Archive | January, 2010

Sunburn Relief – Part 1

ad4 Sunburn Relief   Part 1
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150050399 d34041b91e t Sunburn Relief   Part 1

Heat Sickness heat stroke, exhaustion and fainting (syncope)can happen when a person becomes too heated and dehydrated.

Sunburn may be present, too, but not necessarily. For fevers, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, trouble looking at light (possible cornea burn) see healthcare provider or head to emergency room ASAP.

Here are some sunburn relief – remedies for you:

For sunburns, drink plenty of fluids. And make them clear and cool.

Either apply cool (not cold) compresses or soak in cool (not cold) water. Do not use soap since it can dry out your skin, causing more discomfort.

Do NOT apply butter or grease or anything like similar to burns, even if you think those old wives tales are worth trying; they are not because they hold in the heat and will increase the pain.

Products For Sunburns

To help with sunburn pain and discomfort, try adding about a cup of baking soda or a cup of Aveeno to bath water.

Moisturizers without alcohol can help with itching, especially aloe vera-based products, which are also helpful for either applying directly to burns or adding to water; check product labels and see which can be cooled first in the refrigerator before applying for more soothing affect.

Blisters For Sunburn

Blisters, use antibiotic cream and sterile gauze wrappings to keep clean and uninfected. Do not burst or force blisters open.

Check Your Skin!

For your safety, regularly check your skin for possible problems areas. If you notice a mole or other spot on your skin with any of the following qualities, contact your healthcare provider for advice and possible testing: bleeding, growth (larger than pencil eraser), uneven edges, flaking or itching.

The best way to avoid sunburn is prevention!

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Pityriasis Rosea Treatment Tips

505006500 5ab6de0de2 m Pityriasis Rosea Treatment Tips

Pityriasis rosea is a harmless, common skin problem that causes a rash. It appears as a rash that can last from several weeks to several months. The way the rash looks may differ from person to person. It most often develops in the spring and the fall, and seems to favor adolescents and young adults. Pityriasis rosea is uncommon in those over 60 years old. It may last months longer when it occurs in this age group. A single scaling patch often appears one to twenty days before the general rash. It is an oval plaque 2-5 cm in diameter, with a scale trailing just inside the edge of the lesion. The herald patch is often mistaken as ringworm. It can also be confused with psoriasis. It is most common in females and those between the ages of 8 and 35. Symptoms only recur in 3% of the affected.

Pityriasis rosea occurs most commonly in the fall and spring. It is believed to be caused by a virus. Pityriasis rosea may have prodromal symptoms (eg, malaise, nausea, anorexia, fever, joint pain, lymph node swelling, headache) that may precede the appearance of the herald patch. About half the people who develop pityriasis rosea have signs or symptoms of an upper respiratory infection such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough or congestion just before the herald patch appears.

Treatment usually focuses on controlling itching. Antihistamines, taken by mouth, may be used to reduce itching. Aveeno oatmeal baths, anti-itch medicated lotions and steroid creams may be prescribed to combat the rash. Lukewarm, rather than hot, baths may be suggested.

Gentle bathing, mild lubricants or creams, or mild hydrocortisone creams may be used to soothe inflammation. Ultraviolet light treatments given under the supervision of a dermatologist may be helpful. Oral anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone may be necessary to promote healing. For mild cases, no treatment is required as this disease is not a dangerous skin condition. Calamine lotion may help the mild itch. Sometimes, if the itch is troublesome, a mild steroid cream may help.

Avoid taking hot showers or baths. Keep the water as cool as you can tolerate. Wear cotton or silk clothing. Avoid wearing wool and acrylic fabrics next to your skin. Use as little soap as possible. Use gentle soaps, such as Basis, Cetaphil, Dove, or Oil of Olay. Avoid deodorant soaps when you have a rash.

Pityriasis Rosea Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Keep the itchy area cool and moist.

2. Avoid taking hot showers or baths. Keep the water as cool as you can tolerate.

3. Try an oatmeal bath, such as Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal bath, to help relieve itching.

4. Apply a moisturizer or calamine lotion to the skin while it is damp.

5. Wear cotton or silk clothing. Avoid wearing wool and acrylic fabrics next to your skin.

6. Use as little soap as possible. Use gentle soaps, such as Basis, and Dove.

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Are You a Victim of Occupational Eczema?

