…As Paediatrician warns against arbitrary use of steroid for skin diseases***

Following the frequency of heat waves in Kaduna state, a medical practitioner, Dr Bilkis Mohammed says it is important for residents to reduce the time stayed in the sun.

Mohammed, who is the Secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association ((NMA), said on Tuesday in Kaduna that as the heat waves become more common and intense, the risk of heatstroke continues to rise.

“The weather is hot and humid therefore concerns will be on dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Exposure to the extreme temperature is the leading cause of weather related deaths.

“This not only includes heatstroke but also problems associated with breathing difficulties and exacerbated preexisting medical conditions.’’

She tasked residents on the importance of staying cool particularly the elderly  and young persons at greater risk of heatstroke and other problems associated with excessive heat exposure.

According to her, depending on a person’s age, presence of chronic medical conditions and the amount of fluids they consumed, heatstroke especially in very high temperature can occur in just a few short hours.

Mohammed also said that exercises and outdoor activities should be done early morning or evening but not under the sun.

According to her, wearing thin, loose clothing during the heat allows good airflow, which helps sweat to evaporate.

“Wearing loose fitting clothing that breathes well will help your body regulate temperature.

“Also avoid dark clothing as it absorbs more heat than light clothing,’’ she said.

The medical experts advised residents to hydrate regularly.

“Have a bottle of water handy while outside and avoid crowded spot,’’ she said.

In the meantime, a Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Funmi Ajose, has warned mothers to stop arbitrary use of steroid ointment in their babies cream in order not to damage the skin.

Ajose of the Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), gave the warning in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

Steroid creams are used to reduce skin inflammation caused by conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.

They are the cornerstone and first-line treatment of these and many other skin diseases.

However, the consultant dermatologist said that it was very wrong to apply strong chemicals on baby’s skin to treat skin infection of any sort without establishing the cause.

“As mothers, if your children have rashes, you have to look for the cause of the rashes first, which can be in their soap or in the wrong ointment applied to their skin.

“A lot of mothers use wrong soap on their babies’ skin and the wrong soap can give problems.

“They also use wrong moisturizers; some of the moisturizers make the children to sweat and when they sweat, they develop rashes.

“So before you even think of adding that over the counter steroid cream like Skineal to your child’s cream, you should first of all know whatever it is that is giving your child rashes and stop the use,’’ Ajose advised.

The dermatologist said that using plastic underlay on the baby’s bed when sleeping could also generate sweat and cause rashes.

She also cautioned against adding liquid antiseptic to baby’s bathing water, as doing so could cause the child to develop skin rashes.

Ajose urged mothers to use good quality coconut oil on their babies’ skin, saying it is better than the moisturizers sold in the market.

The skin expert advised parents to always consult qualified physicians if they notice that their children were experiencing skin irritation or any other unusual developments.