Winter tip 2
Winter tip
How to choose a sunscreen: JUST READ THE LABEL!
Summers are here to stay!
Sunscreen usage is an efficient way of keeping sun allergies, sun burns, tanning and sun induced ageing away. How do you choose the right one?
READ THE LABEL
1) Sun Protection Factor/ SPF should be above 30. Higher if you are an outdoor person. This is about protection from the UVB rays.
2) Boots star rating / PA rating should be at least 3 or above. This is about protection from the UVA rays. If a sunscreen has both these factors mentioned it is a broad spectrum sunscreen.
3) Non Comedogenic sunscreens do not clog pores and therefore are less prone for pimples or acne formation.
4) Very water resistant is better than water resistant. It means that the sunscreen will work for at least 40-80 minutes inspite of sweating or being immersed in water (swimming).
5) Formulations: Silicon Gel and Aqua Gel are better suited for oily skin, Lotions and creams for dry skin, Sprays and Lotions for larger body surface areas.
6) Others: many additive factors are added to the sunscreen for additional benefits like Anti ageing, Lightening, Moisturizing, Anti- pollution benefits. The exact value of such additives is unknown.
Look out for these words and your will be A SUNSCREEN EXPERT
Sunscreen 3-4 times daily, even when indoors, even if it is raining outside, 365 days a year, always!
Take care, be good,
Dr Sonali
For queries and appointments::
1. Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West.
11-1.30 & 5.30-8.30pm Mon- Sat. Call for appt: 02228714176
2. Gokuldham Medical Centre, Goregaon East. Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat: 8.30 -10.30am
Holi hain….
Holi is played fervently throughout India by throwing colours, splashing water and water balloons on each other. I am sure we are all getting ready to enjoy this festival.
The first step to enjoy any festival fully is SHOPPING!
Here is a list of must haves this Holi.
- Full sleeved cotton tee shirt or kurta preferably white colour to proudly flaunt all the colours splashed on you yet smartly provide maximum protection from those colours.
- A scarf, a dupatta to protect the hair from colours as it is very tedious to remove colour from the hair.
- Organic colours are a must. Strictly avoid metallic ones which can damage the skin and cause skin rashes.
- Sunscreen SPF 50.
- Petroleum jelly.
These are the must to do and don’ts on the day of ‘Rangpanchami’.
- Apply coconut oil on the hair and the body in ample amounts 20-30 minutes before starting to play Holi. Acne prone people can use a non comedogenic moisturiser instead of oil for the face.
- Wear your full sleeves Holi gear. Cover the hair with scarf or dupatta
- Apply a new coat of enamel on your nails. Apply petroleum jelly on the nail folds.
- Lip can be protected with lip balm or petroleum jelly.
- Finally, apply ample of sunscreen on all the exposed areas
Safety tips
- Keep rinsing off the colour whenever possible, don’t wait till the very end to click that one colourful selfie. You could actually click a selfie every time before washing. Ta da…. different selfies for different social media platforms!
- If the colour goes in the eyes, rinse off with ample of clean water, do not put any other stuff like milk, rose water or any medication without doctor’s advice.
- Drink loads of water to keep yourself hydrated. It’s getting sunnier, at least, here in Mumbai.
Post care
- When the festivities are over and you are home, dust off any dry colours. If wet, apply loads of oil before to go for a bath.
- Use a mild soap/ body wash and face wash to remove the colour. Don’t try to use harsh detergents to remove the colour all at a go.
- Rinse off all the colour from the hair with plain water. Use a mild shampoo to wash off the remaining colour. Protect the hair with the good conditioner at the end.
- All the cleansing has robbed the moisture off the skin. Apply ample of moisturiser immediately after bath.
- Continue using sunscreen regularly.
- Avoid any treatments like facials, clean ups, peels for atleast a week after Holi.
I am sure you will enjoy this colourful festival of Holi without any accidents if you follow the above tips.
But, if you do land up with a rash, you know where to find me!
