Dear friends and amazing patients,

You may have heard that we are opening our clinic doors again to see our patients this week. While we focus on taking care of your skin concerns in clinic, we also will be implementing new protocols to keep the clinic environment as safe as possible. Part of that is done by educating ourselves with the right knowledge about this infectious pandemic.

So here are a few myths and facts that can help us understand what is true and what is not about COVID-19:

1. Myth: You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by injecting, swallowing, bathing in or rubbing onto your body bleach, disinfectants or rubbing alcohols.

These products are highly toxic and should never be swallowed or injected into the body. Call 911 if this occurs and correct others that believe this absurd suggestion.

2. Myth: A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available.

There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus right now. Scientists have already begun working on one, but developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many months.

3. Myth: The new coronavirus was deliberately created or released by people.

Viruses can change over time. Occasionally, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in an animal such as a pig, bat or bird undergoes changes and passes to humans. This is likely how the new coronavirus came to be.

4. Myth: Eating garlic can help prevent infection with COVID-19

Garlic will help only because it makes social distancing certainly easier! There is no evidence that shows garlic protects people from the virus.

5. Myth: Antibiotics can kill the virus that causes COVID-19. No antibiotic can kill a virus. Antibiotics are only to be used when there is known, documented co-infection with bacteria.

6. Fact: COVID-19 is not the same as the flu.

Although both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are both respiratory illnesses, they have many differences. They share some of the same symptoms, but symptoms usually appear more quickly with the flu than with COVID-19. The fatality rate from COVID-19 is much higher.

One other key difference: There is a vaccine and specific medicines to treat the flu. There is currently no vaccine or medication for COVID-19.

7. Fact: People of any age should worry about COVID-19, not just the older population.

COVID-19 can affect people of any age. It is true that older adults have a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and of having more serious complications from it. However, people of all ages can get the disease. It’s important for everyone to use prevention tactics such as handwashing and masks. Other at-risk groups include people with existing medical conditions like chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, liver disease, or renal failure, people who are immunocompromised due to factors like cancer treatment, HIV, transplants, and other causes

All those factors can put people of any age at risk.

8. Myth: Hand dryers can kill COVID-19 No, hand dryers are not a treatment to kill the virus that causes COVID-19. The reason for that is that they just increase the air circulation of the viruses, as that air ― either warm or not warm ― is blowing against the skin of your hands.

9. Myth : Hot, humid climates protective you from COVID-19

Evidence to date actually shows that COVID-19 can be transmitted in all areas, and climate has not been shown to be a factor.

10. Myth: Mosquitoes can spread coronavirus

Some people believe mosquitoes can spread the virus, but that’s not the case. Humans are spreading the coronavirus to each other via airborne droplets, and no mosquito is needed as a vector.

Clinic and virtual visits are available by emailing dsbtelederm@thedermspecialists.com , or contact us at (810) 355 4300.

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