- Thread starter Lucas61
- Start date
Prevalence of Skin Irritations in the D.R.?
People may move and change water source, change detergents or make diet changes. Much of this could be specific to a tropical environment with substandard hygiene. As was discussed there are various products that are sold to treat this so it is a common problem in the Dominican Republic. The response in other parts of the world would have been different.
here is a possible answer, genius.
maybe he changed something in his lifestyle recently, and that has caused the problem. something simple. maybe his chosen brand of washing powder...
Speculate all you want if it makes you feel better. Fact is if after SEVEN YEARS in one place you develop something, you don't start speculating the problem is caused by the place. If the problem was the place it would have affected you much earlier.
All over the world there are people called DERMATOLOGISTS. They exist because all over the world people develop skin conditions that need treatment. You go to a dermatologist and have a professional tell you what to do.
That is the right advise.
Illogical speculation is not.
I wonder how many people can afford the time, effort and expense to see a dermatologist? I wonder how many wash their clothes with Tide, have a whole home water filtration system, a water softener, use Dove moisturizing soap? Sometimes, speculation can be bang on. Where possible I often ask others for their ideas when it comes to addressing an issue I am facing. Someone saying that some soaps/detergents can cause skin irritation (we have crappy soaps at home too) if not rinsed off well, might well cause me to draw the inference that I recently bought a discounted brand that I had not tried before.
Someone suggesting that those with folds in their skin may need to take extra steps such as applying baby powder or washing more frequently since those areas of the body do not dry as readily or quickly as more exposed areas might cause me to give this idea a try.
Speculation has value. Experience has value. If nothing else works, then a dermatologist may be needed. However, if community knowledge and experience can resolve an issue, then the dermatologist is freed up to see someone with more of a need.
Virgo, chill out. Not every comment is deserving of your ardent rebuttals and not every comment is a slight against this country. Not everyone is less worldly than you. How many countries have you lived in? It's time to state your credentials as the keeper of all knowledge pertaining to all things Dominican, medical, intellectual, philosophical and knowable. My advise since you didn't ask for it - Try not to be too annoying, and try not to be too easily annoyed.
Someone suggesting that those with folds in their skin may need to take extra steps such as applying baby powder or washing more frequently since those areas of the body do not dry as readily or quickly as more exposed areas might cause me to give this idea a try.
Speculation has value. Experience has value. If nothing else works, then a dermatologist may be needed. However, if community knowledge and experience can resolve an issue, then the dermatologist is freed up to see someone with more of a need.
Virgo, chill out. Not every comment is deserving of your ardent rebuttals and not every comment is a slight against this country. Not everyone is less worldly than you. How many countries have you lived in? It's time to state your credentials as the keeper of all knowledge pertaining to all things Dominican, medical, intellectual, philosophical and knowable. My advise since you didn't ask for it - Try not to be too annoying, and try not to be too easily annoyed.
Adding to Buster Blowhard...
The tropics can create more sweat than one is used to.
Fat folds in the skin can become very irritated.
I notice that in RD, after any stitches etc, you are given an antibacterial wash to use.
Herein Canada , I have just had such an incision.
The instructions were to wash carefully after 24 hrs... no antibacterial soap.
RD water is NOT clean,,,,, ever.
The detergents (or few other things , for that matter) are not of equal quality to the US or Canada.
Insects are more prevalent in the tropics
We could make quite a list, I'm sure
Surviving several years without incident is no guarantee of continued purity, IMO.
RD and other islands or southern climes are, like it or not, dirtier than many other places.
The tropics can create more sweat than one is used to.
Fat folds in the skin can become very irritated.
I notice that in RD, after any stitches etc, you are given an antibacterial wash to use.
Herein Canada , I have just had such an incision.
The instructions were to wash carefully after 24 hrs... no antibacterial soap.
RD water is NOT clean,,,,, ever.
The detergents (or few other things , for that matter) are not of equal quality to the US or Canada.
Insects are more prevalent in the tropics
We could make quite a list, I'm sure
Surviving several years without incident is no guarantee of continued purity, IMO.
RD and other islands or southern climes are, like it or not, dirtier than many other places.
It is entirely possible to live in a place for years and have no problem but then caught something from the water, or get contact dermatitis from product, chemical exposure, or plant.
Claro. When I return to Canada I get nosebleeds because the climate is so dry. Here I get foot fungus if I don't take steps to curb it. Change your soap, potential problem, wash to often -potential problem, wash not enough- definite problem, sweating, humidity, water quality, air quality, food....all subject to change. The list is endless.
you do realize that if you do not have a definitive answer as to what the cause is, then you too are speculating.
Occasionally, adults develop new allergies to things in the environment that were not allergenic for them previously. As an example, I am an adult-onset asthmatic. I had no problems until I was in my thirties, then suddenly I had major asthmatic (which is an allergic disease) flares.
It sometimes takes repeated exposures to an allergen before allergic reactions occur.
Pretty darn unlikely that it would take SEVEN YEARS of exposure before the given allergen cause a reaction on you.
In any case, the doctor would tell you.
I notice the same thing but only after my intake of somekthing (water and juice) that was not "koshi" You made a good observations you can also try putting a little distilled white vinegar into your wash....Great post.
Brush up on logic. You yourself are saying that those factors HAVE ALWAYS been so.
If for SEVEN YEARS they don't affect you is extremely unlikely that after 7 YEARS they would suddenly start affecting you.
In case you haven't yet figured it out, the DR does NOT have a NATIONAL water supply system. The quality of the water depends on the specific source of your water. Major Dominican water supply systems do go through normal treatment and chlorination (whether you believe it or not).
When I developed asthma at thirty four years of age, I was suddenly allergic to environmental factors to which I had been exposed many times in the past. They had never bothered me before but suddenly they made me wheeze and struggle for breath because of the bronchospasm produced by the allergic reaction.
So, yes, it is possible after seven years!
So, yes, it is possible after seven years!
What are your qualifications for determining the above. My brother was raised with cats, lots of cats. Never bothered him at all. At age 27 he became severely allergic to them. My brother-in-law became allergic to milk at age 30....etc. The environment can change or your react to the environment can change. Yes, sometime a specialist is require to take tests to determine the cause of your problem.
allergies can develop at any point in life, especially if the immune system get compromised: old age, general poor health, pregnancy and so on. plus people come in contact with new environmental factors all the time: new daily use chemicals, new plants, new pets. adult allergies are nothing out of the ordinary.
and, since you are not a doctor, you are not in a position to assess the likelihood...
Lucas61, we've had a home in DR about 35 years, and I've never had any skin issues there until this year either. In my case, it's not laundry detergent, bath soap, shampoo, etc., because I ship ours from the US. Our bodies change [my dad developed all sorts of skin issues after he was diagnosed with diabetes, for example], as does the environment.
In my case, a combination of prescription steroid cream and Nystatin anti-fungal powder did the trick, it took almost a month to completely go away.
Yes Virgo, 35 years. Things change.
In my case, a combination of prescription steroid cream and Nystatin anti-fungal powder did the trick, it took almost a month to completely go away.
Yes Virgo, 35 years. Things change.