by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Continuing our skin-care series this week (see “Related Posts” at the end of this entry for more), I’ll now cover burns.

There a few general things to remember in treating burns caused by external heat.

1. They are not immediately life-threatening unless they pose a risk to your airway from damage or swelling of your face or neck, or involve 10 percent or more of your skin surface.
2. You can estimate skin surface by the rule of nines.  Each arm accounts for 9 percent total body surface, as does your face, including neck.  Each leg is 18 percent.  The front part of your trunk is 18 percent, as is the back part.  The last 1 percent goes for the genital area.  Another estimate is your palm is close to 1 percent.
3. The first thing to do is to try to limit the damage.  Remove any hot or restrictive items and run cold water over the affected area.  Don’t use ice because it may constrict needed blood flow to the area.  Never use grease, butter or ointments that may hold the heat in.
4. The first assessment on how to treat depends on surface area and depth of skin damage (degree). (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Many people I see with skin trauma tell me they didn’t know whether the wound is serious enough to warrant coming in.

Here are some tips on when to see a doctor for a cut—and what you can do at home. Remember, this if for information only. Everyone is unique and specific recommendations need to come from your personal doctor. (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The following is for information only.  Everyone has unique qualities or diseases that might affect treatment and healing.  Contact your personal health-care provider for specific advice.  These are generalized tips that may help until then.  I would love to hear additional ones from you.

First-aid supplies to have on hand for skin ailments:

• Adhesive bandages of various sizes.
• Tape. Any will do—even duct tape.  Of course, if you’ve had past skin reactions to tape, have plenty of hypoallergic or paper tape available.  Ideally, have several widths—or get a wide one and just tear it lengthwise to fit your need.
• Gauze. Get a pack of non-sterile and some sterile nonstick.
• Butterfly bandages or Steri-Strips.
• Antibiotic ointment for cuts, scratches or breaks in the skin.
• Hydrocortisone ointment, large tube, to treat skin inflammation, itching or irritation.  Not useful for cuts.  Use sparingly and not over one week on the face or two weeks elsewhere because it may start thinning your skin.

Other good items to have, but not essential:

• Peroxide for cleaning wounds
• Cotton-tip applicators for cleaning wounds or applying topicals (never for cleaning ears).
• Aloe vera plant. The gel inside the leaf soothes about any superficial burn or rash.  Just break off a leaf near the bottom of the plant; take a knife and split it open; make multiple superficial horizontal and vertical cuts to get the gel out, and apply directly.
• Domeboro tablets or powder.
• Super glue (to make the tape stick better, not for gluing the wound shut).

HOW TO TREAT POISON IVY, OAK, SUMAC

Almost any plant can can cause skin irritation.  Some cause allergic reactions, with poison ivy, oak and sumac being most common.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

From my last post, you know the skin has many functions vital for a healthy body.  It’s pretty low-maintenance, aesthetics aside.  However, there are some basics you need to follow to keep this organ in tip-top shape.

For the inner layers, you need plenty of water to keep them hydrated and lots of fruits and vegetables for healthy growth.   A healthy diet helps new cells grow properly, and oil and sweat glands function properly.  There is no supplement to take the place of this.

In addition, proper external skin-care is a must.  Why? (more…)

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Quick, what is your body’s largest organ? If you haven’t guessed by the title, it’s the skin.

Of course, the skin is aesthetic,  but it’s so much more. Maybe beauty is more than skin deep, but many functions on which you rely aren’t. The skin is multilayered, multifunctional and dynamic. Old cells continually slough off, as new cells replace them. As a doctor, I’m amazed by its restorative powers. Scrape it and it grows back. If you get a bad cut, pull the edges close, and voila, it grows together.

Here are a few of its functions you may not know about.

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Hi, everybody. It’s Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor of James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor. I’ve hijacked the blog for a sec.

We need your help. We’re discussing an upcoming article on moles. It covers what to do if you can’t get in to see a dermatologist. But there’s been a suggestion that that’s not even a concern. Is it?

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Melanoma (mole cancer) kills–way too often. It doesn’t have to.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America. Melanoma is a deadly form of it if not detected early. But your doctor can catch it!

Remember “ABCD” for possible signs of melanoma.

(more…)