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HEALTH & SAFETY

PPUECKRERFUEPCTOTTHBE ALM

Soothing balms help shield your lips from winter’s chill, but finding the
right one for your skin can be tough.

Lip balms come 1. Keep it simple. Lip balms that have 2. Protect your lips from the sun. The sun’s rays
in a variety of scents and flavors can bother your skin can damage your lips, even in winter. If you’re
flavors, scents and dry out your lips. Look for fragrance-, spending time outside, use a lip balm with an SPF
and even sun flavor- and menthol-free balms that contain of at least 15—an SPF of 30 or higher is best for
protection petrolatum (a kind of jelly). You’ve found the sunny days.
factors (SPFs). right product if the label says “petrolatum,”
Try these tips “petroleum jelly” or “mineral oil,” according STILL STRUGGLING WITH CHAPPED LIPS? TO
to find the to the American Academy of Dermatology. FIND A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHO CAN
perfect one for These ingredients help prevent water loss HELP, VISIT WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/
your smile. and seal in moisture. FIND-A-DOCTOR.

MAKE Rx SAFETY A TOP PRIORITY

Next time you toss old prescriptions, follow this guide.

THE NEW YEAR is a great time to clean out your medicine cabinet—something that helps keep you and your family safe,
according to Chris Doll, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Navicent Health.

“If you’re done taking a medication, you shouldn’t keep the extra around the house,” Doll says. “Don’t save it for later.
Medications expire and may interact badly with other treatments or supplements you start taking.”

Take care when you throw away medications. Check your local pharmacy or law enforcement agencies for take-back programs.
If you have to dispose of them yourself, the Food and Drug Administration suggests following these steps:

LIQUIDS, TABLETS AND CAPSULES PATCHES NEEDLES AND SYRINGES

1. R emove the medication from the 1. F old the patches in half, 1. P lace used needles and syringes in
original prescription container sticky sides together. a thick plastic container, such as
and place them in a bag. a detergent bottle or other heavy
2. P ut the patches in a child- plastic bottle.
2. Add a small amount of water. safe container and throw the
3. M ix in something undesirable, container away. 2. W hen the container is three-
fourths full, seal the lid with
such as dirt or kitty litter. 3. P atches that contain dangerous, duct tape.
4. Seal the bag and put in the trash. controlled substances should
5. M ark out any private information be folded in half, sticky sides 3. W rite “sharps” on the outside of
together, and flushed down the bottle with a marker.
on the original the toilet.
prescription container 4. Throw the container in
before throwing it away. the trash.

3WINTER 2017 | navicenthealth.org