A Primer For Healthy Skin This Summer
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Love your swim suits, summer shorts and tank tops? Of course you do - they can be the most comfortable summer wear. But they offer the least protection against the troublemakers - bugs, poison ivy and more - that cause bothersome red skin eruptions this time of year. And they show off rashes, weals or pimples to best advantage.
Itching is the worst part of a rash. You just can't help but scratch, even though you know you shouldn't. Taking steps to avoid heat- and sun-related skin rashes is often easier than putting up with such discomfort. Sometimes summer skin ailments can't be avoided, though.
Bill Seigler says he tangled with poison ivy more than 30 years ago, so he recognizes its familiar three-pointed leaves. But in March, he came down with another case after a trip out West.
"I probably got it playing golf. I really don't know where it came from," the Atlanta lawyer says.
He tried ice and calamine lotion - "it didn't seem to be helping all that much" - so he sought a doctor's diagnosis and advice on controlling the itching while he slept.
If poison ivy or prickly heat turns out to be an unwelcome guest this summer, you can take care of it yourself with patience and an arsenal of treatments. But keep your doctor's phone number handy, just in case.
BITES, INCLUDING MOSQUITO, CHIGGER AND ANT BITES
How you got it:
An unfortunate encounter with a bug
What to do:
Scratching will make it itch more, says Sylvia Wright, an Atlanta dermatologist. Instead, try an anti-itch medication such as Aveeno Anti-Itch or Sarna Anti-Itch Lotion.
For chiggers (redbugs), dab nail polish or a liquid bandage on the site to control itching.
See a doctor if itching is extreme or you develop an infection.
How long will it last?
It varies from person to person, but from three to 10 days.
Prevention:
Wear protective clothing when you know you'll be around high grasses, standing water or animals.
Apply insect repellent.
Take vitamin B complex. "A lot of insects don't like to bite somebody that's been taking vitamin B complex," Atlanta dermatologist Harold Brody says.
PRICKLY HEAT (also known as heat rash)
How you got it:
The ducts carrying sweat to the skin's surface get blocked by wearing heavy clothing or lying on mats, for example. It's most common in babies and children.
What to do:
Cool off under a fan or air-conditioning.
Gently cleanse the area.
Apply a cooling powder such as Gold Bond. The rash should go away by itself.
How long will it last?
One to three days
Prevention:
It's hard to prevent. Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day.
SUNBURN
How you got it:
Stayed out in the sun too long without sunscreen
What to do:
Take aspirin if you can tolerate it.
Apply aloe vera to the burn.
Avoid more sun exposure.
Go to the doctor if you have blistering burns.
How long will it last?
A few days for pinkness, five to 10 days for severe burns.
Prevention:
Wear sunscreen and reapply it as necessary.
Wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
SWIMMER'S ITCH
How you got it:
Ocean, river or lake water contains microscopic organisms that can penetrate skin. The good news is you usually can't get it in chlorinated pools.
What to do:
See a doctor. Swimmer's itch goes away by itself, but the itching is intense. Besides, swimmer's itch tends to cover large parts of the body, not just an isolated site.
How long will it last?
Up to two weeks
Prevention:
Rinse and towel off as soon as you emerge from a body of water.
Avoid bodies of water marked as unsafe for swimming.
GENERAL RASHES
How you got it:
The reason varies. Sometimes sunlight causes rashes in extra-sensitive people, those with certain diseases or people who are taking certain medications.
What to do:
If the rash is mild and you have no fever or other symptoms, you probably don't have to do anything.
How long will it last?
"These mild summer rashes should really be short-term," Wright says. If it lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a doctor.
Prevention:
Avoid sunlight if you know your skin will react.
As soon as a rash appears, some people head for the pharmacy. That's fine if you have a mild rash: Over-the-counter medicines make you more comfortable for a little while, but they're only for short-term use - less than two weeks, says Wright. If your itching is unbearable, see a doctor for stronger treatment.
PLANTS SUCH AS POISON IVY, POISON OAK AND POISON SUMAC
How you got it:
A brush with their leaves, which contain a burning, blistering oil
What to do:
Don't rub your eyes or other parts of your body.
Wash the affected parts with soap and water.
Bathe in a colloidal oatmeal product like Aveeno Oatmeal Bath. (Colloidal oatmeal has been finely ground.)
Wash the clothes you were wearing to get rid of the oil.
How long will it last?
One to three weeks
Prevention:
Wear protective clothing
Apply a barrier cream such as Ivy Block when you know you'll be around high grasses, etc. The cream can reduce the amount of poison ivy sap that could get on you.
Steer clear of plants with three leaves on a stem - they might be poison ivy or poison oak - and learn what poison sumac looks like.
Prevent pets from getting into high grasses. They can pick up poison ivy oil on their fur.
Cover exposed skin when spreading pine bark mulch or pine straw, which may have come in contact with poison ivy.
RASH RELIEF
These guidelines will work with whatever type of rash you have, says Brody. But if it starts to hurt or doesn't improve in a few days, see a doctor.
Don't scratch the rash. Scratching might lead to a secondary infection.
Use a simple remedy of ice wrapped in a compress soaked in milk. "Ice-milk-and-water compresses will take all the heat and all the itching out of it. Soak it once a minute, and do it 10 times for 10 minutes, and you'll be surprised," Brody says. Even an ice pack can help.
Control itching with 1 percent cortisone cream. It might not get rid of the itching completely, but it might help.
Take an antihistamine. Benadryl, for instance, might calm itching and can help you sleep. The sooner you take it, the better.
Published April 13, 2007
Related: A Primer For Healthy Skin This Summer
Additional information:
A Primer For Healthy Skin This Summer: from health.theledger.com
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