Take extra precautions to protect your skin this summer.
August is notorious for being one of the hottest months of the year and South Carolina is no exception. It’s tough to stay cool throughout these dog days of summer, especially when you have a prosthetic limb that requires extra care and attention. However, it is important to stay cool and manage the sweat around your residual limb to protect your sensitive skin from any discomfort and infections.
Prevent Infections
Sweating in the summer heat is inevitable, but sweat in the prosthesis socket combined with your sensitive skin can lead to bacterial infections. Wash your prosthetic socket with an antibacterial soap at least once a day as well as your skin to prevent infections. Also, wash your prosthetic socks and liners daily and be sure they are completely dry before putting them back on.
Prevent Skin Breakdown
Spending lots of time outside in the summer is a great way to stay active and enjoy the beautiful weather. However, the more time you spend being active with your prosthetic device, the greater the risk for skin breakdown around the device. Having a well-fitted device, maintaining a stable weight, drinking lots of water and sticking to a healthy diet can help keep you comfortable and prevent skin breakdown.
Prevent Other Skin Issues
Summer is the season of shorts and having a prosthetic limb should not keep you from wearing your favorite shorts! If you shave, be careful with areas around the prosthetic device to prevent making ingrown hair follicles. Ingrown hairs can cause discomfort and can also get infected.
Floyd Brace hopes that you are able to enjoy the rest of your summer while avoiding any skin-related issues with your residual limb. To make sure your prosthetic limb is fitting properly or to meet with any of our practitioners, contact us today!
Tags: skin care, summer
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