Summer is the time for occasions, celebrations, outings, travels and trips. Summer is spring time of joy and pleasure with the fresh leaves, flowers and fruits creating a magic in nature. Every season causes changes in the working mechanism of humans and makes the person to certain diseases. Summer is also the time for many diseases of which skin diseases are an important cause for concern. If one is aware and follows the Vasanta-Greeshma Charya or the summer regimen advocated in Ayurveda it is always possible to take measures to prevent the summer skin diseases or to mitigate the ill effects  when they manifest.

These are more situations for the skin to get exposed to the summer heat, humidity, dry winds, ultra violet radiation, dust, insects, pollens, chemicals and other triggering factors that can cause a host of major and minor summer skin problems. The high prevalence of insect swarms like the bees, mosquitoes, ants, beetles, etc. may cause stings or vector borne skin diseases.  The environmental pollution caused by stagnated water in water sources, accumulating garbage and air pollution also contribute towards  skin diseases.  Majority of the skin problems of summer include discoloration, swelling, bumps, brittles, pus and eruptions. Itching, stinging, burning, discomfort and pain are experienced due to these skin problems.

What are the common skin diseases in summer?

1. Heat rash or miliaria rubra: Due to excessive heat, the overworked sweat glands get obstructed due to which sweat is not released and gets accumulated under the skin causing rashes and small itchy blisters. Heat rash is very itchy and uncomfortable.

Remedy: To prevent or cure bathe twice a day using water boiled with konna (Cassia fistula) leaves, ramacham (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves Wear loose fitting fine cotton clothes and drink plenty of boiled water intermittently

2. Folliculitis: Swedavarodha Vidhradhi: Each strand of hair on the body grows from a sac called follicle.  When these follicles get infected, folliculitis happens as soft itchy burning painful reddish soft bumps. Folliculitis can occur anywhere in the body, but are more common in sweaty hairy areas like face, scalp,  armpits, chest, neck, thighs and genitals. The infection may affect one or more hair follicles.

Remedy: Remedy is to keep the hairy body parts clean and maintain proper personal hygiene by bathing twice daily with any astringent medicated water like Nalpamaram or thyme. This condition can be preventing by observing Rutushodhanam treatment of mild purgation just before the start of summer. 5-10 neem leaves made into a paste with jaggery and eaten every morning on empty stomach at the start of summer as a preventive measure is helpful in people prone to folliculitis.

3. Acne breakouts: When sweat mixes with microbes, bacteria and oils in the skin, it can block the skin pores leading to breakouts or flare ups in acne prone people like teenagers, girls with PCOS, hormonal disturbance conditions, oily skin, etc.

Remedy: Mix multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) and Eladi churna into a paste with decoction of neem leaves, apply on the face as a pack and when it starts to dry, washed off gently using warm water. Pat dry the face. Sugars, oily food, sleep deprivation and stress should be avoided.  Wash used sweaty clothes, headbands, towels and hats before using them again.

4. Back Acne: Exercising, outdoor activity, non-absorbent clothing, travelling, use of panthenol based conditioners or over sweating in summer can trigger flare ups of back acne.

Remedy: Wear absorbent cotton clothes. Tie up the hair. Do not use excessive oil on hair. Clean the back properly. Take a bath in boiled water with neem leaves, turmeric (Curcuma longa), konna leaves and chittamrit (Tinospora cordifolia) stem

5. Oily sticky skin: Summer heat and ultraviolet rays can stimulate excessive oil secretion making the skin glossy and oily. Hard cleansers and alcohol-based toners used to manage this may lead to dehydration making the skin to pump more oil to make up for the water loss.  The result is oilier skin.

Remedy: Avoid cleansers with ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate, mineral oil, petroleum and petroleum as they can choke the skin and block the pores.   Instead, ayurvedic medicines such as Lodradi Churna can be used. Wash the face with plain warm water and pat dry every two hours

6. Skin discoloration-Vyangam-Melasma: Ultraviolet radiation and heat are the main causes for hyperpigmentation. Skin is exposed more to both in summer than at other times of the year. For anyone prone to pigmentation, flare-ups are frequent in summer, as the sun triggers melanin cells.

Remedy: Using SPF 30 Ayurveda sunscreen lotions can greatly reduce the chances of suntan, blemishes and discoloration. Exfoliate the skin with medicines such as eladi churna and milk. Use a natural skin lightener with vitamin C and Vitamin A.  Find out the causes for Vyangam and seek treatment for it. Panchakarma treatment will be beneficial.

7. Dry itchy skin-Dehydrated Skin-Twakrookshata: When the air is hot and dry, it can cause be dry itchy skin especially when people alternate between air conditioned indoors and hot outdoors, stay outdoors when sun is high up in the sky, use chlorinated swimming pool or water parks, etc.

Remedy: Use the shower as soon as you step out of the pond. Stay in buffer zone before stepping in or out of air-conditioned interiors. Use coconut or almond milk as body wash. Avoid soaps and body wash labeled “antibacterial” or “deodorant”.  Bathe in medicated warm water instead of hot water.

8. Body odor: Body odor is a delicate socially embarrassing situation and it is more common during summer due to excessive sweating.  The bacteria that grow profusely due to the heat, humidity and sweat in body folds such as arm pits, under necks, thigh folds, etc. produce hydrogen sulphide and thus body odor.   The apocrine glands in the armpits secrete apocrine that is broken down by the bacteria into fatty acids that omit a unique aggressive odor.

