Harmattan: giving your skin best treat

Harmattan, the cold-dry and dusty trade wind, blowing over the West African subcontinent comes with many things such as cold and hair breakage, however,  the effect of this season is mostly felt in the body with the skin taking the full force, hence, the need to pay special attention to it. Although your skin can […]

Harmattan, the cold-dry and dusty trade wind, blowing over the West African subcontinent comes with many things such as cold and hair breakage, however,  the effect of this season is mostly felt in the body with the skin taking the full force, hence, the need to pay special attention to it. Although your skin can be healthy and yet you will still experience crack and dryness, the skin plays an important role in one’s life and the role includes health and beauty.
Therefore, extra measures are needed to protect the skin against harsh weather. To keep the skin healthy and protect it against the cold, we must ensure it is supple and full of moisture to avoid cracking and dryness.
Oduenyin Okwonkwo of Coco terra Naturals is a natural products beautician, she said the use of natural products enhance the skin and keep it moist during this season.
She said local products are better because they are readily available and gotten in their purest form.
“Coconut oil can be used on the skin and hair right after bath when the skin is still damp so that it seals moisture on the skin. Shea butter can be applied on the heels and feet to prevent crack and ache. It can also be used on the lips as a balm at night before bedtime and in the morning to prevent cracked lips.
She said such products as; coconut oil and Shea butter which has antioxidants and skin loving ceramides will leave your skin soft and supple.
“Some of these can be kept in your bag for use when you need them and you can also apply them to your lip to avoid cracked lip,” she said.
How healthy one skin is, is the first step towards an excellent supple skin. But how you maintain your skin will determine how healthy it can go during this period.
This famous wind that blows from North to South, working its way across the Sahara to the Gulf of Guinea tends to pick up sand and dust, turning into a very drying, dusty wind that affects the skin.
Dr. Ibrahim Nasir a dermatologist in an interview with NAN once advised people to ensure regular application of cream and jelly on the body to curtail skin diseases associated with harmattan, as the season sets in.
He said the harmattan is a typical geographical feature of the Sahara and savannah region of West Africa, usually accompanied by cold, haze, dusty and dry weather.
 “The dusty weather condition portends negative effects on humans and animal health, affecting the skin, eyes and the respiratory system. Devastating pollutants resulting from the dust often make life unbearable and expose people to infections.”
 Nasir noted that the skin was usually dry with accompanying cracking of the lips and sole of the feet, while eyes became exposed to the dust particles carried by the wind.
Tips on how to tackle harmattan
• Use mild moisturizing soap on your face or body bath creams.
• Invest in body oil to retain moisture on the skin after bath. Do not completely dry your skin after shower; about 10% of moisture is retained if you apply on damp skin. You can pour few drops of oil into water before bath if you prefer.
•   Apply your moisturizing cream or lotion all over your body including your under feet. Hydrating creams and lotion are best for all skin types this season.
• Apply hand cream during the day and night before going to bed. Invest in a hand cream if you don’t have one.
• Applying nail polish can help protect nails from excessive drying and hardening.
• Use mild soaps (even if you have oily or combination skin) to wash your face as harsh soaps and cleansing bars will remove all the oil on your face.
• Stop the use of facial cleansers and toners that contain alcohol or astringents. Use only mild facial cleansers and toners. Facial cleansers and toners with a neutral PH of 5.5 are best.
• Always moisturize your face after cleansing (even if you have oily or combination skin).
• Remember to invest in a lip balm, lip salve or lip gloss. Always moisturize your lips before going to bed.
• Always apply lip balm or lip salve before lipstick and if you prefer lip gloss apply after lipstick.
• Well-kept lips make you appear groomed. So invest in a lip balm or lip salve for a non- glossy moisturized lip.
• Drink plenty of water daily, in fact this is the first step to take in order to have a healthy skin. Water will detoxify the blood streams and this will aid the free flow of blood.
• For your skin to retain its glow throughout this harsh period; you need to look for a body cream that contains some vital vitamins that can fight against dryness. Note that body creams that contain avocado oil and sunflower oil will make the skin glow. It is also good to get a cream or bathing soap that has lots of plants extracts.
•Moisture and Moisture that is all. Moisture in your soap or wash and your lotion. For those who don’t like to apply lotion to their body get a moisturising oil bar soap. You can also add oil to your lotion if it isn’t moisturising enough.