BE WISE WHEN YOU SANITISE

One of the most practical measures you can take to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to properly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds at a time, and ideally every 20 minutes. Naturally, this means that you will be using soap, antibacterial wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitisers much more frequently than usual.

 You absolutely must do this, because proper hygiene is critical in stopping the spread of the virus. The downside is the drying effect that constant hand washing can have on your skin. If your skin is particularly sensitive or you have a pre-existing skin condition, you may notice redness, painful inflammation, cracking, blistering, itchiness or flaking – all signs of hand eczema.

To stop the dryness and irritation from getting to that stage, we’ve put together a few “handy” tips on how to keep your hands both clean and moisturised…

1.     When washing your hands, use lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser.

2.     Rather than roughly rubbing hands dry, gently pat them and apply a fragrance-free moisturiser immediately afterwards. Creams, being oil-based, are more effective than water-based lotions at locking in moisture. (SkinCeuticals Neck, Chest & Hand Repair is a good choice, and under the current circumstances, we’ve started a delivery service.)

3.     Try to avoid wearing jewellery, especially rings, since it can trap soap and cause irritation.

4.     Overnight application of hand barrier creams like Vaseline, Aquaphor and Cicaplast (some of which contain the compound dimethacone, great for sealing the skin’s barrier) can go a long way in healing skin that is already cracked.

5.     Itchiness usually requires the prescription of a topical steroid cream, but over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams are a good stopgap measure until you can see your dermatologist. In the interim, we’re happy to accommodate video consultations via WhatsApp – just give us a call at 225.2660 to set up your appointment.

 Stay safe! The more we all follow these prevention measures, is the sooner we’ll be able to end this pandemic.

UPDATE ON COVID-19

Now that Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed its first case of COVID-19, we would like to reinforce the Ministry of Health’s guidelines regarding the protocol for reporting symptoms, especially if you may have recently travelled to countries where the coronavirus is prevalent, or have had contact with others who have visited those countries.

If you have flu-like symptoms – particularly a mild cough or low-grade fever – you are to isolate yourself and avoid contact with people. This includes limiting interaction with family members. You should also call your doctor or nearest health centre to describe your symptoms, but do not make an in-person visit.

Instead, Ministry of Health officers will come to you in order to take samples for COVID-19 testing, assess your symptoms and prescribe medication if necessary. Please note that you should avoid taking aspirin until you are properly assessed. If your case requires medical support, the Ministry of Health will make arrangements to have you transferred to a hospital.

A reminder, once more, that prevention can go a long way in controlling the spread of COVID-19, so please continue to:

1.     Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with warm water and soap. Hand washing should last as long as it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

2.     Use hand sanitiser with a high alcohol content if you are unable to wash your hands. 

3.     Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.

4.     Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing and wear a face mask, especially when making essential trips to the grocery or pharmacy.

5.     Avoid close contact with anyone displaying flu-like symptoms (social distancing).

6.     Ensure that your food is properly washed and thoroughly cooked before eating. 

You can find the official list of public health facilities here. We encourage you to follow these guidelines for your own health and safety.

If you need help with explaining the pandemic to children, we have found this guide by Manuela Molina a good resource. The hope is that if we all work together responsibly, the spread and potential impact of COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago can be minimised.

GUIDELINES ON COVID-19

As medical and skin care professionals, we have been diligently observing the developing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak. We empathise with the many countries across the world grappling with the spread of this virus as they try to keep their citizens safe.

Thankfully, Trinidad and Tobago has thus far reported no cases of COVID-19, but in an effort to be proactive rather than reactionary, we ask that if you have flu-like symptoms – including coughing, fever, shortness of breath and acute diarrhoea – please refrain from coming in for your appointment. Instead, inform your General Practitioner, who should make arrangements for you to be assessed. We will be happy to reschedule your appointment once you are feeling better. This measure is intended to protect you, our staff, and other patients, some of whom may be more susceptible to respiratory viruses.

To help minimise the spread of germs during this sensitive time, we remind you to:

1.     Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with warm water and soap. Hand washing should last as long as it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

2.     Use hand sanitiser if you are unable to wash your hands. 

3.     Avoid touching your face.

4.     Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.

5.     Avoid close contact with anyone displaying flu-like symptoms.

6.     Ensure that your food is properly cooked before eating. 

Even as global health authorities work towards putting an end to the outbreak of COVID-19, we strongly urge you to follow these guidelines for your own health and safety.