Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025

Ramadan: How to look after your skin during holy month

Ramadan: How to look after your skin during holy month

Ramadan is a month of physical sacrifice and spiritual repentance, where devout Muslims refrain from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset.

It symbolises dedication, reflection and discipline.

The act of fasting gives insight into the anguish and suffering endured by the millions of people living in famine and poverty around the world.

However, not having enough water, disturbed sleep and a poor diet can impact your body and skin.

TikTok dermatologist the Derm Doctor, otherwise known as Dr Muneeb Shah, is encouraging people to take more care of their skin during the holy month.

"When I was growing up I didn't have many South Asian friends and Muslim friends or friends that were fasting," he tells BBC Asian Network.

"One of the cool things about social media is that no matter where you are in the world you can find people that are sharing these experiences."

Since posting his first TikTok in 2020, Dr Shah now has more than 17 million followers and is the most followed dermatologist on the platform.

He aims to debunk the myths surrounding skincare and highlight the positive impact this month can have for some people.

"A lot of skin care conditions like psoriasis and acne are all inflammatory conditions, and some studies show that conditions like psoriasis actually decrease during Ramadan for people who are fasting," he says.

So what are Dr Shah's top tips for looking after your skin during Ramadan?


Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate


During fasting, your skin can easily lose moisture and lack hydration, so Dr Shah - who is fasting - advises people to use more hydrating products.

"Praying five times a day and washing your face after your pray can be really drying for some people," he says.

"You should make sure to moisturise after you wash your face, as it is really important, otherwise it can irritate the skin barrier."


Maintain a balanced diet


Dr Shah explains "some people are going to say their skin gets worse during Ramadan because you are changing your diet significantly, and that means what you're doing when you break your fast".

Heavy eating at sunset and before sunrise, and missing out on nutritious food groups due to the limited time eating, may have a negative impact on your skin.

Dr Shah encourages people to break their fast with food they enjoy, but believes moderation is key.

"Fried foods have no relationship with acne but eating anything in excess can affect the skin.

"I tend to eat a lot of fried foods when I break my fast, I don't think it affects my skin but other people will notice it will affect their skin."


Keep it simple


During Ramadan, diet and sleep patterns significantly change, so many might modify or update their everyday skincare routine.

But Dr Shah says you can still use your normal products while fasting.

"There's a common misconception that you can't use your traditional skincare products when you're fasting," he says.

"I think you can still use your classic moisturisers and sun creams when you're fasting."

His simple three step routine includes cleansing, moisturising and adding sun cream for the day. And for night, he recommends cleansing, applying a retinol and moisturising the skin again.

Farah also believes there's a lot of misconceptions about what skincare products you can use during Ramadan


Like Dr Shah, content creator Farah Ferrero is also using her social media platform to educate her followers on skincare during Ramadan.

The 29-year-old from Leicester believes there is a lot of misinformation online about what skin care products you should and shouldn't use during the holy month.

"Some people avoid using products with alcohol in them during Ramadan," she says.

"Toners contain alcohol but as a Muslim I'm not consuming it and it's not intoxicating me, so it's fine to just put on to my skin."

Farah also recommends double cleansing during Ramadan.

"Double cleansing involves removing makeup first using an oil-based cleanser or micellar water, and then I cleanse again to clean deeper in the pores."

She believes transparency is key during Ramadan and is sharing her skin care journey with her followers.

"Sometimes when I'm feeling lazy, I will use a wipe and I do get negative comments on social media for it because it's not really good for your skin," she says.