Have a colourful and safe Holi!!
Take care, be good!
Dr Sonali
For appointments:
1) Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West.
11am-1.30pm & 5.30-8.30pm Mon- Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
2) Gokuldham Medical Centre, Goregaon East. Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat: 8.30 -10.30am
Please keep sharing these posts with your near and dear ones and help spread the awareness
Tips for safe, colourful Holi
Holi is the festival of colours which is celebrated to welcome the arrival of spring! It’s played fervently by throwing colours, splashing water and water balloons on each other. Most of the times it is complete fun. At times, it ends up with injuries, skin rashes and allergies.
These are few instructions to follow to avoid skin rashes and allergies.
1. Apply coconut oil on the hair and the body in ample amounts 20-30 minutes before starting to play Holi. Acne prone people can use a non comedogenic moisturiser instead of oil for the face.
2. Make sure to apply ample to sunscreen before venturing out.
3. Wear full sleeved clothes as they provide maximum protection from the colours. Dupattas and scarves for the hair would be a good idea too.
4. To protect the nails, cover them with a fresh coat of enamel. Also apply petrolatum jelly around the nail and below its tip
5. Lips can be covered with a lip balm or petrolatum jelly.
6. Keep rinsing off the colour whenever possible. Don’t wait till the end to wash the face after the most colourful selfie!
7. If the colour goes in the eyes, rinse off with ample of clean water, do not put any other stuff like milk, rose water or any medication without doctor’s advice.
8. Play Holi with safer, organic colours only. Do not use shiny metallic colours as they do most harm and getting them off is a real task.
9. While removing the colours, use the mildest of soap. Please do not use detergents in an attempt to get rid of all the colour at a go.
10. Use a moisturiser after taking the bath.
I am sure you will enjoy this colourful festival of Holi without any accidents if you follow the above tips.
But, if you do land up with a rash, you know where to find me!
Wishing you all a colourful and joyous Holi!
Dr Sonali
For queries and appointments:
1) Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West.
11-1.30 & 5.30-8.30pm Mon- Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
2) Gokuldham Medical Centre, Goregaon East.
Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat: 8.30 -10.30am
Reading between the lines
We pay immediate attention to our major organs like heart, stomach, lungs, etc especially when we have symptoms like pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough indicating the presence of some disease. But most of us ignore the signs given by the largest organ in the human body – our skin.
I see a lot of patients who want to get rid of the pigmentation on the back of the neck or under arms. They attribute it to either jewelery like gold chains that they wear or the deodorants that they apply. Some even think it is dirt that has accumulated over time. What most don’t realise that this is your skin trying to warn you about the onset of diabetes and other systemic illnesses.
This blackish, velvety pigmentation is called as ‘acanthosis nigricans’. Most of the patients with this condition are on the heavier side, have a very hectic schedule, have irregular eating habits, undertake no physical exercise, suffer from work stress, sleeping disorders, irregular periods, etc. And another common factor is junk food.
When we eat a carbohydrate rich diet, insulin is secreted to take away the excess sugar from the blood. If we eat too much junk food, which is laden with carbs and fats, more insulin is required to clear the sugar. After a while the body gets used to these high levels of insulin and more & more insulin is required to do the same work. This is called as Insulin Resistance. Eventually body cannot make those high amounts of insulin and the blood sugar levels increase. The person gets diabetes.
When insulin is released in more than normal amounts it makes the skin folds like nape of neck, underarm. Inner thighs and groins look darker, thicker and more velvety. This is, thus, an early sign of the approaching diabetes.
The alarming fact is that many children tend to have acanthosis nigricans. This can be attributed to the regular intake of chips, colas, burgers, pizzas, chocolates, etc. and omission of salads and vegetables. If the diet is not controlled, these kids will have diabetes at a very early age.
Therefore, if any of you feel that your neck or underarms look darker, heed the warning and improve your diet and exercise regularly.
Avoid sweets, packaged foods, refined flour (maida), juices, soft drinks, potatoes, chocolates and other forms of sugars. Decrease rice intake. Eat more salads, vegetables and fruits. Increase protein intake.
