By – Yemisi Suleiman

With the harmattan season comes dust, dryness, and cold, which can cause dry, cracked, and flaky skin in some people. At this time, you must take even more care of your skin than usual.
Here are some ways to help your skin make it through the season.

Protect your lips with lip balm
Lips are always exposed and often the delicate skin on your lips may become dry, cracked, or flaky in the harmattan. Keep them moisturised with a lip gloss. You can even use most high-quality thicker skin balms (like Vaseline or products containing beeswax or shea butter) on your lips to get the same effect.

Avoid hot water, bathe with lukewarm water
Do not be tempted to use very hot water to take your bath because of the cold weather. Instead, use lukewarm water, because bathing with hot water at this time, would end up drying your skin more than normal.

Drink a lot of water
You’ll need to stay hydrated throughout the day because the atmosphere is dry, hot, and sometimes cold. Water helps to keep your skin moisturised and saves you from dehydration. Drink lots of water. I am sure you hear this a lot, but it’s not overrated. Just drink water and stay healthy.

Moisturise regularly
The harmattan weather can dry out the skin, and your skin loses moisture at a much faster rate. So it is important during this time to get a good moisturiser to keep your body oiled and moisturised throughout the day.

Take Care of Your Hands
Your hands are the most susceptible to the effects of harmattan’s dryness because hands are almost always exposed (and because dry air pulls moisture away from the skin), hands are one of the first areas to show skin damage. Protect your hands by keeping them moisturised at all times. It is advisable to keep a moisturising hand cream in your bag or at work to help soothe them often.

Wear Sunscreen
You’re also at risk of sunburn during harmattan, as the sun is usually hotter this period. Be sure to use sunscreen in your skincare routine to avoid skin damage.