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Published on: Jul 09, 2021
4 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Important Questions About Zika Virus Answered

Q: What is Zika?

A: Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week, and many people do not have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe brain defects.

Q: How do people get infected with Zika?

A: Zika is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). A pregnant woman can pass Zika to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Also, a person with Zika can pass it to his or her sex partners. We encourage people who have traveled to or live in places with risk of Zika to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites and sexual transmission of Zika.

Q: What health problems can result from getting Zika?

A: Many people infected with Zika will have no symptoms or mild symptoms that last several days to a week. However, Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Current research suggests that Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), an uncommon sickness of the nervous system, is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS.

Once someone has been infected with Zika, it’s very likely they’ll be protected from future infections. There is no evidence that past Zika infection poses an increased risk of birth defects in future pregnancies.

Q: Should pregnant women travel to areas with a risk of Zika?

A: Pregnant women should NOT travel to areas with Zika outbreaks. Before traveling to other areas with the current or past spread of Zika, pregnant women should discuss their travel plans with a doctor. Travelers who go to places with outbreaks or past or current spread can be infected with Zika. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects.

Q: What can people do to prevent Zika?

A: The best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites:

Use registered insect repellents Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Sleep under a mosquito bed net if air-conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.

Zika can be spread by a person infected with Zika to his or her sex partners. Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex. Condoms include male and female condoms. To be effective, condoms should be used from start to finish, every time during vaginal, anal, and oral sex and the sharing of sex toys. Not having sex eliminates the risk of getting Zika from sex. Pregnant couples with a partner who traveled to or lives in an area with risk of Zika should use condoms every time they have sex or not have sex during the pregnancy.

Q: What are the symptoms of Zika virus disease?

A: The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain. Many people infected with Zika won’t have symptoms or will have mild symptoms, which can last for several days to a week.

Q: How is Zika diagnosed?

A: To diagnose Zika, your doctor will ask you about recent travel and symptoms you may have and collect blood or urine to test for Zika or similar viruses.

Q: Can someone who returned from an area with a risk of Zika get tested for the virus?

A: Zika virus testing is performed at CDC and some state and territorial health departments. See your doctor if you have Zika symptoms and have recently been in an area with a risk of Zika. Your doctor may order tests to look for Zika or similar viruses like dengue and chikungunya.

Q: What should pregnant women who have recently traveled to an area with a risk of Zika do?

A: Pregnant women who have recently traveled to an area with a risk of Zika should talk to their doctor about their travel, even if they don’t feel sick. Pregnant women should see a doctor if they have any Zika symptoms during their trip or after traveling. All pregnant women can protect themselves by avoiding travel to an area with risk of Zika, preventing mosquito bites, and following recommended precautions against getting Zika through sex.

Q: I am not pregnant, but will my future pregnancies be at risk if I am infected with the Zika virus?

A: Currently, there is no evidence that a woman who has recovered from Zika virus infection (the virus has cleared her body) will have Zika-related pregnancy complications in the future. Based on information about similar infections, once a person has been infected with the Zika virus and has cleared the virus from his or her body, he or she is likely to be protected from future Zika infections.

If you’re thinking about having a baby soon and you or your partner live in or traveled to an area with the risk of Zika, talk with your doctor or another healthcare provider. See Women & Their Partners Trying to Become Pregnant.

Q: How should insect repellents be used on children to prevent mosquito bites and the viruses that some mosquitoes can spread?

A: When using insect repellent on your child always follow label instructions. Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old. Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin. Adults should spray insect repellent onto their hands and then apply it to a child’s face.

Q: What should I do if I am sick, or a family member is sick, with Zika?

A: Many people infected with the Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms lasting several days to a week. If you have symptoms of Zika (fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, or muscle pain) and you live in or recently traveled to an area with risk of Zika, you should see your doctor or healthcare provider and tell him or her about your symptoms and recent travel. There is no specific medicine for Zika, but you can treat the symptoms. If you are diagnosed with Zika, protect those around you by taking steps to prevent mosquito bites and to prevent sexual transmission of Zika. Because Zika can generally be found in the blood during approximately the first week of infection and can be passed to another person through mosquito bites, help prevent others from getting sick by strictly following steps to prevent mosquito bites during the first week of illness.