Remedy: Personal hygiene, Nalpamaram decoction body wash, plenty of water intake and avoiding spicy oily food can prevent body odor. Natural fragrances like fresh jasmines, roses, etc. can be used in wardrobes

9. Sun Allergy and Sun Burns: Hives, itchy skin rashes, reddish burning spots, blisters and crumpled skin can happen when exposed to direct sun rays. Sun allergy can be caused by medicines like doxycycline and ketoprofen.

Remedy: Protect the skin from sunlight by wearing covering, light colored, absorbent, loose cotton clothes. Use SPF 30 sunscreen to prevent radiation from UVA and UVB rays that can damage the skin.   In case of feeling severe dehydration drink water at body temperature in sips and avoid gulping refrigerated cold water that immediately lowers the body temperature and creates a shock like situation.  Apply cold milk with a clean cloth on the sun-exposed skin. Dashamoola ksheeradhara is advised as treatment in Ayurveda. Milk creates a soothing protein film that can help alleviate sunstroke. Cucumber and melons have natural antioxidant and analgesic properties and hence their paste can be applied on the skin affected with sun stroke.

10. Heat boils heat: This is a painful condition known as Furuncles and is caused as an infection by the bacteria that breed on moist and sweaty skin.

Remedy: Personal Hygiene, Panchakarma, Raktamokshana and Virechana are the treatments in Ayurveda. Use buttermilk, coconut water, sugarcane, oranges, lemons and fresh seasonal fruit juices.  Eat plenty of green vegetables and succulent salads to cope with the summer heat.  Avoid spicy, oily fried food and limit the intake of tea and coffee as much as possible

11. Fungal infections: In summer, fungal infections are very widespread. The fungus grows on the outer layer of the skin, especially in a dark moist and warm environment, as on the covered feet or waist or genitals causing severely itchy discolored rashes and patches.

Remedy: Keep the body parts aerated and clean. Do not share or reuse clothes, socks, shoes and accessories. Wash or disinfect them before using again. Wear breathing clothes such as cotton. Use neem leaves for bathing and eladi churna for washing

12. Viral infection: Chickenpox and measles are commonly found in summer. Rashes with high fever need immediate medical help
13. Pollen allergies/insect bites and itching: Pollen grains that spread from flowers, insect swarms like spiders, mosquitoes, ants, bees, etc. are common and prevalent in summer and hence pollen skin allergy and insect bite or sting allergy are also very common.

Remedy: If the bite or sting appears to be severe, medical help should be sought.  Baking soda and rose water paste or sandalwood and rose water may be applied as first aid after removing the sting or pollen. Paste of Vilvadi pill with Tulasi juice (Ocimum sanctum) or wash with Triphala decoction are advised as Ayurveda first aid. Apply cold tea bag as compress

What are the preventive lifestyle changes advised to keep summer skin diseases at bay?

• Add gram flour and multani mitti in rose water or milk and make a thick paste. Apply the paste on the affected area and leave it on for 15 minutes.  Wash it off with cold water.
• Use clean and hygienic dried rose petals, sandalwood paste from the temple, cinnamon, thechipoo (Ixora coccinea flowers), pichi poo (Jasminum angustifolium flowers), jasmine, neem leaves, etc. in the bathing water
• Apply cold curd or yogurt directly on the rashes. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.  Wash it off with normal water
• Mix 1 table spoon of apple cider vinegar in 2 tablespoons of water. Apply it on the affected area with cotton.  Wash it off after 10 minutes
• Add 3-4 drops of  kumkumadi oil in bathing water
• Wear loose fitting, light colored, fully covering soft light absorbent cotton clothes. These are called breathing clothes
• Exercise outdoors in the coolest times of the day like early mornings and between 7-8 pm
• Make sure the skin does not lose its hydration. Drink half a glass of water every half an hour. Medicate drinking water with herbs like crushed coriander seeds, dry ginger, lemon grass, sandalwood paste, cardamom, nutmeg,  Karingali bark (Acacia catechu), etc.
• Use protections like umbrellas, sunglasses, hats, etc.
• Dry the sweat with soft clean absorbent wipes
• Change the underwear at least 2-3 times a day
• Use cool foot wear like canvas shoes
• Avoid heavy creams or ointments that may block skin pores
• Avoid harsh soaps that may dehydrate the skin
• Make sure the bedroom is well-ventilated

For more details and queries on post-natal care please feel free to

• Talk to Dr. Gayatri S _{BAMS MS Dip Cosmetology YIC,}  Chief Consultant Department of Women Health and Fertility Sarathy Ayurvedic Hospital
• Mail us on mails2sarathy@gmail.com
• WhatsApp us on +91-9847997321
• Call us on +91-9895142321

SARATHY AYURVEDIC HOSPITAL DOCTORS PANEL

• Dr. Lathika PK-Specialist in Panchakarma, Stroke Rehabilitation and Ayurveda Cancer Care
• Dr. Valsaladevi K-Specialist in Panchakarma, Child Health, Ayurveda Diet and Yoga Therapy
• Dr. Karthik K Nandan-Specialist in Conventional Orthopedics, Marma and Varicose Veins
• Dr. Gayatri S-Specialist in Women Health, Cosmetology and Fertility