(MENAFN- Arab News) Taking care of your skin is essential in the holy month of Ramadan due to the summer heat and fasting because of which your skin could become dull as your body loses valuable vitamins and minerals.
We spoke to dermatologist and aesthetic specialist Dr. Shadan Naji at Obagi Medispa who gave us tips and tricks to keep the skin glowing in Ramadan:

What are the top five tips to keep the skin hydrated during the month of Ramadan?
It is very important to take care of our skin throughout the year but during Ramadan extra care should be taken in order to guarantee that the skin is not affected by fasting. Here are a few tips that can help you keep your skin radiant and nourished during Ramadan:
1- Do not wash your skin more than twice a day. Over washing can irritate the skin and cause additional dehydration to your skin. Always use an appropriate cleanser according to your skin type.
2- Use a gentle moisturizer once or twice a day in order to keep the skin hydrated. It is recommended to include one application of the moisturizer in the morning routine and a second application at bedtime.
3- It is recommended to use vitamin C serum on a daily basis in the morning as antioxidants help protect the skin from free radicals. It also lightens and brightens the skin and reduces inflammation as well as increases hydration of the skin.
4- Use a proper sunblock on a daily basis to protect your skin from damage even if you are not doing major outdoor activities. Exposure for short periods to sun can affect your skin.
5- Do not use heavy makeup during Ramadan and try to limit it to very light mineral makeup with a primer. Makeup can irritate the skin and cause further dryness to the skin.
What is the best way to keep your complexion bright and glowing during fasting?
The best way is to keep your body hydrated by having good water intake. It is very important to continue your usual skin routine with increase in the use of moisturizers. Moreover always consider that our skin reflects what we eat so avoid excessive sugar intake and try to rely more on vegetables and fruits especially those rich in antioxidants such as strawberry pepper and all green leaves.

Sleeping hours tend to decrease during Ramadan. How do you tackle puffy eyes and dark circles so that you don't look so tired throughout the day?
Try to avoid salty food in an excessive way and concentrated juices that are popular in Ramadan. Continue using an effective eye care cream twice a day gently massaging it into the skin. Drink at least two liters water after iftar.

What are the best vitamin supplements to take during suhoor?
Skin supplements are usually a group of several vitamins and antioxidants that can enhance the wellbeing of the skin. Some of the most important antioxidants for the skin are vitamin C E A selenium and zinc. Here we would like to suggest Skinhealth Beauty & Mind supplements by Nextcell that contain a group of antioxidants and nutritional supplements to reduce the aging effects on skin and cellular function.
All of these antioxidants reduce the harmful effects of the sun and the process of releasing free radicals that usually harms skin cells. It is always recommended to choose the right skin supplement that comes from a well-known scientific pharmaceutical laboratory. I recommend taking these supplements during suhoor as you are able to get the benefits of these supplements during the fasting hours which are usually the main hours when our skin is exposed to all environmental factors.

What is a go-to treatment for skin at Obagi that every individual should try during the month of Ramadan?
Mesotherapy treatment with microneedling is one of the best treatments that can be used during Ramadan as it does not irritate the skin. On the contrary it nourishes the skin with vitamins and amino acids. It is suitable for all skin types with almost no downtime.

Lips tend to get extremely dry throughout the day without water intake. What is the solution?
Use a moisturizer on the lips three to four times a day to reduce this problem. It is highly recommended to use a sunblock daily on the lips as the lips are affected by sun exposure the same way facial skin is. Additionally skin booster treatment helps the lips to stay hydrated.

During Ramadan the main idea is to release all the toxins from within and around you. What is a must-have product that can release all the toxins from your skin?
Skincare and preparation is very important to keep the skin healthy and enable it to benefit from any topical treatment applied on it. Preparing the skin means cleansing it appropriately and removing the upper dead layers. To do that you should follow these steps:
1- Clean your face twice daily with a cleanser that is suitable for your skin. Try Nuderm foaming gel from OBAGI MEDICAL that is gentle and suitable for all skin types.
2- Use a toner that will refresh the skin and correct its PH in order to make it ready for all topical products.
3- Exfoliate the skin 2-4 times a week (once daily) according to how much your skin can tolerate the process. It will help you to get rid of the upper layers of the skin and will make the skin smoother and more radiant.
4- If you have oily skin use a product that can control oil production on your face. Try Pore Therapy solution from Obagi Medical.
5- Apply a sun block daily that is at least SPF 30 and repeat it if you are outdoor for more than three hours. Try our outstanding Sunshield SPF 50 that gives you full protection from sun radiations.

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