We are halfway through January! My how time flies. My mom used to say, “The best thing about January is that it eventually ends.” The freezing temperatures, wind, snow, darkness and generally unpleasant weather days bring a whole host of surprises.
FUN TIMES
Like most, you might enjoy some of those fabulous surprises including scaly itchy skin, chapped lips, flyaway hair, crispy soles on your feet and crunchy cuticles just to name a few of the pleasantries. So many issues to conquer and so many products to remedy them. What is best?
PRODUCT
Yes, here is another YouTube reference. I am an insomniac so in the wee hours when sleep evades me, I put in my air pods and usually find something informative that YouTube can offer. Recently I learned about the benefits old fashioned petroleum jelly aka Vaseline.
THE BENEFITS
Vaseline has many uses from improving skin hydration to promoting wound healing and can be used in your ultrasound exam which I will address shortly. According to a 2016 review article, Vaseline prevents more than 98% of water loss from the outer layer of the skin. This type of water loss is known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL.) Have you heard of slugging? It is a skincare technique the involves putting a thin layer of Vaseline on your face as the final step of your skincare routine. It creates a protective layer that prevents water loss and dehydration. It allows other products to penetrate skin more effectively as well as promotes an environment that helps your skin repair itself. Dr. Dawn Davis is quoted in an article from www.mayoclinic.org saying “Petroleum jelly sits on top of the skin like a greenhouse roof, so it’s like insulating the skin so that is doesn’t lose heat and so it doesn’t lose moisture.”
BACK THAT TRUCK UP
Do we really want to put petroleum products on our skin? The answer is yes. It is generally safe to use on your skin as long as it is fully refined. The FDA regulates petroleum jelly as an over-the -counter drug. It is considered safe and effective when it is 30-100% concentrated. That being said, it is not for everyone. If you have oily or acne-prone skin you might want to avoid using it on your face as it can cause increased breakouts and possible skin irritation.
VASELINE AND ULTRASOUND
Suffice it to say, Vaseline is that ubiquitous medicine chest staple that has a thousand uses and has a place in most homes, hospitals and medicals offices. If you have had an ultrasound test, you know that ultrasound gel is applied to the transducer so it may glide easily over the skin. Although ultrasound gel is the gold standard medium for ultrasound, petroleum jelly will obtain clinically satisfactory results when ultrasound gel is not available.
HDD
That being said, HDD is the gold standard is diagnostic ultrasound. If you and your provider determine whether an ultrasound test is necessary to aid in your diagnosis, call us at 505-350-3397.