Body Care during Change of Season: Shahnaz Husain

All of us want to look good, no matter whatever the season may be.

During the transition from one season to another, all of us come across different skin problems, which, if not treated on time, may turn into serious conditions. Some of these include skin allergies, sensitivity, itching, rashes and inflammation. Pollution and pollens present in the air are two of the main culprits behind all of these problems. So, we need awareness about how to take care of our skin and the kind of treatment it deserves to look its best.

Here are some things you can add to your daily routine.

General care

Get a hand & body lotion depending on the extent of dryness of their skin. There are a variety of creams, lotions & oils which are available to tackle these problems.

Use a loofah or rough towel to give the body a rub every time you apply oil, cream or lotion. This helps to smoothen the rough skin and also improves the blood circulation in the skin surface, leaving the skin glowing.

If you have a dry skin, it is best to use shower gels instead of soap.

Massaging before bath

Massage your body with lukewarm oil before taking a bath. Any type of oil like Sesame seed (Til) oil or olive oil or vegetable oil can be used. According to Ayurveda, it is a balanced oil. It also has antioxidant properties and has a soothing effect on sun-damaged skin.

Particular aromatic ingredients can be added to massage oils, in order to have a calming effect on the mind and promoting general well being. Here is a recipe for one such oil:

Fragrant Massage Oil: Take 25 ml each of almond oil and sunflower oil or sesame seed (til) oil, to make 50 ml oil. To this add 2 drops of rose OR jasmine essential oil. Essential oils should never be used by themselves. This oil will leave the body with a pleasant fragrance.

Additionally, you can give your skin a pre-bath treatment. A traditional home pre-bath treatment is to mix “besan” (gram flour) with a little milk or curd and a pinch of “Haldi” (turmeric) into a paste. Rub the body with this before your bath and wash it off while bathing. This cleanses the body well.

Proper skin cleansing

While taking a bath, give your body a rub with a loofah or rough towel, especially on the knees and elbows. If these two areas are dark, rub two lemon halves on them before your bath.

After taking bath, wipe off and apply a body lotion, or thicker cream, paying special attention to the feet, back of the hands, knees and elbows. Rub the lotion or cream into the skin on these areas.

You can use the following recipes for properly cleansing your skin and get rid of all the tan and itching:

Body Scrub: Take four tablespoons gram flour (besan) or oats, one teaspoon sandalwood powder, one teaspoon rose water. Add milk to make a paste. Wet the skin and apply. Rub on the skin and wash off with water.
For itching on the body due to dryness: Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to a mug of water and rinse the areas after your bath.
To remove tan on arms: Mix gram flour (besan) with curd and add a pinch of turmeric. Apply this on the arms 20 minutes before your bath.
To brighten the hands: Take fresh orange peels and pierce them with a fork. Rub the peels on the hands.
For Nail care: Mix almond oil and honey in equal parts and massage into the nails and cuticles.
For dry Nails: Warm any vegetable oil (sunflower oil, or sesame seed oil or olive oil) and soak fingers in it for ten minutes. Wipe off with a moist towel.