2359157442 3233066df8 t Are You A Victim Of Occupational Eczema?

Skin diseases that are caused by contact with chemicals related to your work are called occupational skin diseases.

In order to diagnose these types of skin diseases, you will have to work closely with your dermatologist. You will need to pinpoint the condition first appearance and what triggers make it worse.

Occupational skin diseases may be furthered by irritants you are using at home. The most common occupational eczema include: allergic contact dermatitis, hives (contact urticaria), and irritant contact dermatitis.

What is allergic contact dermatitis?
Allergic contact dermatitis is not only common but has a huge list of potential suspects behind it. Allergens may be aromatic chemicals, caustic chemicals, metals, organic chemicals, plants, plant extracts or any combination of these. Haptens, simple chemicals that require a protein bond to become an antigen, are the most common culprits.

The immune system is a factor in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), meaning that people who have weakened immune systems are more susceptible to ACD, which makes age a factor in diagnosis.

Depending on location and chronic qualities, the appearance of ACD varies. Most symptoms include: blisters (of all sizes), cracking, flaking, inflammation, papules, redness, and swelling. Common body areas for manifestation include: ears, face, feet, hands, and neck. Common culprits include:

Adhesives.
Beauty Products, including cosmetics, skin/hair care
Chemicals
Dyes
Jewelry
Latex based products
Plants (and plant derivatives)
Rubber based products

Typically, treatment of ACD includes: identifying the allergen and finding/following ways to avoid it which may include substitution of a different product. Topical medication in the form of corticosteroids will relieve symptoms.

What are Hives (contact urticaria)?

Hives can be caused by either allergens or caustic substances and can attack people with atopic dermatitis very easily. For example, a person who works at a cosmetics counter and is required to wear that product may have more trouble if they have atopic dermatitis. Treatment for this form of occupational eczema is the same as for allergic contact dermatitis.

What is irritant contact dermatitis?

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common form of occupational eczema and affects exposed areas of skin (arms, face, hands, and neck). It can just bed a reddish patch of chapped skin or it can be as bad as skin ulcers. Itching is extreme and scratching seriously worsens the flare up.

An inherited overactive response to triggers is one cause longer life spans and more severe symptoms in patients with atopic dermatitis. These triggers can be temperature/precipitation, friction, chemical irritants and stress. The number of potential irritants is very large and on-the-job contact may be with one or more:

Adhesives/glues
Alkalis
Aromatic chemicals
Asphalt
Bacteria
Bathroom cleaning products
Chemical salts
Foods
Fungi
Gases
Glass fibers
Lubricants
Metals
Plants/derivatives
Soaps and detergents
Solvents
Tar

Irritant contact dermatitis is treated the same as allergic contact dermatitis, but the addition of exposure modification and protection are critical, as is educating the workers.

With any form of occupational eczema, it is as important to be aware of possible infections as it is with other forms of dermatitis. This is especially true for people who work in agriculture, food processing, food preparation (restaurants/cafeterias), health care, school systems, and veterinary medicine. The tendency of the skin to get broken open through scratching allows infection to attack your already deprived immune system with ease.

Consultation with a doctor is important for diagnosis. Skin infections, whether bacterial, fungal, or viral can mimic eczema but can be cured and may be contagious; eczema is not. Prompt treatment of these infections can lead to further complications and spread of the infection.

Other Occupational Skin Conditions

Acne: comedogenic products, such as theatrical cosmetics, industrial oils, cooking oils can cause acne. Comedogenic means that the pores are plugged with an oily substance, which becomes apparent through both black and white heads.

Apparel with rubber lining (such as hard hats and rubber straps for carrying tools) may also be comedogenic in some occupations.

Frictional dermatitis: this is caused by repetition in handling of necessary tools for the job. For example, a worker who sews the tags on blue jeans may get frictional dermatitis from the constant movement of the denim against her hands/arms.

