Everyone knows how important it is to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, but what you don’t hear a lot about is how much havoc the hot weather can wreak on your complexion, causing issues such as rashes, eczema, rosacea and congested skin. With the UAE reaching soaring temperatures during the long summer we spoke to Dr Al Khaja, dermatologist at Mafraq Hospital to get her advice on what we can do to avoid these common complaints at this time of year.
Dr Al Khaja explains that the most regular skin problem she sees in Abu Dhabi is a mixed skin type. ‘Mixed skin types, whereby there are two skin types on one face, are common. One area of the face, such as the cheeks, may be dry or sensitive while the other area such as the nose, forehead or chin (known as the T-zone) is oily, or vice versa.’
She also tells us that people aren’t aware that living in hot weather during the summer months with higher outdoor temperatures requires special skin care. ‘Each climate brings different issues for our skin. Cold climates can cause severe dry skin with wind burn while in warmer, sunny locations SPF protection is a key factor which must be incorporated into any skin care regime. Therefore living in any type of climate requires a person to maintain the right skin care regime to match the environment.’
To combat these problems Dr Al Khaja recommends a daily skin care regime suited to your skin type. ‘You need to find out what skin type you have which any dermatologist can tell you. Then you need to find products that suit your skin type. It’s important to cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day and to apply sunscreen. Cleansing and toning will remove impurities from the skin and moisturising will prevent it from becoming dry. The same applies to your body. You need to wash and moisturise your skin to prevent it becoming dry and dehydrated.’
That should sort out your skin care on the surface, but what about giving it an extra helping hand? Dr Al Khaja explains that there are a myriad of things that can be done from the inside to deal with problematic skin.
‘The key is to have a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, the right amount of protein and most importantly drink lots of water to keep the skin hydrated. Vitamin supplements such as A, E and silica will also help your skin to glow. If you are suffering from acne related skin issues it’s best to seek the professional advice of a dermatologist to sort your skin out.’
While dry skin is a common concern for those living in the UAE, people can also suffer from very congested and oily skin due other environmental factors. ‘For those with congested skin I would recommend washing your face once in the morning when you get up, then apply a toner to balance the skin’s pH level. This means that your skin won’t over-produce oil. Follow with a light and fast absorbing moisturiser. Then at night, wash and apply a toner then a moisturiser once again before going to sleep in the evening. It is best to only wash your face twice a day. If you over wash it will think it’s dry and try to produce more oil, which exacerbates the problem.’
Dr Al Khaja’s best advice to avoid ageing and sun damage is to wear sunscreen every day, even in winter. ‘Over 80 percent of skin ageing is caused by sun radiation and sun exposure. The best thing is to apply a moisturiser suited to your skin type with a high SPF. Try SPF 50 or higher for the UAE. Most sunscreens contain SPF 30 or higher and should be used daily.’
Dr Al Khaja holds appointments at Mafraq Hospital, Al Mafraq (02 501 1111).
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