With more hours of sunlight and warmer weather you may spend more time outdoors.While that may mean greater fitness from the physical activity, you will be at risk of several outdoor injuries. Be proactive and prevent warm weather ailments with these tips.
Remember it’s Spring forward to Daylight Saving Time
Most of the United States changes to Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday of March every year
So you will either be going to bed an hour later than usual, or awakening an hour earlier.
sleep
Either way, your body will tell the difference until your sleep cycle adjusts; I know mine always does. WebMD offers these tips to make the change easier.
If getting a good night’s sleep is a persistent problem for you, check out the information I shared in this post.
With more hours of sunlight and warmer weather you may spend more time outdoors.While that may mean greater fitness from the physical activity, you will be at risk of several outdoor injuries. Be proactive and prevent warm weather ailments with these tips.
insect bites and stings
Protect yourself against mosquitoes and other insects.
Protect your skin with sunscreen while you’re outside.
(These are affiliate links placed here for your convenience. This blog can earn a commission from sales from these links. This does not imply endorsement of these products.)
blisters and other wounds
Protecting your feet.
Whether walking, jogging, gardening, or sports, our feet can take a beating from outdoor activity.
You probably don’t worry much about blisters- until you get one. Then the pain can inhibit walking, or even wearing a shoe.
At worst, blisters can become chronic wounds, get infected, and threaten limbs in susceptible persons like those with diabetes or poor blood flow.
Ways to prevent blisters include-
Proper fitting shoes, not too tight or too loose
Breaking shoes in before activity likely to cause a blister, like running, dancing, long walks, sports
Wearing absorbent cushioned socks, perhaps 2 pair together
Seasonal allergies, like other allergies, develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problem in most people.
exploring the HEART of health this spring
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Dr. Aletha
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Skin health is a significant concern for many, reflected in the multi-billion dollar skincare industry. Common skin issues can arise from lifestyle habits, notably smoking and excessive sun exposure. Smoking accelerates aging and skin diseases, while UV light causes damage and skin cancers. Preventative measures are essential for maintaining skin health.
updated June 26, 2025, previously titled
How smoking and sun affect skin’s look and feel
Skin health and beauty- big business
Browse social media or news sites online and you notice skin health and appearance is a priority for most people. Sales for skin care and appearance products and services is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen posts from friends who are involved in direct selling companies for skin care, maybe you are also.
As a family physician, I treated skin problems frequently. Some of these are primary skin problems, but some are the result of lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and even medical treatments. While some of these may be unavoidable, others are preventable.
This post will look at two avoidable risks to skin health and appearance-smoking and ultraviolet light.
Skin Deep- cells and layers
First let’s take a deeper look at our skin, it’s more complex than you may realize. It has two layers-
the top layer, the epidermis
the lower layer, the dermis
The layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis), as well as an inset with a close-up view of the types of cells in the skin (squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes). Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Don Bliss (Illustrator) This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source and, where possible, the creator listed above.
Skin disease and trauma involve damage to one or both layers of the skin- the dermis or epidermis, or to the individual cells- squamous cells, basal cells, or the melanocytes-the cells with pigment that give our skin color.
Cancers can develop in any cell of the skin. Melanoma is cancer of the melanocytes.
(This photo is for illustration only and should not be used to diagnose a skin lesion. See a physician if you have a skin lesion that concerns you. )
a melanoma skin lesion-Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Unknown Photographer- This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source
Photoaging is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), primarily from the sun but also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Besides aging, excess sun exposure can cause
Burns
Rash due to increased sun sensitivity when taking certain medications
Cancers- skin cancers are the most common type of cancer.
When selecting a sunscreen, make sure the label says:
Broad spectrum: The words “broad spectrum” means that the sunscreen can protect your skin from both types of harmful UV rays — the UVA rays and the UVB rays.
SPF 30 or higher: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you select a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher.
Water resistant: Dermatologists also recommend that you look for the words “water resistant.” This tells you that the sunscreen will stay on wet or sweaty skin for a while before you need to reapply. Water resistance lasts either 40 or 80 minutes. Not all sunscreens offer water resistance.
Exploring the HEART of Health
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watercress words by Dr Aletha 