Ah, yes — the season of sun and fun is here, and we have so much planned: hiking, beach trips, and plenty of afternoons spent at the Schuylkill River Park. Though warmer weather can bring tons of fun, it can also bring extra issues for your skin thanks to summer pests and sweaty conditions. The season may be all about carefree vybes, but you can still be proactive about your health and wellness while you’re out having fun!
Whether it’s an itchy rash or a nasty bee sting, vybe urgent care is here to help. Still, it’s best to take precaution and talk prevention — our expert advice can help you dodge some of summer’s most common outdoor nuisances.
Bug bites are one of the most common summer injuries. But mosquitoes aren’t the only things you’ll need to steer clear of — ticks are highly prevalent in the warmer summer months, and tick bites can be more serious in certain conditions.
So, first thing’s first: what should you do if you find a tick on you? As soon as you notice the tick, pull that sucker out with tweezers (yes, they do embed into your skin when they bite). Wipe the site clean with alcohol and check for a rash around the point of entry.
Be aware of how your body feels after coming in contact with a tick— if you begin experiencing flu-like symptoms or red dots on your ankles or wrists, feel free to stop by a vybe center to get checked out. These are common early symptoms of Lyme disease, along with swollen lymph nodes. In addition, Keep a close eye out for a bullseye-shaped rash appearing at the bite location, which is another telltale sign of Lyme disease.
Some easy tick prevention tips are to avoid areas where these little buggers thrive: tall grassy patches and wooded areas. It’s also important to wear insect repellent with DEET, and to check your clothing, kids, and pets for ticks when you get home from being out in the woods!
OUCH! Bee stings are a common experience during the summer. Sometimes, a bee sting is just a nuisance, but the situation can get serious if you’re allergic! Normal, mild reactions to a bee sting are a stinging sensation at the sight and some light redness and swelling. Lucky for you non-allergic folks, these symptoms tend to subside in a few days. If the sight feels sore, try icing it to alleviate pain and swelling.
If you’re extremely allergic or have a serious reaction to a bee sting, you’ll know it! These more severe symptoms could be anything from swelling of the throat and tongue, to a loss of consciousness. If you are having a severe allergic reaction, you’ll need immediate medical attention, or an EpiPen if you’ve been prescribed one to use.
If your mild reactions last for more than a couple of days, it may be best to have a clinician at vybe take a look.
When you’re in the woods or a tall grassy area, like Wissahickon Valley Park or the Grays Ferry Crescent Trail Park, there’s a chance you’re going to come across poison ivy. If you see a plant with large, waxy leaves in clusters of three on your stroll, avoid touching it at all costs.
If you do come in contact with poison ivy, it’s common to see redness and swelling (if you’re unlucky enough to be highly allergic). Of course, the worst part of it all is that you’ll be itchy, itchy, itchy! Make sure to wash the skin that came in contact with the leaves to stop the spreading, and it doesn’t hurt to wash the clothes you were wearing, too. Better safe than sorry!
Most mild rashes like these can be treated with topical ointment — but how do you know when it’s time to come into vybe? Here’s our advice: if it blisters and oozes or gets into your eyes or mouth, that’s a good reason to pay vybe a visit.
It’s no secret that summer in the city can cause a lot of us to sweat. Although sweating can be good for our bodies, it can also cause discomfort. Oh, and heat rash! It can happen to the best of us—even if you’re just sunbathing at Spruce Street Harbor Park or taking a jog through Rittenhouse Square Park.
Heat rash is caused by sweat that gets trapped under your skin due to overheating and improper ventilation. Most often, this happens in extremely hot and humid conditions. The rash appears as red and blistery bumps on patches of your skin. It’s common and can happen easily to people with sensitive skin.
Let’s talk about ditching this discomfort at all costs (your skin will thank you): the best thing you can do for your skin is to let it breathe! Help minimize heat rash in the summer by wearing loose fitting clothing and avoiding extremely hot conditions without proper air circulation for long periods of time.
If you do find your skin red and rash-y, it will most likely go away on its own — just remember to let the skin breathe and try to keep it cool. However, if the rash starts to become worse or get infected, you should have our team take a look at it.
Summer is all fun and games until you’re covered in hives, stings, or a nasty rash from spending time outside. If you find a rash, bite, or burn on your body be sure to keep an eye on it, and always pay us a visit if you think something’s wrong. Don’t let summer ailments stop you from enjoying what Philly has to offer this season—get out there and have fun. If you have any concerns along the way, you can find us at any of our locations seven days a week!
