“It’s not a good idea at all,” says Dr. Lawrence Dell, one of the Lakes Urgent Care doctors. “While the hydrogen peroxide bubbles, turns foamy white on the wound, it is bleaching the blood away on a cellular level, potentially causing damage and delayed healing,” said Dr. Dell. According to a recent article in USA Today, “While you may think you are thoroughly cleaning your wound, (by using hydrogen peroxide)…you are causing corrosive tissue damage, significantly impairing the healing process, and irreversibly worsen the scarring process. Severe toxicity from skin application could include inflammation and blistering. “The next time you see someone applying hydrogen peroxide to a wound, tell them they are doing much more harm than good.
Instead of hydrogen peroxide, Dr. Dell notes that the proper way to clean a wound is to soak it in sterile water or use running water liberally to clean out the wound. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic agree: “for fresh wounds, wash out your wound with a large quantity of warm soapy water as soon as possible. It is also OK to get in the shower and let copious warm, soapy water flow through the wound.” Next, Dr. Dell recommends applying a topical antibiotic, such as Neosporin (assuming there is no allergy), then apply a compressive bandage.
If you are unsure or the wound will not stop bleeding, then seek medical attention as it is likely that the wound will need surgical glue, suture, or other procedure, along with a possible tetanus vaccine update. We can take care of all this easily and quickly, no appointment needed at either Lakes Urgent Care location in West Bloomfield or Livonia.
There are 4 basic tests currently approved by the FDA for the detection of the Covid-19 virus:
Rapid antigen test: detects particles of the Covid-19 virus and is most effective between days 3 and 10 following exposure to the virus. Results are available within 20 minutes.
Rapid PCR test: detects a different particle of the Covid-19 virus and is most sensitive for active disease, typically turning positive within 5 days of exposure and active infection. Like the gold standard PCR test, this test can remain positive for up to 3 months after active infection. Results are available within 20 minutes of sample run. Testing supplies for this type of test are very limited across the country and therefore we follow strict CDC protocol to determine if this test should be completed.
Full standard PCR test: the “gold standard test” and by far the most sensitive and specific. This test also detects a different particle of the Covid-19 virus and is most sensitive for active disease, typically turning positive within 5 days of exposure and active infection. This test can remain positive for up to 3 or more months after active infection. Results are available within 24-48 hours of sample run.
Serum antibody test: this is a blood test which detects antibodies in the blood which develop after recovery from an active infection and are created by the immune system. This test is best used a minimum of 14 days after known or suspected infection. Test results are typically available within 24-48 hours of sample run. Antibody test can also be used to determine if your immune system has properly responded to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The clinical decision about which test should is best utilized depends upon the history of exposure, current symptoms including their time of onset and a physical exam. While we certainly understand that everyone desires to have an immediate or “rapid result”, a rapid test may not be the best choice to obtain the most accurate diagnosis and actually lead to an incorrect diagnosis.
Lakes Urgent Care follows current CDC guidelines and best practice algorithms. We make frequent updates to practice guidelines so we can provide the best care possible. Utilizing this information in conjunction with each specific patient’s history and physical exam, our providers will recommend the best test to be performed for each individual patient. It is important to understand that there is no one size fits all approach when dealing with Covid-19!
This can be a challenging question and there is significant information and clinical decisions to be made, based upon that information to make the best recommendations about testing.
If you previously had a confirmed positive test, the CDC does not support “retesting until negative” and many insurance companies will not cover repeated tests in this circumstance. The reason for this is that you are likely to continue testing positive for up to 3 or more months. What is critical, is whether you have symptoms of Covid-19 or possibly some other source of infection.
If you have never tested positive and are concerned that you have been exposed, it is best to quarantine to protect others (even if you have no symptoms) and wait until day 5 after exposure to be tested, while maintaining the quarantine.
If you have never previously tested positive but are now symptomatic, we can certainly test you, although the results may be conflicting. In this situation maintaining quarantine to protect others is paramount until you have been tested and the result is available. Also keep in mind, that while Covid-19 is by far the most prevalent current community infection, there are literally hundreds of other viral illnesses which could be responsible for your current symptoms. Strep throat, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and to a lesser extent, influenza, are still prevalent at this time and can be the source of your symptoms or illness.
Patients of all ages can be tested at Lakes Urgent Care, but we ask that you kindly make an appointment in advance so we can minimize any wait time for you in addition to minimizing the number of patients in the urgent care at any given time, which helps eliminate exposure risks for everyone. You can easily make an appointment by going to our website and taking a few short minutes to register and find an available convenient time for you or a family member.
Unauthorized vaping products regularly enter the market, and underage sales too frequently occur in stores and online. Some experts believe vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. But much is unknown about the long-term health consequences of vaping. Unlike traditional cigarettes, E-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, don’t involve combustion and contain fewer ingredients. A 2018 analysis of more than 800 peer-reviewed scientific studies suggests that “e-cigarettes are likely to be far less harmful than combustible tobacco cigarettes.” While vaping exposes users to some toxicants, the vapor has “fewer numbers and lower levels of most toxicants” than cigarette smoke. However, E-cigarettes have not received FDA approval as a medical smoking cessation device.
E-cigarettes are undeniably harmful, exposing users to numerous toxic and carcinogenic substances that may lead to adverse health effects. But they virtually eliminate exposure to carbon monoxide, tar and many of the 7,000 chemicals that contribute to cigarettes’ lethality. In short, e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, but they are by no means safe! As of last week, the CDC has reported a total of 29 vaping related deaths across the US, in contrast to nearly half a million cigarette related deaths annually. Vaping products from reputable, regulated manufacturers may indeed be measurably safer than traditional cigarettes, but there is simply not enough experience or research to know the ultimate health impact vaping will have on users. The simple and safe answer is, don’t smoke cigarettes and don’t vape.
It is true that most smokers who try E-cigarettes continue to smoke, but that does not mean that E-cigarettes are an ineffective cessation aid. Most smokers who try FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies also continue to smoke, but such products are still officially deemed “effective.” The best source of advice and guidance to quit smoking cigarettes or discontinue the use of vaping products will be your primary care physician. There is certainly not a “one fits all” approach but keep trying to quit if you are a smoker or vaper!