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Two things that are probably the worst possible combination are monsoon and skin problems. While light to heavy showers provide a much-needed relief from the sweltering sun, the humidity after often leads to exaggerated skin problems like acne.
With monsoon in full swing, the humidity is at an all-time high, meaning the reign of clogged pores and excess bacteria will wreak havoc on the skin, making it a breeding ground for bacteria like Cutibacterium acne that can contribute to inflammation and infection in clogged pores.
To know in depth how acne might be flaring up in the monsoon and making way for new ones as well, OnlyMyHealth talked to Dr Sukanksha Kulshreshtha, consultant cosmetologist at IFAM Institute.
Is Monsoon Causing Acne?![1 (29)]()
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Acne at any time of the year can be a pesky problem, but during monsoon season, this can get even worse. During the rainy season, the combination of oil, sweat and dirt can lead to a flare-up of acne. According to Dr Kulshrestha, “Acne can flare up during monsoon due to increased humidity, sweat, and oil production, which can cause clogging of pores. Moreover, makeup products can contribute to this as they trap sweat and bacteria, clog pores and even irritate the skin if used for longer durations.”
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Makeup Products to Ditch This Monsoon
Makeup products are often an amalgamation of various formulations, including a diverse array of organic and inorganic compounds. Moreover, cosmetics also use natural oils and fats, petrochemical derivatives, and meticulously processed minerals such as iron oxides, talc, and zinc oxide, which can feel heavy on the skin. To make the makeup selection easier this season, Dr Kulshrestha listed the ingredients to steer clear of this monsoon.
Ingredients to Avoid in Your Makeup During Monsoon
- Mineral oil
- Silicones
- Comedogenic oils like coconut oil and cocoa butter
- Heavy Pigments or Dyes, or Oils
- Certain Preservatives like parabens
- Formulations to Avoid:
- Heavy foundations or concealers
- Cream-based products
- Oil-based products
How Can Heavy Makeup Cause Acne
Heavy makeup, aka full-coverage makeup, tends to conceal the skin, not letting it breathe, leading to clogged and enlarged pores. “Yes, sweat and humidity can cause makeup to break down, oxidise, or accentuate pores, making skin look dull and accentuating fine lines. Heavy makeup can also clog pores and exacerbate acne in humid weather,” added Dr Sukanksha.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Makeup During the Rainy Season Breakouts?
The rainy season is a hotbed of infections, some of which can breed on your makeup and when used on sweaty skin can cause enlarged pores, whiteheads, blackheads, pustules and full-fledged acne. To avoid this, Dr Sukanksha told the mistakes to avoid this monsoon.
Common Mistakes Include:
- Not removing makeup properly
- Using expired products can harbour bacterial infections
- Using heavy or comedogenic products
- Not adjusting the skincare routine for the monsoon season
- Touching face or makeup brushes to contaminated surfaces
- Not using non-comedogenic or oil-free products.
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Skincare Habits to Practice in Monsoon
Monsoon is an extra humid season, creating excess oil. In order to have healthy skin, maintaining good skincare habits, like regular cleansing and moisturising and staying hydrated, is much needed.
Some Tips for Healthy Skin Suggested by Dr Sukanksha
- Use the Right Products: Choose products labelled water resistant.
- Balanced Diet: Maintain a balanced diet with the addition of green leafy vegetables and colourful vegetables, as it helps in hydration and supports skin health.
- Hydration is key: Maintain the water intake between 3-4 litres per day.
- Keep it Light: While applying makeup, try to replace your heavy, full coverage foundations with light-weight sheer coverage foundation or skin tint to avoid breakouts.
- Regulate Your Skincare: During monsoon, it is important to provide hydration to the skin without making it greasy. So, swap your oil-based moisturiser with a gel or water-based moisturiser. Also, do not skip toner as it tightens your pores, reducing the production of sebum.
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Conclusion: Light Skincare Over Heavy Makeup![Acne problems]()
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The key to any flawless makeup look is proper hydration, but with extra moisture in the air, makeup can melt away. Moreover, humidity makes makeup break into patches, making it get stuck in pores. So, to avoid this paradoxical situation where you waste your product and invite acne, it is important to prioritise light skincare over heavy makeup.