Get a Grip

| Skin Deep |Scratch Out Dry, Winter SkinIf your skin feels dry this winter – a specialproblem for infants, older people and frequenthand-washers – squelch the urge to take a long, hotbath or shower.Lengthy soaks steal the natural skin oils that sealin moisture, according to the American Academy ofDermatology. Towel drying only compounds theproblem. Here are some other ways to prevent orsoothe dry skin:• Use lukewarm water for bathing, and soak for10 minutes maximum.• Use a mild soap or non-soap cleanser. Be leeryof bath oils. They can moisturize skin, but theyalso make tubs slippery and dangerous.• After bathing, pat – rather than rub – your skinalmost dry.• Smooth in a moisturizer right after bathing totrap water in your skin. Look for a lotion orcream with urea, lactic acid or mineral oil. Youalso can use petroleum jelly on dry skin. Reapplylotion as necessary. You might want to wait andapply greasy ointments before bed.In many people with eczema or dry skin, thenatural outer oily barrier is lacking and contributesto much of the scaling and itching that peopleexperience, according to Chuck Moon, MD, ofAdvanced Dermatology of Southeast Missouri andthe Southeast Hospital Medical Staff. “I like to use anewer class of moisturizers that are formulated toreplace the oily outer barrier of skin. One brandthat is great for sensitive, dry skin is called CeraVeand is found over the counter,” Dr. Moon says.Stress, aging and smoking also contribute to skinissues. If severe dry skin lasts longer than twoweeks, appears red and swollen, or oozes, contact adermatologist. You may have an infection or otherproblem.Chuck Moon, MDAdvanced Dermatologyof Southeast MissouriFor more information,call 800-800-5123.Top NotchSoutheast Hospital Ranks High in State, Nation in Patient CareSoutheast Hospital provides its patients with some of the besthealthcare anywhere. Our national and state rankings prove it.The Hospital ranks among the top 5 percent in the nation forpatient satisfaction, according to the Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services.The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providersand Systems or HCAHPS ranks Southeast among the top threehospitals in Missouri in six of the 10 survey categories.Southeast ranked first in the state in the categories of “paincontrol” and “communication with nurses.” Southeast had thethird highest score in the “overall rating category.”HealthGrades ® , the nation’s leading independent healthcareratings organization, also gives high marks to Southeast.The Hospital ranks number one in Missouri for vascularsurgery and has achieved“Five-Star” ratings nationallyand high state rankings inseveral clinical areas.The latest HealthGradesstudy, which measured clinical outcomes at nearly 5,000 U.S.hospitals between October 2007 and September 2009, showedSoutheast achieved significantly better outcomes than the vastmajority of the nation’s hospitals in heart care, orthopedicservices, stroke treatment, prostatectomy and vascular surgery.In addition to vascular surgery, Southeast ranks among thetop 10 in Missouri in overall cardiac services, cardiology services,coronary interventional procedures (top 5), overall orthopedicservices, prostatectomy (top 5) and stroke treatment.SEhealth.org | 3