health care information

such as rashes, blemishes, blackheads and acne. Commonly developing during puberty, acne usually occurs during a time of life when the individual is the most vulnerable and socially insecure. This makes acne not only a physical condition but sometimes an emotional and/or psychological one. Acne can shatter an individual’s confidence. Acne breakouts are the result of excessive secretions of oil from glands under the skin, leading to a buildup that blocks the ducts leading to the skin’s surface. Acne primarily affects the face, chest, back and upper arms. Some people continue to suffer from acne related skin infections for many years past their adolescence, although it usually diminishes during early adulthood. There is no definite way to determine when acne breakouts will stop.
Acne is frustrating for many people because it is unpredictable and sometimes seems out-of-control. Breakouts have been attributed to several factors, including diet, heredity and genetics, vitamin deficiencies and stress. Since the exact causes acne are still unknown and there isn’t any measure available to prevent it. The best defense is a good acne skin care regimen which ameliorates and controls acne breakouts. For more severe types of acne, such as cystic acne, a dermatologist should be consulted since medical treatments are advisable to prevent or lessen scarring, but for milder forms of acne there are many options available.
Six General Tips For Living With Acne:
1. Washing twice a day, using mild cleansers and gentle movements is the best acne skin care regimen. Gentle cleansing removes excess oils, dirt, and pollutants which contribute to the development of blemishes. Strong detergents, harsh scrubbing, and harsh facial scrubbers irritate the skin and may contribute to inflammation and breakouts. Also, its best to avoid opening the blemishes since it may spread the infection over the skin. Squeezing pimples may also cause them to burst under the skin infecting other skin pores as a result, dermatologists strongly advise against doing this. Shampooing regularly also helps to prevent acne by keeping the natural oils from hair off of the skin surface.
2. Astringents may be helpful for very oily skin but should be avoided for other skin types. Choose astringents and other topical applications carefully, if they are too strong it may cause more oil production and irritation.
3. For men, shaving should be done carefully in order to avoid irritating or spreading acne. Choose a safety razor that is right for you by testing out a few. Soften beards by first washing the face and neck with mild soap and warm water; then apply a shaving cream. Use care in selecting the shaving cream because many contain ingredients such as menthol that may irritate your acne. Use a sharp razor and shave lightly to avoid cuts and rupturing blemishes.
4. Exposing your skin for a while to the sun may help to erase blemishes at the skin surface. The natural vitamin D in sunlight has been shown to improve skin quality. Nevertheless, care should be taken to avoid excess sun exposure which leads to premature aging, dryness and sunburn, and the development of skin cancer. Some prescription medications also cause photo-sensitivity. Discuss with your physician whether mild sun exposure may help with your individual case.
5. Individuals with acne should use oil free cosmetic products. Many cosmetics contain fatty acids that may be harmful to acne prone individuals. Select good quality cosmetics but be aware that some “oil free” products may be drying to the skin. Look for organic or acne-related skin care products to lessen the impact of cosmetics upon acne. Keep in mind that topical applications for acne treatment, such as some Benzoyl peroxide products, may react with the facial cosmetics.
6. It is best to consult a dermatologist before applying any acne skin care product. Particularly for serious cases of acne infection, treatment by a dermatologist is advisable to keep acne under control and to prevent breakouts. Observing proper acne skin care is important especially for younger individuals. Blemishes and rashes tend to heal faster when a person is younger but severe acne cases should be properly taken care of to prevent scarring. A healthy diet and lifestyle will also lessen the effects of acne.

