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MONKEYPOX: WHAT IS IT:
🦠 Causes an illness similar to the flu with a pimple-like rash
🦠 The less deadly cousin of smallpox
🦠 Less infectious than Covid19
🦠 It spreads via inhaling droplets / touching the rash
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SYMPTOMS:
🦠 The skin rash = solid bumps that can fill with fluid, then crust over with possible scarring
🦠 Other symptoms = Fever, fatigue, cough and swollen lymph nodes
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MONKEYPOX TREATMENT & PREVENTION:
🦠 The smallpox vaccine is > 85% effective in preventing monkeypox
🦠 Avoid unprotected intercourse, wear a mask/gloves around infected persons/animal
🦠 Outside of Africa, it's common in MSM. But anyone can catch it, unrelated to sexual orientation
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After the monkeypox rash resolves, the skin can be left with lasting scars of different types.
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HOW TO TREAT SCARS
❗Here's a truth: scars are expensive and difficult to fade, and there's no easily affordable & instant solution for them. The best approach is to avoid & prevent scars all together❗
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DIVETED SCARS
⚕️In-office treatments such as microneedling, lasers or chemical peels work best to lift up diveted skin
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BUMPY SCARS
⚕️A series of steroid injection treatments work well
⚕️Other options: lasers, silicone gels
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DISCOLOURED SKIN
⚕️This can fade a little over time, but consider these options:
⚕️Hydroquinone under medical supervision
⚕️Other skincare ingredients: azeleic acid, kojic acid, tranexamic acid
⚕️Chemical peels
⚕️Lasers
⚕️Sunscreen to prevent worsening
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Most importantly, you can prevent/minimize scars by:
⚕️Getting the vaccine if you are high-risk
⚕️Protecting yourself by wearing gloves and a mask where needed
⚕️Treating the illness asap if it occurs
⚕️Avoid scratching the rash if you develop it
⚕️Following normal hygiene practices if you develop the rash
⚕️Applying vaseline to healing wounds
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Stay safe!