Summer Skin Problems by Sarah Lee, MSN-FNP ARNP

​Summer is officially here! We are all very excited to get out of the house and enjoy the warm (hot) weather, so we need to talk about fun in the sun and our skin.

I am often asked “what brand/type of sunscreen do you recommend?” For adults and children over age 1, I prefer the lotion type sunscreens for two reasons:

1. Application—you can see where you are putting it, therefore less risk of breakthrough sunburn spots. I recall a time when my husband sprayed me down with a clear spray. It wasn't until later that day that I noticed the “grill marks” on my back and legs! Since then I use the lotion type to prevent this from happening again.
2. No propellants. There had been a recall on spray sunscreen due to the skin cancer causing propellants. Crazy to think that the sprays we were using could cause skin cancer—which we were trying to prevent in the first place!

It is important to read labels with any over-the-counter products. Sunscreens are technically medications—read the fine print for warnings and cautions! Make sure that you apply it to your ears, nose, and shoulders–these are the most common areas for sunburns. For young children, stay out of the direct sun entirely during peak hours.

I always encourage my patients to avoid the sun in peak hours between 10am and 4pm. If you are in bright sun during these peak hours, stay in the shade and keep skin covered by using big floppy hats and rash guards/moisture wicking long sleeved shirts. If there is no shade, create some with an umbrella!

Rashes are also very common in the summer months. The rashes I see in the summer range from sunburn to chiggers. Here are the important takeaways:
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1. Tick bites: come in to be seen! Nationwide we have several tick-borne diseases including Lyme. These diseases carried by ticks can have significant long-term effects if not treated promptly, so remove the tick and book the appointment!
2. Chiggers: these little buggers cause small red spots on feet, ankles, and legs. Chiggers are VERY ITCHY! Fortunately the rash goes away within a week or two. The over-the-counter remedies include calamine lotion, benadryl or other antihistamine. 
3. Heat rash or “prickly heat:” this is very common in babies. You will see a tiny red rash in neck folds and other skin folds. This rash is also self-limiting, is not very itchy and can be easily treated by cooling off, using cornstarch in folds, and keeping babies cool.
4. Insect bites: these bites can look AWFUL—-a red, raised, swollen area of the skin and is often very itchy. This does not require a provider visit, unless it seems to be turning into a skin infection. Prevent skin infection by washing hands frequently, not scratching areas, and keeping the area clean.
5. Sunburn: can have varying degrees of severity from redness and pain to blisters and scarring. Prevention is key, but if you get sunburned, products that cool the skin such as aloe gel keep skin moisturized and help with pain. Ibuprofen may be necessary to help with inflammation and pain. Take a cool shower or bath, and apply a cooling lotion. If there are blisters, DON’T POP THEM! The blisters are filled with restorative plasma to help heal the skin. Staying really hydrated helps with healing—-people with burns get dehydrated very quickly.

For most skin rashes, essential oils such as lavender, thyme, and tea tree can be very soothing. I recommend using a carrier such as aloe gel or coconut oil and testing it on a small area of the skin to ensure that it does not cause more irritation.

If you have moles that change or are worrisome to you, schedule an appointment for a skin check. We can remove spots and send the sample in for tissue pathology to see if it is worrisome. Dermatologists also provide annual skin checks, so give them a call and book that appointment.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and provides phenomenal protection from infection and disease. Let's do our best to take care of it!