Tips for a Hot Season : Soothing the Burn, Shellfish Safety

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

(Page 2 of 3)

Other products that contain cosmetic color additives also claim to give you a tan. So-called "tanning pills" that contain, for instance, canthaxanthin, beta carotene, and related color additives produce a tan by imparting a color to the skin, says Bailey. The color varies with each individual, ranging from tan to orange or even pink. Although canthaxanthin and beta carotene are approved by FDA for use as food colors, their use as tanning agents is not approved. "To induce a tan, you have to consume them in high amounts. And at high amounts there are problems," says Bailey. At least one company submitted an application for the approval of canthaxanthin-containing pills as a tanning agent, but withdrew the application when side effects, such as the deposition of crystals in the eye, were discovered.

Tanning accelerators, lotions promoted to stimulate the body's own tanning process, usually contain the amino acid tyrosine. But, says Bailey, "The credible scientific information that we have suggests that they don't work."

Soothing the Burn

If despite all precautions you burn, there are a number of topical analgesics — with ingredients such as benzocaine, lidocaine, camphor, phenol, and menthol — on the market that will temporarily soothe the pain of a mild burn.

Moisturizers such as cocoa butter and petrolatum can help relieve the dryness when burned skin begins to peel. If you have a severe sunburn or if your skin is blistered, however, see a doctor for medical treatment.

The Sting of the Deep

Jellyfish, stingrays, and other creatures are a fact of life in the ocean. To avoid getting stung by aquatic life, stay out of infested waters (look for warning signs and flags posted by lifeguards) and, if possible, look where you step or walk when you're in the water.

If you're stung by a jellyfish or stingray, the American Red Cross advises you to rub the area with sand and soak it in saltwater. If necessary, get a pail of saltwater and immerse the affected area in it, says Geoffrey Doughlin, M.D., chairman of Emergency Medicine at Jamaica Hospital in New York. A saltwater bath will stop the stinging cells of a jellyfish from firing; vinegar, if you have access to it, will do the same. Don't rinse the area with tap water, warns Dr. Doughlin. The change in salt concentration can cause the stinging cells to release more venom. After a thorough saltwater soaking, make a paste of water and baking soda or meat tenderizer, and apply it to the wound.

There are no over-the-counter drugs approved specifically for the relief of jellyfish stings. FDA is reviewing a proposed monograph of ingredients in over-the-counter external analgesics, according to Audrey Love, a microbiologist in the division of OTC drug evaluation. So far, she says, no data have been submitted to indicate that these ingredients can relieve jellyfish stings.

Most of the time, jellyfish and stingray stings cause only a local reaction — for instance, stinging, redness and burning that lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. However, their stings — as well as the stings of other marine life — can also cause a more generalized reaction and, rarely, result in death. In such severe cases, doctors may prescribe antibiotics, antihistamines or, in very severe cases, steroids. If you begin to feel weak, nauseated or hot after being stung, seek emergency treatment immediately. In addition, get medical help for any sting that results in blisters, as well as for stings on the face or neck; reactions in these areas can be particularly severe.

Shellfish Safety

One common summer treat is shellfish, freshly caught from local waters. But, warns Felicia Busch, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, unless you're certain that the shellfish were harvested from clean waters, you may be risking food poisoning.

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.