Comments on: Here comes the sun Pt.2 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/ I need to provide a blog tagline... Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:36:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: P. David Mozley, M.D. http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-16641 P. David Mozley, M.D. Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:49:03 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-16641 Many of the recommendations in the Merck Manual are designed to simply inform readers about remedies that health care providers know from experience help people feel better. Mineral oil is safe, non-allergenic, and effective at helping people with sunburned eyes feel a little better. Sometimes the fact that a treatment helps people feel better is more important than the theory behind it. That said, I appreciate the question. It helps me think about the pathophysiology in ways that I never have before, and as a consequence, seems to furthers my aim of sharing what I know about sunburn as a way of helping people cope with it. So please think of it this way: Oils are more suitable than creams or lotions for application in the eyes. The text of the Merck Manual that I cited could have added that a drop or two placed laterally, that is, in the corner of the eye farthest away from the nose, will distribute over the entire surface of the eyeball. In the process, the oil will coat the inner surface of the eyelid. This will help keep sunburned eyeballs and eyelids moist, and reduce friction between an eyeball and its eyelid as the eyeball moves around behind closed eyelids. Both the covering of the eyeball and the eyelids become inflamed in cases of sunburn, and the release of chemical messengers by the inflamed nerve endings relay sensations of burning and "scratchiness" to the brain. This noxious nerve signal is exacerbated by friction between the eyeball and eyelid, which in turn promotes further inflammation, which in turn creates more friction with normal eye movements, propagating a vicious cycle. People with sunburned eyes not infrequently report that they feel as if there was sand in their eyes. While this is predominantly a misperception of a sensation induced by nothing more than the endogenous chemical messenger in the nerves, it might be that some of the proteins that are secreted by the inflamed tissues can precipitate out of solution and form a kind of microscopic grit. I have no hard data to prove that mineral oil helps retard the secretion of fluid and absorb some of this bodily grit, but I'll tenuously offer the speculation anyway as a way of reminding myself to check the facts soon. Best till then. P. David Mozley, M.D. Many of the recommendations in the Merck Manual are designed to simply inform readers about remedies that health care providers know from experience help people feel better. Mineral oil is safe, non-allergenic, and effective at helping people with sunburned eyes feel a little better. Sometimes the fact that a treatment helps people feel better is more important than the theory behind it.

That said, I appreciate the question. It helps me think about the pathophysiology in ways that I never have before, and as a consequence, seems to furthers my aim of sharing what I know about sunburn as a way of helping people cope with it. So please think of it this way:

Oils are more suitable than creams or lotions for application in the eyes. The text of the Merck Manual that I cited could have added that a drop or two placed laterally, that is, in the corner of the eye farthest away from the nose, will distribute over the entire surface of the eyeball. In the process, the oil will coat the inner surface of the eyelid. This will help keep sunburned eyeballs and eyelids moist, and reduce friction between an eyeball and its eyelid as the eyeball moves around behind closed eyelids. Both the covering of the eyeball and the eyelids become inflamed in cases of sunburn, and the release of chemical messengers by the inflamed nerve endings relay sensations of burning and “scratchiness” to the brain. This noxious nerve signal is exacerbated by friction between the eyeball and eyelid, which in turn promotes further inflammation, which in turn creates more friction with normal eye movements, propagating a vicious cycle.

People with sunburned eyes not infrequently report that they feel as if there was sand in their eyes. While this is predominantly a misperception of a sensation induced by nothing more than the endogenous chemical messenger in the nerves, it might be that some of the proteins that are secreted by the inflamed tissues can precipitate out of solution and form a kind of microscopic grit. I have no hard data to prove that mineral oil helps retard the secretion of fluid and absorb some of this bodily grit, but I’ll tenuously offer the speculation anyway as a way of reminding myself to check the facts soon.

Best till then.

P. David Mozley, M.D.

]]> By: Whit http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-16632 Whit Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:24:42 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-16632 Very informative - I doubt sincerely that people have considered the extent of potential damage to their eyes from the sun when engaging in outdoor activities. In my experience most just know "it's bad". What physiological function does mineral oil provide to comfort corneal sunburns? Very informative – I doubt sincerely that people have considered the extent of potential damage to their eyes from the sun when engaging in outdoor activities. In my experience most just know “it’s bad”.
What physiological function does mineral oil provide to comfort corneal sunburns?

]]> By: als http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-16619 als Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:12:15 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-16619 This is perfect. I want to make everyone I know read it. As good as your most scholarly lectures. This is perfect. I want to make everyone I know read it. As good as your most scholarly lectures.

]]> By: P. David Mozley, M.D. http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-15161 P. David Mozley, M.D. Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:24:56 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-15161 "Touch Test": Of you press your exposed skin with your finger and it blanches (i.e., turns lighter and then returns to the color of the surrounding skin upon release) then you're already into the hyperemic phase of a sunburn, and symptoms will follow shortly. That means starting treatment ASAP is indicated. Best. P. David Mozley, M.D. “Touch Test”:

Of you press your exposed skin with your finger and it blanches (i.e., turns lighter and then returns to the color of the surrounding skin upon release) then you’re already into the hyperemic phase of a sunburn, and symptoms will follow shortly. That means starting treatment ASAP is indicated.

Best.

P. David Mozley, M.D.

]]> By: Stiv http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-13582 Stiv Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:43:04 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-13582 Dave I read that article too a found it particularly relavent also. Considering that here in the northern hemisphere we're getting into the time of year where your info can be particularly helpful, it really makes you aware that whether it's the type of cream one uses to treat sun/heat related injuries or symptoms, there really are very specific guidlines to follow in order to avoid results that can be even more detrimental or more sever than the original problem. Tepid showers or baths as opposed to ice cold or cold to gradually lower core body temperature is an example and the dangers of overhydration are well established also. Thanks again for you help, Steve Dave I read that article too a found it particularly relavent also. Considering that here in the northern hemisphere we’re getting into the time of year where your info can be particularly helpful, it really makes you aware that whether it’s the type of cream one uses to treat sun/heat related injuries or symptoms, there really are very specific guidlines to follow in order to avoid results that can be even more detrimental or more sever than the original problem.

Tepid showers or baths as opposed to ice cold or cold to gradually lower core body temperature is an example and the dangers of overhydration are well established also.

Thanks again for you help,
Steve

]]> By: Mozley http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/comment-page-1/#comment-13511 Mozley Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:10:21 +0000 http://polosbastards.com/pb/here-comes-the-sun-pt2/#comment-13511 There's an article today, Sunday, 10 June 2007, on the CNN website (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/09/musclecream.death.ap/index.html) that claims a 17 year old woman died of methyl salicylate toxicity after using excessive amounts of topical sports creams, such as Bengay and Icy Hot, among others. It notes that the absorption of the medications in these creams increases with temperature, exercise, and blood flow to the skin. It tends to reinforce the idea that only suntan lotions, cosmetics, and ordinary 1% steroid creams should be applied for the treatment of sunburn. Best. P. David Mozley, M.D. There’s an article today, Sunday, 10 June 2007, on the CNN website (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/09/musclecream.death.ap/index.html) that claims a 17 year old woman died of methyl salicylate toxicity after using excessive amounts of topical sports creams, such as Bengay and Icy Hot, among others. It notes that the absorption of the medications in these creams increases with temperature, exercise, and blood flow to the skin. It tends to reinforce the idea that only suntan lotions, cosmetics, and ordinary 1% steroid creams should be applied for the treatment of sunburn.

Best.

P. David Mozley, M.D.

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