Did the Lockdown affect your skin?

Did the lockdown affect your skin?

Increased periods of lockdown with the upcoming variants of the COVID-19 has had drastic effects on our physical and mental health. Adjusting to the new normal of work from home and the stress that it brings with it is difficult even after 2 years of staying home. Most of my patients are complaining about increased acne, hair fall and even inflammation. If you are experiencing similar skin conditions, do consult a dermatologist at the earliest.

This blog addresses the different effects the lockdown has had on your skin and how to reverse them with healthy lifestyle habits. Your dream skin is achievable, read on to find out how!

1. Acne: Do you notice your skin breaking out more lately? This could be because of increased stress levels and uncontrolled binging of unhealthy food. When you are stressed, there is an increased production of oil from your sebaceous glands causing acne flare-ups.
   
   

2. Dryness: Disturbed sleep patterns, increased screen time and trying on new skin products without consulting with your dermatologist are causing dry & flaky skin troubles. Make it a habit to cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin everyday. Using sunscreen even at home is a must.  Night time skincare can include a cleanser, toner, moisturiser and face oil depending on your skin type.
   
   

3. Skin rashes: Increasing cases of skin rashes especially in allergy prone individuals due to frequent handwashing and excessive use of sanitizers.
    

4. Fine lines: Owing to the increased screen time, insufficient sleep and unhealthy eating patterns, some of my patients have noted more visible fine lines and wrinkles. Sit with a dermatologist and plan a simple skincare routine for yourself. Make it a point to include a retinol based serum and a Vitamin C serum at bedtime.
   
   

Some useful tips to help you regain your skin health and to regularize your skincare routine for naturally glow skin:

1. Make sure you get adequate sleep every night
   Lockdown and the stressful work from home situation has messed up the sleep schedule for many. Lack of sleep can have negative effects on your skin. Sleep inhibits the production of new collagen that is responsible for skin tightening. A five hour, disturbed sleep at night results in twice as many fine lines as a seven hour, well rested sleep does. Lack of sleep may also reduce the amount of melanocortin going around the body and this can make the skin paler. Regularize your sleep schedule to achieve a naturally glowing, blemish free skin.

2. Drink plenty of Water
   Although consumption of sufficient amounts of water does not directly hydrate your skin, it is however important for your overall health because it gets rid of harmful toxins from your body. Make sure you drink anywhere between 6-8 glasses of water throughout the day for good health. 

3. Eat a balanced diet
   A steady supply of nutrients is essential to support the rapid growth of skin cells. Optimize your nutrition by including antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts in your daily diet. Here are my top 5 favourite foods to achieve a radiant skin:

• Avocados

• Tomatoes

• Broccoli

• Sunflower seeds

• Walnuts

4. Don’t skip Moisturizer and Sunscreen
   Yes, you heard that right! Both moisturizer and sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare routine, even if you are going out to work, or staying in. This is because the blue light from your screens can cause weakening of the skin’s surface, discolouration, inflammation & hyperpigmentation. Make it a habit to moisturize your skin once a day with a non-comedogenic moisturizer and then apply a generous layer of sunscreen to prevent skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

5. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
   Alcohol when consumed in excess can cause blood vessel dilation, making your skin appear red. This redness is more prominent in patients already suffering with dermatitis, psoriasis and even acne rosacea. Restrict your alcohol intake to avoid chronic redness and worsening of your skin health.

Nicotine, other chemicals in cigarettes, cause reduced oxygen flow to your skin cells, causing wrinkles and premature aging of your skin. It is also known to aggravate existing skin conditions such as psoriasis, etc.

If you have any skin and hair related problems that you would like advice on, please feel free to reach out to me in the comments below or book an appointment on my website.