FitSugar

Having a Green Thumb Could Give You a Red Rash

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:30:55 -0700

Planting your own vegetable garden is fun and rewarding, not to mention a money-saver when it comes to all the veggies it produces. If you're new to gardening, then you may want to know a surprising fact. For some people, touching the leaves, stems, or veggies of certain plants can result in a red, dotty, itchy rash known as contact dermatitis. It can happen with zucchini, cucumber, pumpkins, or other plants that have prickly hairs on their vines. The rash can appear where the contact occurred on your skin, or it can show up on other areas of your body. To see what the rash looks like, just read more.

If this rash appears after gardening, the best thing to do is wash your skin with cold water and a mild soap.

Let your skin air-dry, and the rash should go away after an hour or so. If it doesn't, or it's really bothering you, apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and relieve the itching and burning. If the rash still doesn't go away, it's best to see your doctor. To prevent this bizarre rash next time, wear gloves when handling your plants.

Have you ever gotten a rash after gardening?

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Cure It at Home: Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

So you went hiking last weekend and you accidentally tromped through a patch of poison ivy. You've got a nasty, blistery rash all over your feet and you want it to go away pronto. I've only tried a few of these home remedies, so I can't vouch for all of them, but anything's worth one try when you're itching like crazy.

Jewelweed, a common weed found in damp areas, is often used to help treat the rash. Mash the weed and apply to your itchy skin.
For 20 minutes, take a bath in salt water, or swim in a chlorinated pool to dry out the rash.
Bathe in tomato juice.
To relieve the itch, cut a mango in half and smear the juice over the rashy area for 10 minutes.
Spray the rash with a deodorant containing aluminum.
Apply tea tree oil to the affected area to help dry it out and clear up the rash faster.

Fit's Tip: Of course, if you have a really aggressive case, I'd talk to your doctor about what over-the-counter or prescription meds he would recommend.

If you have any other home remedies for poison ivy, please share them in the comment section below.

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You Asked: I Think I Have Lyme Disease

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,
Last weekend after a night of camping, I was washing my hair and realized there was something stuck to my scalp. My husband took a look and found a small black tick embedded in my skin. He removed the whole thing, and aside from being completely freaked out, now I'm worried that I have Lyme disease. How do I know?
-Totally Ticked Off by a Tick

I'm sure many other readers can feel your pain in discovering a creepy crawly bug on your head, and I can understand your concern about Lyme disease, but don't panic yet. Just read more.

First, it's important to know what kind of tick you found on you. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium (called Borrelia burgdorferi in case you were wondering), which is transmitted by a bite from infected black-legged ticks. In the northeastern and north-central US, the blacklegged tick (or deer tick) transmits Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal US, the disease is spread by the western black-legged tick. When a tick feeds on an infected animal, the little bugger takes the bacterium into its body. It sounds gross, but the bacterium lives in the gut of the tick, and the next time it goes to feed, the tick can transmit the bacterium to its new host.

If you have Lyme disease, early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle soreness, fatigue, and a characteristic reddish skin rash called erythema migrans will appear three to 30 days after you've been bitten. The rash is often circular and resembles a bull's eye pattern. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system, causing pain and loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face (called facial or "Bell's" palsy).

If you are having early symptoms, or you just want to be sure, a lab test will determine if you have Lyme disease, and a few weeks of antibiotics will successfully treat the infection.

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What's the Deal With: Lyme Disease

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:00:00 -0700

As a kid, I remember I got a tick on the back of my neck. My mother called the doctor frantically because she thought I'd get Lyme disease. We found out from this experience, that if you notice you have a tick or that you've been bitten, it doesn't automatically mean you have Lyme disease.

OK, so what is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium (called Borrelia burgdorferi in case you were wondering), which is transmitted by a bite from infected black-legged ticks. In the northeastern and north-central U.S., the blacklegged tick (or deer tick) transmits Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal U.S., the disease is spread by the western blacklegged tick.

How do ticks get Lyme disease? When they feed on an infected animal, the tick takes the bacterium into its body. It sounds gross, but the bacterium lives in the gut of the tick, and the next time it goes to feed, the tick could transmit the bacterium to its new host. Due to their small size ticks can go unnoticed, so it is important to watch for initial symptoms of Lyme disease such as:

fever
headache
fatigue
characteristic skin rash called Erythema Migrans

If left untreated the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, causing painful symptoms and loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face (called Facial or "Bell's" Palsy). A lab test will determine if you have Lyme disease, and a few weeks of antibiotics will successfully treat the infection.

