LOOK FIRST AID FOR SUMMER RASHES AND BITES

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

Sunny Florida weather allows us to enjoy the outdoors year-round. But summertime can also mean skin irritations caused by insects, poisonous plants or atmospheric conditions such as extreme heat, humidity and sun exposure.

If you find yourself scratching away at a summer rash or bite, here is some helpful advice and simple home remedies:

Outdoor gardening and yard work sometimes bring us into contact with undesirable vines such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The oils in these hearty vines contain a culprit called urishiol that can cause an itchy, blistery, painful rash. Pets do not get the rash and about 15 percent of people are immune. For the unlucky 85 percent, try the following:

• Immediately wash with lukewarm, soapy water.

• Wash clothing and anything that may have the plant oil on its surface, including pets.

• Do not scratch or disrupt the surface of the blisters; this could lead to infection.

• Take short, lukewarm baths in colloidal oatmeal or baking soda to relieve the itching.

• Use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.

• Apply cool compresses to the affected areas.

• Try an oral antihistamine unless contraindicated by a health condition.

Warm weather brings out Florida insects — mosquitoes, yellow flies, sand flies, fleas … the list goes on and on. Most are more aggravating than harmful and can easily be treated by applying vinegar, aloe or lemon juice to the skin.

Bees leave behind a stinger, best removed by scraping a credit card or fingernail along the skin toward the point of entry. Tweezers can sometimes squeeze more venom into the wound. Wasps do not lose their stinger, which is why they are capable of multiple stings.

• Elevate the affected area if possible and apply ice.

• For a bee sting, apply vinegar to neutralize toxins.

• For a wasp sting, apply ammonia to neutralize toxins.

• If the victim has a history of allergic reactions to insect stings and has an EpiPen, follow the instructions for use, then seek medical attention.

Most spider bites are harmless and can be treated with calamine lotion and ice.

• Seek medical attention if there is excess pain, swelling or redness, or if the spider is suspected to be a brown recluse or black widow.

• Take a picture of the spider or capture it in a jar for identification.

Carefully remove the tick by grasping it with tweezers as close to the skin’s surface as possible, pulling up using steady pressure.

• Avoid crushing the tick as this could cause toxins to spill into the wound.

• Thoroughly clean the area and your hands with alcohol or iodine scrub.

• Seek immediate medical attention if tick parts remain or if it appears to be a deer tick.

• Save the tick for identification.

• Seek medical attention if a rash, swelling, infection or anything out of the ordinary develops in the area of the bite.

Days spent hiking or beaching can bring on a different type of skin inflammation from the sun and heat.

Take an aspirin or ibuprofen tablet to calm inflammation.

• Take a cool bath or shower, then dress in loose-fitting clothing.

• Apply topical aloe vera to the sunburned areas often and liberally.

• Vitamin C serum or hydrocortisone cream can be applied 2–3 times daily to small areas such as the face, neck and chest to alleviate inflammation.

• Seek medical attention for severe swelling and/ or blisters after sunburn.

Heat rash can happen in hot, humid climate when sweat glands become blocked and swell. It looks like tiny red dots or bumps and can itch and sting.

• Wear loose-fitting cotton fabrics in hot weather.

• Keep affected areas dry and cool when possible.

• Apply calamine lotion or dust with corn starch or baking soda to absorb excess moisture.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IN THE EVENT OF:

• A history of severe reactions.

• Hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing.

• Swollen face, tongue or throat.

• Shortness of breath or chest tightness.

• Severe hives spreading beyond the affected area.

• Rapid heartbeat.

• Severe itching that nothing seems to alleviate.

• Dizziness or loss of consciousness.

RUTH ANN BYRD, owner of Aesthetic Skin Solutions in The Villages, is a licensed aesthetician specializing in skin rejuvenation and clinical treatment of sun damage, rosacea, and acne. She is also licensed in electrolysis, laser hair removal, and permanent makeup. She can be contacted at 352.874.3653.