"But, when I've just had a long day at work, I've just come home and cooked. I just want to do the easiest possible things and that's okay to do."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia’s 2025: A Pivotal Year of Global Engagement and Domestic Transformation
Saudi Arabia to Introduce Sugar-Content Based Tax on Sweetened Drinks from January 2026
Saudi Hotels Prepare for New Hospitality Roles as Alcohol Curbs Ease
Global Airports Forum Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Emergence as a Leading Aviation Powerhouse
Saudi Arabia Weighs Strategic Choice on Iran Amid Regional Turbulence
Not Only F-35s: Saudi Arabia to Gain Access to the World’s Most Sensitive Technology
Saudi Arabia Condemns Sydney Bondi Beach Shooting and Expresses Solidarity with Australia
Washington Watches Beijing–Riyadh Rapprochement as Strategic Balance Shifts
Saudi Arabia Urges Stronger Partnerships and Efficient Aid Delivery at OCHA Donor Support Meeting in Geneva
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Drives Measurable Lift in Global Reputation and Influence
Alcohol Policies Vary Widely Across Muslim-Majority Countries, With Many Permitting Consumption Under Specific Rules
Saudi Arabia Clarifies No Formal Ban on Photography at Holy Mosques for Hajj 2026
Libya and Saudi Arabia Sign Strategic MoU to Boost Telecommunications Cooperation
Elon Musk’s xAI Announces Landmark 500-Megawatt AI Data Center in Saudi Arabia
Israel Moves to Safeguard Regional Stability as F-35 Sales Debate Intensifies
Cardi B to Make Historic Saudi Arabia Debut at Soundstorm 2025 Festival
U.S. Democratic Lawmakers Raise National Security and Influence Concerns Over Paramount’s Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Hackers Are Hiding Malware in Open-Source Tools and IDE Extensions
Traveling to USA? Homeland Security moving toward requiring foreign travelers to share social media history
Wall Street Analysts Clash With Riyadh Over Saudi Arabia’s Deficit Outlook
Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Cement $1 Trillion-Plus Deals in High-Profile White House Summit
Saudi Arabia Opens Alcohol Sales to Wealthy Non-Muslim Residents Under New Access Rules
U.S.–Saudi Rethink Deepens — Washington Moves Ahead Without Linking Riyadh to Israel Normalisation
Saudi Arabia and Israel Deprioritise Diplomacy: Normalisation No Longer a Middle-East Priority
Saudi Arabia Positions Itself as the Backbone of the Global AI Era
As Trump Deepens Ties with Saudi Arabia, Push for Israel Normalization Takes a Back Seat
Thai Food Village Debuts at Saudi Feast Food Festival 2025 Under Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee’s Lead
Saudi Arabia Sharpens Its Strategic Vision as Economic Transformation Enters New Phase
Saudi Arabia Projects $44 Billion Budget Shortfall in 2026 as Economy Rebalances
OPEC+ Unveils New Capacity-Based System to Anchor Future Oil Output Levels
Will Saudi Arabia End Up Bankrolling Israel’s Post-Ceasefire Order in Lebanon?
Saudi Arabia’s SAMAI Initiative Surpasses One-Million-Citizen Milestone in National AI Upskilling Drive
Saudi Arabia’s Specialty Coffee Market Set to Surge as Demand Soars and New Exhibition Drops in December
Saudi Arabia Moves to Open Two New Alcohol Stores for Foreigners Under Vision 2030 Reform
Saudi Arabia’s AI Ambitions Gain Momentum — but Water, Talent and Infrastructure Pose Major Hurdles
Tensions Surface in Trump-MBS Talks as Saudi Pushes Back on Israel Normalisation
Saudi Arabia Signals Major Maritime Crack-Down on Houthi Routes in Red Sea
Italy and Saudi Arabia Seal Over 20 Strategic Deals at Business Forum in Riyadh
COP30 Ends Without Fossil Fuel Phase-Out as US, Saudi Arabia and Russia Align in Obstruction Role
Saudi-Portuguese Economic Horizons Expand Through Strategic Business Council
DHL Commits $150 Million for Landmark Logistics Hub in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco Weighs Disposals Amid $10 Billion-Plus Asset Sales Discussion
Trump Hosts Saudi Crown Prince for Major Defence and Investment Agreements
Families Accuse OpenAI of Enabling ‘AI-Driven Delusions’ After Multiple Suicides
Riyadh Metro Records Over One Hundred Million Journeys as Saudi Capital Accelerates Transit Era
Trump’s Grand Saudi Welcome Highlights U.S.–Riyadh Pivot as Israel Watches Warily
U.S. Set to Sell F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia in Major Strategic Shift
Saudi Arabia Doubles Down on U.S. Partnership in Strategic Move
Saudi Arabia Charts Tech and Nuclear Leap Under Crown Prince’s U.S. Visit
Trump Elevates Saudi Arabia to Major Non-NATO Ally Amid Defense Deal
×