Skincare In Ramadan: Q And A With Dr. Nabeel Chaudhry

Maintaining a consistent skincare in Ramadan is extremely important for healthy skin. This routine can comprise of a combination of products and diet to produce the best results. 

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, our skin becomes dry and dull due to certain reasons like dehydration, disturbed sleep cycle, and unhealthy food in iftar and suhoor. So if you’re facing a similar situation, you are not alone. To learn about the solution, watch Dr. Nabeel Asghar Chaudhry, an experienced Dermatologist in Lahore, give his expert advice on how to maintain the health of your skin in Ramadan.

Q.1: What are the effects of fasting on the skin?

Fasting not only causes our stomach to stay empty for hours but it also disturbs our usual sleeping pattern. Most people stay up after Sehr because they tend to spend more time in ibadat. This dehydrates the skin, we often feel our skin getting rough and irritated during Ramadan.

Reduced intake of water also enhances the presence of wrinkles and in some cases might even lead to infections. A number of people experience from acne breakouts, fungal and bacterial infections during Ramadan. 

Q.2: How to maintain healthy skin in Ramadan?

To remedy the side effects of fasting on skin and body, it is important to get at least 8 hours of sleep. I encourage my clients to nap during the afternoon. Moreover, water intake should be focused on especially during few hours before Sehr. I would advise using a good quality water-based moisturizer. 

There are many types of moisturizers available in the market but since Ramadan falls during summer, water-based moisturizers are more effective since oily moisturizers block pores and cause outbreaks of acne.  Moisturizing is very important because it helps to hydrate the skin which tends to become dehydrated due to water content of the body lost in sweat. 

Q.3: Is it safe to take laser treatment in Ramadan?

My clients often ask me this question; yes it’s perfectly safe to get laser treatment done during fasting. Laser treatment does not break the fast because it does not produce energy within the body; it’s an entirely superficial process. It’s safe unless certain injectable substances are used, for which we inform our clients before we proceed with the procedure. 

Q.4: What to eat in Ramadan for healthy skin?

I would suggest maintaining a light diet and avoiding fried foods. In Sehr, consume foods that would help avoid thirst during the course of fast. Such foods include yoghurt and eggs, yoghurt prevents thirst and eggs provide us which protein which helps retain energy throughout the day. Fast should be broken with water and dates, followed by a healthy dinner. Eating a healthy dinner aids digestion. 

I ask my clients to especially avoid overeating during Iftar because that causes stress within the body which then becomes apparent on the skin. Skin is the mirror of the body, if we take care of our diet and health; it becomes apparent on the skin. Therefore, a healthy diet is extremely important. 

Q.5: What are the causes of dark skin in summer?

This is a common complaint, a lot of people experience tanning during the summer due to improper use of sunblock. Sunblock should be used from sunrise to sunset after every three hours; I suggest washing face with an oil-free face wash or a cleanser. After cleaning the face properly, a water-based moisturizer should be applied to wet face so it traps water in the skin for effective hydration. 

Another cause of dark complexion during summers is also sweat; it causes sebaceous glands to produce more sebum which gives a brownish-black tinge to the skin. 

If you want to learn more about having an effective skincare regimen, watch the full video. If you have any skincare concerns, consult a dermatologist.

You can also book an appointment with a top dermatologist through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.