sunburn – Hello Doctor

The best home remedies for sunburn

November 22nd, 2019 by Content Editor

With plenty of fun-in-the-sun, one thing’s inevitable: sunburn.

Sunburn is the skin’s response to too much ultraviolet B exposure.

Mild sunburn symptoms include skin redness and pain. After about four to seven days, your skin may start to peel.

As is the case with many things, prevention is always better than cure! If, however, you did get a touch more sun than you had planned, try out these remedies in the comfort of your home.

Good ol’ water

One of the symptoms of sunburn is the inflammation of the skin. One of the easiest ways to treat inflammation is to cool down the affected area with water.

Dipping in a cool bath or shower may help ease the burn and soothe your skin. However, while you’re still out in the sun avoid jumping in the pool to cool off, as the chlorine water may irritate the skin more.

Avoid directly applying ice on the affected area as it can cause damage to your extra-sensitive sunburned skin. And stay hydrated – drinking extra water when you’re sunburnt can help prevent dehydration.

Aloe Vera

The medicinal properties that aloe Vera packs are rich in tried-and-tested antioxidants and antibacterial agents.

If you don’t already have one get an aloe Vera plant for your house,. The gel inside the plant can be used for many ailments but comes in especially handy for soothing sunburn. Alternatively, look for a 100% aloe Vera gel or an aloe-based lotion or ointment available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. Apply gently to the affected skin areas.

Colloidal oats

This is finely ground oats which boasts several benefits to soothing the skin. In addition to sunburn, it can also be effective for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Studies have shown that colloidal oatmeal binds to the skin and provides a protective barrier against irritants. The oats works as an anti-inflammatory when mixed with bathwater. Pour into the bath and soak for relief.

Lather the skin

After treating the sting and burn, your skin will still need some TLC. Prevent your skin from peeling or at least keep it to a minimum by regularly applying a moisturiser to the affected parts. Use a scent-free moisturiser, preferably a “sensitive skin” product to keep skin irritation to a minimum.

Avoid picking or breaking the skin of any blisters that develop. If a blister breaks, gently clean the area with mild soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a non-stick gauze bandage.

Take a pain reliever

If needed, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help control the pain and swelling of sunburn, especially if you take it soon after sun exposure. Some pain relievers may also be applied to your skin as gels. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

See a doctor if the sunburn:

Is accompanied by a high fever or extreme pain
Blistering takes up a large part of your body
Produces yellow drainage or red streaks leading away from blisters

References:

Your first-aid kit for the beach

November 20th, 2019 by Content Editor

Unfortunately, sunscreen alone won’t protect you from injuries when you’re at the beach. Packing a first-aid kit for possible mishaps will ensure you can enjoy your day, worry-free!

Here’s how to prevent and treat common beach injuries:

Jellyfish stings

Jellyfish don’t go after people, but if you happen to come into contact with one while swimming, you’re highly likely to be stung. Unfortunately, you can even get stung by dead jellyfish laying on the beach. The good news is that in most cases, other than a red mark, itchiness, numbness or tingling, a jellyfish sting isn’t fatal.

Here’s what to do:

First-aid tips:

Don’t pull tentacles off unless you have gloves as they can still sting you. Use a flat surface to scrape off any tentacles (e.g. your driver’s license or bank card).
Don’t urinate on the sting – it could cause stingers to release more venom.
Rinse the sting with seawater first and then vinegar. Vinegar is often used to treat stings because the acidity in it helps neutralise the venom. Lastly, soak in warm water.

Injuries from running in the sand

It’s hard to imagine that fluffy sand could do serious damage, but the slopes of a beach could. The surface of the beach often alternates from extremely hard to soft.

The most common injuries from running in the sand include ankle sprains or knee sprains. Avoid injuries by sticking to waking on “flat sand” and avoid running on the beach unless you’re wearing supportive shoes.

First-aid tips:

Keep cold packs in a cooler box in case of any injuries.
If you sprain your ankles or a knee, wrap (or ask someone to) your ankle or knee with a bandage and apply a cold pack to reduce pain and swelling. It should be applied for 5 to 10 minutes at a time.
Elevate your injured limb.
Get home to rest as soon as possible.

Skin cuts

Cuts on your feet from broken shells, glass and even grains of sand are common if you’re at the beach. The easiest way to avoid this is to wear shoes or flip flops at all times.

First-aid tips:

Always keep a clean bottle of water with you to clean any cuts.
Use plasters and bandages to cover any cuts.
For deep cuts, see your doctor as you may need stitches.

