Dr Oz: Sea Lice, Beach Lice Causing Painful Itchy Rash
As Dr Oz continued his summer investigation, he moved to talk about the one thing sure to make your skin crawl: bugs. There’s a new bug infiltrating our land and our waters, and Dr Oz was ringing the alarm. Have you heard of sea lice or beach lice? The “itchy suckers” can cause painful itchy rashes, so what do you need to know to protect yourself this summer?
Dr Oz welcomed Shakira, a self-proclaimed beach bum who admitted to being worried about the bugs. She went on vacation with an aunt who got stung by a jellyfish and beach lice in the same day, so naturally she’s been worried about the bugs ever since.
Dr Oz: What Are Sea Lice?
Sea lice are causing painful, itchy rashes for beachgoers along the east coast and Dr Oz wanted to make sure viewers knew how to best protect themselves. ([email protected] / Flickr)
Dr Oz explained that sea lice live in the ocean and are about the size of a speck of sand. But when you put them in water, you can’t see them, which means they’re an invisible threat. But if you thought they were related to head lice, it turns out they’re not related at all. Beach lice are actually the larvae of jellyfish. They are found in warm waters like the Gulf of Mexico and the East coast from Florida all the way up to Connecticut. So how can you protect yourself?
Dr Oz: How To Protect Against Beach Lice
If your skin is exposed to the water without protection, the sea lice can poke right into your skin without a problem. But if you wear sunblock, it provides a barrier that keeps sea lice out. However, it has to be zinc oxide and it has to be a mechanical barrier.
If you do happen to get stung, apply oatmeal to the skin to offer relief from the itching. Speaking of itching, Dr Oz wanted to take the time to talk about bed bugs as well…
Dr Oz: What You Need To Know About Bed Bugs
Just how big of a problem are bed bugs in hotels across the country? It turns out they’re a huge problem, especially during the summer when people are traveling. They can jump from person to person and show up in any caliber hotel. Staying in a nice hotel doesn’t automatically make you immune to them. The worst part of all is that they’re becoming more and more resistant to insecticide, which means they’re harder to kill.
Tia shared that a few years ago there was a huge bed bug infestation in New York City and she ended up getting bed bugs in her home. It took her an entire month to get rid of them because they lay eggs. It was both expensive and traumatizing!
Fortunately, Tia shared a few tips to help prevent a bed bug infestation.
Dr Oz: How To Inspect For Bed Bugs
The first thing you should remember when traveling is to thoroughly check out your room and inspect for any bed bugs. You should also keep your luggage off the floor, on a caddy, preferably in the bathroom. Second, make sure you thoroughly check the bed. That means really checking the crevices, in between sheets and underneath blankets, as well as on the actual bare mattress itself.
Surprisingly, bed bugs don’t only hang out on the bed. It’s important to check all areas within fifteen feet of the bed. That means checking things like the phone, picture frames, books and more.
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