It's time to shield!

Summertime is almost here! Although it's still in the season of spring I can feel the summer heat now. When we had our afternoon walk today around our neighborhood with my husband and my daughter and I feel the heat penetrating my skin; made me remember to put some sunscreen the next time I go out to shield me from the UV rays. My husband and daughter needed it most because they got lighter skin which is more prone to skin damage which for the worst scenario will lead to skin cancer if not prevented. So, a few minutes ago I checked my drawer looking for sunscreen. I found a few different kind of sunscreen we got. My husband usually store a Banana Boat SPF 30 but I can't find it anymore; I guess I will get him a new one before we will head to Italy we will be there until summer. My daughter got the Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 45 when she's soaking in the beach and Banana Boat Kids SPF 30 they are both tear-free. I got the Neutrogena Age Shield SPF 45 with Helioplex™ which has the most effective UVA-blocking technology available. This broad-spectrum sunblock defends skin against UVA and UVB rays. Waterproof and sweatproof, it contains Anti-Oxidant Vitamins A, C and E to combat environmental damage. And for my face Aveeno moisturizer with SPF 15 but I realized that I needed and wanted to have a higher SPF than just having SPF 15 so I got myself another sunscreen which is also Aveeno Continuous Protection SPF 30. I like Aveeno on my face because they are oil-free, hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. The sun gives off ultraviolet radiation that we divide into categories based on the wavelength. UVC - 100 to 290 nm, UVB - 290 to 320 nm, UVA - 320 to 400 nm which means UVB and UVA is the major contributing factor for skin damage that is why most sunscreen/sunblock says "UVA and UVB Protection". UVB is most intense between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm when the sunlight is brightest. It is also more intense in the summer months accounting for 70% of a person's yearly UVB dose. While UVB does not penetrate glass UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and works more efficiently. The intensity of UVA radiation is more constant than UVB without the variations during the day and throughout the year. UVA is also not filtered by glass. The most damaging effects are wrinkles, lowered immunity against infection, aging skin disorders, and cancer. However, we still do not fully understand the process but it could be a contributing factor. So when you go out again under the sun wear a hat, a sunglass or bring an umbrella and don't forget to shield your skin with sun protection agents.

I got a Pus Pocket

I went to our assigned medical clinic today here in the Netherlands and ask the lady incharge there that I needed a quick and urgent exam for my swelling bump on my back. She said "what's your appointment about?" I responded "I got a lump on my back that I needed to be checked because it's so sore and swelling". She ask for my ID and went to her computer and entered my data and then she said "arrive at 15:20 today" that's 4hours from then. Wow! I did'nt expect I got the appointment so soon because it takes at least few days from the day I ask for an appoinment, depending on the availability though. I was just surprise, it is my first time to have a same day appointment and I am happy.

This is the appearance of a pus pocket on my back

Way back 2004 I got a bump on my back...just a little bump that look like a zit. It grew bigger but not this big. Before we left for the Netherlands I have this checked with our family doctor at Fort Campbell she said "its nothing to worry about, nothing serious about it. But if you try to open it, it has a foul smell inside that skin" she really didn't explain what it is. And so I didn't bother anymore since it don't really bother me at all because it's not painful in any way. Just 2 weeks ago I felt a sudden soreness on my back, when I checked my bump it's getting bigger than it used to be and it's swelling. My shoulder blades hurt when I move and most of all it is very uncomfortable to sleep on my back right now.

I went to the clinic with my husband at the exact time the lady told me or my appointment will be cancelled. I can't afford to lose my appointment because I am getting paranoid on what's happening "back there" I got funny notions of having a cysts that will develop into a benign cancer or worst than that. A nurse assistant tend to me when I checked in, she took my vitals and everything is fine so far. She told me to wait for the doctor for a couple minutes. I waited and waited inside the exam room. I stayed there for 15mins waiting for the doctor. The door opened and there she comes. We greeted each other and after that she just took a quick look on my back, she immediately said "you got a pus pocket". What the hell is a pus pocket! She explained it to me that it is an abscess. Abscess is a pocket of pus. Pus means you have an infection. Pus is made of dead tissue, germs (bacteria), and white blood cells. The white blood cells rally around to kill the germs. Sometimes, abscesses will burst and drain, a way the body has of getting rid of the infection. She instructed me to apply warm, moist compresses. Wrapping a pustule or abscess with a warm, moist cloth for 15 minutes several times a day will gently draw pus to the surface and soften the skin so it can naturally rupture and drain without aggravating the infection or causing pain. She prescribed an antibiotic (cephalexen) for 10 days, 3 times a day. If it still don't drain and very sore she told me to come back and they will take the gunk out. I was relieved that it is not something serious, though it hurts.

Handwashing

Every day in our lives we wash our hands, it has been passed on from generations to generation. It is a very important routine that we do it because it is our hands that facilitates food into our mouth (with the aid of a spoon, fork or chopsticks), we want to stay away with Salmonella of course. Handwashing and other hygienic practices are taught at every level of school, advocated in the work place, and emphasized during medical training. But most of all it should start at home. I always my daughter that before and after we eat we should wash hands and I am happy that she would immediately come with me to the kitchen everytime I say "it's chow time". I also reminded her that she cannot touch anything yet until she's done eating except her food and cup, I get upset if she touches my couch with oil and juice on her hand. It is hard to clean the couch although it is a microfiber type. In addition to other strict hygiene practices when handling uncooked poultry and raw eggs, scrupulous handwashing is necessary, using hot and soapy water.

This is Bath and Body Works-Mango Mandarin I bought yesterday. It really smells good. This picture is taken at our guest bathroom downstairs. There are more available scents to choose from just visit their site http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2831202&cp=2831054 they are on sale right now, 3 for $10 I got mine for $4 :(

I usually use Dial handsoap, but yesterday when I went to AAFES, I saw Bath and Body Works product I went closer to its shelves and give myself a try. I did like one; Mango Mandarin scent. I really like it so much because the scent brings me home. I just love it. So I bought one, it is quite spendy compare to Dial but it's worth the scent and is antibacterial and has microbeads which you can really feel in on your hand while washing. By the way, I got this washing technique that I found at this site http://www.stanford.edu/ . This might be helpful to acquire some new techniques. I read it and it is a good article so I am sharing it with you.

USE PROPER HANDWASHING TECHNIQUES --- PROTECT YOUR HEALTH

Handwashing is the single most important procedure for preventing the spread of biological contamination. Despite this fact many laboratory personnel don't wash their hands properly. Here are some handwashing tips and procedures for your use.
1. Consider the sink, including the faucet controls, contaminated.
2. Avoid touching the sink.
3. Turn water on using a paper towel and then wet your hands and wrists.
4. Work soap into a lather.
5. Vigorously rub together all surfaces of the lathered hands for 15 seconds. Friction helps remove dirt and microorganisms. Wash around and under rings, around cuticles, and under fingernails
6. Rinse hands thoroughly under a stream of water. Running water carries away dirt and debris. Point fingers down so water and contamination won't drip toward elbows.
7. Dry hands completely with a clean dry paper towel.

8. Use a dry paper towel to turn faucet off.
9. To keep soap from becoming a breeding place for microorganisms, thoroughly clean soap dispensers before refilling with fresh soap.
10. When handwashing facilities are not available at a remote work site, use an appropriate antiseptic hand cleaner or antiseptic towelettes. As soon as possible, rewash hands with soap and running water