Skin – Hair Care and Yoga in Monsoon

The hot summers are about to come to an end and the monsoon is coming, bringing some relief from the scorching sun. Monsoon is a beautiful season because it brings rains and greenery all around us. It is often seen as a positive change of seasons and it also relaxes our mind. Although all of us love the monsoon, many of us start getting skin and hair problems as soon as the monsoon arrives. Diseases like diarrhea, cold, flu and fever are also common with the arrival of monsoon. This article brings beneficial tips for skin care and hair care during monsoon. Lifestyle tips according to yoga experts are described, for avoiding diseases and discomforts during monsoon.

Introduction

Monsoon is the favorite part of the year for many of us because it is the time when nature is just so beautiful and full of life that everything can be seen gleaming with energy. But, another thing is that monsoon is famous (or infamous) for the occurrences of problematic skin and hair health in addition to cold, fever and infections. Most common problems faced by men and women alike are dry hair, frizzy hair, hair fall, acne and prickly heat, rashes, etc.

What Happens When The Seasons Change?

With the onset of monsoon the moisture and humidity increases drastically and the temperatures don’t fall either. So the sweat glands of our body are confused and therefore our skin as well as the scalp either become dry and itchy or sweat so much that they retain sweat moisture and allow bacteria to grow over there and cause acne, irritation, itching and rashes. Not only the environment but also our diet and lifestyle also matter in making these conditions worse. When it starts raining, the aroma of the wet earth works like magic and we start craving for hot pakoras and tea. It has almost become a ritual to make and eat fried items throughout the rainy season. But it may surprise you that such foods especially during monsoon are responsible for the skin and hair problems we face. Skin and hair need extra care during the monsoon. Healthy eating habits should also not be ignored during monsoon because with monsoon the risk of catching infections of the digestive system becomes higher.

Skin And Hair Problems During Monsoon

Oily Skin – If you have oily skin, you might get acne during monsoon. People with medium oily skin are also troubled a lot during the rainy season. Oil deposition is also experienced by people of medium or combination skin. Oily skin can be a blessing in the winter but it is a curse in the summer and monsoon.
Pores – Pores are the spots from where little hair grows on our skin. Pores are actually the passages of sweat. This is why the pores become even more open and prominent during monsoons, to allow more sweating. But pores make the skin appear uneven and rough.
Black and White Heads – The tiny white or black colored dots on our face can be really annoying. They are actually clogged pores. They are called blackheads or white heads. They can be removed by scrubbing the face.
Acne, Pimples and Breakouts – These little bumps that take forever to burst and get healed are really annoying and the nightmare of men as well as women. They get worse during monsoons and take even longer to heal during this season. It should be noted that the acne or pimples are not necessarily skin disorders but they can be a signal of poor digestive health and constipation.
Hair Fall – Many people, especially women face this issue during monsoon. Although some hair keeps falling all year round, during the rainy season the pores on the scalp can be clogged with dirt, dead skin and moisture produced in the scalp itself. Hair fall can trigger stress which in turn makes hair fall worse.
Rough and Dry Hair – Hair that is normal in the other seasons can also become and look rough, lifeless and dry especially in the monsoons because of the moisture and humidity around us.
Frizzy Hair – Hair becomes thin in the rainy season and the smaller hair rises above the other longer hair. This also happens because the thinner hair doesn’t settle along with the other hair and makes the overall appearance of the hair frizzy.

Care And Remedies During Monsoon

Packs and Masks

Make a paste of Camphor, rose water and mint leaves. You can store it in a jar in the refrigerator and use it to wash your face like a regular face wash.
Soak some oats and red lentils overnight and make a paste the next day with rosewater. Apply it as a face scrub and massage the face for some minutes. Then wash off. It will help remove black and white heads.
Freeze some tomatoes and potatoes cut into halves and then whenever you feel like, rub these on your face. It will help close open pores.
Make a paste of fuller earth, Neem leaves and rose water. Apply it on to your face and leave until it dries up. Do it daily for acne free skin.
Make a hair mask by mixing together Neem leaves, hibiscus flowers, amla powder and an egg. Apply on wet hair and leave for an hour. Then wash off with shampoo. It will prevent scalp itchiness and also reduce hair fall.
Make a beer hair wash. Use leftover beer to make a paste with fuller earth and add some green tea to it. Squeeze in a lemon and apply to wet hair. Leave for a few minutes and rinse with plain water. It will help make dry hair look better.

Home Remedies

Apply amla juice on the face as well as the head regularly.
Apply fresh yogurt on your face as well as hair. Then wash off with a mild soap or shampoo.
Using eggs on the head regularly can prevent hair fall in the long term.
Aloe vera gel can be applied to the skin of the face as well as the scalp. It is a great rejuvenator and has many benefits.
Lemon juice can be applied on the skin of the face and the scalp if the skin is oily.
Coconut oil should be used to massage the hair as well as the face. It is antimicrobial and will prevent acne and bacterial overgrowth.
Soak fenugreek seeds in water and make a paste. Then apply this paste on the hair as well as the face to prevent pimples and breakouts.

