Not sure what type of sunscreen has the best protection or whether you should pick bug spray with or without DEET? With so many options it can get confusing. So we’ve pulled together some safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to make summer a breeze for you and your family!

Avoid Sunscreen/Insect Repellant Combos

While it seems like an easy win, combination products should actually be avoided. This is because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the inset repellant should not be reapplied that often.

When to use DEET

DEET is the active ingredient in many repellant products. According to the AAP, you should use insect repellants containing DEET when you want to prevent insect-related diseases that are transmitted through ticks and mosquitoes. DEET should NOT be used on children younger than 2 months old.

The current AAP and CDC recommendation for children older than 2 months of age is to use 10 – 30% DEET. Ten percent provides protection for two hours, while 30% protects for about five hours. Choose the lowest concentration that will provide the required length of protection.

How to Choose a Sunscreen

When picking a sunscreen, go for the broad-spectrum option. This means it protects against both UVB and UVA rays. For most people, SP of 15 or 30 will be fine. If possibly, the AAP recommends avoiding the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone because of concerns about mild hormonal properties.

For babies younger than 6 months old, use sunscreen on small areas of the body and keep them out of direct sunlight. For babies 6 months and older, apply sunscreen to all areas of the body while being careful around the eyes.

For more summer safety tips, check out the AAP blog. If you have questions, our experts at Plymouth Primary Care & Clinic are always here to help. With special training in both family medicine and pediatrics, we’re here to help you live your healthiest life possible.

It’s easy to forget about your liver as it quietly does its job every day. Most people are unaware of the importance of liver health and how you can check on the important organ. That’s why Liver Health Matters, a month-long initiative, was created.

The liver is located on your right side, midway between your waist and arm pit. It’s the largest organ in our bodies and serves many important functions – filtering out toxins, metabolizing our food to help with digestion and storing vitamins.

According to the American Liver Foundation, there are more than 100 different types of liver disease, which can be caused by many different factors such as viruses, genetics, autoimmune disease, excessive use of alcohol, poor diet or obesity and reactions to medications or chemicals. Early detection with liver disease is key because your liver is able to regenerate and repair itself with a well-managed treatment plan.

If you want to learn more about preventing liver disease, speak to your family medicine doctor. You can schedule an appointment at Plymouth Primary Care & Clinic online or by calling 252-793-4500.

If you’re a fan of a BLT, then you’ll love this springtime shift on the classic. It has all your favorite ingredients – plus a few tasty extras – combined for a light, indulgent salad. Combine kale, tomatoes, bacon, feta and corn for this low-maintenance version: https://www.wellplated.com/blt-chopped-salad/

Every April, we celebrate National Minority Health Month. The recognition month was created to build awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups. In recent years, the minority community has been experiencing another health inequity from COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected communities of color. According to the CDC, data shows that some racial and ethnic minority groups – particularly Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska native people are at increased risk of getting sick, having a more severe illness, and dying from COVID-19.

That’s why this year’s theme – Give Your Community a Boost – is focused on educating about the continued importance of vaccination, including boosters, as one of the strongest tools we can use to protect communities of color. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. You can get your vaccine and booster at Washington Regional Medical Center. Just call us at 252-793-4135.

National Minority Health Month originated in 1915 with the establishment of National Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington. In 2002, National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress and the month was created to promote educational efforts on the health problems facing minorities.

Providing fast, reliable laboratory results is key to providing healthcare that heals at WRMC. That’s why we’re excited to recognize our laboratory professionals April 18-24 as part of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!

Our lab team, located at our medical center and our Plymouth Primary Care Rural Health Clinic, are highly qualified, board-certified professionals. They’re available around the clock – 24/7 – to provide accurate and timely test results.

Thank you to our dedicated lab professionals for the vital role you play in healing our patients! Learn more about lab services at Washington Regional Medical Center.