Sand flea bites

Sadly, frolicking at the beach could mean sand flea bites. Sand fleas are most likely to strike at early morning or evenings near the water. Sand flea bites are often more painful and itchy than mosquito bites and could cause a rash or a fever.

First-aid tips:

Don’t scratch sand flea bites to prevent an infection.
Pack calamine lotion, ice or aloe vera gel to soothe minor bites.
Pain killers can help with pain but see your doctor for a severe reaction like a fever or severe allergic reaction

Sunburns

Though preventable, sunburn can be common. Prevent this by avoiding sun exposure, especially between noon and 3pm when the sun is extremely harsh.

First-aid tips:

Always keep sunscreen in your beach bag. Apply a minimum of 50 SPF sunscreen generously before you go outdoors, reapply throughout the day and especially after swimming. Don’t forget your ears and the back of your neck.
If you have sunburn, get out of the sun immediately, drink lots of water and soothe your skin with a non-greasy moisturiser. Massage it in gently.
For severe burns that include blistering and a fever, see your doctor immediately.
For children younger than one years old, any sunburns should be treated by a doctor.

References:

10 ways to use baking soda as a remedy

October 22nd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You probably use baking soda at home for cleaning and baking. Good news: it has health perks too!

Cool down heartburn

Heartburn is that painful burning sensation in the upper part of your stomach that can spread up into your throat. It starts when acid rises into your oesophagus (the tube that connects your stomach to your mouth). This can happen if you eat too much, feel stressed or eat spicy foods. Baking soda can help treat heartburn by neutralising stomach acid.

– Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and sip slowly. –

Keep your mouth bacteria free

Mouthwash is important in your oral hygiene routine. It reaches places of your teeth, gums and tongue that a toothbrush can’t. You can use baking soda as a replacement mouthwash instead of the expensive ones from the shops. Baking soda has antibacterial properties which will help freshen your breath and get rid of bacteria.

– Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to half a glass of warm water. Swish it around your mouth and spit. –

Treat urinary tract infections

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system like the kidneys, bladder or urethra. Women are more likely than men to suffer from these. These kinds of infections cause burning when you urinate. Studies have found that baking soda can help to neutralise the acid in urine when you have a UTI. This allows the body to deal with the bacteria that caused the infection on its own.

– To use baking soda for UTI, dissolve half to one teaspoon of baking soda in water and drink it on an empty stomach. –

Whiten your chompers

If you’d like to whiten your teeth, look no further than baking soda. It has mild cleaning powers that help get rid of stains on your teeth. Don’t use this method more than once a week though, as baking soda may damage the outside layer of your teeth.

– Mix baking soda with water or lemon juice until it’s a paste. Dab it on your toothbrush and brush for two minutes. Rinse your mouth thoroughly and follow by brushing with toothpaste and then flossing. –

Freshen up

Make your own deodorant! It’s natural, free from excessive chemicals, and can be a cheaper alternative to those you buy in the store.

– Mix a teaspoon of baking soda added to water to create a milky baking soda paste. Rub it under your arms or feet to stay fresh. –

Relieve itchy skin

If you suffer from skin allergy rashes, baking soda can help.

– Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to the affected areas. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse well. Use this method as often as needed. –

Banish bug bites

Many over-the-counter creams for bites have baking soda, as it helps relieve itching and swelling from insect bites.

– Create a paste with a teaspoon of baking soda and water. Use it at least three times a day until your bites heal. –

Get rid of flakes

Remove dry skin from your face by using baking soda as an exfoliant.

– Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with half a cup of water and rub it on your face in a circular motion, then rinse. Don’t do this too often as baking soda could upset the pH balance of your skin. –

Remove splinters

Splinters can be painful – and difficult to remove.

– Soak the splinter area in a mix of a tablespoon of baking soda and warm water. Try this twice a day and it should eventually come out by itself. –

Calm sunburn

Treat fragile sunburned skin by soaking in baking soda and water.

– Add half a cup of baking soda to a warm (not hot) bath and immerse in the mixture. You can also try mixing some baking soda in your body lotion to calm any sunburn. –

References:

Painful blisters – is it sunburn or shingles?

November 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

It sounds so innocent, but people who’ve suffered from shingles say it can be incredibly painful. And with almost 90% of people at risk, be prepared if it ever comes your way! Shingles can easily be mistaken for sunburn. But it’s a lot more painful than that. Here’s how you know if the rash could be shingles:

How it is caused

The condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, and it usually attacks people with weak immune systems from injury, stress, illness, certain medication or other reasons. Shingles usually appear in a band, a strip, or a small area on one side of the face or body.