Exercise on a regularly basis.
Lightening creams, chemical peels, moisturisers are known to lighten the colour to some extent. Oral anti diabetic medicines also help in reducing the colour by normalising the insulin and sugar levels. But, pigmentation will reappear if the weigh loss and diet correction does not happen.
Many online self help posts advise lemon, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, ubtans, different oils, various methods of cleaning the affected area to remove this pigmentation within a few days. Believe me, none of these work efficiently. They might irritate the skin if done wrongly and thus aggravate the problem. So don’t try these short-cuts.
Meet your Doctor immediately. Do a series of blood tests which can find the blood sugar and insulin levels and other metabolic parameters of your body. Make a diet and exercise plan and follow it.
I hope this article makes you aware of one of the most important yet simple warning signals that your body is trying to give you and that you start paying heed to it.
Until next time…
Take care, be good.
Dr Sonali,
For queries and appointments:
Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
11am – 1.30pm & 5.30pm – 8.30pm Mon- Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
Happy New Year!
This is the time when we resolve to lose weight, get 6 pack abs, learn to play the guitar or what not. Like we do every year. Most of us lose steam because our goals require a lot of effort and time. Maybe what we need is a desirable aim which doesn’t take much effort. How about good skin and hair in 10 simple steps?
1. Moisturise your body immediately after a bath. This locks the moisture in the skin and prevents drying. Keeps the skin looking healthy and hydrated.
2. Apply sunscreen 3-4 times daily even if you are indoors and it is raining or cloudy outside. This is the first anti ageing measure that you can adopt.
3. Always use a conditioner after every hair wash. It prevents entangling of hair which can lead to breakage and hairfall.
4. Do not comb wet hair. Minimise the use of hair styling appliances like hair dryer, straighteners, curlers, etc.
5. Make sure to remove all make-up before you sleep. Let your skin breathe.
6. Eat well to look beautiful. Include loads of nuts, fruits, salads, leafy vegetables and proteins in your meals on a daily basis.
7. Drink 1.5-2 litres of water daily. This helps flush out toxins from the body and keeps the skin glowing.
8. Exercise regularly. It helps in keeping a lot of diseases like thyroid dysfunction, polycystic ovarian disease, diabetes, blood pressure and stress away. This in turn helps to have a clearer and healthy skin.
9. Do not neglect simple skin complaints like a weird new mole or a skin rash or a simple itch. Meet a dermatologist at the earliest.
10. Lastly, sleep on time. Early to bed, early to rise… keeps your skin looking healthy and nice.
That’s it. Just make these 10 habits and watch your skin and hair improve and stay healthy.
Until next time
Take care, be good!
Dr Sonali.
For queries and appointments:
Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
11am -1.30pm & 5.30 – 8.30pm Mon-Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
New treatment against fungal infections – a new mind-set
Fungal infections in Mumbai, even entire India, have reached almost epidemic proportions. Winters have set in and still patients with fungal infections seem to pour in.
Earlier fungal infections were restricted to the poor, socio-economically lower strata where over-crowding, unhygienic conditions prevailed. Nowadays I am seeing patients from well-to-do families also. Earlier the disease was restricted to the groins only where retention of moisture is common. Now, almost the entire body seems to be involved. Fungal infection of the face, which was a rarity, is seen commonly.
I remember during my residency, just four weekly tablets of anti-fungal medicine would cure the disease. Almost nobody ever came back for a follow-up saying that the rash or itching had not gone. Nowadays, newer anti-fungal in higher doses also don’t work as quickly or efficiently as before. Relapses and recurrences are very common.
What has happened? Why is this surge seen? Why does the fungus seem to last forever despite taking medicines? Are the doctors doing something wrong? Is the patient at fault? Are the medicines not working? Is the fungus getting resistant? Without large scale studies, we cannot say anything for sure. But I think the major reason that this problem has escalated, is our mind-set.
Skin rashes and itching are not given as much importance as fever, loose motions or vomiting. It’s also embarrassing to talk about the rash in the private parts. What will others think? So, most patients wait and hope for it to resolve magically on its own or they use some cream lying around which had helped earlier.
If the cream doesn’t help then they discuss it with their family confidantes or friends or even the local chemist/ medical shop person. It’s still not serious enough to meet a specialist. These friends, as per their little knowledge, suggest some household remedy or cream or soap or powder. Patients happily waste another week in that. This dillydallying worsens the problem. The rash seems to increase and now is spread to other parts of the body.
Then patients prefer to go to a family physician but not a skin specialist. They are shy to show the rash. The doctor obliges prescribing medicines without examining them, keeping the patients’s comfort as top priority.
To get faster results, a combination cream which has a potent steroid and an anti-fungal is given. This calms the itching, makes the rash look better, but the fungi can still multiply and the infection increases.
When that happens, patients finally decide that now it is serious enough to consult a dermatologist. So they turn up and expect the disease to disappear in few days. They have been suffering for too long and tried multiple medicines. All the patience is lost. If it does notary better, they change the Doctor. If they see results, then they stop the medicines and do not go for a follow-up. Why give those extra follow-up fees?
We need to change this mind-set and these habits. Patients should ask themselves these questions.
- Those who take advice from friends/relatives about medicines that worked for them, ask yourselves, ‘Do we buy the same type and size shoes that fit our friend’s feet?’ No! Their feet sizes can be different, their taste in fashion can be different. Then how do we expect their medicines to work on our disease? You might have allergies or a medical history that affects your treatment, which your friends might not have.
- To those who delay going to a dermatologist when the issue is clearly skin-related and rather ask a chemist ask yourselves, ‘If your tap leaks, do you go to the local shop that sells pipes and taps or do you go to the plumber?’ Sure, the shopowner will have an overall grasp on the issue but it is the plumber who actually fixes it. If you go to your family doctor, then be completely honest about the problem no matter how embarrassing it might be.
- To those who don’t feel the need to follow-up with a dermatologist, if the medicines show result, ask yourselves, ‘Do we switch off the gas after just looking at the food we are cooking?’ Don’t we taste it, check if it has cooked properly? Only then do we know if the food is ready. Sometimes, we realise it is missing salt or has too much salt and accordingly take steps to fix things. The same applies to a follow-up. Sometimes the condition may seem to have improved but the dermatologist can diagnose if there is anything that needs further attention.
To sum it up these are few suggestions that may help keep fungal infections of the skin away and could help in complete resolution of the disease.
- Meet the dermatologist at the earliest. Don’t wait for it to spread at multiple areas. Nip it right in the bud.
- Do not try any over-the-counter creams that your friends or relatives or the chemist might suggest. They are not enough. Oral anti-fungal medicines are required most of the times.
- Take the prescribed medicines as advised. Do not forget or miss the tablets. This can lead to resistance and longer duration of treatment.
- It will take a few days for the itching to decrease. If you have used a steroid anti-fungal combination creams, the itching will initially increase when you stop that cream. Continue the medicines as advised.
- It can take about 6-8 weeks of treatment before it is stopped. Don’t give up and change doctors.
- If the Doctor has asked for a follow-up, don’t miss it even if you think you have gotten better.
- Follow the doctor’s advice properly.
Quick tips to prevent the spread of fungal infections
- Keep yourself dry.
- Avoid tight fit clothing.
- Avoid carrying clothes inside the bathroom when you go for a bath, as these clothes absorb moisture and the body can remain a little damp when you wear them.
- If you have a habit for multiple baths in a day, make sure to use a clean, washed, dry towel every time.
- Do not share clothes, towels, items of personal use with anyone.
- Wash clothes after every use, even if you have used it for 10 minutes. It’s cheaper to spend money on detergents than on anti-fungal medicines.
- Finish the entire course of medicines.
- Meet the doctor until the doctor clears you off therapy.