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What Is Irritant Contact Dermatitis?

510834216 f3627e4320 What is Irritant Contact Dermatitis?

Irritant contact dermatitis is a condition that occurs when the skin is damaged faster than it is capable to repair. This damage is perpetrated by chemicals or physical agents it shows with redness, itching, swelling, scaling and blistering on certain areas.

Irritant contact dermatitis can look very similar to other types of dermatitis, a doctor may need the help of biopsy to determine what kind of dermatitis you present. This condition will also vary in strength in different cases, depending on the strength and amount of the irritant, the exposure to substances, the sensitivity of the skin and other environmental factors.

About Irritants

The triggers for this dermatitis type vary; they can be common thing such as water, adhesives, acids, solvents and even friction. Don’t think they only work alone, at times a combination of these are needed to trigger the contact dermatitis. These substances remove the oil and moisture on the skin, and this situation help the irritants cause even more damage.

Everyone can be affected by irritant contact dermatitis, specially if you are over-exposed to irritants, however the people who are at more risk of developing this condition, are the sufferers of atopic dermatitis.

Another type of dermatitis that can be easily mistaken for irritant contact dermatitis is allergic contact dermatitis. The difference is that the later is triggered by an allergen that even in small quantities can cause damage.

How to Treat Irritant Contact Dermatitis

To treat this type of dermatitis, you have to recognise the irritants in your life, and if possible try to stay away from them, or reduce exposure. A doctor may indicate the use of creams including topical steroids, emollient creams and antibiotics in case the skin gets infected.

In case of a chemical burn, you may need water to flush away the chemicals and use a remedy for that type of chemical.

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Psoriasis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

4108638535 3a8d6e270c Psoriasis   Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Psoriasis is believed to be an immune-mediated disease. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. Between 10% and 30% of people who develop psoriasis get a related form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints. Females develop plaque psoriasis earlier than males. Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It is affected around 2% of the population in the UK. It sometimes runs in families. Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis. These include stress and excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals with psoriasis may suffer from depression and loss of self-esteem. As such, quality of life is an important factor in evaluating the severity of the disease. There also is a genetic component associated with psoriasis. Approximately one-third of people who develop psoriasis have at least one family member with the condition.

There are five types of Psoriasis Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. About 80% of people who develop psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, which appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale. The first peak occurrence of plaque psoriasis is in people aged 16-22 years. The second peak is in people aged 57-60 years. These patches, or plaques, frequently form on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. However, the plaques can occur anywhere on the body. The other types are guttate psoriasis (small, red spots on the skin), pustular psoriasis (white pustules surrounded by red skin), inverse psoriasis (smooth, red lesions form in skin folds), and erythrodermic psoriasis (widespread redness, severe itching, and pain). Regardless of type, psoriasis usually causes discomfort. The skin often itches, and it may crack and bleed

Causes of Psoriasis

1.Immune-mediated disorder.

2.Migrate to the dermis.

3.Trigger the release of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNFa.).

4.Stress (physical and mental).

5.Skin injury.

6.Streptococcal infection.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

1.Red patches of skin.

2.Small scaling spots.

3. Itching.

4.Burning.

5.Soreness.

6.Swollen and stiff joints.

Treatment of Psoriasis

There are 3 basic types of treatments for psoriasis: (1) topical therapy (drugs used on the skin), (2) phototherapy (light therapy), and (3) systemic therapy (drugs taken into the body). Vitamin D reduce skin inflammation and help prevent skin cells from reproducing. Vitamin D analogue that may be used alone to treat mild to moderate psoriasis.There can be substantial variation between individuals in the effectiveness of specific psoriasis treatments. Moisturizers help sooth affected skin and reduce the dryness which accompanies the build-up of skin on psoriatic plaques. Ointment and creams containing coal tar, dithranol (anthralin), corticosteroids, vitamin D3 analogues (for example, calcipotriol), and retinoids are routinely used. Some topical agents are used in conjunction with other therapies, especially phototherapy. Tazarotene (Tazorac) is a topical retinoid that is available as a gel or cream. Tazarotene reduces the size of the patches and the redness of the skin.

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