10 tips to prevent the most common skin problems in summer

The fungi , the bites and burns lots are some of the problems of the most common skin during the summer, as has been shown Eduardo Lopez Bran, head of the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos de Madrid , during a ceremony held this Monday at the Puerta del Hierro Sports Center. The event was also attended by Jesús Sánchez Martos, Health Minister of the Community of Madrid; Vicente Orden Gutierrez, director of the venue, and Pablo Busca, manager of SUMMA 112.

With the aim of preventing the different skin conditions that increase their prevalence during the holidays, López Bran has presented ten tips for each of them.

Table of Contents

1. Athlete’s foot

This specialist remembers that it is a fungal infection that affects the feet , especially the interdigital spaces such as the areas between the toes. In these cases it proposes:

Dry your feet wellafter washing them, especially between the toes.
Change socks and shoes daily.
Avoid chafing.
Do not put your feet in hot waterfor a long time because it macerates them and facilitates the penetration of the fungus.
Avoid walking barefootaround public pools and showers.
Check your feetcarefully, especially if you have .
Hydrateyour feet every day.
Go to the dermatologistfor a correct diagnosis.
If there is an infection, using an antifungal creamfor a few days is usually enough.
Foot baths with antisepticsat the end of the day can be a good preventive measure.

2. Spots on the back or pityriasis versicolor

It is another type of fungal infection that most affects men between 15 and 30 years old who live in hot and humid countries. “It is characterized by the appearance on the thorax and on the extremities of well defined dark brown or pinkish white rounded macules and covered with scales,” says López Bran. How to prevent it? These are his recommendations:

Keep the skin clean and dry.
Being careful with sweat, sebum, and high temperatures are an optimal medium for fungal growth.
During the summer you should avoid tight-fittingand poorly breathable clothing .
Wipe off excess sebum and sweatwith a mild cleansing lotion.
Use specific disinfectantproducts for those clothes that cannot be washed at high temperatures.
In the spring and summer, applying anti-pityriasis versicolor medications topicallyin the form of soaps or shampoos once or twice a week can prevent recurrences that often occur year after year.
Using an antifungal creammay be sufficient for healing, although the most resistant ones require taking oral medication.
The residual white spotsare already healed, but they need time and sun exposure to regain the even tone of the skin.
Special attention to people most vulnerableto this infection such as diabetics, people with weakened immune systems, adolescents and athletes.
Finally, López Bran recalls that pityriasis versicolor is not contagious.

3. Jellyfish stings

Above all, it is essential to avoid baths where abundant jellyfish have been found . In addition, this expert advises:

Thick fabrics like neoprene or thick lycraseem to protect against jellyfish stings.
Avoiding touching animals or marine debriseven though they appear dead can release the poison.
Apply jellyfish sting repellentgels and creams .
If a sting occurs, the area must first be cleaned with saline or, in its absence, salty water. Never use fresh water because it can break the stinging cells and make the situation worse.
Remove all remaining stinging tentaclesand, if there are any attached tentacle remains, remove it with tweezers.
Apply a corticosteroid creamfor a week to decrease pain and inflammation.
Do not rub with towels, sand, or anything that can further hurt the skin.
Never catch one of these animals with your handsif you do not wear suitable protective gloves.
Going to a health center makes symptoms worse.

4. Sunburn

Unprotected sun exposure has serious consequences, in fact, burns in childhood are a risk factor for skin cancer in adulthood. How to protect the skin and what to do against a burn? These are the indications of López Bran:

Avoid sun exposureduring between eleven in the morning and four in the afternoon.
Apply generous amounts of sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30.
Use the sun cream 30 minutes before exposing yourself to the sunand replenish it every two hours.
The oral photoprotectiveto complement the photoprotective increase resistance to burns.
Wear a hat and glasseswith protection against ultraviolet light.
There are mobile applicationsthat indicate the level of ultraviolet radiation in our summer area.
Always use sunscreen, even on cloudy days, because ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
If a burn occurs, soothing lotions with aloe can ease discomfort.
The steroid creamare the best treatment and its effect is fast.
If you burn regularly, it is necessary to go to the dermatologist because it can have consequences and develop skin cancer .

5. Insolation

The high temperatures are directly related are the insolation , characterized by headache, hot, dry skin, confusion, hyperventilation and even loss of consciousness. Here are ten measures to prevent it:

Wear light, light -colored clothing and cotton.
Avoid carrying out activities in direct sun exposure.
Drink fluidsthroughout the day.
Stay in cool places.
Use sunscreen every day, renewing it every two hours.
Take light meals, include fruits, salads and vegetables that promote hydration and dispense with spicy and heavy foods.
Do not stay in parked or closed cars orleave children in these conditions. You have to keep the windows open or turn on the air conditioning.
Keep the interior of the house as cool as possible. If air conditioning is not available, use the fan and keep the rooms dim with the blinds down during the day.
At the first symptoms of heat stroke, apply cold water or ice packs to your body, rehydrate and lie down in the coolest place in the house until you feel your body temperature drop.
In these cases, it is better not to self-medicateand call the doctor.

