The heat wave sweeping across the U.S. has disrupted the lives and affected the health of millions of people. Although heat-related illnesses can affect anyone, people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cardiac issues and skin disorders need to take extra precautions.
Know how extreme heat affects people with these conditions and the tips to stay safe:
Skin conditions
“Many skin diseases are heat-sensitive; higher temperatures can induce or exacerbate several cutaneous conditions, including skin infections, autoinflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, folliculitis and pemphigus, and even skin cancer incidence,” Eva Rawlings Parker, assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, told Medical Daily.
However, individual responses to higher temperatures vary among people with atopic dermatitis or eczema.
“For some, warmer temperatures and higher humidity are beneficial; however, for others, these conditions provoke flares. Regardless, during heat waves when temperatures are extremely high, itching is often more intense, and increased sweat production may result in an irritant effect, flaring dermatitis on the skin,” Parker said.
What to do to protect yourself:
Although large-scale climate action is required to bring permanent solutions to rising heat, Parker believes there are many things people can do to help themselves. Simple steps like limiting outdoor activity, use of fans and air conditioning, wearing lightweight loose clothes, staying well hydrated and avoiding consumption of alcohol and caffeine can make a long way.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends people with dry skin to limit their showers to once a day in lukewarm water. The use of fragrance-free cleansers and applying moisturizer to damp skin can help the skin stay hydrated.
Cardiac issues
During extreme heat, the body’s natural temperature-regulating mechanism goes haywire and…
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