SUNBURNT

Red, Warm, Painful skin...

A very common side effect of long hours of exposure to the sun, which is known as sunburn.

The symptoms of sunburn is usually temporary which includes redness of the skin which is painful to touch and sometimes warm to touch as well. By the time the skin starts to become painful and red, the damage has been done. The pain is worst between 6 and 48 hours after sun exposure. In severe sunburns, blistering of the skin may occur.

Sunburn is better prevented than treated. Sunscreen and sunblock products are available in the market. Experts advise the use of at least SPF 30 for sunblock and sunscreen products. However, if you do get a sunburn:


• Try taking a cool shower or bath or placing wet, cold wash rags on the burn.
• Avoid products that contain benzocaine, lidocaine, or petroleum (like Vaseline).
• If blisters are present, dry bandages may help prevent infection.
• If your skin is not blistering, moisturizing cream may be applied to relieve discomfort.
• Over the counter medications, like ibuprofen, may help to relieve pain from sunburn. DO NOT give aspirin to children.
• Cortisone creams may help reduce the inflammation.
• Loose cotton clothing should be worn.

The following are tips to prevent sunburn:

• Avoid sun exposure during hours of peak sun ray intensity.

• Apply generous amounts of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Pay special attention to your face, nose, ears, and shoulders. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection.

• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure to allow penetration. Re-apply after swimming and every 2 hours while you are outdoors.

• Wear sun hats. There is also SPF clothing and swimwear available.

• Wear sunglasses with UV protection.

• Use a lip balm with sunscreen.

Summer Facts: Prickly Heat

Miliaria also called "sweat rash" or "prickly heat" or "heat rash" is a skin disease marked by small and itchy rashes (Wikipedia). This skin problem is prevalent in the summer months especially in those with humid climate. Although it affects people of all ages, people who are overweight or sweat easily are more likely to get prickly heat. Babies and children are also more prone to prickly heat as their sweat glands are not fully developed. The condition usually is self-limited and resolves in hours to a few days without treatment.

Medical News Today defines prickly heat as a condition in which obstruction causes leakage of sweat into the deeper layers of the epidermis, provoking a local inflammatory reaction giving rise to the typical appearance of redness and large blister-like lesions.

There are four types of miliaria:

1. clear (miliaria crystalline)
2. white/yellow (miliaria pustulosa)
3. red (miliaria rubra)
4. deep (miliaria profunda)

Signs and Symptoms: 

Signs and symptoms of miliaria includes small red  rashes, which may itch or more often cause an intense 'pins-and-needles' prickling sensation. These may simultaneously occur at a number of area on a sufferer's body, the most common including the face, neck, under the breasts and under the scrotum. Other areas include skin folds, areas of the body taht may rub against clothing, such as the back, chest, abdomen, etc.

How can you prevent Prickly Heat?

Prickly heat can be prevented by avoiding activities that induce sweating, wearing light clothing, using air conditioning to cool the environment and in general, avoiding hot and humid weather. Frequent cool showers or cool baths with mild soap can help to prevent heat rash.

Treatment:


General measures should be recommended for all sufferers of prickly heat, including moving to an air-conditioned environment if possible, avoiding sweat-provoking activities and occlusive clothing, and taking frequent cool showers.

One can also use Prickly Heat Powders that are sold in most drug stores, pharmacy and department stores.

You can also apply frozen packs of peas or cool packs over affected areas. Don't leave pack over 20 minutes per hour.

Drinking Water is overall important in hydrating the body and keeping the body cool.

Halo-Halo

Halo-halo is one of the best summer treat for me. From a tagalog word "halo" or mix, this Filipino refreshment is a mixture of crushed ice, evaporated milk, fruits, gelatin, leche flan, beans and ice cream. For me, this is one of the most popular dessert and refreshment during summer and even the whole year round.

This is one way of serving this amazing Filipino Dessert

As I have said, this dessert or refreshment is just a mixture of the ingredients above let me share this recipe:

Ingredients:

- Sweetened red beans
- Sweetened garbanzos
- Sweetened saba banana
- Sweetened kamote
- Sweetened jackfruit
- Sweetened kaong
- Cooked sago
- Pinipig
- Macapuno
- Shaved/Crushed ice
- Ice cream
- Ube haleya
- Leche flan
- Milk
- White sugar

How To Make Halo-halo:
- Half-fill a tall glass with your choice of sweets. Fill with shaved/crushed ice. Top with ice cream, ube haleya or leche flan. Serve with milk and sugar.

Now, may you find this Filipino dessert refreshing for this Hot Summer season. :-))