It’s high time to go on that La Union trip you’ve always wanted to have this summer. However, you might be more inclined to spend your days indoors — as the heat index for Metro Manila reached 40 degrees Celsius in April, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). For May, the highest temperature was 39.2 degrees. The intense heat can cause a variety of issues for your skin. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Prickly Heat (Bungang Araw)
Getting prickly heat or “bungang araw” is one of the most annoying things to experience during summer. According to the Department of Health’s (DOH) fact sheet, this condition can be seen as tiny bumps on the skin. Some even form blisters filled with water. The DOH says that these itchy bumps are clogged sweat glands. They usually pop up on the arms, chest, and forehead.
Keeping yourself fresh and sweat-free is one way to prevent prickly heat. The department suggests taking a bath every day and limiting your time in the sun.
If you already have prickly heat, cleanse your skin gently with soap and water and apply some corn starch or baking powder to the affected areas. Rubbing some herbal oil on your skin may also help provide relief from rashes.
Sunburn
You’ve come home from a tiring but fun beach trip, and as you lean on your couch to relax, you suddenly feel a sharp pain on your skin. You check the mirror to see that you’re red all over. It’s sunburn, and you have to deal with those sharp pains for an agonizing couple of days. The DOH says that this irritating condition is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation overpowering your skin’s protective pigment, causing it to redden and swell.
This can be prevented easily by applying sunscreen that has an SPF level of not lower than 30 to your skin 15 minutes before going out. It’s best to reapply this every two hours or after you go for a swim.
If it’s too late, you can still find comfort by taking regular, cold showers. The DOH also recommends applying some moisturizing cream on your skin to help ease the irritation. If the pain is too intense, take some ibuprofen to relieve it.
Athlete’s Foot
For those of us who walk a lot, the summer can leave our shoes damp with sweat. It can foster the growth of a fungus that causes athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot causes your feet to itch, blister, and crack. While your sweat creates a breeding ground for it, The College of Podiatry’s (COP) article on the condition says that you may pick it up from places where you walk barefoot — like pools or public showers. The college recommends changing footwear regularly or using more breathable shoes to keep your feet cool and dry and prevent this infection.
Athlete’s foot isn’t easily treatable. The COP suggests washing your feet in cold water and applying moisturizer on them after they dry out. Using anti-fungal cream may also help keep the fungal population on your foot in control. Make sure to wash your hands after you touch your feet, so the infection doesn’t spread.
While summer is a great time to take a vacation and unwind, it’s important to keep yourself safe from conditions caused by intense heat. Take every preventive measure you can, such as applying sunscreen and taking more showers to cool yourself down. These small efforts can mean the difference between a fun-filled summer and an irritating one (literally).
Get Relief from Skin Problems Naturally
When it comes to treating your rashes and other skin conditions, you want to find relief through natural means. Here at Moringa-O2, we offer a herbal therapy oil that you can apply to your hair, scalp, and skin. It’s a unique blend of moringa, olive oil, and omega extracted from sunflower oil. It can help treat summer skin rashes and more. We also offer skin and hair care products infused with moringa and argan oil.
