Tag Archive for: Skin Irritation

How to Identify Poison Ivy and Treatments

By, Caroline Glick, PA-C

The neighborhood pools are opening, the birds are singing, and the smell of grilling on the barbeque is in the air: summer is finally here! Most of us already know to apply sunscreen and bug spray to protect our skin before venturing outside. But it is also important to know what to do when summer fun is disrupted by uncomfortable rashes after contact with poison ivy.

How to identify poison ivy

Poison ivy is most common east of the Rocky Mountains, poison oak can be found west of the Rockies, and poison sumac tends to be located in the Southeast. Poison ivy and poison oak can be identified by three leaflets with flowering branches arising from one stem. Other plants that can cause a similar rash include the cashew nut tree and the mango tree.  This website has great photo examples to help you identify poison ivy.

Eastern Poison Ivy as Ground Cover – poison-vy.org

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac contain an oil called urushiol, which causes an itchy, sometimes blistering rash when it comes into contact with the skin. After the skin is exposed to urushiol, symptoms can occur within 12 to 48 hours.

Click here to see what the rashes look like.

Treating exposure to poison ivy, oak, and sumac

If a person has been exposed to a plant with urushiol, a mild soap can wash off a significant amount of urushiol. Clothing, and even our pets that might have urushiol on them, should also be washed. Pets usually do not have a reaction to poison ivy, but urushiol can be on their fur and then rub off on a person’s hands when petting them.

Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, and cool, wet compresses can help with the discomfort and the itch of the rash. Mild rashes can be treated at home. Dermatologists and health care providers can also prescribe topical and oral medications to help. The rash will usually resolve within one to three weeks without treatment, or faster with treatment.

 

 

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology. Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac: How to treat the rash. Retrieved 24 May 2023, from https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/poison-ivy/treat-rash

Prock, L., & McGovern, T. (2022, February). Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron) dermatitis. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/poison-ivy-toxicodendron-dermatitis?search=poison%20ivy&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~57&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

Skincare Tips for Diabetes Patients

5 Skin Tips for People with Diabetes

According to the 2017 National Diabetes Statistics Report there are 30.3 million people with diabetes (9.4% of the US population) including 23.1 million people who are diagnosed and 7.2 million people (23.8%) undiagnosed.

Patients with diabetes are more susceptible to skin infections, especially on the feet and on the skin of the ear. More than 75% of patients with diabetes will have skin lesions. The most common is xerosis or dryness. Dry skin affects 50% of those with type 1 diabetes. Keratosis pilaris, or rough spots on the sides of arms affect about 10% of patients. Itching of the skin, especially on the torso, is very common.

Also occurring are smooth yellow plaques on the front of the shins called Necrobiosis lipoidica. These lesions are usually painless and are 3 times as likely to occur in women than in men. They can be treated with topical creams as well as oral medications that improve circulation, such as low-dose aspirin, pentoxifylline, dipyridamole and nicotimamide.

70% of diabetic men over 60 will develop diabetic dermopathy or shin spots. Over time these become dark depressions in the skin.

Skincare Tips for Diabetes Patients

So how does one prevent or treat these irritations caused by diabetes? Besides keeping your diabetes under control, here are some tips you can follow for skin care.

  1. Moisturize daily with an unscented emollient such as Cerave, Cetaphil or Uradin 10 lotion. Apply when skin is still damp- within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath or shower.
  2. Use a moisturizing, fragrance-free cleanser such as Dove soap. Oatmeal baths can also help reduce itching.
  3. Thoroughly dry skin folds such as underneath the breasts or between toes. Trapped moisture is a breeding ground for yeast and fungal infections.
  4. Check your feet daily for sores or cuts and treat with a topical antibiotic and bandage. Seek medical attention for any sores that have not healed or are red, swollen, hot or draining pus.
  5. Don’t cut cuticles around your nails as this can lead to infection.

Note that not all-natural health and beauty products are 100% natural. Many include fragrance and other ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Be sure to read the labels.

If you are concerned about your skin or whether you have diabetes, consult a physician.

Contact us with questions and to book your appointment.