Symptoms

The first symptoms usually include tiredness and headache, followed by itching or tingling in one area of the skin. A few days later, you might notice a chickenpox-like rash, starting with red patches that form clusters of small blisters. In most cases, shingles can last for up to five weeks, and may leave scarring.

Am I at risk

Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing who will develop shingles and what could trigger the virus. Some research shows that the risk of shingles increases as you get older. The good news is that it’s not contagious so you can’t catch it or spread it through touch, but you could spread the virus to a child or pregnant woman and cause chickenpox.

Stages of shingles

Chickenpox: The virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. Even after the chickenpox infection is over, the virus stays in your nervous system.
Reactivation shingles: When your body’s defense is down the virus can reactivate and trigger the development of shingles.
Rash: Patches of red bump blisters on your skin.
Crusting: After about a week or 10 days the blisters will start to crust and scabs will fall off.
Postherpetic neuralgia: This is the complication of shingles. It affects nerve fibres and skin. The painful burn lasts long after the rash and blisters caused by shingles.

Shingles pain difficult to treat

According to Dr Milton Raff, a specialist in treating chronic pain at the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital Pain Clinic in Cape Town, shingles-related pain is difficult to treat and the pain is a result of affected nerves that function abnormally.

“Regular pain medications are not effective. We only have a few specialised medications we can try. If these prove to be ineffective, then the pain can be incapacitating. In a small proportion of patients, the pain never goes away. Not only does the patient suffer severe pain, they can often not perform routine everyday tasks”, says Dr Raff.

Commonly used medicines to treat shingles include antivirals and medicines for neuropathic pain. These cost about R800 a month.

Shingles can be prevented

There is good news, though. Studies show that a vaccine can prevent the development of shingles in up to seven out of 10 people who would have got it had they not been vaccinated. The vaccine also significantly reduces the development or severity of the pain.

The vaccine stimulates the body’s immune response to the virus, without actually causing disease.

In South Africa, children can be vaccinated against chickenpox as part of their routine vaccination schedule. A new vaccine is now available, and it’s just as important for adults over 50 to be vaccinated against shingles. “I would recommend that everyone over the age of 50 should speak to their doctor about getting vaccinated,” says Dr Raff.

References:

Summertime: Safe fun in the sun

November 9th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Say it with us, guys – it’s summertime! The icy mornings and grey skies are leaving us and now it’s time for fun in the sun!

The beach – what a fantastic place! While you’re cooling off in the sea and relaxing on the sand, remember to protect your skin and keep that bottle of sunscreen close by.

The skinny on skin cancer

Did you know that South Africa has the 2nd highest incidence of skin cancer in the world? All the more reason to keep yourself safe. There’re 3 common types of skin cancer that you need to know about, and you can find out more in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers.

What type of sunscreen do I need?

So, you’re off to buy your sunscreen, but with such a variety of different numbers and SPF, how do you choose the right one for you? Here’s what those SPF numbers mean:

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor
The higher the number on the bottle, the longer it’ll protect your skin from getting burned.
Remember, don’t use a sunscreen with a very high SPF if you want to leave the beach with a little bronze touch to your skin – but still ensure you’re protected.
If your skin does get red, cover up immediately and apply some After Sun lotion (these are available at your local stores.) It contains Aloe Vera, which is effective at reducing the effects of sunburn.

Treating sunburn

It happens – you’re swimming, playing volleyball or busy flipping chops and you forget to reapply sunscreen! By the time you get home your skin’s telling you that it’s had too much sun – what do you do? While sunburn can’t be undone, here are some tips to soothe your inflamed skin and speed up the healing process.

Cool off. Rinse off with a cool shower or bath to soothe skin and remove any salt, sand or chlorine that could cause irritation.
Treat it from the inside. Hello Doctor’s Dr Thomson recommends an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pill like aspirin (if you aren’t allergic) or ibuprofen, if you are. This will ease pain and can help stop inflammation from getting any worse.
Soothing moisturiser. Replenish your skin’s lost moisture regularly over the next few days with a rich moisturiser – look for something containing glycerine, aloe or hyaluronic acid.
Don’t forget to drink! The sun also dehydrates the rest of your body, which is what leaves you feeling tired after a long day in the sun – counteract this by drinking lots of water and eating water filled fruit like grapes, watermelon or melon.

Remember, nothing can roll back the damage of sunburn, so apply sunscreen before you go out for a day of fun in the sun, and reapply regularly through the day.

References:

http://news.health.com/2015/06/26/how-to-treat-a-sunburn/