As the rainy season ends and the seasonal dusty Harmattan wind begins, health experts have recommended the use of body lotion creams to avoid skin cracking. According to health expert Alieu Barry, body lotion is crucial for a stable skin condition.
“skin wants a layer of moisture, and if it doesn’t have it, the normal protective barriers of the skin can be disrupted. This protective layer disruption can come along with dryness, redness, and an overall low level of inflammation in your skin,” He added.
According to climatologists, the harmattan season, characterized by cold-dry and dusty wind, blowing northeast and west off the Sahara desert into the Gulf of Guinea, has been shown to be the most thermally stressful season in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone.
” Body lotion supports the skin barrier, the skin’s front line of defence against microbial invasion that can be stripped by cleansing. Nourishing ingredients in body lotions can restore the skin barrier’s natural defences and help keep the skin’s microbiome balanced and healthy,” Health expert Alieu Barry stressed
Mr Barry added that some natural oils are a good alternative to traditional moisturizers. Some good options include coconut oil and olive oil. There are many skin products that now contain oil as well as soaps that are oil-based, which may also be a good alternative.
“The most important times to use moisturizer are after a bath, shave or exfoliation. For some, this might be twice a day. Moisturizing after a shower is very important because hot water strips all the moisture and oils out of your skin, leaving it parched and dry,” Alieu Barry noted.
Health experts believe that by trapping water, moisturizing can help with dry skin. Dry skin by itself isn’t a medical worry, although serious cases can result in cracks and fissures that invite infection and inflammation.
” For your best skin, you should apply your product right after you shower. The reason is that your skin should be warm and not completely dry (blot with a towel after the shower but leave your skin damp). Most body lotions can be used safely and effectively without no side effects. However, burning, stinging, redness, or irritation may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.,” Mr Barry advised.
He further spoke at length on the importance of regular skin care noting that the skin has strong collagen and elastin production in the first few decades of life, but it decreases. A good skincare routine helps regenerate skin cell production to keep the skin looking and feeling its best throughout your life.
According to climate scientists, From November to March, the harmattan wind usually carries large amounts of dust, which it transports hundreds of miles out over the Atlantic Ocean; the dust often interferes with local aircraft operations as well.
