The fungi , the bites and burns lots are some of the problems of the most common skin during the summer.
In order to prevent different skin conditions that increase their prevalence during vacations, here are ten health tips for each of them.
1. Athlete’s Foot
It is a fungal infection that affects the feet, especially the interdigital spaces such as the areas between the toes. In these cases it proposes:
- Dry your feet after washing, also between the toes.
- Change socks and footwear daily.
- Avoid chafing.
- Do not put your feet in hot water for a long time because of the macerated and facilitates the penetration of the fungus.
- Avoid barefoot around public swimming pools and showers.
- Check your feet carefully, especially if you have them.
- Moisturize your feet every day.
- Visit a dermatologist for a correct diagnosis.
- If there is an infection, using an antifungal cream for a few days is usually enough.
- Foot baths with antiseptics at the end of the day can be a good preventive measure.
2. Spots on the Back or Pityriasis Versicolor
It is another type of fungal infection that mostly affects men between the ages of 15 and 30 living in hot, humid countries. It is characterized by the appearance in the thorax and in the extremities of rounded macules of dark brown or well-defined pink white and covered with scales. How to prevent it? Here are his recommendations:
- Keep skin clean and dry.
- Beware of sweat, sebum, and high temperatures provide an optimal medium for the growth of fungi.
- During the summer you should avoid tight and breathable clothing.
- Wipe off excess sebum and sweat with a mild cleansing lotion.
- Use specific disinfectant products for clothing that can not be washed at high temperatures.
- In spring and summer, applying for medicines against pityriasis versicolor topically in the form of soaps or shampoos once or twice a week can prevent relapses that often occur year after year.
- Using an antifungal cream may be sufficient for healing, although the more resistant ones require taking oral medication.
- The residual white spots are already cured, but they need time and sun exposure to recover the homogenous tone of the skin.
- Particular attention to the people most vulnerable to this infection such as people with diabetes, people with weakened immune system, adolescents, and athletes.
3. Medusa Stings
First of all, it is imperative to avoid baths where abundant jellyfish have been found. Besides, this expert advises:
- Thick fabrics like neoprene or coarse lycra appear to protect against jellyfish bites.
- Avoid touching animals or marine remains even though they seem dead can release the poison.
- Apply gels and creams repellent of jellyfish stings.
- If a bite occurs, first clean the area, with saline solution or, salt water. Never use fresh water because it can break the stinging cells and make the situation worse.
- Remove all remaining stinging tentacles and, if there is any remaining tentacle attached, remove it with forceps.
- Apply a cream with corticosteroids for a week to decrease pain and inflammation.
- Do not rub with towels, sand, or anything that could hurt the skin more.
- Never take animals with your hands if you do not wear suitable protective gloves.
Unprotected sun exposure for long hours has serious consequences; in fact, childhood burns that remain till adulthood. Sunscreens are not always a good idea as it may cause skin cancer in long run. How to protect the skin and what to do before a burn?
- Add lots of citrus fruits to keep your skin hydrated and use only herbal products for skin care.
- Use goggles to protect eyes from prolonged exposure to sunlight.
5. Heat Stroke
The high temperatures are directly related to headache, hot, dry skin, confusion, hyperventilation and even loss of consciousness. Then, ten measures for its prevention:
- Wear light-colored clothing and light cotton.
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun.
- Drink liquids throughout the day.
- Stay in cool places.
- Use sun cream every day, renewing it every two hours.
- Take light food, including fruits, salads, and vegetables that favor hydration and do without the seasoned and heavy foods.
- Do not stay in parked or closed cars and leave the children in these conditions. Keep the windows open or put the air conditioning.
- Keep the interior of the house as fresh as possible. If there is no air conditioning, use the fan and have the rooms in the twilight with the blinds lowered during the day.
- Before the first symptoms of an insulation, apply compresses of cold water or ice in the body, rehydrate and remain to lie in the coolest place of the house until feeling that the body temperature descends.
6. Poisonous Plant Eruptions
This dermatologist warns of the most toxic plants, their effects on the skin and how to deal with a rash on the skin:
- Poison ivy is the main cause of skin problems.
