Sun Burns and Summer Rashes A great day in the sun can lead to several days of pretty intensepain for people that don't use an adequate amount of sunscreen. Very often people assume on a hazy day with limited sunshine, there is no chance of being sun burned. Wrong! Sometimes these days are worse than bright sunshine. That haze is not filtering out the harmful ultra violet rays, and they will create very painful sunburn. A Day in the Sun A 26-year-old woman had 2 children and worked from home full time. She was very busy, and had literally no time for fun in the sun, she was super excited about a Sunday at the lake with her children. She slathered her kids with sunscreen prior to going; however once she arrived at the lake, the overcastweather led her to think she did not need protection from the sun herself. They had a great time at the lake, enjoyed the day, and stayed about 4 hours. On the way home, the mom said she started to feel some pain on her skin, and by the time she was home, she realized the haze offered no protection. She was burned, and in pain. This was a Sunday, and her pain lasted well through Thursday. As the burned skin began to peel and itch, she assumed she was well on the road to recovery. The scratching of the blisters continued for several days, and she realized an area on her shoulder was in pain. The one blister from the burn had become infected. A doctor visit later, she finally began to heal, and vowed to never again skip sunscreen. The worst hours to be out in the sun are 10-3, most people have heard that. That is however not to say you can't burn during other hours of the day, you can. A good rule to remember is to put sunscreen on every time you head out in the sun, don't get burned and be sorry. During the 60’s and 70’s, a healthy body was a tanned body, tanned naturally from the sun. Of course, those sun worshipers now wish they had avoided that sun, but in that era, sun toasted skin was healthy skin. Related: Healthy Food & Drink Choices Today's Tanning Options Tanning beds are not a good option. The option that is safe would be to use a self tanning lotion. There are multiple varieties to choose from, lotions, creams, sprays, and mouse. When you take your time,and apply the product carefully, it looks natural and provides a suns-kissed look. The main
trick is to not go too dark, and to apply evenly, no one will know if not color straight from the sun. Summertime Rashes Nothing can ruin a fun off day, or a great shift at work, like a rash that will not stop itching. Rashes are 4 times more common during summer months, and for a variety of reasons. -
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Outdoor plants and greenery may look harmless, but some can be very big skin irritants. Watch for greenery that is abundant or in clusters that often signifies allergic reaction. Not everyone is allergic to poison oak and Ivey, however most are. An outbreak of either can make the body itch for several days, and scratching can spread the condition onto other areas of the body. It's easier said than done, but advise patients not to scratch, Heat can irritate skin and cause a rash; this is quite common during summer months. All skin contains yeast, and during warm months, the folds of the skin can harbor an overgrowth of the yeast, creating and itchy or painful rash.
Don't avoid summer fun for yourself, and don't advise patients to skip outdoor activities. Be cautious of unknown plant life, and when walking into dense green areas, wear long pants and long sleeves to protect skin. Summer months is fun months, just be sure not to let a bad sunburn or itchy rash ruin it. Advise patients to be cautious of too much sun, and to watch for toxic plants. A few precautions will allow for a fun summer and no skin conditions. Related: International Nurses Association - What's Your Superpower? Tshirt Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter