Rebel Health and Wellness: Where Rebels write for right answers

January 23, 2012 by Alexi Layton 

Questions answered by Gail Rattigan, MSN, FNP-BC, Associate Director, Student Health Center

Q: Sometimes I get these itchy, painful red rashes on my skin. I don’t know what it’s from but I think it could be my body wash or perfume since they’re always on my arms and neck. Is fragrance bad for our skin? Could this be a larger problem?

A: Skin rashes are very common and most are not serious. Fragrances are not “bad” for you, but may cause rashes on some people. Contact dermatitis results in a scaly, itchy, sometimes painful rash that sometimes blisters. Common culprits are nickel, fragrances, formaldehyde, lanolin and latex. Other common causes of rashes include hives, viruses, folliculitis (a minor skin infection) and ringworm. Try avoiding your body wash and fragrance for a couple of weeks and stick to mild, unscented soap such as Dial Basic or Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented to see if that makes the rash go away. Not all fragrances are equal so you may be able to experiment with other fragrances that don’t cause rashes. The best way to get an accurate diagnosis on the cause of your rash is get it checked by a healthcare provider at the Student Health Center or your primary care provider’s office.

Q: Is getting my nails done frequently harmful to my nails?

A: Millions of women and men enjoy professional nail services safely. Manicures/pedicures can pose health risks but there are ways to make them safer. One risk is toxic chemicals in nail polish and acrylic products. To avoid this stick to polishes that do not contain “the toxic three” – Formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phylate (DBP). Many brands have gone “3-free” so choose those at the salon or bring your own. In acrylic nails, the substance methyl methacrylate can be very toxic and is often found in “bargain” salons because it is less expensive than the safer products. The second risk is infections due to improperly sanitized implements or foot spas. To avoid this be sure the salon and cosmetologist are licensed. Be sure that they are properly sanitizing their spas and implements between clients, or bring your own implements. Lastly, skin cancer from excessive UV light exposure during artificial nail application. Get natural manicures/pedicures and leave artificial nails for special occasions or use stick on nails.

Questions for this column can be submitted via fax to (702) 895-1515 or via email to lifestyles@unlvrebelyell.com. Your identity will never be revealed. All questions are answered by the trained and professional staff at the Student Health Center.