Archive | March, 2009

The Dos and Don’ts of Eczema Treatment

4866654959 d1e6968ccf m The Dos and Donts of Eczema Treatment

Eczema is a chronic skin disease. It is diagnosed when the part of anybodys skin becomes dry, itchy, red, crusty, and thick with small blisters on it. Basically, it is an allergic condition that affects the skin badly. The scientific name of eczema is atopic dermatitis. Though it is not true that there is no cure for this disease of chronic nature, Eczema treatment needs multiple therapies.

The problem with eczema is that the real causes behind this skin disease have not yet been discovered. In order to treat a disease it is necessary to know its cause. Since doctors are not clear about the cause behind eczema, curing it remains difficult. So far, it is found that eczema is caused by just about anything that comes in contact with the skin. Atopic people, who are extra sensitive to skin irritation, easily catch this disease.

Since eczema treatment is difficult and time killing, dermatologists initially aim at controlling itching, lessening the intensity of skin inflammation, clearing the infection, smoothening and removing rough lesions and reducing new lesions. There are various creams and therapies available for eczema treatment that they prescribe.

However, they give equal emphasise on maintaining a strict skin care routine for getting effective result. The aim here is to lessen the irritation and uncomfortable feeling. Cleanliness really works in this regard. Regular bath taking is also highly helpful as it moisturise the skin. It is highly advisable to use moisturisers or emollients after shower.

Along with all that one must do to get effective result from eczema treatment, there are a few things that one should refrain from. To begin with, scratching on the skin is to be avoided totally. Patients and caretakers should be careful about this fact. Then one should have patience to get effective result from eczema treatment as the process may become a little lengthy and boring.

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Nutritional Benefits of Apricots

Nutritional Benefits of Apricots

The U.S. government recommends eating at least three servings of fruit per day. Whether you choose apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries or one of the many popular dried fruits, that’s expensive news in today’s economy.

But what if the benefits outweigh the cost? What if one small, unassuming and perhaps underappreciated fruit could soothe nerves, dispel physical and mental fatigue, eradicate insomnia, lift depression, and relieve stress? Sound preposterous? Not so, say recent studies.


Consider the amazing apricot, a member of the rose family discovered in China nearly 4,000 years ago. While boosting the nervous system, these little golden beauties improve digestion and help detoxify the body, fight against bacteria, infections and cancer, and have been proven to actually reconstruct damaged tissue over time. Power-packed with water, sugar, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, P and PP, apricots are health boosters not only inside, but outside the body as well.

Want improved eyesight? Try munching a few apricots for one of your fruit choices each day. Its antioxidant vitamin A content will help abate night blindness and impaired vision by quenching free radicals. That’s good news for eyes, less damage or injury to the eyes’ lenses, and a lower chance of losing precious sight to macular degeneration.

Do you long for a model’s beautiful skin? Pamper yourself with the benefits of the apricot’s 45% oil core, widely used for its calming effect to the skin by massage therapists. Try juicing fresh apricot leaves for application to itchy skin, eczema, sunburn or scabies. You’ll love the cool, soothing relief.

Looking for higher real-food fiber in your diet? Similar to, but slightly smaller than a peach, the apricot’s sensuous golden orange-velvet skin, slightly acidic juice, and pulpy soft inner kernel are packed with fiber, low in calories, and a superb snack. For an even healthier option, try dried apricots, increasing the concentration of beta carotene, fiber, potassium and iron. Take care, though, that the drying process does not negate the benefits of this delicious fruit. Because apricots turn dark when sun dried, sulphur dioxide and sulfites are often used in the drying process to help prevent oxidation, causing adverse reactions in an estimated one out of every 100 sulfite-sensitive people, particularly asthmatics.

Many websites offer information about certified organic, low-sulfur or no sulfur, kosher apricots. Here are three, randomly chosen, for your perusal:

* http://www.organicfeast.com.au /custom/products/html

* http://www.nutsonline.com/drie dfruit/apricots/organic.html

* http://www.foodadelaide.com/me mbers/nutsfruitberries/afi.htm l

Apricots are not the only fruit beneficial to the human body, and perhaps not the least expensive. But when compared to other fruit choices, the apricot kernel’s high content of vitamin B17, which experts have discovered effectively helps prevent cancer, makes this quiet and unobtrusive fruit well worth discovering. Try adding some to your diet today.

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References:

http://www.apricotproducers.co m/html/consumhis.htm

www.austfoodinnovators.com.au/ health.htm

www.juicing-for-health.com/apr icot.html

http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/ FOOD_IS_ART/apricots.html

www.allfitnessweb.com/nutritio n/apricots-benefits.htmNutriti onal Benefits of Apricots

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Hand Dermatitis Treatment Tip

3600997381 c5c0ebe7b8 Hand Dermatitis Treatment Tip

Hand dermatitis (also known as hand eczema) often results from a combination of causes, including genetic makeup (constitutional factors), injury (contact with irritants) and allergy. This condition is usually multi-factorial. The skin can react to the inflammation by forming scales. Fissures can then develop and these can be quite painful. The majority of individuals who have irritant dermatitis (75% of all cases of hand dermatitis) will produce this through contact with detergents, cleansers, water, metals, food or rubber. Hand dermatitis is particularly common in industries involving cleaning, catering, metalwork, hairdressing, healthcare and mechanical work. Hand dermatitis varies in severity. It may affect the backs of the hands, the palms or both sites.

Often it starts as a mild intermittent complaint, but it can become increasingly severe and persistent. The affected skin initially becomes red and dry, then progresses to itchy papules (bumps) and fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), scaling, cracking (fissures), weeping (exudation) and swelling (oedema). Hand dermatitis can spread to affect other sites, particularly the forearms and feet. Emotional stresses make hand dermatitis worse, especially the type known as pompholyx in which crops of very itchy vesicles erupt on the palms. Some people are more prone to hand dermatitis than others. They often have a personal or family history of atopic dermatitis, asthma or hay fever. Friction and repetitive injury also damage the skin. Irritants result in much more damage once dermatitis has become established

To treat hand dermatitis, you must avoid contact with the substance that irritates your skin. Protect your hands from direct contact with soaps, detergents, scouring powders, and similar irritating chemicals by wearing waterproof, cotton lined, gloves. Topical steroids to reduce inflammation. These come in various strengths and should only be applied to areas of active dermatitis once or twice daily. Avoid the temptation of using very hot water even if wearing gloves. Wear cotton gloves to do general house work as they can be washed instead of washing your hands too often. Cortisone ointments are used treat severe cases of hand dermatitis.

Mud Gloves are good for working outside if you have hand dermatitis. Use a mild soap (Dove, Basis, Olay, Cetaphil) or a soap substitute.

Hand Dermatitis Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Use a long handled brush for washing the dishes

2. Avoid direct contact with turpentine, paint thinner and paints.

3. Avoid the temptation of using very hot water even if wearing gloves.

4. Keep hand washing to a minimum, keep water temperature luke warm

5. Avoid harsh or scented soaps, soapless cleansers may be the best to use.

6. Apply moisturizers after washing, ointments that are clear and sticky seem to work the best.

7. Avoid heating or cooling the skin, sweating within rubber gloves alone can worsen the dermatitis.

8. Wear cotton gloves to do general house work as they can be washed instead of washing your hands too often.

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