Landscape Architect Articles

Sunburn & Bug Bites06-10-16 | News

Sunburn & Bug Bites
Summer Skin Protection

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that more than 8,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.

A new Harris Poll survey commissioned by Deb Group, which provides dedicated skin care programs to companies and organizations, obtained these results from U.S. adults ages 18 and older who work outdoors at least half the time:

18% always wear sunscreen at work
58% say they always or sometimes see a need to wear sunscreen at work
71% say their employers don't provide sunscreen to them for use at work
59% always or sometimes bring their own sunscreen to work
info.debgroup.com/sun-home-us

As reported at Parade.com, Joseph Conlon, technical advisor of the American Mosquito Control Association, asserts that mosquito repellents that contain DEET are the "gold standard." Natural options suggested are repellents made with lemon eucalyptus oil or picardin (a derivative of pepper plants).
https://parade.com/magazine/

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the U.S. but there have been travel-associated cases and these could result in local spread of the virus, which can cause fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and worse, a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe brain defects in the fetuses of women infected while pregnant.
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/about/index.html

Most tick bites are relatively harmless but some transmit bacteria that can cause severe illnesses. The CDC recommends repellents containing 20 percent or more DEET to protect up to several hours. Products containing Permethrin kill ticks and can be applied to clothes and footwear (but not to skin).
https://www.cdc.gov/Features/StopTicks/

After removing a tick, the Mayo Clinic advises to contact your doctor if you develop a rash larger than a small red bump at the bite site, develop flu-like symptoms or the site is infected. Call 911 if you develop a severe headache, difficulty breathing, paralysis, or heart palpitations.
If using insect repellents with sunscreen, the CDC instructs to apply the sunscreen first.

As seen in LC/DBM magazine, June 2016.