European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Heading off summer skin woes by Jane e. Brody new York times while Many people work hard to counter the drying effects of Winter on their skin warm weather actually harbours far More threats. When its hot More of our skin is Likely to be exposed to the elements and to bothersome plants animals and microorganisms. But the hazards go Well beyond the All too familiar sunburn Poison Ivy and insect bites and stings. The lure of outdoor activities combined with Summers heat and humidity leave millions vulnerable to a Host of dermatological problems ranging from prickly heat to cold sores and blisters. Though not life threatening these annoying conditions can mar ones appearance and make otherwise pleasurable activities painful. But most such problems can be avoided if you understand what they Are and Why they happen and take modest Steps to head them off. Prickly heat otherwise known As heat rash is a Cluster of tiny perspiration filled blisters that can form when the pores Are blocked and the sweat glands cannot perform properly or when heat and humidity exceed the glands Cooling capacity. Babies Are especially vulnerable to prickly heat in part because their ability to sweat is not yet fully developed. To compound the problem babies often lie on or Wear Waterproof materials that intensify the effects of heat. Adults May get prickly heat when lotions that Block the pores a including ironically Waterproof sunscreens a Are applied to the skin. Confined areas of tender skin that cannot Quot breathe Quot easily or places where skin touches skin like the Groin Waist under the breasts and on the Back buttocks and Abdomen seem especially prone to heat rash. There is no magic solution to this problem except to Wear Cool Light coloured clothing avoiding synthetic fabrics that do not breathe and to stay out of the heat As much As possible. Try to limit applications of Greasy lotions to the tougher skin on arms and legs and use lightweight clothing and a hat to protect the rest of your body from the Sun. Once a heat rash develops a Light sprinkling of Talcum powder cornstarch or Zea sorb will usually bring some Relief. Try Cool Baths with a cup of Aveleno colloidal Oatmeal sold in american pharmacies or Oatmeal or 2 cups of laundry starch. Babies with prickly heat should be bathed in Plain water. Use of an air conditioner or fan in the bedroom can also help. Blisters Are More than annoying or unsightly. They really Hurt and can take All the fun out of a hike Tennis match ballgame or Canoe trip. Blisters Are lesions filled with blood serum that result from repeated friction rubbing of skin on skin skin on clothing or most often skin on equipment causes a shearing Force deep in the skin that mechanically separates it from overlying layers and allows serum to seep into the Gap. Blisters typically occur where deeper layers of the skin do not move fully with the surface skin when friction is applied. Or. Gabe Mirkin a dermatologist and sports Medicine specialist from Silver Spring md., says this is most Likely to happen where the outermost layer of skin is thick and the deeper layers adhere tightly to underlying structures. Where outer skin is delicate you would be More Likely to develop an open wound than a Blister thus while blisters can affect any constantly rubbed area they most often occur on the hands a the Palms and fingers a and the feet a the soles heels and tops and sides of the toes. Skin that is Damp and warm is most susceptible to blisters. Very dry or really wet skin is less Likely to Blister. This is the first clue to prevention keep vulnerable areas As dry As possible. Wear socks made of Cotton or a synthetic fabric that Wicks away moisture change your socks and shoes if they get wet and Sprinkle Talcum powder inside your socks before you put them on. _ a amps l. Emmett Lewis or ill fitting shoes can cause a shearing Force deep in the skin that mechanically separates it from overlying layers. In other words As this dutch Soldier at one of the Nijm Egen marches could probably Tell you you get a Blister. Reduce friction by buying athletic shoes that fit properly and that feel comfortable the first time Voi. A them on Mirkin urges. Y plot break in new shoes gradually by wearing them for relatively Short periods of time until they conform to h idiosyncrasies of your feet and gait. Do not Wear new boots on an All Day hike or new running shoes in a race. Follow the preventive practice used by Many professional athletes of taping tender areas that Are subject to repeated friction until you can build in a slight callus. A callus made of thickened skin can protect sensitive skin against blisters although calluses that Are too thick can become troublesome. Once a Blister forms breaking the skin for example with a sterile Needle will allow the fluid to flow out so that drying and Healing can begin. However leave the layer of dead skin in place for Protection for three to five Days your skin can be rubbed raw by repeated friction with an opposing skin surface like the inner thighs or irritation