HEALTHY TIPS

Welcome to Healthy Tips! Every other month we will post useful health care tips for women here on our website. These will cover topics of interest to women of all ages. We hope you find the information helpful.

Well Woman Care

Summer Savvy: Be Smart About Protecting Your Skin

Ah, those long summer days! Who doesn’t love being outside, enjoying the sun? But the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer, and that’s a risk you need to take seriously. The following tips allow you to still enjoy being outside, but help you prevent this dangerous disease.

Be Prepared

• The fairer your skin is, the more likely you will burn. If your sunburns go directly to the blister stage, and don’t turn to tan, you are at even greater risk of skin cancer. To be safe, wear a sunscreen of 45 or even 60 SPF.
• If a family member has had skin cancer, you are at greater risk, as the disease can run in families. In fact, if a parent or sibling has had melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, you have a 50 percent greater risk of developing it, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. For people with this high level of risk, wearing the highest SPF, and taking all the other safeguards noted, is important.   Sunscreen: More Is More!
• Apply sunscreen early and often to provide the best protection for your skin. Put it on 20 to 30 minutes before you go outside.
• Once outdoors, reapply every two hours, or after swimming, whichever comes first.
• Use a broad-spectrum water-resistant UVA- and UVB-protecting sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on all exposed skin.
• You might also choose a physical blocker with products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which form an invisible barrier against UV rays. This is the “lifeguard protection” of old, but today’s products don’t show up as white--they go on like any other sunscreen.
• No matter what you choose, lather it on thick--using as much as fits in the palm of a cupped hand. It will seem like a lot, but that’s what you need to get the best protection.
• Don’t forget easy-to-miss areas like backs of knees, tops of thighs, the neck, ears, and feet.
• Sunscreens lose their potency after one year, so stock up each summer.
• The sun is hottest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so avoid exposure during those hours, or be extra careful about protection.  

Watch Those Windows

• Window glass and clouds are no protection against UV rays--in fact, about 80 percent of UV rays penetrate cloud cover. So, you need sunscreen even on cloudy days, and when driving in the car, or if your desk at work is by the window.  

Other Ways to Protect:

• Use a moisturizer that contains SPF--this is fine for daily use--you’ll need a stronger one for days outdoors.
• Consider using makeup with SPF protection.
• Remember your lips! Wear a lipstick or balm with SPF protection and reapply.
• Wear a hat!
• Protect your eyes--wear sunglasses, and be sure to get ones with 90-100% UVA and UVB protection.
• Consider long sleeves if you’re in the sun for a prolonged period, are especially fair, or have a family risk of skin cancer.  

And Remember...

• Keep track of freckles and moles, and if you notice any changes in size, color, or texture, see your doctor. In fact, an annual skin check by your doctor or dermatologist is recommended.
• People of any skin color can get skin cancer.
• There’s no such thing as a healthy tan--whether from the sun or a tanning booth, a tan signals skin damage.
• It’s okay for kids to play outside, just remember to apply the sunscreen.

For more information about Partners for Women’s Health, call (603) 778-0557.

Obstetrical Tips

Keeping Your Cool with a Summer Pregnancy              

Summer heat can take a toll on all of us, but if you are pregnant, it is especially important to “beat the heat” for the well-being of your baby. Following are some tips to help you stay cool and healthy this summer.

• Drink lots of fluids, and be sure to limit coffee and tea as these tend to cause dehydration. Soft drinks and “juice” drinks provide few cooling benefits; water remains the ideal choice.  
• When you are outside, stay in the shade. Try to limit your outside time to the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning, late afternoon, and evening.  
• Be sure to change right after swimming. Lingering in a wet suit can cause vaginal infections.  
• Stay out of lakes in late summer, especially if the lake is low. This can help you avoid the risk of “duck itch.”  
• Exercise is good while pregnant, especially swimming and walking, but avoid exertion during the hottest hours of the day.  
• Running cool water over your wrists and applying a cool cloth to your neck and temples can help you cool down if you feel overheated.  
• Obtain an air conditioner for your bedroom; if you are home all the time, you might also want to look into a unit for the room where you spend the most time. Portable units that can easily be moved from room to room might also be a good choice.  
• Keep your house as cool as possible by drawing shades during the hottest part of the day, then opening them at night to let cool air flow through the house. Some folks close their windows during the day, sealing in the cool morning air, then open the windows come evening.
• During the cooler hours, make sure to open windows that allow the most air flow.  
• Stay off your feet as much as possible during the hottest weather to avoid swelling.            

For more information about Partners for Women’s Health, call (603) 778-0557.