Bed Bugs

[x]   Tags: bed bug signs, bed bug bites, signs of bed bugs, get rid of bed bugs, bed bug symptoms, preventing bed bugs, treatment for bed bugs: skin care tips, daily skin care, skincare products, how to skin care, facial skin care, care for face, skin care for face, face care, face skin care, dry skin care, skin face care: health, health video, medical videos, medical, video

[x]   Transcript: Bed bugs have been around for thousands of years, but lately they seem to be coming back with a vengeance. Cropping up everywhere from hotels to movie theaters, offices and clothing stores, these critters are hitchhiking back to our homes in our luggage and on our clothing. While bedbugs dont carry disease, they do bite. Heres what you need to know to help fend off an attack. Bed bugs are nocturnal and only come out for a few minutes at night to feed. The warmth and carbon dioxide our bodies give off attracts them to where we sleep. Because they inject a numbing agent into your skin, chances are you wont even feel them as they bite and suck your blood. Like mosquitoes, they leave small pink, itchy marks on the skin. But unlike other insects, they tend to make their bites in rows. How can you tell the difference between a bed bug infestation and a rash? Check their hiding places. Bed bugs live in crevices like those in your mattress seams, edges of couch cushions, and in the folds of curtains. Youll recognize a bed bug by their flat, oval bodies that are about the size of to of an inch. They can range from white to a dark brown, and they turn rusty red if theyve recently fed. Also, look for small blood stains on your sheets left behind from their waste. Bites typically go away on their own, but you can speed healing and reduce itching with a hydrocortisone cream. If you have an allergic reaction, take an over the counter antihistamine. In rare cases, a bad reaction might require a visit to the doctor. The only way to not get bitten is to get rid of an infestation. Wash all bedding and clothing in hot, 120-degree water. Toss any infested mattresses or cushions and vacuum and clean all furniture. Even after a thorough scrub-down or chemical sprays, you may still need to call in an exterminator. To avoid getting bed bugs in the first place, make sure to clean all luggage before taking it into your home. Avoid picking up used furniture without a thorough check of all cracks and crevices. And purchase a protective mattress cover to eliminate hiding spots. For more great stay-healthy tips, check out other of the videos in this series.

[x]   Bio: Adam Friedman, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who serves as Director of Dermatologic Research and Assistant Professor at the Unified Division of Dermatology of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He also the Associate Residency Program Director. Dr. Friedman holds several patents resulting from his investigation of nanotechnologies that allow for the delivery of molecules that can treat infectious diseases, accelerate wound healing and more. He has published over 30 papers on both his research as well as a variety of clinical areas in dermatology. Dr. Friedman has received awards from multiple organizations such as the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Dermatology Foundation, and the La Roche Posay North American Foundation. Dr. Friedman is chair of the leadership workgroup of the American Academy of Dermatology Resident/Fellows Committee and is the Senior Editor of the Dermatology In-Review Online Workshop. In line with his research interests, Dr Friedman currently serves as Vice President of the Nanodermatology Society. Dr Friedman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and received his M.D. with Distinction in Dermatology Research from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He trained in medicine at New York Hospital Queens, affiliated with NY Presbyterian Hospital/ Weil-Cornell Medical Center and completed his dermatology residency as chief resident at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.