A dirty skin is the main reason for a host of irritations and allergies. The first thing necessary for a radiant skin is a proper cleansing routine.

The right routine helps

Skin cleansing assumes much importance for city dwellers. The night-time routine is an absolute must, to get rid of the pollutants that have accumulated during the day.

Cleansers containing aloe vera help to counteract such problems and restore balance. Aloe vera has a healing effect on the skin and helps to soften the dead skin cells and facilitate their removal, along with all debris. The normal acid-alkaline balance is restored and the skin's normal functions improve, particularly that of cell renewal and moisture retention.

Those who spend much time travelling in the city can protect the skin, by wiping it with cotton wool soaked in a rose-based skin tonic, several times during the day.

For eruptive skin disorders, cleansers and ointments containing sandalwood, eucalyptus, margosa (neem), clove, rose, lavender, mint and basil (tulsi) have been used to soothe, heal and protect the skin.

Things to keep in mind

Oily skins have the tendency to attract more grime and pollutants and this aggravates the problem.

Washing with soap and water is not helpful, because of the high content of chlorine in the water and the alkalinity of most soaps. This actually disrupts the balance further and predisposes the skin to problems.

The antiseptic properties of many natural ingredients like neem, sandalwood, clove, etc., have helped in treating eruptive conditions. They have also been used to formulate protective creams and form an ideal barrier between the skin and the pollutants.

Many essential oils, extracted from plants like juniper, neem, tulsi, have been included in formulations for their effects on the blood, lymph and cells of the dermis. They help to stimulate the skin, improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage and are particularly good for congested, toxic skin conditions.

Exposure to chemical pollutants also causes "cross linking", an oxidation reaction, that leads to early ageing and degeneration. From the cosmetic point of view, "cross linking" causes damage to the collagen fibres of the skin. This not only leads to early wrinkling of the skin, but also to improper cell nutrition and elimination of wastes. This, in turn, impedes the cell-regeneration process, on which the health and youth of the skin depend.