Be kind to your skin

An interview with city based Dr Dilip Shah, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist
Being beautiful is what most of us wish for and desire. No matter which part of the world we inhabit, being beautiful is one universally aspired trait. And beautiful is what most brands claims to make you with their plethora of creams and lotions which they launch everyday in the market.
So obviously you are at your wit's end to choose the right product, and decide on the frequency and amount to be used. And what are the precautionary measures one has to take if the skin breaks out after using these products? What do you do in such cases?
The common creams which we usually fall prey to are whitening creams, anti-acne creams, anti-pigmentation, wrinkle-free creams and sunscreens. Different campaigns are created to lure innocent customers with assurances like 'fairness within a week', 'no more pimples' and so on. According to doctors, this is hogwash. There are no creams and lotions that give you the perfect antidote to your problems.
Your skin contains a pigment known as melanin, which gives you your skin tone. So, if you apply sunscreen on your skin, it will give you a luminescent glow only for a couple of days. No cream can dissolve the melanin under the skin, no matter how tall the company claims may be. Ditto in the case of anti-acne creams. A person gets acne, due to hormonal imbalance and other internal factors. The main cause of the acne should be found out and diagnosed accordingly. Proper medicines should then be prescribed accordingly, rather than going for self-medication.
Moreover, the products found on shelves are not always what they claim to be. Though the different advertisements show the products to be very different from other existing products, truth is that the ingredients do not change, only the label changes.
Case in Point: To protect yourself from the scorching heat of the sun, it is advisable to use a sunscreen. Normally, a sunscreen having SPF 30 is right for Indian skin. But walk to your nearest store, and you will be surprised by the sheer number of sunscreens that are available in the market, right from herbal to imported ones. The labels do not give details of the quantity and the number of times that the cream should be applied on a daily basis. At the end, we use more or less than the desired amount and thus do not get the coveted result.
While buying a cream or lotion for the first time, the first thing that one must do is to apply the cream on your elbow and watch for any reaction. But, how can you expect your skin to show a reaction in 5-10 minutes? Usually, to test a cream, it is good to apply it on your elbow for a couple of hours or for the whole night. If it doesn't suit your skin, it may turn red, itch and even break out.
In many cases, antiseptic lotions are applied to the affected area. This is a complete no-no, as it may aggravate the rash and result in satellite eruptions all over the body. The antiseptics usually burn the skin, and may spread and leave deep scars and marks on your face.
Be kind to yourself. If your skin breaks out, don't take matters in your own hands, but consult a dermatologist immediately. Also, for a couple of days, maybe weeks, you should be careful of what you eat and drink. Sea food, chicken, eggs and red meat of any sort should be avoided as they produce heat inside the body, which may indirectly affect the area.
- As told to Barnalee Handique