Skin in the summer months has a lot going against it, and throughout the course of a day, it can be faced with all kinds of conditions. There's the salty sweat from exercising on hot summer days, the damage that comes with sun exposure, and the dryness that comes with the heat. And let's not forget the other skin incidents that tend to come about in the summer, such as bee stings, mosquito bites, poison ivy rashes, swimmer's itch, exposure to chlorine from the pools, and the list goes on.
Here are some tips for dealing with some of the most common summer skin conditions. Along with some easy homemade remedies that can be whipped up to treat everything from the inevitable sunburns to itchy bug bites.
Sunburns
Whatever lengths we go to in order to avoid the rays–covering up with hats, wearing long sleeves, slathering on sunscreen, or simply staying in the shade–we've all experienced those accidental sunburns. Sometimes we just stayed out too long without reapplying, or we missed those awkward, hard-to-reach places with the sunscreen.
Treatment: Stop the burning process and relieve the pain by applying a cold compress to the sunburned areas. Simply soak a washcloth in cold water and spread it over the area until it warms up, and start again, keeping the process going for 15 minutes at a time. Or try witch hazel water (witch hazel diluted in cold water), which helps reduce swelling and skin damage.
Rashes
Some freshwater lakes and ponds, although refreshing in the hot summer months, can cause swimmers' itch. This is caused by parasites in the water from birds and mammals that can cause an itchy rash that lasts for up to a week. Heat rash is another common one that occurs when excessive sweat clogs pores and causes a breakout that tends to burn. And then there are the rashes that come from plants, such as poison ivy, oak and sumac.
Treatment: Again, the simple cold compress can help soothe the inflamed skin and the itching that comes along with it, especially helpful for heat rashes and poison ivy. Baking soda can dry out rashes that are oily or oozing; simply add one part baking soda to three parts water and apply it as a paste. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse. An oatmeal bath can also do wonders for all types of skin rashes; it's a soothing anti-inflammatory. Make an oatmeal powder by grinding it in a coffee grinder or blender and add one cup of the powder to a warm bath.
Bug Bites
Mosquitoes love to come out and stalk their prey when the sun starts to set and the temps cool off. And if you're camping by a river or lake, expect to come home with a good amount of itchy bumps that can stick around for up to a week. Forget the pink calamine lotion; there are plenty of home remedies to ease the itch.
Treatment: Once again, use a cold compress, or even ice, to ease the itching and swelling. Essential oils can be soothing and healing to bug bites; try dabbing on tea tree oil, which has antiseptic properties, lavender, or peppermint (dilute the oils if you have sensitive skin). Baking soda paste (recipe above), aloe, and/or apple cider vinegar also offer quick relief and healing.
For any questions, call or contact Robins Insurance today.