from rough clothing like the seam in a shirt areas most often affected Are the armpits buttocks Groin and under the breasts. The obese athletes who Wear uniforms they Are usually made of heavy duty fabrics and people who exercise in hot humid weather Are especially vulnerable. Or. William Dvorine author of a dermatologists guide to Home skin treatment Scribner a 1983, $12.95recommends absorbent and Antifungal powders and the sparing use of an Over the counter Hydrocortisone Cream to promote Healing. You May also have to curtail the offending activity for a few Days to let the damaged skin heal. Dvorine a dermatologist at Bon Secours Hospital in Baltimore cautions against the use of Greasy ointments and products containing local aesthetics like Benzocaine which can intensify allergic reactions. Sunshine is a common trigger of cold sores infections on the Mouth that Are also known As fever blisters. Cold sores Are caused by a herpes virus that can remain dormant in body tissues. From time to time some external or internal insult can activate the virus and a cold sore results. If you Are susceptible to these sores you would be Wise to protect your Mouth and face from direct exposure to Bright Sun. Use a lip Balm that contains a Strong sunscreen one with an spa rating of 15 is Good especially if it contains titanium dioxide As an Active ingredient or smear your lips with Zinc oxide which totally blocks out sunlight. Wear a wide brimmed hat in the Sun and try to avoid Sun exposure in the Middle of the Day. Once a cold sore develops it will have to run its course a about two to three weeks to heal completely periodic applications of ice or a cold compress May relieve pain and swelling but the products sold As treatments do not do much More than dry the lesion and do not Speed  exercise you done to have to Hurt to Benefit by Ira Dreyfuss associated press no pain no gain some people think that to get fit you have to fight the agony and keep going until you conquer or collapse. And some experts on the psychology of exercise say that notion May be Why so Many people done to stick with exercise. A people will not continue a unless they have a very abnormal psychology a they will not push themselves into a painful stimulus Quot said cardiologist James m. Rippe. Instead of pain people should think about the benefits they want from exercise said psychologist Jerry r. May. Rippe who directs the exercise physiology and nutrition Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts medical school in Worcester has been studying Why some people can make exercise a habit while others can to. May a professor at the University of Nevada at Reno works with members of the . Alpine ski team. If you get through the first week Rippe said you be passed the period when half the dropouts occur. If you work out regularly for six months you re Likely to have created a habit and to go on to create other healthy habits like giving up smoking even if you give up exercise after that he said you re More Likely to go Back to it. Rippe said surveys indicate virtually every adult knows exercise is healthy but the . Public health service estimates that Only 20 percent of adults exercise regularly. Quot the most important health benefits come to the people who Are least fit a they Are the least Likely to Start but they have the most to gain Quot Rippe said. Quot i think they Are not starting because they have an entirely wrong idea of  Don t think about Marathon runners think about people who walk their dogs at least at first Rippe said. Quot anyone can be Active even at a Low level Quot he said. Quot people underestimate things like  beyond that he said people done to know How to prepare mentally for the demands of being physical. To Start with he said be realistic. Reach Back into your childhood. If you weren to a Good swimmer Don t take up swimming. If you liked biking try that. May said this is a Good time to Experiment to try new sports and exercises searching for the ones that fit. Next consider your level of dedication. People who believe in self improvement Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes tuesday june 19,1990 and will make exercise a priority Are More Likely to be successful Rippe said. Quot really assess if you truly believe in your heart of hearts that this behaviour is Good for your health Quot he said. To help make it a priority May said write Down exactly what you want to accomplish and How. He suggested identifying specific goals such As More powerful arms or the ability to Cross country ski. Now said Rippe work out the logistics if you re going to swim is there a Pool nearby if not reconsider. Line up your equipment. While you re at it May said line up Good instructors. You la enjoy the activity More and lower your risk of getting Hurt. Also find someone to give you encouragement a one of the strongest predictors of sticking with a program Hippe said is support from a spouse or Friend. Above All he said make it fun. Don 1 push yourself so hard that you Hurt whenever you work out. A this is a race to by the Tortoise not the Hare Quot he said