Harmattan is one of the seasons in Nigeria and more often than
not, the northern part of the country is worst hit with the extreme
dryness, dust and cold weather. It usually comes around the end of the
year up until mid-March in some cases. During the harmattan, the weather
tends to appear harsh to our hair, skin and health. TUNDE OGUNTOLA
writes on how to keep your skin fresh and moisturised during this
unavoidable weather.
Harmattan is not the best of time for asthma patients due to much amounts of dust associated with the season. It basically aggravates cold as well as causes catarrh. Also, the throat gets sore; sneezing is frequent while sometimes the eyes become wet or ruddy.
The harmattan also comes with frequent headaches, sputum in the saliva because of catarrh and over time, cough. The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals.
There are so many challenges one could face during this period like cracking of lips or breaking of lips, sole of the feet, cold, dry skin, catarrh, cough and a lot more but among all, cold is the major problem.
Experts stress that, to effectively curtail the evil effects of the harmattan season, everyone must be ready to play by the rules and improve on their hygiene during this period.
Also, expert assert that, prolonged daily exposure to cold weather as an open invitation to diseases like rheumatism, cardiac arrest, pneumonia and arthritis; and, in severe cases, death from hypothermia, because the respiratory system suffers greatly when the body is exposed to cold and dry weather.
Research shows that, between November and March, quite a lot of fire outbreaks are often recorded since there is dry wind, which makes it easy for fire to spread at the slightest ignition, causing destruction of lives and property. Hence, there is need to take more preventive measures during harmattan.
More so, farmers should avoid bush burning, regrettably, the act of bush burning often result in severe losses to farmers as it is more difficult to curtail the rage of the fire during harmattan.
Furthermore, the preponderance style of government to create artificial scarcity of petroleum products during the end year and the New Year, basically leads to panic and storage of petrol in odd places at home and offices which has wreak great havoc.
Tips To Manage Harmattan
Your Skin
Harmattan is not the best of time for asthma patients due to much amounts of dust associated with the season. It basically aggravates cold as well as causes catarrh. Also, the throat gets sore; sneezing is frequent while sometimes the eyes become wet or ruddy.
The harmattan also comes with frequent headaches, sputum in the saliva because of catarrh and over time, cough. The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals.
There are so many challenges one could face during this period like cracking of lips or breaking of lips, sole of the feet, cold, dry skin, catarrh, cough and a lot more but among all, cold is the major problem.
Experts stress that, to effectively curtail the evil effects of the harmattan season, everyone must be ready to play by the rules and improve on their hygiene during this period.
Also, expert assert that, prolonged daily exposure to cold weather as an open invitation to diseases like rheumatism, cardiac arrest, pneumonia and arthritis; and, in severe cases, death from hypothermia, because the respiratory system suffers greatly when the body is exposed to cold and dry weather.
Research shows that, between November and March, quite a lot of fire outbreaks are often recorded since there is dry wind, which makes it easy for fire to spread at the slightest ignition, causing destruction of lives and property. Hence, there is need to take more preventive measures during harmattan.
More so, farmers should avoid bush burning, regrettably, the act of bush burning often result in severe losses to farmers as it is more difficult to curtail the rage of the fire during harmattan.
Furthermore, the preponderance style of government to create artificial scarcity of petroleum products during the end year and the New Year, basically leads to panic and storage of petrol in odd places at home and offices which has wreak great havoc.
Tips To Manage Harmattan
Your Skin
- Use mild moisturizing soap or body bath creams.
- Do not completely dry your skin after shower, use body oil to retain moisture on the skin after bath.
- Apply moisturizing cream or lotion all over your body including your under feet.
- Apply hand cream during the day and night before going to bed.
- Dress warmly, wear clothes with lots of Layers. Layers work better than one really thick item because air is trapped between the layers, keeping you warm.
- Consider emergencies, use Hats, scarves, gloves and appropriate footwear.
- Use mild soaps (even if you have oily or combination skin).
- Don’t use of face facial cleansers and toners that contain alcohol or astringents. Use only mild facial cleansers and toners.
- Always moisturize your face after cleansing.
- Remember to invest in a lip balm, lip salve or lip gloss. Always moisturize your lips before going to bed.
- Wash hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual
- Don’t dry hair completely to retain some moisture in hair.
- Apply hair oil, pink oils, hair sprays, lotions and creams to hair daily or every other day depending on hair type and severity of the weather.
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