Yoga And Lifestyle Tips During Monsoon

When you start following a yogic lifestyle you don’t just become fit and active. You can also strengthen your immune system and stay safe and away from diseases that commonly appear during the monsoons. In this way you can still enjoy the monsoons while staying fit and healthy.

Recommended Yoga Practices During Monsoon

This simple combination of asana and pranayama can bring great benefits:

Kapalabhati Pranayama – This extremely popular pranayama is a fast breathing exercise in which a person has to use pressure to exhale. Kapalabhati is a recommended practice for monsoon because it expels the external matter trapped in the respiratory system. It should compulsorily be done on an empty stomach only.
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama – This is a basic and lesser known pranayama which is extremely beneficial for the blood purification and it can help prevent monsoon related beauty issues such as hair fall, acne and rashes. It can be done after a gap of around two hours after a medium sized meal.
Adho Mukha Shvanasana – This pose is called the downward dog. It increases blood circulation in the upper half of the body and is thus helpful in alleviating facial issues, such as oily or dry skin, and issues of the scalp such as dandruff and oily hair. It can also be done after a small gap of around two hours after a medium sized meal.
Setu Bandhasana – This pose stretches the body in such a way that it channels energy in the middle abdominal and diaphragmatic region, and improves immunity. It also improves issues of the respiratory system.
Bhujangasana – Bhujangasana is a great practice for preventing indigestion and other seasonal issues of the digestive system. It activates the secretion of digestive juices and therefore prevents many conditions such as irritable bowels which are common during monsoon. It should also be done at an empty stomach or at a gap of at least three hours after a medium sized meal.
Surya Namaskara – Surya Namaskara is a complete body workout that improves blood circulation in the whole body. It is a series of twelve poses carefully placed one after the other by the ancient yogis. It can be done in the morning at the time of sunrise and in the evening at the time of sunset.

Lifestyle Tips

Remain physically active. There must be water in grounds and parks but it doesn’t mean that you are free to skip all activities. Try to include your family members in your yoga session. You can also join online sessions for this season where experts can guide and motivate you.
Stay properly hydrated. It is raining outside but it doesn’t mean that you should drink less water than you would in the summer. Drink normal water i.e. not straight out of a fridge. You could also heat it a little and boil some herbs in it for consumption throughout the monsoons.
In this season there are plenty of green sights all around us. Green leafy vegetables also start coming to our nearby markets and we like to make fritters and fries using them. The point here is that these vegetables should be washed very carefully because they may be carrying germs that could cause seasonal diseases.
Eat a balanced diet. Monsoon makes snacks very popular, especially in India. But still you shouldn’t forget that a balanced diet is essential for our immune system to function normally and fight the germs that are in abundance in the rainy season.
Eat sprouted beans and pulses. They are full of nutrients and are especially good for the body during this season.
Include Tulsi, ginger and amla in your diet. You can drink amla juice or chop it to make a salsa or chutney with other regular ingredients of chutneys. Amla is a great infection fighting food.
Tea, coffee and other hot beverages are consumed widely during monsoon. The regular beverages can be made healthier by adding herbs and spices to them. Ginger, Tulsi, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, etc. are all good for the body in some or the other way and should be added to tea or coffee as per your liking.
Street food should be avoided generally. If you still wish to eat street food, it should be prepared in a hygienic environment.
Avoid eating leftover or stale foods. Consume only freshly prepared food and while it is still hot. Do not leave food items uncovered for flies and mosquitoes. In this way you can avoid many diseases.
Light and fresh meals should be eaten. Overly fried and processed, and heavy meals should be avoided because in this season indigestion is a common phenomenon. It can be avoided to a great extent by eating only light, fresh and clean food in small quantities.
Avoid water collection at and around your house in this season. Mosquitoes lay eggs in this water and then they spread malaria, dengue and chikungunya. The best way is to not let the mosquitoes breed.
Keep your surroundings clean and dry and maintain personal hygiene. This is a small practice but makes great differences.

Conclusion

Monsoon is our favorite season and it is actually the best of all seasons because nature gains its maximum beauty during monsoon. But monsoon is also known for skin problems, hair fall, cold, flu and mosquitoes. It is not necessary that you have to deal with all of this every year. Yoga can help you stay fit and away from seasonal diseases. Also, care can be taken for skin and hair at home without having to worry about expensive spa bills. Home remedies can greatly help skin and hair problems that appear during the rainy season, and taking care of diet and hygiene along with practicing indoor yoga can help prevent diseases.