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Tips To Keep Your Skin Healthy After a Hurricane

Posted on September 18, 2017

Now that Hurricane Irma has subsided, SWFL residents should be on the lookout for potentially serious skin conditions while trying to resume their day-to-day lives.

These tips should help keep your skin as healthy as possible when you find yourself in post hurricane conditions.

Parasites and Bacteria 
People should avoid wading in or drinking floodwater. Floodwater may contain heavy and sharp wreckage and contaminated sewage, soil, and other debris. Wading in floodwater exposes skin to parasitic or bacterial infections like E. coli, Salmonella, Norovirus, Rotavirus, and Cryptosporidium. While many of these infections are quickly treatable by your dermatologist, the young or old and those suffering from dehydration will have a harder time fighting them off. So stay hydrated and avoid standing water.

Wound Infections
Injuries are common while people work to clean up a storm’s damage. Developing a fungal or bacterial infection is very common due to standing in water or wet clothing for extended periods of time. Wound care involves cleansing the area with clean water and mild soap and applying plain Vaseline or Aquaphor with a bandage. The area must remain out of flood water. Whether the wound is big or small, it should be evaluated as soon as possible by a dermatologist.

Intertrigo
Intertrigo is a type of rash that involves the skin folds, such as armpits, inner thighs, groin, or other areas where there is prolonged skin to skin contact. In hot environments, like homes without air conditioning, moisture gets trapped within these folds and becomes moist, irritated and inflamed. Without ways to cool off after a hurricane, intertigo becomes a common problem. Try using moisture absorbent powders and see a dermatologist if the condition does not subside.

Eczema
Eczema tends to flare up with changes in heat and cold, so for those individuals who tend to get this itchy, irritating rash, high heat and humidity have the potential to make their lives much more miserable. Absorbent powders, loose cotton clothing, and over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone creams (if itching occurs) will help until you can be evaluated by your dermatologist.

Mosquitoes
Lastly, the standing water and floating trash make for the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. With an influx of hatching eggs as the waters recede, West Nile Virus (WNV) becomes a concern as it is commonly spread to people by mosquito bites. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “there are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not have symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.” People should stay indoors at night. You can further reduce your risk of West Nile Virus by using insect repellant and wearing protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.

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