6 Skin Care Tips For People Living in the Tropics

Everybody has their skin care troubles caused by the weather in their country. But if you live in the tropics you know that it’s a whole different ball game.

The heat! Need I say more?

The almost yearly hot weather causes constant breakouts, blackheads, oily and dull skin not just on the face but all over the body. Skincare views and tips online are mostly Eurocentric, with a sprinkle of general advice, so it’s a little difficult to know the right things to do or use to fix these issues. So with so little research out there, here are my skin quintessentials strictly based on experience.

Quick disclaimer; skincare is not one size fits all. Our skin reacts differently to different things so it’s up to you to find what suits yours best. Either way, this list should put you on the right path to figuring that out. Without further ado let’s get to it

Avoid Comedogenic products

Comedogenic products are products or ingredients that are likely to clog your pores and ultimately cause a breakout. Most of these products have a thick consistency that sits on the skin rather than penetrating. Now products like these can be especially bad to use under the heat, it mixes with sweat and dirt and leaves the skin completely unable to breathe. From there it’s just a skin problem galore.

A lot of comedogenic products slide under the radar as non-comedogenic. So it’s hard to tell if a product is going to clog your pores before you buy it.
My advice is to go for light (preferably water-based) moisturizers for the daytime and save the heavy stuff for nighttime.

Stay moisturized

You need to moisturize!

You need to moisturize! How many times did I tell you?

It’s not a step you should ever skip, no matter how hot it is that day. This mistake is one that a lot of us in tropical regions make. When it’s too hot we tend to sweat out the moisturizer or spend the day looking super oily. So rather be ashy than be greasy.

Unfortunately, greasy may be the better choice.

Here’s the thing, if you don’t moisturize your skin it gets dried out. It doesn’t matter how hot the sun is or how much you sweat, your skin still gets dry. This means, if you have dry skin it gets even drier, I’m talking, cracking, peeling, pimples and dull skin. And if you have oily skin it gets even oilier. Yes, I’m talking pimples, greasier skin and even more pimples.

Another reason you need to moisturize is because of the layer of protection that it gives. The sun rays should never be directly on your skin. Your face should be layered with cream and sunscreen.

Know Your Fungal Acne

If you didn’t know about fungal acne, well grab a pen and paper because it’s time for a very serious lesson. Because this is something that everyone living on this side of the continent should be aware of.

Fungal acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the tropics. It is caused by an infection of the hair follicles that leads to a cluster of small pimples often without whiteheads. I’m sure you’ve either had it or seen someone who does. It mostly affects people with oilier skin but it does not mean people with dry skin are completely immune. With that in mind, you need to figure out if you have fungal acne, so that you know the kind of skincare ingredients to avoid and how to treat it.

Here are a few ingredients that can potentially worsen fungal acne:

Glycerine

Oils

Esters

Fatty acids

Even your acne treatment can contain some of these ingredients, so it’s imperative to study the ingredient list before buying a product.

This condition can oftentimes feel untreatable but I promise you it is not. The most popular treatment is a Nizoral shampoo face mask. You use it after using your normal face wash, lay it on and wash it off after ten minutes. The difference should be apparent after two weeks of this treatment. You can find Nizoral Shampoo at any pharmacy near you, for about N2000 – N3000. Learn more about fungal acne from Simple Skincare Science.

Playing With Acids

The sun is the biggest issue we have with skincare in the tropics, with the fluctuation between an average sweaty day and a literal heatwave. It causes a lot of people to get darker and have dull skin. Relax guys the answer isn’t bleaching cream, it’s time to try acid. No, it’s not the dangerous kind, at least not when you use it right.

Skincare acids are an exfoliating ingredient. They fight pimples, fade acne scars, minimize pores and brighten up dull skin the healthy way. That’s right people, the days of brash physical scrubs have almost come to an end.

The most important categories of acids you should know are AHAs and BHAs. AHAs exfoliate and help with skin tone while BHAs clean out pores and excess sebum giving room for your other skincare products to really get in there and do the needful.

And it doesn’t only need to be your scrub, you can get acids in your toner, serum, lotion or mask. Just be careful not to have more than two products with active acids in your routine, so as not over dry.

This is something that would change your skincare game in all the best ways.

Sunscreen or no sunscreen

We can’t talk about acids without talking about sunscreen. You see, after scraping off all that dead skin and cleaning out your pores, you’re left a little sensitive. This means you’ll be extra prone to sunburn so you need to moisturize and wear some sunscreen.

The problem is, most sunscreens are comedogenic, they tend to be too heavy to wear especially in the tropical weather. This is actually the main reason a lot of people don’t wear sunscreen. That and the rumor that Africans don’t need it. There’s not much science to support or disapprove this claim but to be on the safe side and to protect yourself from sunburn and discoloration please wear sunscreen.

I recommend a water-based sunscreen, they always have a much lighter feel, are less pore clogging and won’t leave the signature white tint behind. You could also look into buying a moisturizer that contains SPF, just make sure the number is high (SPF 50 and above) so that you’re getting enough coverage. And lastly try to not go out under the sun whenever you use acids, or wear a cap or use an umbrella for shade if you do.

The Soothing Power of Aloe Vera

 If you live in the tropics you get pretty used to getting sunburnt, sometimes without even realizing it. Leaving dark spots and patches on the skin.

A good fix is to end your day with a nice soothing aloe vera mask. You can get aloe vera gel at almost any local store, this is safer to put on your face than directly from the plant.

Aloe vera gel can be used as a healthy base before any of your other skincare products. It feels good and works wonders for your skin.

Well there you go, 6 powerful tips you need to know to protect your skin in the tropics. As time goes on, we will continue to discover how to treat our skin in our weather.