Summer is the season for the outdoors, barbecues with friends, and skin that tans slowly… But while this season is pleasant, it also brings a host of small, sometimes annoying, ailments. Here’s a handy rescue guide for five common summer woes.
Summer Ailments #1: Treating sunburns
Sunburn is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic ailments of the summer season. While it certainly betrays a somewhat rash behavior in the face of the sun’s harsh rays, it can also quietly imprint itself on our skin, even when a cool breeze is refreshing us. To fight sunburn, several tips exist.
If the sensation of heat on your skin becomes unbearable, you can apply slices of fresh cucumber, a vegetable known for its coolness (cucumber slices can also be applied on the eyelids to relieve puffy eyes).
To rehydrate your skin, you can apply a mixture of yogurt, a tablespoon of olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice.
The gel contained in aloe vera leaves is also known for its regenerating and moisturizing properties. It will soothe the burning sensation on your skin, hydrate it, and facilitate its regeneration. Moreover, while the sun contributes to skin aging, aloe vera fights against this phenomenon—it’s a very good ally!
Aloe vera appears almost as a miracle product in cosmetics and natural care. It makes a solid base for cosmetics.
Potatoes are also known for helping with burns. You can grate one and mix it with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply the mixture as a poultice on burned areas.
Essential oils also come in handy to soothe burned skin: consider lavender essential oil and calendula oil.
Summer Ailments #2: Sunstroke
Quickly, quickly, quickly… Let’s enjoy the sun! It’s so beautiful outside that we’re tempted to spend as much time as possible in it. But sunstroke is always lurking, and when you feel dizziness, headaches, and fever, it’s already too late.
- The first step is to seek shelter in a cool room of the house or in a shady spot.
- If you don’t have the option to take a cool shower to bring down your body temperature, refresh your skin with a damp cloth and drink water to rehydrate your body.
- If you encounter someone losing consciousness due to sunstroke, contact a doctor.
The only remedies for sunstroke are to lower the body temperature and to rehydrate with water, or with a linden tea. You should also, of course, avoid exposing yourself to the sun during the hottest hours of the day.
Summer Ailments #3: Getting rid of swollen feet and hands
With the warm weather, many women suffer from swelling of the feet, legs and hands.
This phenomenon affects women far more than men and is often due to a circulation problem.
- If at the end of the day you feel your legs heavy and your feet tight inside your shoes, start with a cold shower, directing the water jet from your toes upward along your leg. The cold water should re-activate blood circulation in your veins.
- You can also engage in physical activity when the air is cooler, early in the morning or in the evening, which promotes circulation in your legs, such as cycling or swimming.
- You can also elevate your legs and cut back on salt in your diet to avoid excessive water retention.
Summer Ailments #4: Treating and preventing insect bites
With summer, our bodies seem to come alive again, and so do insects. It’s not unusual to hear a mosquito buzz over your pillow, see a bee or wasp approach sweet fruit, or spot a little spider climbing your picnic table.
Keeping insects away
Certain plants are very effective at keeping insects away from your living area. Thus, citronella, scented geranium, lemon balm, and lemon thyme would form a mosquito barrier if these plants are placed on the balcony of your bedroom or near your terrace.
For wasps, they don’t like the scent of tomato plants, so why not place potted tomato plants near your windows, or even start a small garden!
If you don’t have citronella or a citronellol source to deter mosquitoes, you can also drop a few drops of citronella essential oil on a piece of cloth and place it near your bed.
Bees and wasps also don’t care for walnut leaves.
Treating insect bites
To limit the itching caused by a mosquito bite, the most natural method, if you don’t have anything else at hand, is to apply a little of its saliva on the bite!
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- Alternatively, you can apply chopped fresh parsley or a compress soaked in white vinegar.
- Another tip is tea tree oil or marjoram applied to a compress and then to the bite.
These oils are especially recommended if you’ve already started scratching the bite, as they are antiseptic.
- For wasp stings, you can apply to the sting a compress of white vinegar or a halved onion after carefully removing the stinger.
- You can also bring a heat source close to the sting to neutralize the venom, such as the flame of a candle or a lighter.
If the affected limb swells, or if you suspect an abnormal reaction, seek medical attention promptly.
Summer Ailments #5: Treating tired feet
While in winter our feet stay tucked away in cozy, furry footwear, in summer they come out into the open.
As a result, many of us suffer from blisters and tired feet from walking barefoot or from the rubbing of skin against the shoe.
To treat blisters, knead a piece of propolis and apply it to the blister. Place a waterproof bandage to keep the preparation in place, which should help with healing.
You can also, after puncturing the blister with a sterilized needle, place a piece of the thin membrane of the onion directly on the skin and secure the device with a bandage.
To soothe tired feet, soak them in a basin of warm water, to which you have added a half cup of baking soda, or sage infusion.
To reduce foot sweating, regularly soak your feet in a basin of warm water enriched with a strong sage infusion. You can also powder your feet after showering, and choose leather shoes and cotton socks. Let your feet air out as soon as possible.
There you have it—five summer ailments and ways to ease them so you can fully enjoy this lovely season. And you, what tricks and tips do you have?
