Looking good in a pandemic struck world: Natural ways to undo the damage
Have you been glued to your electronic gadgets for countless hours ever since Covid-19 struck, attending virtual meetings and checking messages every two minutes? If yes, acne, pigmentation, dark circles, and premature frown lines over forehead could be part of your beauty woes. The pandemic took a toll on our physical, mental and emotional health. And it also seriously impacted our looks as well, say experts. A double chin, dark spots and dullness are also consequences of the pandemic and work-from-home.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Exposure to sanitizers, disinfectants and masks has led to irritated skin. “Those who have stayed in, have reduced physical activity and increased junk consumption out of boredom. This coupled with bad neck posture has caused weight gain resulting in a double chin and increased skin acne. Sleeping cycles too have changed resulting in dark circles,” says Mikki Singh, dermatologist. Lack of exercise and packaged food played havoc with our internal rhythm. “I have seen a rise in the number of botox procedures for neck wrinkles, thanks to the ‘tech neck syndrome’,” says Niketa Sonavane, dermatologist. Longer exposure to laptops and mobile phones is also one of the reasons for bad skin. The regenerative cycle of the skin is disturbed. Blue light emission from devices also impacts the melatonin hormone that leads to insomnia. “Constant squinting while looking at the blue screen can cause crow’s feet and frown lines on the forehead. Also, exposure to heat exuded by electronic devices leads to hyper-pigmentation, dark patches, dark circles. Collagen also breakdowns due to radiation,” says Seema Nanda, cosmetologist.
REVERSE THE DAMAGE
“The simplest way to protect your skin from blue light exposure is to cut down on screen time. Explore hobbies such as gardening or pick up a best seller book. Sunscreens that have blue light filtering ingredients such as fern extract and zinc oxide are good. Face serums containing vitamin C, E, ferulic acid and polyhydroxy acids help a lot,” says Sonavane. Restricted movement and work-fromhome also deprived one from a dose of Vitamin D.
“While too much sun exposure can be harmful, a little sunshine can improve the skin quality,” says Nanda.
Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water is also essential to drain out the toxins from the body.
EAT HEALTHY
To protect skin, eat foods rich in antioxidants like grapes, berries, apricots, papayas, pumpkin, spinach, nuts, strawberries can help, says Rohini Patil, nutritionist. Green tea also has multiple benefits.
WORK OUT
“Running, cycling, practicing facial yoga exercises, making a fish face and stretching the eyelids can help firm up the face naturally,” adds Patil.