Are you tired of dealing with pesky skin disorders that seem to pop up out of nowhere? Don’t fret, because we’ve got your back (and your face, and every other inch of skin)! In this blog post, we’re going to dive into some preventive measures for skin disorders as discussed by Dr. Jastinder Gill, the skin specialist in Ludhiana, that will help keep your skin clear and healthy. From lifestyle changes to skincare tips, our comprehensive guide is designed to give you the tools you need for a healthy skin – so let’s get started!
Non Medical Measures
As we all know, the majority of the skin disorders are chronic, they follow a long course of relapses and remissions. The various common skin diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus, to name a few, may go on for years with long gaps of disease free periods and then suddenly see a flare up of the signs and symptoms. Even a simple thing like itching, also known as pruritis in the medical terminology, may present for months to years.
The non medical measures or the preventive measures, are better at providing long term remissions, with a less severe disease activity. Patients who follow these preventive measures have milder signs and symptoms and better control of the disease.
The non medical measures or the preventive daily skin care is the backbone for the management of all skin problems. Not only are these skin care steps good for people with skin problems, but also for all of us, who want good and healthy skin.
The non medical daily skin care routine is –
- Once a day bath with Lukewarm water and mild soap, is essential for the good management of skin problems, as it cleanses the body and the water hydrates the skin.
- Avoid harsh soaps, as they irritate the skin and damage the skin barrier.
- No foam bathing soaps.
- Do not take hot water showers/baths, hot Water too irritates the skin and damages the skin barrier.
- An intact skin barrier is essential to protect the skin, it keeps all the skin irritants and allergens at bay.
- Use of an appropriate moisturizer regularly, is the key to the treatment and management and an essential skin care routine for everyone.
- The skin barrier which mainly comprises lipids, is often damaged in patients of skin diseases and this leads to exacerbation of the disease. A moisturizer rich in ceramides, squalene, phytosterols etc, helps protect and repair the skin barrier. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of a moisturiser. I usually tell my patients, if you use an appropriate moisturiser regularly and religiously, you have won the disease, you will have long disease free time.
- Use pure and soft cotton fabric clothes. No woolen or synthetic clothes to touch the skin.
- Room temperature to be set at at appropriate temperature. Use of high temperatures in winters and very low in summers will not be good for patients of skin.
- Use of humidifiers. If the indoor air is very dry, then it will lead to dryness of the skin and hence a flare up of skin conditions. The use of humidifiers, especially in places of air conditioning is the need for atopic patients. If a humidifier is out of budget or is not available, then even placing a bowl of water in the room, helps significantly to maintain the indoor air humidity.
- Wash clothes with mild detergents. No bleach or fabric softeners to be used.
- Extra rinse the clothes with water to wash away all traces of the detergent from the clothes. As the detergent left behind on the clothes will lead to skin irritation, especially where the clothes are in close contact. You can use the rinse option of the washing machine or use bucket for the extra rinse with water.
You might also want to explore about Fungal Infection on Skin. Click on the link to learn more about it.
Other Preventive Measures Are –
- Eat fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid spicy, preserved and packaged food. certain preservatives, additives and colors (though they are approved by the food industry) used in these can lead to skin irritation and aggravation of the skin problem. Though these chemicals may directly not be the cause of your skin problem, but they definitely lead to flare up of the skin condition, and if you are in a habit of having these food in your diet, it increases the severity of the disease and makes the treatment difficult and prolonged.
- Drink plenty of water, that will keep your skin well hydrated. As dry and dehydrated skin is prone to skin irritations.
- Follow Stress free lifestyle. Stress is the biggest factor in aggravation not only of skin problems but also many other diseases. We all face stress through our lives which can be physical or mental. Deep breathing and meditation will be of tremendous help to overcome the stress and in turn with better management of the skin problem, may it be atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, to name a few, or just itching of the skin.
Start slow, taking small steps at a time and when you see the results, you shall be motivated to do more. Stay Happy, Stay Healthy!!