SAINT LOUIS PARK, Minn. - For a lot of us, that summer sun sure feels good on our skin. Like any season though, this time of the year can also present some issues for the largest organ in our body.
Dr. Cynthia Olson, Dermatologist at Park Nicollet, says sweating in the summer can start causing irritation in the folds of your skin.
“I see it a few times a week these days,” Dr. Olson says.
She says folds of skin, mixed with heat and sweat can cause irritation, redness and even yeast growth. “If it goes on for a while you'll get a tiny crack in the center that can get fairly uncomfortable,” says Dr. Olson.
Dr. Olson says products like “Body Glide” can help prevent that.
Poison Ivy may also make its presence known this time of the year and perhaps in places you may not think.
“It isn't something you necessarily have to go to the deep woods to get, it certainly can be a weed that works as a vine along your garden wall in the Twin Cities, I certainly see that,” says Dr. Olson.
Dr. Olson says if you're exposed to it you should wash your skin with soap and water - maybe even a little rubbing alcohol. She says it takes about two days to develop a rash if you've been exposed to it before, but could take up to 10 to 14 days if it's your first time.
According to Dr. Olson, there is a common misconception surrounding poison ivy.
“The blister fluid itself is not contagious, so you're not spreading it to other people, you're not spreading it to other parts of the body. You have to be exposed to the sap or the resin from the plant in order to do that,” Dr. Olson says.
A heads up if you're using those two-in-one sunscreen and bug spray products on the market. Dr. Olson says to be mindful of not re-applying it over and over.
“The sunscreen needs to be re-applied but the repellent doesn't, so people can actually overdo the repellent in that situation,” she says.