Want to see a picture of what the rash looks like? Then read more

If you notice a rash like this, see your doctor immediately. Here are some tips for preventing Lyme disease:

Cover your body when going out in the woods - wear long sleeves and tuck socks over the bottom of your pants.
Use insect repellent.
If you've been out in the woods, have someone check your skin for ticks. Especially behind the ears and knees, the back of the neck as well as in the armpits and groin area.

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Know Your Enemy: Poison Ivy!

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:30:00 -0700

'Tis the season for Hiking and trail running. There's a lot of beauty in these woods, but you got to be careful and avoid the poison ivy that lurks at the edges of the forest. Yes, it pays to know your enemy.

First off, it is the uroshiol oil on the plant that is the culprit and creates the horrible itchy, blistery skin reactions associated with poison ivy. While some people don't have a reaction to the oil, others may be hospitalized because their reaction is so severe. You should also know that even if you've been exposed to poison ivy and had no reaction, you are not necessarily immune to it. People can develop reactions at any time of their lives, so it is best to avoid poison ivy at all costs.

You will experience symptoms wherever the oil makes contact with your skin. First you will get a red, itchy spot on your skin, that develops into blisters. Once you wash your skin with soap and cold water, the rash won't spread. If you pop the blisters, the rash won't spread either, but the wounds could become infected so it is best not to pop them.

Many plants can look like poison ivy, so pay close attention whenever you're walking in moist areas. The rule "Leaves of 3, Let it be," doesn't always work. It can grow in groups of 3 leaves, with a larger middle leaf, but it can also grow up to 9 leaves in a group.

Want to know what to look out for, then read more

Poison ivy needs light to grow, so often you'll find it lurking on the edge of woods, roads, parking lots, and fields. In the deep woods, poison ivy can't get enough light, so watch out for moist places that get enough sunlight.
Poison ivy generally grows in a cluster of low weed-like plants, but it can also be a vine that climbs up trees.
The edges of the leaves have tiny "teeth."
The leaves aren't always green - they are reddish in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow or orange in the fall.
The berries are typically white.

Fit's Tips: To avoid getting poison ivy, wear long pants and shoes that cover your entire foot if you are going to be trekking in the woods. If you know you've been exposed to poison ivy, rinse the area immediately with COLD water - hot water will open your pores and let the oil in, which could make your reaction worse.

Here are some more pictures of poison ivy:

poison ivy in the spring

poison ivy in the summer

poison ivy in the fall

climbing poison ivy

Fit's Tips: Poison ivy grows everywhere in the U.S. except in the far west, deserts, and high altitudes.

a poison ivy bush

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Avoid Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:30:00 -0700

When you're out in the sun, which is bound to happen with all this gorgeous warm weather we're having, you've got to be careful not to get sun poisoning, or Photodermatitis, as it is scientifically called. Sun poisoning is a condition that develops when your skin over reacts to UV rays from the sun.

What causes it? Sometimes certain medications like antibiotics, certain skin products such as soap, sunscreens containing PABA, or certain fragrances may cause photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to UV rays). You should also be aware that just plain ol' overexposure to the sun is one of the main causes, so avoid staying out in the sun all day.

Symptoms of sun poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, headache, swelling, a burning sensation, a red itchy rash, small blisters, or peeling of the skin. When you're out in the sun for a long time, keep an eye out for these symptoms.

To avoid a skin reaction, stay out of the sun during the brightest sun hours, from noon to 3pm. Remember that just because it's cloudy, doesn't mean you are protected - so always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when you are outdoors. Apply it to cool, dry skin 20-30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every 2 hours.

If you can stand being hot, you could also wear lightweight long sleeves, pants, and a hat to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Definitely avoid any chemicals that may trigger your reaction.

Fit's Tips: If you think you may have sun poisoning, definitely consult your doctor. If you know you have it, a cool shower or bath can help relieve symptoms. When you get out, lube yourself up with some aloe (I like to keep mine in the fridge for more of a cooling effect). Taking an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin may also reduce swelling, and help with nausea or headache.