I know habits die hard and things don’t change so easily. But I hope this post makes patients, at least, question their habits and mind-sets. That is a good enough start, especially for the coming new year!
Until next time…
Take care, be good.
Dr Sonali.
For queries and appointments:
Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
11am -1.30pm & 5.30 – 8.30pm Mon-Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
Skin & Hair Care in Winter
Cyclone Ockhi did one good thing. It gave Mumbai her winter! There is a nip in the air in the mornings and the evenings. Winter has set in. It is a big respite from the October heat. But it also brings along its own set of skin and hair problems.
1. Dryness and itchiness of skin
2. Atopic dermatitis and eczemas
3. Psoriasis
4. Cracked heels
5. Infections like hand, foot, mouth disease, viral skin rash
6. Hair fall and dandruff
Here are few ways to deal with them.
1. The more often you apply a moisturiser the less dry the skin will be. Avoid moisturisers with strong smells as they can increase itching. The trick is to apply the moisturiser on damp skin (within 3 minutes of bath/ washing the area). ‘Bathe – Dry – Moisturise inside the bathroom’ should be a routine in winters. This not only decreases the dryness of the skin but prevents the itchiness also.
2. Dry skin leads to itchiness. Scratching causes irritation, inflammation and wounds/rashes on the skin. If the rash does not get better with moisturisers, then steroid creams may be required. Do not self-medicate with over-the-counter creams on the advice of a chemist or a friend. Steroids are prescription medicines and should be used only on a doctor’s advice. So rush to a dermatologist if moisturisers are not enough.
3. The next big problem is cracked feet, cracked heels or cuts on the palms or soles. It is not only embarrassing but sometimes, painful also. Immersing the affected areas in warm water gives back the lost moisture to skin. It is very important to lock the moisture by applying a moisturising cream immediately. Creams having ingredients like urea, lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acids help in this condition. Wearing cotton socks overnight could help in healing cracked feet faster.
4. Harsh soaps can rob the moisture from the skin. It is better to use a soap-free soap (a syndet) or a body wash these days. Look out for pH 5.5 mentioned on the soap or body wash.
5. Increased flakiness of the scalp (which appears like dandruff) might need medical evaluation especially if the over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoos don’t help. People resort to using lemon juice, yoghurt, eggs, oils with curry leaves, neem leaves, onion juice and many other substances with a hope that the dandruff will go away. It really doesn’t help, you just land up wasting precious time and suffering. Please meet a dermatologist to find out the cause and treat accordingly.
6. Winter robs the moisture from your hair, making it dry and lustreless. Warm oil massages on the hair strands, 1 hour before a hair-bath, can prove beneficial. Applying a conditioner after every hair wash would also help here. Avoid hair dryers especially on the ‘hot mode’ and straighteners and curling tongs in winter. These hair appliances rob the moisture from the hair strands leading to breakage and damage of hair.
7. Improve your diet to prevent and decrease hair loss. Make sure that the diet is rich in protein and iron to prevent hair loss. You should include egg whites, seafood, chicken, meat, daals (pulses), sprouts, green peas, soybeans, paneer (cottage cheese), nuts, raagi/nachani (finger millet) as protein sources. Iron sources include meat, seafood, leafy vegetable like spinach, methi (fenugreek), beans, lentils, chana (chickpeas), jaggery, black raisins, dates and apricots.
8. Infections like Hand foot and mouth disease, Pityriasis rosea, Chickenpox and other viral diseases are very commonly seen during winters. Avoid sending kids with these infections to schools, classes or any other public place to prevent spread. Antiviral medicines work very well against chickenpox and should be started as early as possible.
9. Last, but not the least, continue using the sunscreen regularly.
Until next time…
Take care, be good.
Dr Sonali
For queries and appointments:
1) Dr Sonali’s Skin, Hair & Cosmetology Clinic, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
11am – 1.30pm & 5.30pm – 8.30pm Mon- Sat
Call for appt: 02228714176
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