There is nothing worse than sitting surrounded by dust, or passing your fingers across a table to see how much dust has accumulated. But last week the whole city was enveloped in a dingy yellow-beige fog for two days in a row announcing the arrival of Amshir, the month of unpredictable wind and weather. Experts say that following these tips can make your life just a little bit easier: • Stay indoors if possible, keep windows and doors closed and put the air conditioning on. • Bring laundry inside and don't do much laundry on dusty days as it will never be as clean. • Put a rolled towel underneath the door to prevent dust from entering. • Eat and drink more fruit, water, tea, soup or fruit juice to maintain the levels of water in your body and help your skin preserve its moisture in rough weather. • Change your bed sheets regularly, especially your pillow cases. • Put all your kitchen wear in closed cabinets and do not leave any dishes in the dish holder. • Postpone household tasks you have to do on a dusty day. • If you have allergies to dust, you are better off staying at home. However, if you must go out, be sure to wear a medical mask and keep an inhaler with you. • Even if you're not an allergic person, it's better to have a mask, or wrap a bandanna or scarf around your nose and mouth, when walking in the street. • If you are driving during dusty weather, go slowly to avoid road accidents. Keep the windows and air vents of the car closed and switch the air conditioning to recirculate. • Wear sunglasses when walking in the streets to avoid any sand from entering your eyes. Keep some eye drops with you, in case your eyes get irritated from the dust. • If possible, avoid wearing contact lenses, as even small amounts of airborne dust can cause eye irritation and vision problems. • Windstorms can be brutal on your skin and face. Apply a facial moisturiser and put on sunblock cream or makeup base before heading outside and be sure to wear a lip balm. Wear gloves to protect your hands. • Rinse your mouth regularly to get rid of any dust on your lips or in your mouth. • Don't wear white, as white clothes will quickly become another colour. • Avoid using too much make-up, cream or moisturiser when heading out the door in dusty weather. The dust sticks to it and suffocates the skin, causing irritation. • If you have long hair, tie it up in a bun or ponytail to prevent frizziness. • Don't wear suede shoes or items of clothing that load up on dust. Choose leather or other pieces that can be washed easily instead. • Skip shower gel when the weather is windy. Because it contains alcohol, shower gel can further dry your skin. Instead opt for shower cream or buttery bar soap to help your skin retain moisture. • Avoid high-impact exercise routines, particularly if you have a respiratory condition. Inhalable particles in the air could harm you. • Viruses and bacteria are prevalent in windy and dry weather, and it is wise to carry a bottle of water when going out. You can also put some glycerine around your nostrils to keep them from getting too dry.
