Category Archives: Sun protection

Healthy Tips This Summer

Warmer weather. Longer nights. Sprinklers running. Summer delight!

Yes, summer is in full action and you know what that means? Fun, fun, and more fun! But, let’s not forget how important staying healthy is, especially during this season. Now is a better time than ever to start improving your health. Most of us understand how important using sunscreen is. There are some other not so obvious things to be aware of as well. Here are a few helpful healthy tips to help you with them this summer:

Give yourself a berry boost: You’d be surprised how much energy you can obtain just by eating a bowl of mixed berries. Imagine how much of a difference it would make to your health if you were to do it every day. Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, helps keep your cholesterol down. It is said that it can even possibly prevent some cancers. Another plus to eating berries is that it has a lot of antioxidants in them, which helps to reduce age-related illnesses and prevent damage to tissues.
Floss daily: We know, who wants to floss? And every day, at that? However, flossing reduces oral bacteria, which ultimately improves your overall body health and provides more resources to fight off bacteria everywhere else. Cool, right? You’ll definitely be ahead of 85% of other people in the world. And don’t forget to brush your gums, tongue, cheeks and the roof of your mouth as well. Keep it all clean!
Take care of your eyes: We all get excited when we see an ounce of sunlight creeping through the blinds. We can’t help that we love warmer weather! But, as much as we enjoy the summer’s heat, we have to be mindful of our eyes. Wearing sunglasses help to block out at least 99% of UV rays and can prevent getting wrinkles around the eyes as well as cataracts.
Get some rest: Sleeping is so vital. Sometimes, we get so carried away and forget how crucial it is. Getting a good night’s rest each night and sticking with a consistent sleep routine helps improve your sleep hygiene. Resist the urge to stay up longer than what you’re used to, just because it isn’t dark outside yet.

These are a few simple ways to help your immune system and improve your health this summer. Give them a try! If you’re in the Livonia, Westland, Garden City or Dearborn area and are looking for a new doctor to check out your health this summer, please do not hesitate to contact us. We use the latest equipment and methods to perform diagnostic testing at our medical clinics.

Treatment for Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

You’re at the beach, enjoying the salty breeze, crisp air, and beaming sun. With all of the excitement, sunscreen becomes a thought long forgotten, whisked away by the glory of summer. Hours pass and you notice that your skin is highly irritated, blotchy, and red. Your arms, legs, and face are stinging. The misuse of sunscreen launches its way back into the forefront of your mind and you begin to regret that long stretch of time spent in the blazing sun.

Researchers and scientists often term severe sunburn as sun poisoning. This is usually a burn from ultraviolet (UV) radiation that inflames your skin. When the skin is exposed to too much UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources like sunlamps, sunburn can occur. Sunburn can be easily prevented however; with the use of sunscreen or simply by avoiding long periods of time in the sun and/or artificial sources. Of course for many it’s already too late for that. So, it is important that you get treatment for sun poisoning or severe sun burn and possibly skin testing for even more serious conditions including skin cancer.

Sunburn Facts:

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 42% of people get a sunburn at least once a year.
All it takes is approximately 15 minutes to become sunburned. But the signs of sunburned skin might not show immediately–it could take hours until the redness and discomfort introduces themselves.
If you stay in the sun for long periods of time without sun protection, have light skin, and fair hair, you’re more likely to sunburn.

Treating Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

To easily remedy severe sunburn:

Say “NO” to further sun exposure.
Cool your skin off!: Take a cool bath or shower or apply cool wraps or compresses.The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommend keeping cool compresses on affected areas for 10-1
- 5 minutes a few times every day.
Kick up the fluid intake for a week or so. Water is preferred!
Pain relievers will do just that! Ibuprofen are recommended.
- Hydrocortisone cream (0.5-1%) reduces pain and swelling while speeding up the recovery process.
Use moisturizer on sunburned skin. Aloe gel is really effective for healing, protecting, and rejuvenating skin.
- Try to avoid petroleum based products. Petroleum traps heat in the skin!
If you must go outside, make sure your skin is covered and protected!

Symptoms of Sun Poisoning or Severe Sunburn

Seek medical attention if:

Your sunburn forms painful blisters, peeling, or covers a vast area of your body
- Resist breaking your blisters: Open blisters slow the skin’s healing process and increase the risk of infection. If a blister accidentally breaks, be sure to clean the area gently with water and soap, applying antibacterial cream to protect the area with a wet dressing and/or gauze.
Your face is swelling
You’re experiencing a fever and chills
Your stomach is upset or bothered
You’re experiencing headaches, confusion, or faintness
Signs of dehydration are evident

Skin Testing

If your sunburn leaves behind skin abnormalities like; blisters, rashes, hives and itching, it would probably be a good idea to have your skin tested. Skin testing is done to evaluate skin irregularities that are caused by overexposure to sunlight. There are several physical and equipment methods used in testing the skin. One of our physicians in Livonia or Westland will perform tests after first physically examining the affected areas.

Risks and Complications

A positive reaction to skin testing may result in pain, blisters, itching, redness at the tested sites, skin pigment change, infection or scarring. However, it should be noted, that side effects are rare.
- If you have a positive skin reaction, your doctor will try to diagnose the cause of your disorder based on your history, symptoms, and results of other tests.
If the test results are negative, the doctor may suggest more tests to determine the origin of the problem.

Getting the right medical treatment and skin testing is important if your skin has been highly exposed to the sun. At the Millennium Medical Health Clinics in Westland and Livonia Michigan, we care about your health and sun safety. If you have any questions regarding sun exposure, treating sunburns, or doing skin testings, please feel free to contact us.

