New Delhi, April 26 -- One would like to imagine summer as a time to let one's hair down and run dreamily along a beach without a care. The idea of soaking up tons of vitamin D sounds good, but reality is a lot less pretty. Summer days are hard and prickly, and that glow? That's just sweat glistening in the sun's harsh glare. Skin and hair are arguably the first line of defence against harsh weather. From getting deeply tanned to suffering sunburns, developing fungal infections and dandruff, the list of skin and hair concerns during this season can be long.

As a dermatologist based in Chennai, Dr Aishwarya Selvaraj is well aware of the deleterious effects of the sun on skin and hair. This is why she tweaks her self-care routine during th...