Posts

Winter Into Spring Sun Block

Image
 Don’t Forget the Sun Block! The sun’s damaging rays can harm the skin during the winter months. The harmful UVB rays can pass through window glass and are responsible for photo aging and certain skin cancers. Sun damage begins during childhood and is cumulative. We are at increased risk of sun damage during certain situations such as, in the snow and on the beach do to reflection of the sun’s rays, in high altitudes, on cloudy days and between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.    Photo by  Tiffany Bui  from  Pexels There are many people in high-risk groups for sun damage. These groups include children and the elderly, people with fair skin, people with genetic or metabolic disorders, people on certain medication such as Tetracycline, Minocycline and Retin A, as well as smokers. Sun lamps and tanning booths emit both UVA and UVB light and can increase your risk of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. The best ways to help prevent sun damage is to avoid lo...

Frostbite

Image
Winter is a time for many outdoor activities for you and your family.  Keep your family healthy by preventing, detecting and treating cold related injuries promptly.  Children are at risk to develop frostbite, which is when body tissue freezes.  The skin with  frostnip  (1 st  degree frostbite) appears white and feels numb and may be treated at home. Frostbite (2 nd  and 3 rd  degree) appears white or blue, is waxy, numb and hard and should have medical attention.  Keep a look out for cheeks, nose, ears, fingers and toes.   Dress in layers for warmth. Wear a hat that covers the ears.  Wear gloves. Consider a facemask.  Have warm, waterproof boots.   Bring your child in for inspection periodically on a cold or windy day.   Keep your child in and remove wet clothing if there are signs of  frostnip .  Also, watch for hypothermia (low body temperature)   Immerse affected area in warm water (not hot water) a...