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Silky smooth this summer
SUMMER IS NEVER THE TIME TO STAY INDOORS. EVERYONE WILL BE OUT ON THE BEACHES, BASKING UNDER THE SUN. YOUR SKIN IS YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE SUN’S RAYS. MAKE SURE IT STAYS HEALTHY.
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veryone will be taking a break this summer, but not your skin. Instead, it will be working overtime while being under constant assault from heat, sweat, and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. That’s why your skin will need every help it can get from you to help fight skin diseases due to heat and excessive sun exposure. These include prickly heat, sunburn, and skin cancer.
Prickly heat It’s no surprise that prickly heat is known in the local vernacular as bungang araw. Prickly heat is an itchy skin rash that occurs after sweating under hot, humid summer weather. Prickly heat occurs when sweat glands become inflamed into tiny pink or red bumps. Occasionally, the bumps can become blisters. The rashes usually occur in areas exposed to friction. These include the body folds (e.g., armpits, neck, creases of the arms
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD
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and legs) and places rubbing against clothing (e.g., forehead rubbing against hats and visors, upper back and chest rubbing against a shirt).
In tropical countries like the Philippines, the sun’s rays are harshest between 10 am and 3 pm. Stay indoors during this 5-hour period.
According to the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), mild prickly heat can be treated by gentle cleansing followed by an anti-perspirant powder.
But who really stays indoors during summer? So if you really want to bask under the sun, protect yourself with sunglasses, wide-rimmed hats, and most importantly, sunscreen.
If large areas are affected, you may soak in an alkaline bath for 30 minutes. Just mix one cup of baking soda in a tub of lukewarm water, and soak away. If itching is severe, use instead a cup of cornstarch or well-ground instant oatmeal with the bathwater. Block the sun A sun tan may look good on you, but not sunburn and skin cancer. These skin diseases are caused by excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Read the labels when buying sunscreen. Make sure to get one with a broad spectrum, blocking both UVA and UVB. Buy one with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Apply the sunscreen at last 30 minutes before going under the sun on ALL sun-exposed parts of the body. When going out for a swim, use a waterproof variant. Even a sunscreen with very high SPF wears off after a couple of hours, so reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. Children’s skin is six times more sensitive than adult skin, so reapply more often on children.
These rays are found in both direct and reflected sunlight. So even if you stay under a tree’s shade while in the beach, the UV rays reflecting from seawater can still damage your skin.
A final note on sunscreen: they protect from UV rays, but not the sun’s heat. So drink often to keep yourself hydrated, and watch out for signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion.
There are two kinds of UV rays, both found in sunlight: UVA and UVB. UVA penetrates deep in the skin and causes your sun tan (and skin cancer). UVB is the one that burns the surface of the skin, leading to sunburn.
Lastly, the PDS says that nothing is more important during the sweltering summer months than good personal hygiene. If possible, take a short, quick shower twice a day to cleanse away sweat and bacteria on the skin. Follow these tips and you won’t look like a prickly pear when the summer months blow over.
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Sweltering heat Summer is a festive season, but the present El Nino phenomenon striking the whole country can quickly turn festivities into the following heat-related illnesses.
Heat cramps When you sweat, you lose not just water, but also salts and electrolytes. Electrolyte loss leads to painful muscle cramps, usually at the abdomen, arms and legs.
Heat exhaustion If the electrolyte and fluid loss due to sweating persists for several days, you can develop heat exhaustion. In addition to cramps, you may also experience paleness, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, or fainting. First aid for heat cramps and heat exhaustion include: • • • •
Rest in a cool, shaded place Drink fluids such as water or sports drinks. Remove excess clothing. Apply cool water to skin.
Heat stroke This is the most serious heatrelated illness, and can be deadly. It happens when your body loses its ability to sweat during hot weather. Since sweating is a cooling mechanism, your body over-
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Beach body, minus the burn
Workout tips to beat the summer heat.
Pre-workout • Be well equipped. Buy sun block, lip balm, a sun visor, and even a hydration belt (belt with plastic containers for water or sports drinks) if you plan to exercise outdoors. • Check the weather report, and plan to exercise indoors if it will be scorching on your work-out day. • Consider swimming as a cool form of exercise.
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during cooler days. Stop immediately if you experience headache, dizziness, or blurred vision. Rehydrate. We cannot emphasize this enough.
Post-workout • Take three to five minutes longer to do your cool-down exercises. • Do not overstretch. Your muscles are looser during warm weather. • Continue to hydrate hours after your workout.
During workout • Wear light clothing. • Use lower intensity or lower reps. Take longer breaks. Just catch up
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2010 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelink-consult.com
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heats and body temperature rises to 41°C or higher. This can occur rapidly over just 10 to 15 minutes. Symptoms include high body temperature (above 39°C); red, hot, dry skin; palpitations; headache; dizziness; and nausea. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Move the person to a cool shaded area. Remove excess clothing, and then immerse him/her in a tub of cool water or place him/her under a cool shower. Do not give the person anything to drink unless you are sure he can swallow properly – otherwise he will choke. After performing these first aid procedures, rush the victim to the hospital.
Ward off the heat Prevent heat-related illnesses with the following tips: 1 2 3
Drink, drink, and drink some more! During hot weather, the 8-to-10 glasses-per-day rule no longer holds. Stay in cool, shaded places. Avoid strenuous activities, especially when the weather is humid.
The Orange wants to he ar from you! Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel free to contac t us. You can e-m ail our team at orange@activ elink-consult.c om.