Common skin problems during monsoon and their treatments.

Monsoon means excessive humidity and, half the time, combined with heat. In short, it is summer with showers.

• Take special care to see that you dry your skin – especially folds – thoroughly. All folds are prone to getting fungal infections because of heat and humidity
• Use spray deodorants for underarms as well as for feet. Use talcum powder for other folds like groins
• If you wear shoes and socks the whole day then sprinkle some powder every morning on your toes and feet
• Your face may feel slightly more oily – use a face wash meant for oily skin in this weather
• Remember to use sunscreen – the UV rays come through even in over caste weather

The commonest skin problem is fungal infection of folds like underarms, below breasts, groins and even feet. This will manifest as mild redness and / or scaling and / or slight swelling with/without itchiness.

Treatment – antifungal powders in the day time like Clotrimazole (Candid, Abzorb, etc.) and antifungal cream at bed time like Sertoconazole (Sertos), Ketoconazole cream (Nizral), Bifonazole (Mycospor).