5 Summer Skin Hazards and How to Treat Them

By Dr. Salah Zaki On Aug 25, 2014

As the summer winds down, I can imagine that everyone’s skin has had its fair share of sun over the past three months. While the sun does give a beautiful bronze glow, it also comes with its consequences later in life.

Most people don’t know that the effort you put in now reflects on your body later. So take care of yourself now, your future self will thank you.

Here are a few summer hazards and recommendations for relief:

1. Sunburn: This is no surprise to anyone. We’ve all gone home with sunburn at least once.

Make sure you use sunscreen, and don’t be fooled by those gray or shady days, as you can still get burned.

Recommendations:

Ibuprofen or aspirin to help stop pain and inflammation.

Don’t scratch. It makes the itching worse and can cause infection.

Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream 2-3 times a day, or a post-sun product such as Aloe Vera, to help sooth and cool down the burn.

Try these two natural remedies:

Dip a washcloth in cool, full-fat milk and place on suburned spots several times a day for 5-10 minutes. Milk’s lactic acid stops inflammation and itchiness.

Cut up a tomato into thin slices and use them as compresses. The lycopene in tomatoes serves as an anti-inflammatory, as the fruit’s wetness draws liquid from the sunburn, therefore reducing swelling.

2. Heat Rash: This skin rash tends to show up as little red bumps or blisters. This happens when sweat ducts get blocked.

Recommendations:

Avoid heat and humidity as much as possible to avoid sweating.

Sprinkle rash with powder containing cornstarch and menthol to help dry up and cool sweaty skin.

Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream 2-3 times a day.

Avoid synthetic fabrics that will irritate the skin further. Stick to what Egypt makes best – cotton!

3. Dry Skin: Also no surprise here. With all that salty water and chlorine, your skin is bound to dry out.

Recommendations:

Exfoliate to remove the dry skin and moisturize with a thick cream to penetrate the skin.

Before going to the pool or beach, apply some Vaseline on dry areas to protect your skin. Vaseline serves as a barrier for your skin, protecting it from external conditions.

Drink lots of water. Keep yourself hydrated at all times.

4. Body Breakouts: Aren’t those the best? All that sweat ends up leaving bacteria on the skin that can clog pores, leading to body acne.

Recommendations:

First rule, don’t touch! Touching and squeezing pimples not only increases bacteria and infection, but also leads to scarring. You’re only going to make it worse, so put your hands down.

Don’t over wash. Over washing creates dry skin. Dry skin means the body will overcompensate by producing more oil.

Use the sea’s saltwater as a natural disinfectant.

Look for cleansers with salicylic acid; it kills bacteria and unclogs pores. But make sure to avoid cleansers with grainy exfoliators, which can irritate skin and worsen acne.

5. Bug Bites: Summertime is known for its excessive mosquitos and other bugs. Some people can walk away without a single bite, while others react with swollen and painful bites.

Recommendations:

Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream 2-3 times a day.

If you experience an allergic reaction to the bite, take an over-the-counter antihistamine like Claritin.

Prevent bug bites with an insect repellent.

If the reaction becomes severe and you have difficulty breathing or facial swelling, head to the emergency room immediately.

WE SAID THIS: Check out Skincare Products to Try this Summer.