It's summer! How to avoid the most common skin conditions of the season
Note: this article is for informational purposes only. It does not replace medical advice.
Excessive exposure to the sun, swimming pools and beach sand can cause minor skin problems, learn how to avoid them!
In summer, extra care should be taken with our skins, because the sun and dehydration can bring many problems such as burns, premature aging, even increasing the risk of cancer. In addition, during the season, the combination of wearing little clothing + wet clothes + intense sun exposure can cause some well-known skin diseases that, despite being common, need attention.
According to dermatologist Erasmo Tokarski, especially during the summer, it is recommended to wear sunglasses daily, fresh clothes, open shoes, in addition to drinking plenty of water and avoiding sun exposure between 11am and 4pm.
“Skin care is important all year round, but in the hottest season of the year we need to be extra careful to avoid surprises and enjoy the summer in a healthier way. The use of sunscreen, for example, should be done daily, with reapplications every 4 hours or whenever the person has contact with water” – says Dr. Tokarski
Check out the main skin diseases and find out what to do to fight the season’s sores.
Sunburns
When skin exposed to the sun becomes red and very sensitive to touch, it may indicate that the skin has been damaged and is suffering from sunburn.
How to treat it: symptoms can be relieved with the use of cold water compresses, analgesics and soothing body lotions. The skin tends to shed after about five days and to avoid it, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and avoid dryness of the skin. If the skin still starts to shed, it's important not to peel it and let it come off on its own during the shower.
Mycoses
These are fungal infections that affect the skin, hair and nails and are characterized by redness, flaking or itching. They usually appear in skin folds, which are warmer regions that accumulate sweat. The most common are pityriasis versicolor, popularly known as white cloth. And also nail mycoses, which have lesions caused by onychomycosis, generally showing signs such as thickening of the nails, increased fragility (brittle nails), distortions in shape, loss of natural shine and darkening. In the case of candidiasis, the first symptom is a redness that moves to the so-called nail bed, the part below the fingernails and toenails.
How to treat it: one of the main precautions is to avoid getting your body sweaty or wet for a long time. The dermatologist can also indicate the use of creams or lotions that must be applied daily until the complete elimination of the spots on the skin. In the case of nail mycoses, if the problem is not treated properly, the infection is continuous. When detecting the symptoms of mycosis on the nails, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, who can use ointments in the treatment and even the use of a laser, a novelty to combat the problem.
Solar acne
The heat of typical summer days plus solar exposure tend to aggravate skin oiliness, favoring the emergence of blackheads and pimples. It is common that on the first day of vacation, with sun exposure, the skin becomes a little drier, which seems to reduce the pimples, but the day after, the body's natural response will be to increase the skin's natural oiliness, aggravating the acne.
How to treat it: you should use a sunscreen suitable for your face and wash it with suitable soap and use lotions suitable for acne. It's also important to avoid squeezing blackheads and pimples. For the most serious cases, oral antibiotics indicated by a health professional may be recommended.
Prickly heat
Heat rash is more common in babies and children on very hot days, when the skin becomes damp from sweat. The most affected areas are the neck, nape, chest, stomach, back and the folds of the knees and elbows. In some cases, it can cause itchiness and the child becomes very irritated, crying for no apparent reason.
How to treat it: normally no specific treatment is necessary, but it can be avoided by wearing light clothes and avoiding very hot and humid places. Putting a little baby powder on the most affected areas can also help initially.
Citrus burns
The juice of citrus fruits in direct contact with the skin can cause burns when it is exposed to the sun, causing a dark patch on the skin called phytophotomelanosis. Although this type of burn is more common with lemon, orange, tangerine and grapefruit can also cause this type of injury.
How to treat it: when blisters form, treatment is the same as for water burns. When the skin is stained and dark, it may be necessary to use a whitening lotion or ointment indicated by a dermatologist.
Note: this article is for informational purposes only. It does not replace medical advice.