Cates Care Medical Clinic

06/28/2025

We will be closed the week of July 4th and will be back Monday, July 7th.

Beginning Tuesday, July 8th. Dean will offer Telehealth appointments only, starting at 5pm. Clinic staff will still be available during regular office hours to assist with phone calls, lab work, and any other needs you may have.
Thank you for your patience during this transition

06/27/2025

To the Patients of Cates Care,

I have, with great difficulty, decided to accept a position working for Phillips Petroleum. I will be seeing patients starting July 8 at 5:00pm by telehealth. The staff will continue to maintain the regular hours so the office can be contacted and your needs will be handled by them or relayed to me. It has been a wonderful pleasure to spend these last years with you and be a part of your life. The office will continue to operate and I am in the process of finding a full time replacement for the clinic. The clinic will continue to perform and meet your needs during this transition. Thank you for your wisdom, laughter, tears, and allowing me to learn so much from you. You have welcomed me into this wonderful community and I will always be grateful.

Thank you Thank you Thank you
Dean Cates

* Letters will follow.

06/15/2025

Happy Father’s Day to the best dad!!
From the child who controls your social media ❤️❤️

06/13/2025

The right sunscreen can help reduce your risk of skin cancer and early aging caused by the sun!!!
To prevent sunburns, apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Use sunscreen whenever you are going to be outside, even on cloudy days
- Don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears, and the top of your head
- When outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming, or sweating

06/12/2025

Swimmer's Itch: Also called clam digger's itch, this itchy rash appears after wading or swimming in lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. You get it when parasites in the water burrow into your skin, causing tiny red spots on areas your swimsuit didn't cover. Sometimes, intensely itchy welts (hives) and blisters appear.
Children are especially susceptible because they tend to stay in shallow, warmer water.
You can prevent swimmer's itch by taking the following precautions:
- Stay out of infested water. When the water is infested, you may see a sign that tells you to stay out of the water, or you may hear about someone who recently developed an itchy rash after being in the water.
- Briskly rub your skin (and your child's skin) with a towel after getting out of the water. The parasites start to burrow when the water on your skin begins evaporating, not while you're in the water.

06/11/2025

June is National Internet Safety Month! Check out the great safety tips The Bridge - Children's Advocacy Center recommends for your child!

A PARENT'S GUIDE TO YOUR CHILD AND THE INTERNET📱
1. The first line of defense for parents is to use the software and settings on your child's electronic device. Many companies such as Apple or Android/Google offer support in limiting your child's access to the internet, such as; preventing explicit content, restricting apps to download, prevent app or store purchases, set time limits, and prevent the ability to change settings or features.

2. 3rd party apps/software filter content, monitor online activity, messaging, chatting, and use keyword usage alerts to help with cyberbullying, online predators, or personal information requests. There are many options for this this type of app, here are several: Aura, Bark, Gabb, Qustodio, or Norton Family.

3. Part of online safety is limiting screen time. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry suggests children ages 6-17 have 2 hours or less of screen time per weekday. One of the most important aspects of being a parent is modeling healthy behaviors, and regularly having open conversations.

06/11/2025

Dermatologists recommend that you immediately (within 10 to 20 minutes of touching the plant or its oils) do the following after encountering poison ivy, oak, or sumac:

1. Immediately wash the part of your skin that touched the plant with one of the following: Rubbing alcohol, cleanser, soap, towelettes, dishwashing soap, or laundry detergent
- Wash your skin gently. Scrubbing can cause a rash because you rub the plant's oil, which leads to a rash, into your skin.

2. Thoroughly rinse with plenty of cool water. This removes the rubbing alcohol or other product from your skin. Leaving one of these products on your skin could irritate it, causing a different type of rash.

3. Wash under your nails: This will remove any oil that may have gotten trapped there.

06/10/2025

Acne & Folliculitis

Acne Breakouts: When sweat mixes with bacteria and oils on your skin, it can clog your pores. If you have acne-prone skin, this often means breakouts. Dermatologists recommend the following to help prevent acne:
- Blot sweat from your skin with a clean towel or cloth. Wiping sweat off can irritate your skin, leading to a breakout.
- Wash sweaty clothes, headbands, towels, and hats before wearing them again.
- Use non-comedogenic products on your face, neck, back, and chest. The label may also say "oil free" or "won't clog pores."

Folliculitis: Every hair on your body grows out of an opening called a follicle. When follicles get infected, you develop folliculitis. Infected hair follicles look like pimples but tend to be itchy and tender. To reduce your risk of getting folliculitis this summer:
- Immediately after your workout, change out of tight workout clothes like biking shorts and shower.
- Stay out of hot tubs and whirlpools if you're unsure whether the acid and chlorine levels are properly controlled. So many people get folliculitis from a hot tub that a condition called "hot tub folliculitis" exists.
- Wear light-weight, loose-fitting clothes when it's hot and humid

06/09/2025

Skin health is essential during the summer, so we are posting common skin problems during this time of year throughout the week!
Prickly heat (heat rash): Blocked sweat glands cause this. Because the sweat cannot get out, it builds up under your skin, causing a rash and tiny, itchy bumps. When the bumps burst and release sweat, many people feel a prickly sensation on their skin. Anything you can do to stop sweating profusely will help reduce your risk. Tips that dermatologists offer to their patients to help them sweat less and thereby lessen their risk of getting prickly heat include:
- Wear light-weight, loose-fitting clothes made of cotton.
Exercise outdoors during the coolest parts of the day or move your workout indoors where you can be in air conditioning.
- Keep your skin cool by using fans, cool showers, and air-conditioning when possible.

06/08/2025

Stay safe out there!!

Send a message to learn more

06/07/2025

This is the new official page for NAMI Texas Panhandle, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Due to a hacking issue, administrators of our old page were no longer able to post, create events, or respond to messages. Please share our new page with everyone in the community who could benefit from our free mental health support groups, classes, meetings with speakers, and advocacy!

06/05/2025