Surviving the Stings of Summer

When asked about getting severely sunburned during his honeymoon in Hawaii, Chris Pratt told The Ellen DeGeneres Show audience, “It happened so fast. I forgot how translucent my skin is.”

To be fair, his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, told him to use sunscreen. But in what he described as only “nine minutes,” he learned a valuable lesson about summer skin woes.

While you might not be jetting off to Hawaii this July, you’ll probably spend much more time outside during the summer. And even when we take precautions, we can run into skin problems.

So, when you find yourself in pain from a sunburn, or itching due to bug bites and plants like poison ivy, what can you do to ease the sting?

Dealing with Poisonous Plants

If you feel itchy just thinking about poison ivy, you’re not alone. Around 85% of people are allergic, and according to the American Skin Association, the most common allergic reactions are to poison ivy, oak and sumac. That rash is caused by an oil in the plant’s sap called urushiol, so the most important thing to do is rinse your skin with warm, soapy water and wash your clothing as soon as possible. If you’re still itchy, fight the urge to scratch, which can lead to infection. Instead, take lukewarm baking soda or oatmeal baths, use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream and take antihistamines to reduce itching.

Relieving Sunburns

Did you know some people are more prone to sunburn than others? And even if you use sunscreen or are out on an overcast day, you can still burn. Whether it’s barely pink or blistering, it not only raises your risks for skin cancer, but it also hurts! So, if you or your family are “feeling the burn,” get out of the sun and cover up as quickly as possible. Remember, while cool compresses are nice, don’t directly ice your skin, and drink plenty of water to rehydrate. In addition, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and apply either aloe vera gel or a moisturizing lotion to your skin while it's still damp from the shower. Just don’t pull off or exfoliate peeling skin! Let it shed on its own.

Treating Bug Bites

There’s a lot of debate about why summertime bugs are more attracted to some people than others. Some theories include blood type, body odor, clothing color or whether you drink beer (no one’s sure why when it comes to this one). However, what we all can agree on is that these bites itch! That’s because mosquitoes' saliva contains proteins and anticoagulants to thin our blood, leading to skin inflammation and irritation. Though tempting, resist the urge to scratch. Instead, use over-the-counter antihistamines, anti-itch creams or benzocaine for relief.

We hope your summer is burn, rash and drama-free, but just in case it isn’t, we hope these tips will make your skin woes sting a little less.

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