Be party-ready this festive season
Dermatologist DR KIRAN LOHIA shares skin care tips for Diwali
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Can you believe it is already October! And you know what that means, it’s Diwali time! A non-stop month of celebrations that can wreak havoc on your skin. With food, drinks, and sweets galore, your skin is bound to take a beating. Not to mention the record breaking pollution levels the festival brings. None of us can afford a break-out this month with back to back parties and events to attend. So, let me give you some advice on how to keep your skin fresh and party-ready this holiday.
Don’t overdo
The first thing is to not go crazy with home remedies and harsh routines. Trust me, when I wake up with a pimple before an event, I feel like the world is ending. The thought of trying to unsuccessfully cover up the unsightly, red bump on my face is panic-inducing. However, home remedies and scrubbing your skin raw are not the answer. Many patients come to me in tears after attempting to exfoliate the acne off their face or use harmful home remedies, such as toothpaste, on zits.
Many times these remedies can leave burns, scabs, and drastically increase your chance of post-acne marks! If you are struggling with pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, or any other imperfection before an event, see a dermatologist right away. They can assist you with safe spot peels or minor injections to get rid of the acne faster, or at least reduce the redness and swelling associated with it. Cold compresses can be used in a pinch to control swelling associated with any blemish. You can also add in a sulfur-containing mask (no more than two times per week) which will loosen oil clogging your pores and absorb it before acne erupts. These mask also make your pores appear smaller!
Pre-Diwali prep
The second thing you can do to ensure your skin stays fresh and clean prior to Diwali is not start any new products beforehand unless recommended by a doctor. Fall is in full swing and the stores are lined with shiny, new products promising glow and rejuvenation that may tempt you. However, you never know how a product will suit you until you try it. A product that worked wonders for your mom, sister, or best friend may make you red, sensitive and/ or obstructed. We are all unique, and so is our skin. It is best not to risk it before the holiday.
Continue with the current regime
Along with not trying new products, make sure you don’t neglect your existing ones either. If your skin is use to a regimen, don’t change it up just before the holiday. I know there will be a lot of late nights and early mornings in your future and sometimes we feel like we just don’t have time to properly cleanse and moisturize our face. When we get home, our bed is calling our name right away...but don’t give in! Walk yourself straight to the washroom and perform your skincare properly; it takes 5 minutes and I promise you won’t regret it.
Minimise make-up
Many of us also wear more make-up this season due to the influx of social activities. If you are going to wear make-up, try to minimize your layers as much as possible and be sure to use a reputable brand when it comes to skin health. Some brands, like MAC, are known to cause acne - especially when pollution levels rise and the season changes. Some brands known to be skin-friendly are Bobbi Brown and Clinique - I recommend these two brands to patients daily!
With the addition of more makeup, you may have to enhance your cleansing regimen to make sure it is fully removed. This can be performed by adding a makeup remover or an oil cleanser to your routine prior to washing your face. Cleansing oils help breakup not only make-up but existing oil on the face for a cleaner, fresher feel.
Stay fresh from within
Lastly, don’t forget to nourish your insides too. Internal imbalances, such as imbalances in the gut, can cause unwanted blemishes. I’m a sucker for sweets over Diwali so to offset my increased sugar intake I start each day with my ‘7 Juice’. It is a mixture of spinach, chia seeds, berries, pomegranate, citrus, honey, and banana to revive my insides after an indulgent night. You can read more about ‘7 Juice’ on my blog at lumieredermatology.com/blog.
All of the above tips will be super helpful in avoiding skin emergencies this holiday. However, the most important advice I can give you, enjoy yourself this Diwali! As I tell my patients, “enjoy your life!”. The above, simple steps can be easily incorporated into any routine without sacrificing Diwali fun.