Summer Whines

Sun, May 18 12:45 AM

You really wish summer was all that glossy magazines and advertisements promise it to be: cool-looking you in a lime green or sunny yellow top and white spotless trousers or skirt sashaying your way through your busy day without breaking into the hint of a sweat. But you know what the truth is.

The truth is summer is nasty, brutal and much too long for your comfort, thank you very much. You sweat, you tan, you burn and are dehydrated most of the time.

Summer in London is lovely. It's lovely in Paris.

But Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and anywhere else in India? Humph! Please bring winter back. "Although everybody keeps cribbing about how bad winter is, especially for our skin, I think summer is the worst time for mine.

It just doesn't look good no matter what I do. And to top it all, I end up with sunburn or with an itchy rash on my back and neck that makes my skin look horrible! I simply hate my job in summer since I need to be out in the sun most of the time," complains Ruby Jain, a marketing executive with a multinational.

Ruby does have a point, because summer brings with it a host of ailments that leave us feeling quite irritable. Let's see what they are.

Prickly heat Also known as heat rash, or miliaria (not to be confused with malaria), prickly heat shows up in the form of a red rash with small bumps that often sting or prickle, causing immense discomfort. Prickly heat occurs frequently when you sweat a lot.

"Excessive sweating can cause your sweat glands to become blocked. This traps sweat underneath your skin.

This causes irritation and results in a red rash that usually develops on your back and chest and parts of your body that are covered by clothing. People who are overweight and those who sweat easily are more likely to get prickly heat," explains Dr Munish Paul, MD, consultant dermatologist and laser surgeon at Delhi's Max Healthcare.

Although prickly heat doesn't require any medication, it's best to seek medical advice if the itching gets very bad. "Avoid scratching the affected area as this can lead to a very bad rash.

In most cases, applying an anti-fungal powder or cold compress provides relief. To ease the irritation, take a cool shower, stay in a cool room, wear loose, flowing cotton clothes and avoid wearing vests or denims.

Avoid being out in the sun for too long and even avoid overusing lotions as they can clog the pores and make the rash sting more," says Dr Paul. Sun allergy Sun allergy is a rash that occurs mainly on exposed skin.

"Sun allergy is a reaction of the immune system to sunlight. Most often it appears as an itchy, red rash.

The most common locations include the 'V' of the neck, the back of the hands, the exterior surface of the arms and lower legs. In rare cases, the skin reaction may be more severe, producing hives or small blisters that may even spread to other parts of the skin," says Dr Paul.

Dr Paul says the best and most effective way to avoid sun allergy is to wear full-sleeved clothes as far as possible, carry an umbrella and avoid being out in the sun, especially during the peak hours (10 am to 4 pm). "People should avoid undergoing surgical laser treatment during summer.

But if they do, they should not go out into the sun immediately. Also, remember that skin care products and medicines may also trigger a photo-allergic eruption.

These include certain antibiotics and oral birth control pills as well as prescription medicines used to treat psychiatric illness, high blood pressure and heart failure," says Dr Paul. Pigmentation If you spend a lot of time outdoors during summer, you will be familiar with the problem of pigmentation.

Tanning is the most immediate result of this process, but other spots may also occur. Hyperpigmentation and the darkening of existing pigmentation are most common in darker skin types.

"The most common and typical form of pigmentation seen in women is in the form of patches on the cheeks and forehead. This is known as Melasma.

The condition can be aggravated by exposure to sun, pregnancy or abortion. In some cases, it is also caused because of a nutritional deficiency" explains Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, dermatologist and cosmetic laser surgeon, Skin Alive Clinic.

Besides medication, a diet rich in Vitamin C, protein and green leafy vegetables helps take care of pigmentation. Taking Vitamin E capsules can also help.

Those with fair skin have other kinds of pigmentation like freckles, blemishes and sunspots to deal with. This can lead to unevenly tanned or patchy skin, which may get worse with direct exposure to sun.

"Prevention is the simplest and easiest way to protect yourself. Make sure you wear a wide brimmed hat or cap or carry an umbrella whenever you go out in the sun.

Using aloe vera extract on your face also helps. Also ensure you apply a good sunscreen (SPF 35) at least thirty minutes before you go out in the sun.

Reapply sunscreen every three to four hours or earlier, especially if you are swimming," suggests Dr Chhabra. "Those with oily skin should opt for a water-based sunscreen and should avoid using any kind of creamy lotions.

People who tend to perspire a lot end up using deodorants and perfumes on their skin frequently. They should avoid doing this.

Deodorants and perfumes should be only sprayed on clothes and never directly on the skin as the fragrance interacts with sunlight and enhances pigmentation. In case you suffer from pigmentation, avoid using any cosmetics on your face," adds Dr Paul.

Hay fever Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis strikes a majority of us especially during early spring - late April to May. The symptoms of hay fever develop as a reaction to allergens (allergy-causing substances) in the air, most notably to pollen that abounds in the early spring.

Other airborne allergens include mold spores, dust, and animal dander. "Symptoms of hay fever frequently include nasal congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, nose and eye itching and teary eyes.

The most effective way to keep hay fever at bay is to use an anti-allergic medicine or stay away from the cause of the allergy. Allergic rhinitis can lead to other conditions like sinusitis and asthma too," says Dr Rajiv Erry, consultant internal medicine, at Gurgaon's Paras Hospital.

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