The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, physically and mentally. But for those who have suffered from COVID, it is a long road to recovery as it can have some long-term side effects associated with it. The post-COVID period comes with its own set of problems that need to be dealt with, and this includes skin manifestations like chilblains, urticaria, rashes, and more.

 

Skin Care

Extremely dry skin: It is advised to keep shower time short and cleanse the body with a gentle body wash like Cleansing oil or soap-free body wash. After taking a bath, apply a good moisturiser or cocoa butter. To seal in moisture, follow it up with coconut or sesame body oil.

Acne/Rosacea: It is common to see flaring up of acne or rosacea post illness. It is best to get back to your anti-acne medication once your symptoms are better. If possible, continue with your anti-acne medications that you apply topically even though you will be skipping the ones you take orally.

You can get chilblains: Chilblains cause the toes and fingers to turn blueish. We recommend keeping the hands and feet warm using gloves, socks and warm compresses.

Diet for Skin

Your dietary habits impact your overall health and your skin is equally affected, perhaps the most affected by what you eat. Having a healthy stomach, bowel movement, gut and liver are imperative to having clear, unblemished skin, amongst a host of other health benefits. For which you need to include certain foods in your diet. Basically, you need to follow a diet for glowing skin.

Yogurt for skin

Yoghurt is easily the best food for glowing skin. Most of the skin ailments that we have are caused on account of having an unhealthy stomach, bowels and gut. Yoghurt is known to contain probiotics that aid in the process of digestion, thereby ensuring that problems such as breakouts and skin dryness do not bother your radiant flawless complexion. Consume as much yoghurt as you like, after every meal and with smoothies and fruits salads.

 Green Leafy Vegetables for skin

Nothing says good skin like a bowl of fresh, green leafy vegetables. Whether it is spinach, coriander, parsley, or broccoli, these green leaves are full of antioxidants and various other essential nutrients and vitamins that help your skin retain its brightness and youth. And there are just so many things that you can do with these garden-fresh ingredients. You could make soups, salads, or sandwiches, and if you’re more of a fan of traditional Indian cuisine, the good old’ ‘SarsonkaSaag’ or ‘Palak Paneer’ are just about as beneficial for your skin, and arguably, much more delicious. The road to glowing skin might not really tantalize your taste buds, but as they say, it is vital that you ‘eat your greens’.

Water for skin

When more than three-fifths of your body is made up of just one ingredient, there is no way that you could not pay attention to its consumption in pursuit of your skin’s health. No matter your skin type, your skin needs water in order to remain fresh, supple and glowing.

Headache, fatigue, and pale skin — the list is long, when it comes to the side-effects caused by covid-19. Apart from this, some people have also complained about losing their hair, after recovering from the infection. If you’re one of them, don’t worry at all, because this is also a common side-effect, and we’re here to help you fix it.

The cause of the hair loss triggered by covid-19 has not been scientifically proven, but it could most likely be due to the stress and anxiety prompted by the virus. This is known as ‘Telogen effluvium’ — a condition in which temporary hair loss happens when the body experiences acute stress, in the form of trauma, shock or sickness. Apart from this, nutritional deficiencies, due to the absence of a healthy diet during the period of infection, can also result in hair loss.

Hair Care

There’s no overnight remedy to stop hair loss, caused by covid-19. But there are a few things you can follow to stop hair loss:

• ·         Take nutritional foods that are rich in vitamin D and iron, which can prove to be highly effective and healthy for the body.
• ·         Exercise regularly. Just taking out 30 to 60 minutes, five times a week is enough.
• ·         Sleep well. Taking 7 to 8 hours sleep is a mandate, if you really want to recover properly from this deadly virus.
• ·         Reduce mental stress and practice breathing exercises or meditation to tackle stress.
• ·         Don’t comb your hair with fine bristle combs.
• ·         Take a high-protein diet and supplements like biotin. Poultry, eggs, seafood, beans, peas, and lentils, nuts and seeds, and soy products are some natural sources of biotin that you can add to your diet.

About Author

Preeti Seth is a noted Nutritionist and Cosmetologist. She is Founder of Pachouli Wellness Clinics and empowers clients to break free from the diet mindset and discover a revolutionary new approach to healthy, lasting weight loss without restricting diets, extreme programs, or even a single gimmick. She teaches an “intuitive eating” approach to help clients reconnect with their body’s natural signals of hunger, fullness, and satisfaction. She has made Pachouli a one stop destination for therapies and treatments ranging from Slimming, Hair Care, Skin and Laser to Ayurveda. She can be contacted at https://www.pachouli.in