5 Skin Problems to Watch Out for in Rainy Season

When the rainy season arrives, many people enjoy the refreshing feeling of cool, moist weather. But even though the air isn't hot and sticky, it can still cause skin problems. Hot, humid conditions encourage the build-up of fungus, while the increased moisture in the air causes pores to enlarge, and pollutants — both dust and rainwater — can easily damage the skin. Sudden changes in the weather leave the body unable to adjust in time, and various skin problems can appear before you know it. So when our face is exposed to rainwater, skin problems may follow, because during the rainy season dampness makes it easy for skin to deteriorate, which can lead to acne and fungal infections, dry flaky skin, itchy rashes or bothersome breakouts. Today we've gathered the skin problems commonly encountered during the rainy season so everyone can be aware of them. Let's see what they are.

Why the Rainy Season Causes Skin Problems

During the rainy season, many factors can affect the condition of your skin. Before the rain falls, the weather tends to be hot and stuffy, and strong winds expose the skin to dust particles along with humid air, directly affecting the skin and causing enlarged pores, heat rash pimples and clogged pores. When humidity meets the skin, the dirt carried by the rain makes it easy for acne and fungus to develop along the hairline and around the edges of the face, along with allergic rashes that can leave the skin red, stinging and peeling. During periods of dust and smog, our skin's protective barrier becomes weakened. The skin problems most commonly found during the rainy season are as follows

Acne

Damp, humid weather leaves the skin feeling sticky and oily, causing the pores to enlarge and work harder than usual, which makes breakouts such as heat rash pimples and clogged pores more likely. Pollution, dust and smoke carried along by the rain and wind mean the skin can come into contact with dirt from raindrops. This dirt clogs the pores together with the oil the skin secretes, mixing with germs and bacteria. Some people may also develop itchy rashes and increased redness more easily. Not only that, rain droplets can also accelerate or trigger inflamed acne. You should therefore apply moisturizer to replenish the skin's hydration, drink plenty of water, eat fruits and vegetables, and avoid fried and oily foods to help prevent breakouts.

Oily Skin

Even though it's the rainy season, the weather can still be hot and stuffy, and combined with the humidity from the rain, it can leave your face excessively oily. Humidity in the air stimulates the sebaceous glands to work harder, causing them to produce more oil, which can also be a cause of acne. Normally, our body already has a mechanism for producing oil on the face to keep the skin from becoming too dry and tight. But when the skin has too much oil, dirt can cling to the face. So if you feel your skin is becoming oilier, we recommend washing your face thoroughly, choosing a gentle, non-irritating cleanser to reduce bacterial build-up and prevent breakouts, and using a toner after cleansing to wipe the skin clean once more, rebalancing it and removing any dirt left behind in the pores.

Dull Skin

Even though the rainy season brings dark, overcast skies with little skin-damaging sunshine, tempting us to skip sunscreen, sunlight can still harm our skin even in the rainy season. This leaves many women with dull, damaged skin — tired-looking, rough, dry and lacking moisture — and some may experience dry, flaky, itchy skin and skin that is sensitive to sunlight. It isn't only the sun's rays that can cause skin problems: blue light from computer screens, mobile phones and fluorescent bulbs, and heat energy from cooking can all be triggers that make our faces look duller. So no matter the season, you should apply sunscreen every day. Even on days without sunshine, UV rays can still damage the skin. Choose a sunscreen with SPF30 and PA++ or higher, as it can protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, while also helping to prevent melasma, freckles and dark spots.

Dry Skin

Even in the refreshing atmosphere of the rain, the humidity in the air can still leave the skin dry and dehydrated. Dehydrated skin comes in several forms, including dry dehydrated skin and oily dehydrated skin, all stemming from the skin lacking water. Skin with little moisture naturally becomes dry, but everyone's skin is different. It's precisely during the rainy season that dehydration can set in, throwing the facial skin off balance and clearly leading to two problems: dry skin and oily skin — or even alternating between the two. Some people with severely dehydrated skin develop allergic reactions, red rashes and inflamed skin, because the skin's structure has lost its elasticity. The best approach is to maintain your facial skin's moisture with a moisturizer, boosting hydration, caring for dry, irritated skin, and strengthening the skin so it's ready for this rainy season.

Itchy Rashes, Inflamed and Irritated Skin

Itchy rashes during the rainy season are mostly caused by pollution and dust particles, as well as rainwater — a magnet for dirt — that unavoidably comes into contact with our faces, causing a build-up of residue and grime that clogs the skin. Combined with the moisture from the rain, this can lead to skin irritation and inflammation. These external environmental factors attack the skin's protective barrier, causing the skin to lose moisture, which leads to dry, flaky skin and itchy rashes — especially for people with delicate skin, who can become irritated easily. When you feel a rash developing or your skin becoming inflamed, you should pause activities that disturb the facial skin, such as face packs and face masks, and choose facial cleansing products that are gentle on the skin and help maintain its balance. This is the best choice for keeping the skin strong and less prone to irritation.

During this rainy season, everyone should take good care of their skin — keep it clean and build its strength so it doesn't become irritated or react easily. The weather is something that's hard to avoid, so build up strong skin ready to cope with the unpredictable conditions. And don't forget to look after your health and stay strong this rainy season too.