Summer remedies: Soothe outdoor nuisances

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SALT LAKE CITY -- Don't let painful sunburns or green swimmer's hair ruin your summer fun.

After the long wet spring we are all ready for summer to be here. But before we get too far into the season, let's consider some of the little annoyances and how to treat them.

Swimmer's Hair

There are a number of things that do work to tame green swimmer's hair, caused by too much chlorine on light-colored hair. One method is to apply baking soda, then treat with a deep conditioner. Or, try tomato juice, ketchup or tomato sauce. Leave in 15 minutes, rinse and condition.

I have also known people to try and keep swimmer's hair at bay before hitting the pool by wetting the hair, covering it with plenty of conditioner and placing it under a swim cap. Then, just rinse it out after swimming.

Even my light brown hair would get a greenish tint to it after swimming, and it seems like my mom would make me rinse with vinegar every week.

Whatever method you choose, your hair will still be dried out and possibly damaged. You may need to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment.

Insect Bites

Most insect and spider bites cause swelling, redness, itching and even some pain. These reactions are common and last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. There are some helpful home treatments for most, but it is important to note that some people have more severe reactions to these bites and stings -- and for some it may even mean something as severe as anaphylactic shock -- so care must be taken.

While a mosquito may look like a fairly harmless little creature and the bite just a bit annoying, it is important to remember that these little blood-sucking pests also transmit harmful diseases. Here in Utah we are concerned with West Nile Virus, so care should be taken in the first place when going outside, especially after the long wet spring we have had.

Once you do have a bite, here are some relief possibilities:

Make a paste with baking soda and water, the simplest anti-itching compound to get right on the bite.
A cool compress will also help keep the itch at bay.
Over-the-counter calamine lotion and other similar creams, such as a Corticosteroid cream, provides quick itch relief.
Antihistamines like Zyrtec and Benadryl may also be helpful for longer-term relief.

Swimmer's Ear

Water, when not properly drained out of our ears, can bring a bacteria or fungus with it that can cause infection.

A mixture of equal parts vinegar and isopropyl alcohol placed in the ear a few drops at a time can prevent swimmer's ear. Allow to set in the ear for about five minutes, then allow to drain out. This is a very effective way to help not only prevent but even clear up a mild case of swimmer's ear. You can try and avoid the problem altogether by keeping the ear dry after swimming or bathing by using a cotton swab to gently help release the water.

On an ear that is mildly infection, take a ibuprofen and apply a little heat on the ear to help relieve some of the discomfort. If the pain persists more than a day or two, see a doctor.

Sunburn

When treating sunburn you can use some home remedies, but some commercial ones may be just the ticket, too.

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Anything with aloe vera in it -- especially straight from the plant -- will be a big help in reducing the heat. Also, taking some acetaminophen or ibuprofen will relieve the discomfort, swelling and pain. A personal favorite of mine, learned from having grown up in Arizona, is to dab or mist vinegar straight onto the sunburned skin.

HowStuffWorks.com provided the following recommendations:

A cool bath made with about a half cup (125 mL) of oatmeal, cornstarch or baking soda will bring down your skin temperature and help relieve itchy, irritated skin. Repeat as needed, but don't use soap, which will cause more irritation. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it. Adding about a cup of vinegar (250 mL) to a cool bath also helps reduce pain.

This same source also gave this word of caution when it comes to the blistering process in second degree burns:

Blisters shouldn't deliberately be broken because the serum inside the blister helps the healing process. Breaking a blister can make it more painful, slow healing and bring an increased risk of infection.

Heat Rash

Heat rash is a pretty common summer annoyance that is caused when the body overheats and sweat is trapped next to the skin. It is also nicknamed "prickly heat" because it makes the skin feel prickly and even causes small red dots to appear on the skin. The nice thing about heat rash is, it's pretty easy to treat with items from the kitchen.

Here are some basic steps to follow:

First, get out of the heat if possible and to somewhere cooler, even into the shade.
Second, expose the skin to air from breezes, fans, etc.
Third, take a cool shower or bath using a non-deodorant soap. A soothing cool bath mixture is 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup oatmeal flour (made by pulsing oatmeal in the blender) stirred into your cool -- not hot -- bath water.
Calamine lotion and over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or sprays can also help the rash.

Sprinkling cornstarch on your skin in hot humid weather can help you avoid heat rash. CLICK HERE for a more extensive look at heat rash information. Poison Ivy/Oak If you suspect you have been in poison ivy or poison oak, immediately get to where you can carefully remove clothing and get it in the wash, then wash any areas of your skin that may have come in contact with it. The oils of these plants will seep into your skin within just a little while, and that is when the itching and burning starts and a rash begins. Once a rash does appear there is not much you can do to make it go away, except to give it time. There are some things you can do to minimize the itch and the pain. Here are a few:
- Keep the rash clean.
- Try not to scratch the rash, as digging and itching can break the skin and cause infection.
- Make a cool compress with cool water in a plastic bag, or other commercial-type cold packs.
- Apply rubbing alcohol to help relieve the itching and to dry up a "weeping" rash.
- Apply over-the-counter medicinal creams like calamine lotion. There is also a product called Ivy Block that can help protect you from the sap of poison ivy, oak or sumac in the first place. It can be found in outdoor and hunting stores or the outdoor section of superstores.
- Bathe in Aveeno Bath, colloidal oatmeal that will help with the itching.
- Make a paste with baking soda and water and apply to the rash, which helps both dry it and can soothe itching. Teresa Hunsaker is the Utah State University Consumer Educator at the Weber County USU Extension.