Rainy Season Beauty Tips: Best Skincare, Haircare, Diet Tips To Control Skin Problems And Hair Fall During Monsoon

While the monsoon season brings relief from the scorching heat, it also has adverse effects on the skin and hair as the increased humidity levels during this time lead to excessive oil production, clogged pores and increased bacterial activity, increasing the risk of acne, pimples and fungal infections on the skin. Similarly, high humidity and a damp environment can weaken the hair shaft, leading to frizzy hair, hair fall and loss of shine.

Monsoon Beauty Essentials

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Shikha Dwivedi, MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutritionist at Ozeeva, shared, “Excessive humidity can lead to dry and weak hair. The inclusion of a plant-based source of biotin i.e. Sesbania agatta extract helps combat these common monsoon hair problems, thereby increasing hair density, reducing hair fall, and making hair stronger and more resilient. It also supports healthy skin and nails with other added benefits like strong immunity, stamina, energy, metabolism, and promotes healthy blood cells. You can also consume hair vitamins that help reduce hair fall, promote hair regrowth, and provide daily nourishment to the hair.”

He suggests, “Don’t forget to oil your hair and wash them 2-3 times a week with mild and 100% clean shampoos and conditioners free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, artificial-fragrances, colors to retain moisture and prevent frizz. These products effectively cleanse the scalp without stripping off essential oils, provide the required hydration and nourishment to the hair strands, reduce hair fall by its DHT blocking activity and also, help boost hair growth and strength with biotin extracts.”

The changes in humidity and temperature during the monsoon season can potentially affect energy levels and digestive health. Nutritionist Shikha Dwivedi advises, “Include probiotics and nutrient-rich seasonal fruits and vegetables like cucumber, beans, tomatoes, okra, radish, berries, papaya, sprouts, nuts rich in protein, multivitamins, potassium, magnesium, dietary fibre and antioxidants in your daily diet to prevent health problems. The increase in humidity and moisture during the rainy season can create a favourable environment for the growth of bacteria and viruses. Consume clean and plant-based supplements that contain whole food multivitamins like vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and Ayurvedic herbs for women and men that can help support the immune system, prevent diseases and keep you healthy from the inside out.”

He added, “Don’t forget to drink water in the rain. It is important to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day to keep the skin fresh and soft. It is the best source to flush out toxins from your body and has no calories or sugar, and keeps waterborne diseases like jaundice and diarrhoea at bay.”

Skin and hair care tips to combat the monsoon blues

Dr. Charu Sharma, Co-founder and Director of Dermatology, CureSkin shares her expertise and encourages you to follow these skin care tips to maintain healthy skin during monsoons –

1. Cleanse your skin daily with a suitable face wash to remove excess oil produced due to humidity and unclog pores that cause acne.
2. Exfoliate once a week to keep pores clear, which helps prevent acne.
3. Use a light, water-based sunscreen to keep your skin from feeling greasy, and make sure you moisturize regularly to keep your skin hydrated. Don’t forget to use sunscreen even in humid weather.
4. People with dry skin can make the most of moisture by using body butter to retain moisture and prevent excessive dryness.
5. Use warm water instead of hot water to avoid damaging your skin and capillaries.
6. Stay well hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily to flush out toxins.
7. Additionally, enrich your diet with sources of omega-3 and vitamin C, such as seasonal fruits and vegetables, to nourish and support your skin health.

Dr. Charu Sharma’s advice for healthy hair this season –

1. Wash your hair regularly and make sure it is completely dry to avoid problems like dandruff and itching due to humidity. Be careful of keeping your hair wet/moist for a long time as this can lead to fungal growth like Malassezia, which can result in skin problems like seborrheic dermatitis.
2. Also, rainwater is acidic and can damage hair and cause hair loss. Keep your scalp clean to prevent dandruff caused by humidity and increased sebum secretion.
3. For natural conditioning you can apply oil to your hair 2 hours before washing.
4. Enrich your diet with omega-3 sources like flaxseeds for vegetarians and fish for non-vegetarians and increase your protein intake through soybeans, sprouted grains, peanuts, chicken, fish and eggs. These dietary choices promote healthy hair growth and overall hair health during the monsoon season.

Dr. Charu Sharma said, “Overall, hair health is also affected by its porosity, which refers to the hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Hair with high porosity can absorb too much moisture, making it more prone to dryness, flyaway hair, and overall unruliness. This is because high porosity hair has a disturbed cuticle layer, indicating weaker hair that is more susceptible to breakage. To determine your hair’s porosity, you can do a simple test: take clean hair strands from your brush or comb and put them in a glass of water. If they float after 5-10 minutes, your hair probably has low porosity, while strands that sink indicate high porosity.”

To manage high porosity hair, Dr. Charu Sharma advises, “It is essential to maintain a good diet and limit exposure to environmental elements. Over time, this can help reduce hair porosity. In the short term, using hair serums can be an effective solution. Additionally, always remember to use a conditioner when washing hair and consider using a leave-in conditioner after bathing. These products form a protective layer on the hair cuticles, acting as a barrier to prevent disruption of the cuticle layer and improve manageability.”