News & Events July 2020
We’ve been notified that some of our United Healthcare patients received a letter from United Healthcare stating that Dr. Galitzer will no longer be a participating provider effective July 31, 2020. This is INCORRECT! There is no reason to be concerned. Please continue making and keeping appointments as Dr. Galitzer is and will continue to be an in-network provider with United Healthcare.
ASK DR G
The CDC is now recommending cloth masks for the general public, but earlier in the pandemic they saw no need to make any such recommendations.

These shifting guidelines have caused confusion about the utility of masks.

Health experts agree that masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and that the more people wearing masks the better.

The original CDC guidance were based on what was thought to be the low prevalence of the disease earlier in the pandemic.

What may have convinced the CDC to change its recommendation in favor of masks were the rising disease prevalence and a clearer understanding that both pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission is possible and occurs regularly. Studies have found that viral load peaks in the days before symptoms begin to show themselves and that speaking is enough to expel virus-carrying droplets. This asymptomatic infection transfer now necessitates that everybody wears a mask for their protection and the protection of others.

Two compelling case reports suggest that masks can prevent transmission in high-risk scenarios:

In the first case, a man flew from China to Toronto and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. He had a dry cough and wore a mask on the flight. The 25 people closest to him on the flight tested negative for COVID-19.

In the second case, two hair stylists had close contact with 140 clients while sick with COVID-19. Everyone, the hairstylist and staff and the clients, wore masks and none of the clients tested positive.

The bottom line is that any mask that covers the nose and mouth will be beneficial.

To that end, the Skin Center has acquired a few hundred masks to give out to our dear patients.

Please call us or drop in and we will be happy to give you a mask for your and loved ones (while supplies last).

Have a Happy and Health 4 th and Stay Safe!!!
 
Until next time,
 
Dr G
HOT TOPIC
Handwashing - Irritated, Dry, Cracked Skin
Over that past several weeks “wash your hands” has become a mantra. If you were not already doing so you are now washing your hands more than several times throughout the day. This constant exposure to warm water and soap strips the skin of healthy fats and oils. Depleting the skin of this natural barrier causes the skin to become dehydrated and irritated. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent skin irritation and continue washing your hands frequently, as recommended by the CDC to protect yourself from viruses and bacteria.

  1.  Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in lukewarm water.
  2.  Don't dry your hands leave them damp.
  3. Apply hand cream or ointments that contain mineral oil or petrolatum and are also fragrance free. Make sure you work some of the moisturizer into your fingertips and nails as well. It is important not to use lotions that are water-based because they will dry out the skin even further.

If your skin continues to become irritated, dry or cracked it is important that you schedule an appointment to see one of our providers as you may require an examination and an intensified treatment plan.
DON'T END UP WITH "FACE MASK-TAN"
Wear Your Sunscreen
Generously apply sunscreen to all exposed skin using a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. It is not enough to just look at the SPF. Look for ingredients that include at least one of the following:

  • Zinc Oxide- at least 5%
  • Titanium Dioxide
  • Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) – To be stable and effective it must be combined with greater than 3.6% of Octocrylene.
  • Ecamsule (Mexoryl SX)

Be sure to apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun and re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
SAVE 20% ON ALL SUNSCREENS IN JULY
Excludes SkinCenter Zinc Stick and Clearance Items
954-500-SKIN