Agarwal to understand what changes
Effects of high humidity on skin types
According to Dr Agarwal, high humidity (during the monsoons) can affect oily, acne-prone skin the most—it is most prone to increased congestion and acne breakouts. Besides having an effect on your facial skin, increased humidity can also make your body’s skin more vulnerable to a slew of common body care concerns. “High humidity can lead to heat rashes and fungal infections and can also cause aggravation of asthma and allergies,” says Dr Agarwal.
Our bodies have a natural mechanism to deal with heat and humidity—sweat. Sweat, when it evaporates, cools the skin. But when it’s humid (like it is right now), the sweat cannot evaporate as quickly, leaving an uncomfortable slick, sticky layer on the skin. That forces the pores to expand, which increases sebum production, which leads to congestion and breakouts. If you’re turning the AC on to counteract this, it might feel even worse—the air conditioning can dry out the air, leaving your skin feeling matte and tight.
5 ways to switch-up your skincare routine for the monsoon season
1. Start with the basics—a good skincare daily regime with a well-balanced diet and exercise routine is the key to maintaining balanced skin health, opines Dr Agarwal. She suggests using a mild, soap-free cleanser twice a day to clean the skin thoroughly. “A facial chemical exfoliant for dead skin exfoliation (and removal) is recommended twice a week.” Contrary to common consensus, sweating profusely due to humidity can increase the dryness of the skin. To combat the same, the dermatologist recommends using a moisturiser that has humectants. She also suggests using an emollient on top of it, to seal in the humectants and prevent transepidermal moisture loss.
2. A few simple body skincare tips can be game-changing. “Due to the constant wetness, your skin tends to dry, and there will be general body itchiness. So, a lukewarm water bath followed by good moisturiser twice a day helps to minimise the discomfort,” advises Dr Agarwal. As a thumb rule, wash your feet as soon as you are indoors. “An antifungal dusting powder should be used right after a shower since fungal infections are usually the most common problem faced during the season.”
3. Listing the ingredients that should be included in your skincare routine during the monsoons, she mentions salicylic acid, mandelic acid or a gentle alpha hydroxy acid for mild exfoliation and humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. “Moisturisers with niacinamide, squalene and matrixyl would make for a good choice. And don’t skip sunscreen even on a cloudy day,” says the skin expert.
4. As humidity invites more congestion, exfoliating the skin can be a good skincare practice as it not only decongests the skin but also improves skin cell turnover. Additionally, it is also advisable to indulge in face masks. “Look for ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, collagen, peptides and cica that hydrate the skin; such masks can be used as sleeping masks in the nighttime routine.” In the case of oily skin, you can use a clay mask containing bentonite clay to reduce clogging and dead skin.