Superstitious Beliefs We all have these superstitious beliefs about hair loss. When our hair starts to fall off little by little, we start blaming our mother’s father for passing down some bad genes. When we find out that our grandfathers had thick hair until their very last days, we start blaming all the stressful activities that we go through – career problems, marital bliss, among others. Then, we also conclude that it might just be an effect of a psychological phase that we are undergoing. And if nothing is to blame for all of these, we conclude that it is all because of our unexplainable fondness for tight hats. However, these preconceived ideas are more superstitious than factual. They are not really the causes for becoming bald. Factual Information on Baldness and Hair Loss To understand baldness in a more logical perspective, it is something that is brought upon by various reasons. Some baldness are caused by some diseases that directly target hair or hair growth. Alopecia areata is an example. There is also an illness called Traction alopecia which cause people to pull on their hair. Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism, both of which are abnormalities in one’s thyroid glands, could also cause frontal and parietal hair loss, respectively. Hair loss can also be caused by a person’s insufficient diet. Inadequate protein or iron can bring about hair loss and if not diagnosed, could eventually lead to a lot of hair falling. Medical treatments such as chemotherapy and other forms of radiation and drugs can stun hair growth and could also result to hair fall. Even those who are taking contraceptive pills could also experience hair fall. And, quite surprisingly, women who just gave birth and who thought that the only things that they need to worry about after giving birth are the baby and their figures may also experience excessive amounts of their hair falling.Hair Loss Treatments However, no matter what the cause is and no matter what kind of cause we blame baldness to, whether the superstitious or the scientific causes, one thing is certain – baldness causes some psychological effects that could sometimes lead to social dysfunctions brought upon by depression, social phobia, anxiety, and to some extent, identity change. Just imagine all of those people you know, both men and women, who used to be very positive and sociable and turned to completely individuals when their hair loss stared becoming more apparent. In a more positive light, baldness, however, has hair loss treatments that could sometimes reverse the whole hair loss process if it is detected early on. Though it is much easier to just maintain what remains of the hair than to regrow it, nowadays, there are already a lot of treatments that could actually regrow what was lost from hair loss. In fact, there are two treatments that are approved to be safe and effective for treating hair loss – finasteride and minoxidil. Aside form these drugs, treatments such as low-level laser therapy, surgery, and hair multiplication, are also hair loss treatments that can be used. Another drug, ketoconazole, used in some shampoos, is also used because of its ability to stimulate hair growth. Unsaturated fatty acids are also taken orally to induce hair growth. Some more natural methods include some changes in one’s diet and lifestyle. Aerobic exercises, weight training and diet with sufficient iron and protein can be used to stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss. Some other known hair loss remedies include Immunosuppressants, saw palmetto, Polygonum multiflorum, Hedgehog agonists, WNT gene related and coffee beans. Yet, some people opt for the more direct but superficial approach of baldness and hair loss concealment. Wearing a wig or hat, choosing a hair style that conceals bald spot and or combing over are just some of the tricks that people use. However, there are still those who do not seek hair loss treatments anymore and save themselves from the grueling match and mismatch of known hair loss treatments that could work best for them. What they do is they open their arms wide open to accept their fate and just live with the baldness that they have. This, of course, requires a high level of tolerance and self esteem. For people who can’t manage social pressure, this kind of approach is not highly recommended.

A snoring problem may seem to be small but is quite grave if understood it properly. It is a warning that you are not able to breathe properly when you sleep. This means that your body is not getting sufficient oxygen and you strive and struggle to gain it as you snore. Also it is a sign that you have habits that are making the passage of air blocked. The snoring problem is also a problem for your partner, who is unable to sleep because of your snoring.

CAUSES:

Snoring is caused when the flow of air in the nasal passages and mouth are blocked or obstructed. Snoring usually occurs right before a person enters deep sleep. At this phase, the muscles in the throat, tongue and soft palate relax. If they relax enough, they block the airway and vibrate together, causing the snoring sound that we all know. Louder snoring occurs when the air passages are narrower, which causes the tissues to vibrate together more and the passage of air to become more vigorous, in turn resulting in louder snoring.

Snoring may also be caused by a medical condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is more than just a form of snoring. With sleep apnea, the throat tissues block the air passages, preventing a person from breathing. Eventually the person wakes up with a start due to lack of air. This condition may continue throughout the night.

CURE:

TREATMENT:

Surgery is one of the medical treatments available to snorers. There are different types of surgery that may be offered. In one surgery, called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, the doctor trims excess throat tissues and tightens the remaining tissues. In a surgery called laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty, the doctor uses a small laser to remove the uvula and to shorten the soft palate, which makes the airway bigger and reduces snoring. This surgery is not recommended for light to moderate snorers however.