Warning: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Strokes

Ever been exposed to high temperatures to the point where you feel dehydrated? Horrible feeling, isn’t it? Heat exhaustion is no fun. You aren’t able to partake in events, activities, and other things because of the overpowering heat from the sun. Typically, for this illness, there is two types of heat exhaustion: salt depletion and water depletion. Salt depletion can include anything from dizziness and nausea to vomiting and muscle cramps. On the other hand, water depletion includes headaches, weaknesses, loss of consciousness, and excessive thirst.

Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

The most common symptoms for heat exhaustion are:

Pale skin
Headache
Dizziness/fainting
Confusion
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Fatigue
Vomiting
Nausea

If you or anyone else are experiencing these symptoms, find the nearest cool/shady area possible. Taking a cool shower or bath, drinking lots of water, turning on fans or air conditioning, and removing unnecessary clothing are ways to help treat heat exhaustion. Even though heat exhaustion isn’t as bad as a heat stroke, it still isn’t something to be taken so lightly so if these symptoms progress, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. To make a follow-up checkup appointment please call our Westland Clinic at 734.728.2130.

Heat Stroke

Heat strokes are considered very serious. If you or someone you know are having a heat stroke, calling 911 is recommended. Not only can heat strokes be dangerous, but they can also cause a lot of damage to other organs and to the brain. Normally, people over the age of 50 are prone to getting heat strokes, but it can also take a toll on young adults. A heat stroke is a combination of dehydration and being exposed to high temperatures.

Heat Stroke Symptoms:

Nausea
Seizures
Coma
Loss of consciousness
Fainting
Heat cramps
Dizziness
Dry, red, and hot skin
Fast heartbeat
Headache
Body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit

It’s always a nice feeling to be outside in the sun, but being severely exposed to the sun is not good nor healthy. By preventing harsh sun exposure and getting the proper sun protection, you can avoid illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat strokes. At Millennium Medical Group West our Westland Medical Center with professional staff and physicians can help with heat-related illness like heat exhaustion. Stay tuned for our next article on diagnostics and treatment of heat related illness.

Summer Sun Safety

The summertime is quickly approaching. Most kids like to spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, so it’s always best to make sure that they are getting the proper sun burn protection for their skin. Taking the right precautions from over exposure to the sun can reduce you or a child’s chance from developing skin damage. It’s normal for us to enjoy outdoor activities, but it’s also important that we stay safe.

When trying to avoid the sun, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

Seek shade. Being under shade will not only keep you cool throughout the day, but help to prevent any form of excessive sun exposure.
Avoid UV/tanning beds.
Try to avoid being in the sun rays between 10am-4pm. The sun’s rays are the strongest during this period time. This will keep the sun from burning and harming your skin.
Cover up with clothes, UV sunglasses, and sunscreen. Wearing tightly woven clothes, especially if it is outdoor gear. This is helpful because it protects you from the harsh UV rays. The darker your clothes are, the better. By simply applying one ounce of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater, 30 minutes prior to going outside, will save you in the long run. Using this type of sunscreen on babies who are six months or younger is not recommended; keep newborn babies out of the sun.
Be sure to examine your body every month and see your physician every year to have a skin exam done.

Have you ever experienced a tan or sunburn based on the effects of the sun? The sun can either increase our health or damage it. It’s okay to be exposed to some sun exposure because it is the top source of Vitamin D. This can be beneficial because it helps our bodies absorb calcium for stronger bones. However, receiving too much sunlight on your skin can cause skin cancer, skin damage, and eye damage.

Summer Sun Safety

A Millennium Medical Group Clinics, we care about your health. We’ve been treating our patients in our medical clinics for over 40 years. We make sure that our patients are cared for quickly and completely. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about sun protection or see a physician for a skin examination, please feel free to call or contact us today. Read the second part in this three part series addressing Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke Warnings. We hope that you use our Summer Sun Safety tips throughout this summer and stay well!

Say No to Sunburn!

As the weather begins to warm up many of us cannot wait to get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine. Many of us have experienced sunburn from being outside in the sun for too long and not properly protecting our skin. Being in the sun can cause damage to your skin if preventive measure are not taken, which can eventually lead to skin cancer or wrinkles.

There are many ways to go about preventing sunburn and protecting your skin from the damaging UV exposure. The first step in protecting yourself from sunburn is to wear proper clothing. Proper clothing includes a had with a wide brim that will shade your ears, scalp, neck, and eyes. Sunglasses with UV protection will also help protect your eyes from sun damage, or cataracts. Wearing loose clothing that covers your arms and legs will help reduce your skins exposure to the suns UV rays.

For those with children, it is very important to protect them from sunburn, as most of their exposure to the sun occurs under 18 years of age. Keeping children out of the sun from 10- 4pm if possible is recommended, as the sun is at its prime. Once again as with adults, proper clothing and sunglasses should be worn to prevent sunburn in young children.

For both children and adults, it is a given that we will not completely stay out of the sun. While in the sun you will also want to protect your skin with a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. It is extremely important in children to use sunscreen because their skin is still very sensitive. When you are near water or at higher elevations it is recommended that you use a sunscreen with a higher level of SPF.

Too much exposure to the sun without proper protection can cause more than just a bad sunburn. It can lead to damaging skin cells, or even the formation of cancerous skin cells. If you notice that after getting in from the sun that you have blistering, feel dizzy or nauseous, or have a fever or chills, chances are that you are experiencing sun poisoning. To help reduce the symptoms of sun poisoning caused from sunburn or too much sun exposure, use a cooling aloe Vera gel, drink a lot of water to rehydrate your body. If you begin to feel faint, experience swelling in your face, or notice blisters forming in large areas contact a medical professional immediately.

Category Archives: Sun protection