Some of my favorite tips for hacking a St. Louis summer can be found at your local Target.
What can i do about these terrible bug bites?
Outside of trying not to scratch (impossible, I know!) one of my favorite hacks is pimple patches! Hydrocolloid can help heal this bites faster by drawing out some of the excess fluids that build up around a bite (your skin’s reaction to the bug’s saliva). Another big plus: covering up the bite creates a physical barrier to prevent scratching, which can slow down healing and lead to infection.
A great cost-saving tip is to buy a roll of hydrocolloid and cut off pieces to size. You can do this when you need pimple patches for actual pimples too! You can buy a whole roll for $10.
Fun fact, though no one really has “sweet blood”, some people really are more attractive to mosquitoes than others. There was a study published in Cell in 2022 showing that people who produce more of a certain type of organic compound called carboxylic acid in their skin tend to attract more mosquitoes. Mosquitoes could also potentially be attracted to the specific bacteria on our skin (our skin microbiome) and how they digest these carboxylic acids. Gross, but it does tell us that some people really are mosquito magnets! Take one guess why this topic is so interesting to me!
Ice and over the counter antihistamines are both helpful for itchier bites.
You can also treat itchy bites with over the counter hydrocortisone. If this is not doing quite enough, talk to your dermatologist about a higher strength prescription.
how can i fix my greasy scalp?
I could cook an egg on here.
Two of my favorite products for oily scalps are over the counter dandruff shampoos, and an acne favorite – glycolic acid! Nizoral (ketoconazole) shampoo can work great for oily, greasy, flaky scalps – work the shampoo into the scalp with your fingers (or a silicone scalp massager), let sit for a minute, then wash out.
Glycolic acid can be a great addition to your routine if you do not have sensitive skin. Just put a small amount onto a Q-tip or cotton swab and dab into your partline a few days a week. Glycolic acid is generally safe and well tolerated particularly at the strengths sold over the counter, but if you experience any irritation you should discontinue use.
If your scalp is still itchy and irritated despite these tips, I recommend seeing your trusty dermatologist. Not all flaky scalps are dandruff!
My athlete’s foot always gets way worse over the summer. What can I do about it?
Dr. Goeller just wrote a great article about this. Click here to read some of her tips.
why do i smell so bad? what can i do about this crazy body odor?
When sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin, we end up with the classic stinky feet and pits of St. Louis summer. One of my favorite (and most versatile) ingredients and products is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Use it in the shower and let it sit on skin (feet and armpits) for a minute before washing it off. Almost all of my patients can tolerate the 4% strength, and some can go up to a 10% wash for the bottoms of the feet. Just watch out for irritation, and don’t leave benzoyl peroxide on the skin for too long.
Pro-tip: Benzoyl peroxide will bleach all your linens if you don’t wash it off all the way! Use white towels or old towels to dry off.
anything else i should know?
Don’t forget the sunscreen, especially on the scalp! This is the time of year that I start to see scalp burns even for my patients who are religious about sun protection. Hats definitely help, but I also love a powder sunscreen for the scalp.
Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours (every 1.5 hours if you are in the water). No sunscreen is truly ‘waterproof’.
What’s the Vista View?
There is so much you can do with over the counter products!
You can find some of my favorite summer products here.
(FYI, this list is not sponsored and I do not make a commission. I just like to collect these products in one place to make it easier for my patients to access.)
about the author
Dr. Trisha Scharff
Dr. Trisha Scharff, MD is a board-certified dermatologist providing expert medical and cosmetic dermatology services in St. Louis, MO.
She is a Castle Connolly Rising Star.
