Our Blog
Bug Bite Prevention Tips
by Colleen Reisz, MD August 7, 2023
How to prevent bug bites during the summer
Preventing bug bites during the summer is essential to avoid discomfort, itching, and the potential transmission of diseases carried by insects. Here are some effective strategies to keep those pesky bugs at bay:
- Use insect repellent: Apply an EPA-approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (for ages 3 and above) on exposed skin and clothing. Follow the product instructions carefully, especially when using on children.
- Cover up: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes when spending time outdoors. Tucking pants into socks can also help prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
- Avoid peak mosquito activity: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk, so try to stay indoors during these times. If you must be outside, take extra precautions, such as using repellent and wearing protective clothing.
- Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so regularly empty and clean items like birdbaths, flower pots, and gutters. This helps reduce mosquito populations around your home.
- Use mosquito nets: When camping or sleeping outdoors, use mosquito nets around your sleeping area to provide an additional physical barrier against insects.
- Keep doors and windows screened: Install screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes and other flying insects outside while allowing airflow indoors.
- Avoid strong scents: Floral or sweet-smelling perfumes, lotions, and scented body products can attract insects. Opt for unscented or mild-scented products instead.
- Stay in well-lit areas: Insects are often drawn to dark corners and poorly lit areas, so staying in well-lit locations can reduce your risk of bites.
- Use fans: Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so using fans on porches or outdoor sitting areas can create enough airflow to keep them away.
- Avoid wearing bright colors: Insects, especially bees and wasps, are attracted to bright and floral patterns, so consider wearing light-colored and neutral clothing.
- Check for ticks: After spending time in wooded or grassy areas, thoroughly check your body, clothes, and pets for ticks. Promptly remove any ticks you find.
- Avoid attracting bugs with food: Keep food and drinks covered when outdoors to prevent attracting flies and other insects.
Remember, while these preventive measures can significantly reduce your risk of bug bites, they might not provide 100% protection. If you are in an area where insect-borne diseases are prevalent, consult with a healthcare professional for additional advice and precautions.
You Don’t Know Jak?
by Joseph B. Schneider DO June 26, 2023
You may have heard about the new class of medication called the Jak-inhibitors, or simply Jak’s (pronounced Jack or Jax).
They are a fairly new class of medication that inhibits the Janus Kinase proteins. These proteins are involved in regulating the process in which cells grow, survive, develop and differentiate. When there is too much activation of these proteins inflammation can occur, causing a variety of skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, some forms of alopecia (hair loss), and vitiligo (loss of pigment in the skin). They can also be involved in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. The first generation of this medication class were all injected into the body. There were some serious potential side effects such as heart attack and stroke. With the newer formulations, they are available now in a pill, or topical creams that are applied directly to the skin, with much less side effect potential.
A few I am particularly excited about:
- Tofecitinib cream (Xeljanz) – approved for vitiligo, which currently has few good treatment options.
- Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) – appears to be a very good non-steroid option for eczema.
- Baricininib (Olumiant) – these pill have been approved for alopecia areata.
- Abrocitinib (Cibinqo) – orally taken pills that have been approved for atopic dermatitis.
- Deucravacitinib cream (Sotyktu) – this cream has been approved for psoriasis.
Tinnitus and Cognitive Therapy
by Leila Miller, PA-C, DMSc April 8, 2023
Tinnitus is the perception of sound – only heard by the patient – in the absence of an external source. They may hear ringing, ocean waves, roaring, crickets, a dial tone, sirens, hissing, buzzing, their heartbeat, and even music. It may be heard in one or both ears, or throughout the head, and is intermittent or constant. One out of six Americans complain of having tinnitus; of these, one out of three suffer from tinnitus distress.
Tinnitus distress is when tinnitus starts to elicit a constant negative emotional response, such as depression, anxiety, irritability or shame. This usually comes on abruptly and is traumatic.
There is a misconception that as there is no cure for tinnitus, there are no effective management options available to patients suffering from tinnitus distress. Many approaches exist. The most common include education, counseling, masking devices, sound therapy, dietary supplements, acupuncture, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most researched, clinically proven program for tinnitus today!
Allergic rhinitis vs. sinusitis: What's the difference?
by Eric Christensen, MD May 24, 2023
Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is a condition characterized by inflammation of the nasal passages caused by allergens such as dust mites, pollen, mold or pet dander. Sinusitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the sinuses, which are hollow spaces within the bones of the face connecting with the nasal passages. Both of these conditions share many common symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing. In fact, there is a strong relationship between these two conditions.
Allergic rhinitis can often lead to the development of sinusitis. When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in an allergen, such as pollen or dust mites, the nasal passages become inflamed, causing them to produce an excessive amount of mucus. The mucus collects in the sinuses, leading to blockages and trapping of bacteria. This, in turn, can lead to an infection in the sinuses, resulting in sinusitis.
Hair Loss and Covid
by Colleen Reisz, MD January 3, 2023
Most Covid-related hair loss falls under the category of telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is reversible and is characterized by an increase in shedding. Before the pandemic, telogen effluvium was most associated with the post-partum period. Pregnancy confers complex metabolic changes on the mother that alter fluid volume, insulin sensitivity, thyroid function and ectopic fat deposition. Shedding starts 3-4 months after delivery and corrects with time over 6 months to a year. Other recognized triggers for telogen effluvium include new medications, a prolonged medical illness, surgery and rapid weight loss associated with ketogenic diets, to name a few. Telogen causes the hair to shed from all over the scalp, distinguishing telogen from androgenetic alopecia, which targets the frontal scalp and crown. Telogen effluvium should be temporary, as the loss of the hair shaft initiates the renewal process. Hair grows approximately a centimeter a month, so the first signs of regrowth are often seen at the junction of the forehead and frontal hair line.
