Summertime Skin Care

It’s summertime, and living is easy. But some of the joys of summer — such as the sun, chlorine, insect bites, and poison ivy — can cause havoc with your skin. To help you avoid serious skin problems, here are some tips:

• Protect your skin by using sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) whenever you are outdoors. Wear gloves to protect your hands when gardening or doing other outdoor chores. Wash thoroughly after working outdoors to minimize your risk from poison ivy. Use insect repellants to help prevent insect bites. It is best to avoid open-toed sandals and, of course, never go barefoot.
• Treat injuries right away by washing all minor cuts and scrapes with soap and water. Use an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment and cover the wound with a clean, dry, breathable bandage. Be sure to check on it twice a day to be sure it is healing. If you see no signs of healing within two days, of if the cut appears to be infected, contact your physician. Signs of infection include redness, heat, swelling, tenderness and/or thick yellow drainage.
• Moisturize your skin daily. Sun and chlorine from swimming pools can cause dryness. Dehydration, another summertime risk, also causes dry skin. Lanolin-based lotions are best to prevent, or relieve, dry skin. Avoid putting lotion between your toes, because keeping the area between your toes dry helps prevent fungal infections.