Black Don’t Crack Skin Care

Over the past 4 months, the rain has been playing a catch- me -if- you- can game with us. The sun, not too bothered by the rain has had dominance and our skin can attest to this.

The streets, that have not seen decent rain in a while are filled with dust which ends up on our skin. If you doubt this check the collars of your white shirts.
Dr Kotetcha Chirag from Avane Clinic says there are three phenomenons that affect the skin: Gravity, ageing and the ultraviolet rays.
The only one we have some measure of control over is the latter, well
unless you have a plan to move to Mars where gravity is not an issue.
You have probably heard people every so often speak
about global warming and you might have thought it’s just one of those things
people are speaking about so that they can secure funding. It actually is
happening and your skin is paying the price for it.

You see, global warming has led to the thinning of the
ozone layer which now means we are more exposed to ultraviolet rays.

Dr Kotecha says the quick and cheap fixes are to stay
indoors when the sun is at its peak between midday and 3pm? Why this time
period? This is when the rays are directly above us and can do the most damage.
He also recommends hats and clothing that covers the
skin as another way to protect the biggest organ you have
Away from those, Dr Kotetcha says investing in sunscreen is also vital. We cannot always avoid the sun at peak hours and so the
option available is prevention, which comes in the form of a sunscreen

For African skin or skin type 7 which is high on the
melanin spectrum, Dr Kotetcha suggests investing in cream with SPF 30(Sun Protection Factor). This will provide enough protection from the UV Rays.

He says because we are in the tropics, the sunscreen
has to be applied at least 3 times a day for it to be effective. Contrary to popular belief, they are as cheap as 20,000 Uganda shillings.

Dr Kotetcha says a regular skin care routine to keep the skin healthy is just as vital as the other preventive measures.

Investing in a mild soap for just the face, toning to rebalance
the Ph of the skin and moisturizing the skin is just as important.
Believe or not, the dust pollution in this country is
not the sort that is out to give your skin a break. If you do not give it a proper wash, you will clog your pores, which then births conditions like acne and melasma.
Which at this point will cost a pretty penny to rectify.
He also emphasizes that skin care is not just outer care, but what you put into your body and how you treat it matters.

He says a balanced diet is key in maintaining skin
health. Eat Vegetables, lots of them but also hydrate. The tropics are hot, and that means your skin will be drying out more often than not. So, drink water,
nourish not just the internal organs, but even your skin

The benefits of exercise also extend to your skin. So, if you needed another reason to hit the gym, think of the major glow exercise gives you.
That Black don’t crack skin is not a myth, it just
takes a bit of work to achieve