Is your wound infected?

It is important to monitor your wound for infection as you take care of it on a daily basis. If your wound changes in appearance, this does not necessary mean it is infected. While working in a surgical practice, we have noticed some common concerns that our patients have about their wounds. While some of these complaints can be serious, others are easily preventable by avoiding some common mistakes. These include:
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Let’s be honest: a child’s main concern is fun. Most kids want to run around outside in the sun all day without a care in the world. So, it can be difficult to explain to them why they need to be careful when having all that fun. Here are some helpful tips for talking to your children about sun safety in a way they can understand.

How is the sun helpful to our bodies?

The sun gives your body vitamin D, which helps you absorb calcium to keep your bones strong. It does this by sending ultraviolet rays, or UV rays, to Earth. These UV rays are absorbed by your skin. But, if your skin is exposed to too many UV rays, you get a sunburn!

What is a sunburn?

Your skin has a chemical in it called melanin. This chemical helps your skin absorb the UV rays from the sun. When your skin is exposed to too many UV rays, the melanin cannot absorb them all and this causes a sunburn. People with lighter skin usually burn faster because they have less melanin, but even people with darker skin can get a sunburn.

Why is a sunburn bad?

Besides the fact that a sunburn hurts, there are many reasons to avoid getting a sunburn. Really bad sunburns can blister and if these blisters pop, you can get an infection. Sunburns can also cause wrinkles when you’re an adult and can potentially lead to skin cancer, which is very serious!

How do I keep from getting a sunburn?

There are a few important things you can do to help prevent a sunburn:

1. Always wear sunscreen! Use a sunscreen that says it is SPF 30 or higher, even if it is cloudy outside. The sun’s UV rays can come through the clouds, too! A sunscreen with zinc or titanium is best, and you should avoid sunscreens with chemical blockers. Make sure you put it on everywhere. Have an adult help you so you don’t miss any spots, especially your back. You should put it on 15 to 20 minutes before you go outside and, if you stay outside for a long time, put more on every 2 hours. If you are swimming, playing in the sprinkler or sweating a lot, reapply more often than every 2 hours to make sure you stay well protected!
2. Take breaks from being in the sun, especially between 10:00am and 2:00pm. This is when the UV rays are strongest. Go back inside or find a shady spot to play to give your skin a break from the sun.
3. Wear clothes that help block the sun if possible. Light-weight long sleeves and pants can help protect your arms and legs, while a hat and sunglasses can protect your face and eyes. 

What about my infant?

Sunscreen should not be used on infants under six months old, as their skin is less mature and can absorb more of the chemicals in the sunscreen. To keep your infant safe in the sun, follow these simple recommendations:

1. Dress your infant to protect as much of their skin as possible from the sun. Use light-weight, long sleeve shirts and pants and a wide-brimmed hat to protect the baby’s skin from the harmful UV rays.
2. Keep your infant in the shade. If there is no shade around, create your own using any umbrella or the awning on a stroller. This precaution is recommended for infants over the age of six months and are wearing sunscreen.
3. When your infant is over six months of age, sunscreen can be applied and is recommended. Follow the same application guidelines you do for older children and adults. It is highly recommended to choose an infant sunscreen that contains zinc or titanium as the blocking agent to prevent irritation to your infants eyes and skin.
4. Always keep your infant hydrated! A sunburn isn’t the only danger the sun offers to infants. Give your infant breast milk or formula when you are out in the sun to ensure they stay hydrated. Watch for signs of dehydration including fussiness, redness and excessive crying.

​Remind your kids the sun isn’t a bad thing, you just have to be careful! 

Check out our new Wound Care and Bandaging page! 

As a dermatologist, I can tell you that almost everyone I have run across has had a skin issue. Some less serious such as a poison ivy rash that has resolved or an allergy to a cream that was transient. Some are more serious like melanoma, a very dangerous type of skin cancer that can travel across the body and in some cases cause death. Some disorders can have a range of severity such as psoriasis. It can be a few patches but it can also cover most of the skin surface. Psoriasis, like other skin disorders, can affect other parts of the patient, such as their heart. It can put the patient at increased risk of heart attack and stroke when compared to the general population. It can affect joints too and cause arthritis and joint destruction. There are over 300 diseases that dermatologists are trained to treat. They are experts at recognizing these skin disease patterns, diagnosing them accurately. Dermatologists usually tend to be very busy and are in high demand so I would recommend having an established dermatologist in the event you have:

1. A chronic or recurring skin disorder
2. History of skin cancer
3. Family history of melanoma

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Also if you are at a higher risk of skin cancer due to your profession or pastime (farming, golfing, sailing, etc) or your accumulated skin damage then it would be a great idea to establish regular skin checks with your dermatologist. That way you are proactive and catching the problem, if one appears, very early. You can catch a pre-cancer before it becomes cancer. When caught early, skin cancers are very treatable and require less aggressive treatments. So while you may not need a dermatologist now, chances are you may need one in the future.

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (That's Benjamin Franklin for all you history  buffs!)


Photo credit: Coline Haslé