Picaridin better than DEET to apply with sunscreen
Q: It’s summer and the “wear sunscreen” drumbeat is loud and clear. I am more concerned about Zika, West Nile virus and chikungunya than wrinkles and skin cancer. Do we know anything about the combination of sunscreens and DEET?
A: Dermatologists have found that applying the insect repellent DEET together with sunscreen results in greater absorption of both compounds (Journal of Dermatological Treatment, January 2016).
According to these scientists, picaridin would be a better choice for repelling insects if you also need sunscreen (which you mostly do). Although DEET is the gold standard, picaridin is about as effective and appears less likely to cause side effects. When used together with sunscreen, it reduces absorption of both compounds.
You’ll find picaridin in several commercially available insect repellents. They include Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent, Natrapel 12-hour Insect Repellent, Repel Tick Defense and Ranger Ready Picaridin 20%.
Q: I read about a treatment for nighttime urination (nocturia). The suggestion was a teaspoon of pectin in 3 ounces of grape juice every day. My physician prescribed an 81-mg aspirin per day after I had a possible TIA. I tried half a teaspoon of pectin in 3 ounces of grape juice once a day. It worked perfectly. However, I have had a problem with intermittent nosebleeds, which have always stopped after a
short time. I had a nosebleed after starting the pectin, and this one definitely did not stop quickly.
A: You have thrown us a couple of curveballs. The idea of using pectin, such as Certo, mixed into grape juice has a reputation as an arthritis remedy. We have never heard of using it to reduce nighttime urination. Thanks for sharing this.
Aspirin, of course, is recognized as a “blood thinner.” It keeps the sticky blood platelets from clumping together to form a clot. To our surprise, purple grape juice also inhibits blood platelets (Journal of Nutrition, January 2000). This may explain why the combination caused your bad nosebleed.
There are some other options for dealing with nocturia. Readers of this column report that eating a handful of raisins in the evening can be helpful. Another possibility might be beets or beet juice.
Q: You recently responded to a reader’s
inquiry on skin tag removal. I use apple cider vinegar. The acidity breaks down the tissue surrounding the tag, causing it to fall off. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, and then secure the cotton ball to your skin tag with a bandage. Remove it after 10 to 15 minutes, and wash the area with soap and warm water. Repeat daily until the tag falls off .
A : Thank you for sharing your instructions. It sounds safer than some methods for skin tag removal. Although some readers recommend tying off the skin tag with dental floss, one reader shared this cautionary tale:
“As to tying string around a tag, it sounds good. But when I tried it, the tag got sore, then got infected. I had to go to the doctor to get it removed surgically. It was under my armpit. Ouch!”