- Flowers of lavender, narcissus or lily are toxic, while chrysanthemum causes severe contact dermatitis.
- Contact dermatitis refers to rashes that occur when touching something with the skin surface, he clarifies.
- Approaching an ivy or a poisonous tree can ruin a day outdoors.
- It is key to be very aware of the environment, especially if we go camping.
- One should be aware of the appearance of poison ivy and poison oak .
- It is also important to be careful in parks and gardens. Better not to walk in the tall grass and stay on the road.
- These rashes are treated with topical corticosteroids with rapid relief.
- The spot after inflammation is prevented using photoprotection of the affected area.
- Allergic patients may have a more severe reaction and it is advisable to see a doctor.
7. Damaged hair and no vitality
During the summer the hair may tend to spoil and lose its shine due to the sun, pool chlorine and sea water.
- Washing your hair daily is not harmful.
- Remnants of lacquers, gels or foams during summer sun exposure can cause chemical reactions that irritate the scalp, so be sure to rinse thoroughly after each wash.
- Drying should be at low power and distribute heat throughout the head. Better let the hair dry naturally.
- When the sun’s rays fall harder, wear a cap, a handkerchief, a hat or a turban.
- It is best to cut the tips a little before and after the summer to keep the hair fiber in good condition.
- Scoring a lot of long hair during these months is not convenient because if the hair is thin, we run the risk of scalp burns.
- The balanced diet provides all the necessary nutrients for good growth and good hair cosmetics.
- If there are deficits in nutrients, the vitamin complexes strengthen the hair and nails.
- After a bath in the pool or the beach you always have to wash it and moisturize it to remove both chlorine and salt.
- Use capillary photo protectors to protect it from the action of the sun.
8. Sunspots or Melasma
Changes in pigmentation increase in summer with sun exposure, for its prevention.
- Monitor the area of the mustache, cheeks, and forehead because they are the areas most affected and, although the impact of the sun is minimal, the spots persist after the summer.
- When this problem is associated with pregnancy and the use of hormonal treatments, the pigmentations gradually disappear after childbirth or after the withdrawal of these medications.
- Avoid irritation of the area because new spots may appear or pre-existing ones spread.
- There are dermatological depigmenting treatments that can clarify or even eliminate them.
- Any therapy to eliminate them should be accompanied by instructions to avoid and reduce sun exposure, as they usually reappear with the action of the sun.
- It is essential to use measures of sun protection along with the use of hats or hats, sunglasses and shade spaces.
- Apply natural cream 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every 2 hours to maintain the protective effect.
- There are photo-protectors with lightening agents for use during the summer period although in winter you can opt for the most powerful formulas controlled by a dermatologist.
- Do away with cosmetic irritants because some can undergo an activation with the sun and produce inflammatory reactions.
- The makeup is used to hide the melasma that can not be treated.
9. Solar Allergy
This term different skin diseases as polymorphic light eruption, are included the solar urticaria, actinic prurigo, and porphyria.
When sunbathing some people experience the appearance of hives or granites on the face, neckline, and arms.If this happens, it is necessary to consult the dermatologist to rule out the presence of more serious pathologies.
To prepare the skin against the sun can be exposed progressively about 20 or 30 minutes at the most on the first day.
- Avoid exposure between eleven in the morning and four in the afternoon.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Do not expose yourself to the sun when the allergy begins to manifest.
- Cover affected areas.
- Use special sun creams for people with allergies to the sun.
- Take oral photo-protectors containing beta-carotene, antioxidants, and vitamins.
- Before an established outbreak , antihistamines and corticosteroids are the best treatment.
10. Plantar Warts
Finally, this specialist warns about measures to prevent these foot injuries during the holiday months:
These warts or papillomas are benign but painful and are located on the soles of the feet.
- Keep in mind that they are very contagious.
- To prevent contagion, you should avoid walking barefoot in crowded areas, such as changing rooms, gyms or swimming pools.
- Wear flip-flops or neoprene socks.
- Do not share shoes or other clothing with other people.
- Avoid chafing or trauma.
- Properly moisturize your feet.
- Special care in people with low defenses.
- It is worth knowing that some are healed spontaneously.
- The cryotherapy or freezing treatment with cold give good results.