Monsoon

Protect yourself from skin problems this monsoon

Protect yourself from skin problems this monsoon

We all love the good things that monsoon brings, be it the cloudy weather, the cool breeze gently caressing you, the rain drops or the hot tea. But, don’t just get lost in all this and also devote your attention towards the downside of this humid weather.

Though rain showers keep the scorching heat at bay, but due to constant dampness and humidity they can also lead to various fungal and bacterial infections. During the monsoon season, the air is full of infections so additional care is needed to keep our skin healthy and revitalised.

Here are a few common skin problems that occur during the monsoon season and their treatment.

-Nail infection: Try not to keep your nails long during the monsoon season as long nails attract muck and bacteria thereby leading to fungal infection in the feet.

Tip: If one notices red or itchy skin near the nails, it is a sign of nail infection. One can go for either oral medication as prescribed by the doctor or use anti-fungal cream or powder.

-Prickly heat: It is very common in this season. Prickly heat rash is a red pimply eruption. It is caused by sweating that leads to skin pores to clog and as a result, prickly heat rash pops up.

Tip: The best way to deal with it is to use anti-bacterial soaps and talcum powders to keep your skin dry. Also, try wearing cotton clothes as they absorb sweat and try not to expose your skin in the harsh sun rays without at least using a good sunscreen with a high SPF factor.

-Athlete’s foot: The common symptoms of Athlete’s foot are itchy patches on the feet that are well defined, scaly, and itchy.

Tip: To avoid it one should not wear plastic shoes, leather or canvas ones and instead wear slippers and flip-flops as they let your feet breathe. Or if you are wearing shoes, then apply anti-fungal powder to avoid bacterial infection.

-Eczema: Eczema is a chronic skin condition in which red patches start appearing on the skin with blisters which cause itching and bleeding.

Tip: The best way to deal with it is by using anti-bacterial soaps, talcum powders and face washes to keep your skin dry and also to wear clothes that do not irritate your skin in this weather.

-Ringworm infection: Ringworm infection starts as a small portion and spreads in a ring form. It commonly occurs in the sole of the feet, armpits and behind the ears.

Tip: To avoid it one must use anti-fungal powder and wear full-sleeved clothes to protect body parts from insect bites or stings. Also, never wear wet clothes as they immediately lead to fungal infection.

So, follow these tips and enjoy the blissful rainy season.

Source: Zee news

Monsoon Special: Foods you should eat!

Monsoon Special Foods you should eat!

Eating right during the monsoons can be very tricky. The wrong kind of food could give you an upset tummy. But don’t worry. To make sure you have a healthy monsoon, here’s a list of foods you should include in your diet as well as tips on how to eat them.

Herbal teas: “Herbal teas like ginger or lemon tea is good for you especially during the monsoons, as it will keep the flu away,” says Namita Nanal, a Mumbai-based nutritionist. Try sipping on a cup or two of herbal tea everyday.

Fenugreek: During monsoons, our immunity lowers automatically and therefore our system finds it hard to digest food. “So include herbs like fenugreek (methi) and cumin seeds (jeera) that’ll help you digest food better during the rains

Garlic: Add a little bit of garlic to your soups, stir fries and curries to build up your immunity this monsoon. “Garlic helps you fight viral infections,” says Namita.

Turmeric: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric improves your immunity too. So include some in your food to keep that cold at bay.

Soups: Soups are a good way to get nutrition from veggies during monsoons “as they kill bacteria in them, making veggies safe to consume,” says holistic health guru, Mickey Mehta. Whip up interesting combinations like tomato and onion, potato and asparagus, carrot and chicken etc.

Moong dal: Opt for moong dal and masoor dal this rainy season. “These are not only a healthy source of protein but also of dietary fibre that aids digestion,” says Mickey.

Gourds: Vegetables like snake gourd, ash gourd, bitter gourd et al are extremely nutritious and are a much better option than salad leaves during the monsoons. “They are rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium and manganese,” says Mickey.

Nachini: “Millets like jowar and nachini are rich in calcium,” says Mickey that helps fortify our system and keep monsoon-related infections away.

Source: Idiva

Monsoon Special: How to keep your little ones safe and healthy!

Monsoon Special How to keep your little ones safe and healthy

 

The cool breeze and the refreshing rains in monsoons come as a huge relief after the hot summer season. But these gleeful moments can also bring along humidity, mosquitoes, diseases, etc, which in turn can give you a lot of anxiety and worries regarding your little one’s health.

Below are a few tips to help you keep your kids healthy during this season:

Hygiene and Cleanliness: Since this season brings with it a lot of challenges, hygiene comes first. Keep your room and surrounding areas clean and dry.

Due to humidity, your little ones may sweat a lot, which can lead to fungal infections, skin rashes or allergies. Keep your baby clean by bathing him/her atleast once a day. Adding a few drops of neem oil in the bathing water works as a disinfectant.

Wash your hands as well as your baby’s after changing nappies and after he eats, to keep diseases at bay. Cut your baby’s nail short to keep him/her clean and healthy. .

Food and Drink: Always serve your little ones moderately hot/warm food. Make sure your children drink only boiled or filtered water. Even when you go out, carry water bottle from your home. Avoid giving them food, fruit juices and drinks with ice from outside. Not just your kids, but adults should also avoid eating from outside during this season.

If you have a baby who’s on formula milk, always use boiled and cooled water to make his feed. And if your are breastfeeding, keep breastfeeding your baby. This will strengthen the baby’s immune system as well as help protect from illness. Your breastmilk contains antibodies that can keep your baby strong and healthy.

Also, make your child drink plenty of boiled water to prevent dehydration.

Clothes: During this humid season, dress your child in loose cotton clothes that will absorb the sweat and let his skin breath. Avoid synthetic and nylon clothes.

Make sure that your child does not wear damp clothes as this can lead to fungal infections. Remember even slightly wet cloth can lead to flu. Keep his/her skin dry to prevent prickly heat.

During day time, be sure to cover your baby’s arms and legs to avoid mosquito bites.

And if you have a school-going kid, make sure that his/her raincoat, school bag, gumboots, socks and other items are dry and clean.

Avoid Mosquitoes: As monsoons bring along a lot of illnesses, keeping your home and surroundings clean can help avoid your child from mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria or chikungunya. Applying mosquito repellants/creams on your baby’s skin or using a mosquito net will help avoid mosquito bites.

Source: zee news