6. Poisonous Plant Eruptions

This dermatologist warns which are the most toxic plants , their effects on the skin and how to react to a skin rash:

Poison ivyis the main cause of skin problems.
Lavender, narcissus, or lily flowers are toxic, while chrysanthemum causes severe contact dermatitis .
Contact dermatitis refers to rashes caused by touching somethingwith the skin surface, he clarifies.
Approaching an ivy or a poisonous tree can ruin a day outdoors.
It is key to be very aware of the environment, especially if we go camping.
It is important to be aware of the appearance of poison ivy and poison oak.
It is also important to be careful in parks and gardens. Better not to walk through the tall grass and stay by the side of the road.
These rashes are treated with topical corticosteroidswith rapid relief.
Stain after inflammationis prevented by using photoprotection of the affected area.
Allergic patients may have a more severe reactionand it is advisable in these cases to go to the doctor.

7. Damaged and lifeless hair

During the summer the hair can tend to spoil and lose its shine due to the sun , chlorine in swimming pools and sea water. In this regard, López Bran points out:

Washing hair daily is not harmful.
The remains of lacquers, gels or foams during summer sun exposure can cause chemical reactions that irritate the scalp, therefore, it must be rinsed well after each wash.
Drying should be on low powerand distributing heat throughout the head. Better to let the hair dry naturally.
When the sun’s rays fall hardest, wear a cap, a scarf, a hat, or a turban.
It is best to cut the ends slightly before and after summerto keep the hair fiber in good condition.
Highly marking the parting on long manes during these months is not convenient because if the hair is fine, we run the risk of burns on the scalp.
A balanced dietprovides all the nutrients necessary for good growth and good hair cosmetics.
If there are nutrient deficiencies, vitamin complexes strengthen hair and nails.
After a bath in the pool or on the beach, always wash and hydrate to remove both chlorine and salt.
Use hair protectorsto protect it from the action of the sun.

8. Sunspots or melasma

The pigmentation changes increase in summer with sun exposure, for its prevention, the head of the Dermatology Service of the San Carlos Clinical Hospital proposes:

Watch the mustache, cheeks and forehead area because they are the most affected areasand, although the impact of the sun is minimal, the spots persist after the summer.
When this problem is associated with pregnancy and the use of hormonal treatments, the pigmentations gradually disappear after delivery or after the withdrawal of these medications.
Avoid irritating the areabecause new spots may appear or pre-existing ones may spread.
There are dermatological depigmenting treatmentsthat can clarify or even eliminate them.
Any therapy to eliminate them must be accompanied by instructions to avoid and reduce sun exposure, since they usually reappear with the action of the sun.
It is essential to use sun protection measures along with the use of caps or hats, sunglasses and shaded spaces.
Apply the sun cream 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every 2 hours to maintain the protective effect.
There are sun protection agents with lightening agentsfor use during the summer period, although in winter you can choose the most powerful formulas controlled by a dermatologist.
Do without irritating cosmeticsbecause some can be activated by the sun and cause inflammatory reactions.
Makeup serves to hide melasma that cannot be treated.

9. Solar allergy

This term different skin diseases are included as polymorphic light eruption, the solar urticaria , actinic prurigo and porphyria.

López Bran explains that when sunbathing some people experience the appearance of welts or pimples on the face, neckline and arms.
If this happens, it is necessary to consult the dermatologist to rule out the presence of more serious pathologies.
To prepare the skin against the sun, itcan be gradually exposed for a maximum of 20 or 30 minutes on the first day.
Avoid exposure between eleven in the morning and four in the afternoon.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Do not expose yourself to the sun when the allergy begins to manifest itself.
Cover the affected areas.
Use special sun creamsfor people with allergies to the sun.
Take oral sunscreensthat contain beta carotenes, antioxidants and vitamins .
In the face of an established outbreak, antihistamines and corticosteroids are the best treatment.

10. Plantar warts

Finally, this specialist alerts about measures to prevent these foot injuries during the vacation months:

These warts or papillomasare benign but painful and are located on the soles of the feet.
Keep in mind that they are very contagious.
To prevent contagion, you must avoid walking barefoot in crowded areas, such as locker rooms, gyms or swimming pools.
Wearing flip flops or neoprene socks.
Do not share footwearor other clothing with other people.
Avoid chafing or trauma.
Properly hydratethe feet.
Special care in people with low defenses.
It is important to know that some heal spontaneously.
Visit the dermatologistfor a correct diagnosis.