The flu season is upon us and according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Health departments nationwide, this year’s flu season may prove to be one of the worst. According to the CDC every year 5-20% of the US population gets the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized and more than 36,000 people die from the flu. Emergency rooms nationwide are being flooded with people presenting with flu symptoms. Here are some signs and symptoms that require you get IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE.

Children:

• High or prolonged fever
• Fast, rapid breathing  or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Confusion, seizures, irritability
• Dehydration – not drinking enough fluids
• Worsening of underlying medical problems : e.g. diabetes, asthma, heart problems

Adults:

• High or prolonged fever
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in chest
• Near fainting or fainting
• Confusion, changes in consciousness
• Severe or continued vomiting

For most healthy people flu symptoms will resolve in 3-7 days. However, If the flu-like symptoms completely resolve but then come back and now you or your loved one has a fever and/or cough again go seek medical attention.

Wishing you good health,

Dr. V

5 Winter skin tips:

Winter is HERE! The lovely suntanned J-Lo glow you lusted after and achieved this summer is gone, and now you’re thinking all you have to look forward to is wind whipped reddened cheeks, cracked lips and a runny nose. No ladies, that is not your fate, if you follow these 5 winter skin tips:

1) Don’t over exfoliate or over soak in the tub: 

The outside air is dry and over-exfoliation will not only stretch the skin causing scratches or abrasions but also cause more DRYNESS. In the winter, try to exfoliate just once a week to maintain the skin’s moisture and healthy glow. Over-exfoliation not only dehydrates the skin but also can lead to dark spots called hyperpigmentation, and skin damage. Similarly taking long hot steamy showers or baths dries out the skin. So don’t spend too much time in a long HOT HOT shower or bath. Aim to take a warm shower or bath and keep it to less than 10 minutes. When you jump out pat dry don’t scrub or rub to maintain your skin’s natural oils and moisture.

2) Try a spray tan:

You say you look skinnier and feel better with a tan, well being a tanning bed goddess dramatically increases your risk for skin cancer. If you want a year-round glow try a spray tan or self-tanning lotion. Spray tan and self-tanner are applied to the outer layers of the skin. They DON’T penetrate the deep layers of the skin or get absorbed by the body. The main ingredient in spray tans is dihydroxyacetone called DHA. The FDA has approved DHA as a tanning ingredient since 1977. It is a colorless compound with a carbohydrate (sugar) component. Make sure if it’s your first time using a spray tan or self-tanner product you test it on a small patch of your skin first to make sure you don’t have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the product AND don’t inhale the fumes (when you do get sprayed)!

3) Moisturize .. moisturize .. moisturize ..

Day and Night. This will keep your skin hydrated. Look for a product that has humectants. And when your shower instead of a harsh deodorant cleansing bar or soap try a body wash that is moisturizing. Moisturizing the skin helps replenish the natural oils the body loses through the day. Elements such as weather and pollution, medications, and even regular showers and baths can dry out our skin, and moisturizing recharges it! Even though it’s cloudy, foggy, or snowing it’s important to moisturize your face with a product that has at least SPF 15 when you are outdoors to protect yourself from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.

4) Don’t lick your lips:

Licking your kissers dries them out and makes them crack. Normally the lips have a very thin protective layer of oil that coats and keeps them from drying. However, winter air is dry. Therefore, when you lick your lips to moisten them you actually lick off that protective oil layer; and the water in your saliva evaporates and dries out your kissers causing them to chap. Petroleum jelly products like Vasoline help prevent moisture loss but they don’t penetrate or repair chapped lips.  To truly help repair chapped lips look for lip balms with lanolin or a moisturizer.

5) Buy a humidifier:

As the temperature goes down and the heat goes up in the house the amount of moisture in the air dramatically decreases. This is the reason you may wake up in the night gasping for air, with a dry mouth and stuffy nose and kicking off the covers because it’s HOT! It is hot, and there’s no moisture in the air. The remedy – a humidifier. Put it in your bedroom and allow it to moisturize the air and your body while you sleep. Don’t turn it up too much otherwise the air will feel damp, aim for 30%-50% humidity.

Wishing you healthy glowing winter skin.

Dr. V