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Get Your Butt in Gear: UV Rash Guard by O'Neill

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than snorkeling for hours on the first day of your vacation and spending the rest of your precious days in paradise dealing with a very sunburned back. What you need to pack for your sunny, swimmy vacation is a rash guard.

You may be saying to yourself "Fit, I am not worried about a rash. It is a sunburn I am trying to avoid." To this I will say, lightweight rash guards are made from fabrics with high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) factors, to keep your skin extra protected for long hours in the water. They are like a sunscreen swimsuit for your upper body.

Originally developed for surfers to prevent rashes from the sand and surf wax combo, rash guards are designed to move and swim in making them a much better option than swimming in an old tee shirt. Obviously they provide much better sun protection and this one, designed by O'Neill has a UPF rating of 50 plus. It even has a utility pocket with a drain hole - they think of everything.

Buy one directly from O'Neill for $49.95. Rash guards come in both short and long sleeve styles so your forearms can stay protected too.

How to Deal with Sweat Rash

FitSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Maybe you've experienced a sweat rash before and just took it as a fact of life and dealt with it, but there are ways around it.

A sweat rash under your arms, behind the knees, in between the legs, under or between the breasts or even in the groin area is an extremely annoying side effect of sweating. This irritating condition is caused by yeast and bacteria that occurs naturally on your skin. Sweat rash typically happens where chafing occurs or when sweat gets trapped between two layers of touching skin (or between skin and clothes). Believe me when I say it is not fun when you get it, but don't freak out, sweat rash is a totally normal occurrence.

You can minimize your risk of sweat rash by always showering immediately after exercising, not wearing brand new workout clothes for a long run and by using a method of chafing prevention like BodyGlide. Try and wear clothes that draw (wick) the sweat away from the body. If you do end up getting a rash, treat it with an anti-fungal lotion or cream (get one combined with hydrocortisone to reduce redness and itching). Also, tea tree oil is a natural anti-fungal agent that you may want to consider, but a lot of people shy away from using it because of its strong smell.

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Cell Phones Linked to Skin Rash?

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

As if worrying about cell phones causing brain cancer weren't enough, here's another thing to stress about: mobile phone dermatitis. It's basically an allergic reaction to the nickel in your cell phone. A flaky, itchy red rash can appear on your cheek or ear, but it may also show up on your fingertips if you're big into texting on metal buttons or surfing the web. Dermatologists think this condition is on the rise since people rely so heavily on cell phones now.

When 22 phones were tested from eight different manufacturers, nickel was found in 10 of them. So while not every phone is made with nickel, many are. Woman who wear metal jewelry that contains nickel, such as watches, are most likely to develop this kind of reaction, so if you're feeling a little itchy after using your cell phone, you may have a nickel allergy. If you've developed a rash, you're advised to stop using your phone and seek medical attention. Other ways to work around this issue are to place a case on your phone and/or use an ear bud. You'll be happy to know that many manufacturers are phasing out the use of nickel in their phones, so hopefully we won't have to deal with this problem for much longer.

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Common Skin Problem: Pityriasis Rosea

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

Skin rashes are no fun. They're itchy, irritating, and can be embarrassing. They can appear out of the blue, and you haven't the slightest clue what caused it. One such rash is known as pityriasis rosea. It occurs mostly in the Spring and Fall, so many people may be noticing it on their bodies now. This rash usually lasts for only couple of weeks, but for the unlucky few, it can last as long as three months. You'll usually see one large patch known as the herald or mother patch on the chest or back. Then within a week, smaller pink patches begin to appear on the arms, belly, legs, and neck. The patches are oval shaped, and have a distinct border.

This rash is believed to be caused by some kind of virus, but isn't contagious (phew). If you go to the doctor or dermatologist, she can diagnosis pityriasis rosea just by looking at your rash, but she may take a skin biopsy just to be sure.

An unorthodox remedy can help clear up this skin rash. To find out what it is read more.

Gentle bathing, taking antihistamines, and applying a topical hydrocortisone cream can help deal with the itchiness, but they won't make the rash go away. I would never support UV sun exposure, but apparently moderate time in the sun or indoor tanning can make the lesions disappear more quickly. Though DrSugar warns that while sun exposure can be helpful, watch out for sunburns: they can make the situation worse and most cases will resolve spontaneously without treatment.

The good news is that once you get pityriasis rosea, recurrence is unusual.

Have any of you ever had this rash before?

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