Read FAQs

A. No, Zika virus is not spread through casual contact such as shaking hands or sharing food. The primary modes of transmission are through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, sexual contact, and from a pregnant mother to her unborn child. Blood transfusion is a rare mode of transmission, but Zika cannot spread through coughing, sneezing, or touching.

A. If you have symptoms like fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, or headache and have recently traveled to an area with Zika risk, you should consult your healthcare provider. Your doctor may recommend testing to confirm the presence of the virus. While there is no specific treatment for Zika, managing symptoms with rest, fluids, and pain relievers like acetaminophen is advised. Be sure to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to prevent spreading the virus to others.

A. Couples should take precautions when planning pregnancy after Zika infection. It is recommended that men wait at least six months after symptoms or exposure, and women wait at least two months. This helps minimize the risk of the virus affecting future pregnancies. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance based on your circumstances

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Best Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

Glowing skin is not simply a cosmetic goal. It is a visible reflection of skin health, hydration, and cellular repair. While the market is flooded with serums and treatments, dermatologists consistently observe that the most sustainable skin glow comes from consistent, simple, and evidence-supported practices. The good news is that many of the most effective ingredients are already available in an Indian kitchen.

Why Skin Loses Its Natural Glow

Before applying any remedy, understanding the root cause of dull skin is essential. Dermatologists identify the following as the most common triggers in the Indian context:

Cause	Effect on Skin
Pollution and sun exposure	Oxidative stress, pigmentation, uneven tone
Dehydration	Reduced elasticity, dryness, dullness
Poor diet and nutrient deficiency	Slowed cell renewal, loss of radiance
Disrupted sleep	Impaired skin repair, dark circles, puffiness
Hormonal imbalance	Acne, oiliness, pigmentation
Harsh skincare products	Damaged skin barrier, redness, sensitivity

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause is as important as applying any topical remedy. Skin that appears dull despite consistent care often signals an internal factor requiring dietary or medical attention.

Which Home Remedy is Best for Glowing Skin?

Among all widely used natural ingredients, raw honey combined with aloe vera gel is considered the most universally effective home remedy for glowing skin. Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin, while its antibacterial and antioxidant compounds protect against environmental damage. Aloe vera complements this by delivering vitamins A, C, and E directly into the skin, supporting collagen synthesis and reducing inflammation.

This combination works across all skin types, requires no preparation time, and demonstrates consistent results in clinical observations relating to skin hydration and barrier repair. Applied three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes, this remedy produces visible improvement in skin texture and brightness within two to three weeks of regular use. For individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, aloe vera used alone without honey is the preferred option as it is non-comedogenic and lightweight.

Top Home Remedies for Glowing Skin by Skin Type

One of the most significant gaps in standard advice is that remedies are rarely matched to skin type. Applying the wrong ingredient can worsen the skin condition rather than improve it. Dermatologists recommend the following skin-type specific approach:

Skin Type	Best Remedy	Key Benefit	Frequency
Dry Skin	Raw honey and milk paste	Deep hydration, lactic acid exfoliation	3 times per week
Oily Skin	Multani mitti with rose water	Sebum control, pore tightening	2 times per week
Combination Skin	Aloe vera gel	Balances moisture without clogging pores	Daily
Sensitive Skin	Oat flour and plain yogurt pack	Soothes inflammation, gentle exfoliation	2 times per week
Normal Skin	Turmeric and honey mask	Antioxidant boost, brightening	2 to 3 times per week
Dull or Pigmented Skin	Potato juice or tomato pulp	Natural kojic acid, reduces pigmentation	3 times per week

Matching the remedy to skin type is the single most important factor in achieving consistent results from any natural skincare routine.

Which Kitchen Ingredients Work Best for Skin Glow?

Several common Indian kitchen ingredients carry clinically recognised skin benefits. The mechanism behind each ingredient matters as much as the application method:

Turmeric (Haldi): Contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. Curcumin inhibits melanin synthesis, which helps reduce pigmentation and uneven skin tone over time. Used as a paste with milk or honey, turmeric is one of the most researched natural brightening agents.

Raw Milk: Contains lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, stimulates collagen production, and improves skin luminosity. Applying raw cold milk with a cotton pad and leaving it for 15 minutes is a simple and effective brightening practice.

Besan (Gram Flour): Functions as a mild physical exfoliant and oil absorber. Mixed with turmeric and rose water, besan-based face packs have been used across Indian households for generations and remain dermatologically appropriate for most skin types.

Aloe Vera: Rich in polysaccharides that support skin hydration and mucilaginous compounds that form a protective barrier. Clinical data supports its use in reducing UV-induced skin damage and accelerating epidermal repair.

Potato Juice: Contains catecholase, an enzyme with mild skin-lightening properties. Particularly useful for reducing dark circles, tan lines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How to Get Glowing Skin Naturally in One Week

Most competitors list remedies without telling readers how to actually use them together. The following 7-day routine is structured to progressively address cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and brightening within a single week:

Day	Morning	Evening
Day 1	Raw milk cotton pad cleanse	Aloe vera gel application
Day 2	Rose water toner	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)
Day 3	Raw milk cleanse	Turmeric and honey mask (10 min)
Day 4	Rose water toner	Aloe vera gel application
Day 5	Raw milk cleanse	Besan, turmeric and rose water pack (15 min)
Day 6	Rose water toner	Potato juice on dark spots (20 min)
Day 7	Raw milk cleanse	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)

This routine uses no more than three to four ingredients across the entire week, minimising the risk of ingredient overload or skin irritation. Always perform a patch test on the inner forearm before applying any new ingredient to the face.

Lifestyle Habits That Support Glowing Skin From Within

Topical remedies address the surface. Skin glow that is deep and lasting is primarily determined by internal health factors that all four competitor articles fail to address:

Hydration: Dermatologists observe that inadequate water intake is the single most common and most overlooked cause of dull skin among Indian adults. A minimum of 2.5 to 3 litres of water daily supports cellular metabolism and maintains skin turgor.

Diet: Skin cells require vitamins C, E, and A along with zinc and omega-3 fatty acids for repair and renewal. Indian dietary staples such as amla (Indian gooseberry), carrots, spinach, walnuts, and flaxseeds provide these nutrients in bioavailable forms. Reducing refined sugar intake is equally important, as excess glucose triggers glycation, a process that breaks down collagen and accelerates skin ageing.

Sleep: The skin's repair cycle peaks during deep sleep between 11 PM and 3 AM. Chronic sleep deprivation elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and increases inflammatory skin conditions. Clinical specialists recommend seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep as a non-negotiable component of any skin improvement plan.

Gut Health: Emerging dermatological research on the gut-skin axis confirms that dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) is linked to acne, rosacea, and dull skin. Incorporating fermented foods such as curd and buttermilk into the daily diet supports gut microbiome balance, which in turn improves skin clarity.

Home Remedies to Avoid: What Dermatologists Warn Against

This section exists in none of the competing articles and represents the most clinically important addition to this topic. Several widely promoted "natural" skin remedies are actively harmful:

Lemon juice directly on skin: Lemon juice has a pH of approximately 2, far too acidic for direct skin application. It disrupts the skin's natural acid mantle (pH 4.5 to 5.5), causes photosensitivity, and can result in chemical burns or permanent pigmentation when skin is exposed to sunlight post-application.

Baking soda: Despite its popularity on social media, baking soda has an alkaline pH of 9, which severely disrupts the skin barrier, strips natural oils, and causes microbial imbalance on the skin surface.

Toothpaste on pimples: Toothpaste contains fluoride, menthol, and hydrogen peroxide, none of which are formulated for skin. It causes contact dermatitis, dryness, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly on Indian skin tones.

Undiluted essential oils: Applying undiluted tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any essential oil directly on the face without a carrier oil causes irritant contact dermatitis and skin sensitisation.

Dermatologists advise that if a remedy causes stinging, redness, or visible irritation, it should be discontinued immediately regardless of how widely it is recommended online.

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