Archive for the ‘seborrheic’ Category

Dry Skin Care

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels “tight” and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin.

Dryness is exacerbated by wind, extremes of temperature and air-conditioning, all of which cause the skin to flake, chap and feel tight. This type of skin is tightly drawn over bones. It looks dull, especially on the cheeks and around the eyes. There may be tiny expression lines on these spots and at the comers of the mouth.

Causes

* The oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin. As a result, the skin becomes dehydrated.
* Skin gets exposed to the elements especially in winter.
* Dry skin could be due to a genetic condition.
* Poor diet. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins, can also contribute to dry skin.
* Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps.
* Conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.

How To Care for Dry Skin

Avoid the use of tap water when cleansing dry skin. The deposits are too drying on the skin. And never, ever use hot water. Use mineral water to freshen your face. Don’t use a washcloth-a rough texture can irritate. In the morning, apply a spray of mineral water on your skin misted on with a plant sprayer. (Do not use a sprayer that had been used for spraying insecticides.) Lightly pat dry.

Dry skin needs plenty of thorough but gentle cleansing, regular stimulation with massage and generous quantities of oil and moisture. It also needs extra careful protection. Washing dry skin with soap and water not only removes grime but also the natural oils protecting the skin. A moisturizer increases the water content of the outer layers of the skin and gives it a soft, moist look.

Use nondetergent, neutral-pH products to cleanse your skin. Avoid using any commercial soap. And always touch your face gently. Double-cleanse with a cream, leaving a light, thin trace of it on the skin after the second cleansing.

Follow a bath or a shower with a mild application of baby oil. Massage your face with home-made nourishing cream every night before retiring. Be generous with the cream in the areas surrounding the eyes where tiny lines and crows feet are born.

Avoid coming in contact with highly alkaline soaps and detergents like washing sodas and powders which contain highly alkaline and drying ingredients.

Moistening with water, then applying a thin film of air-excluding moisturizer, restores the suppleness of the dry skin.

Dry skin most often occurs on the shins, hands and sides of the abdomen. It is more common during the winter months, when humidity is low. Some people also have a genetic, or hereditary, tendency to develop dry skin. In addition, elderly people tend to have more trouble with dry skin due to the natural changes in skin that occur with age.

Treatment is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin.

Dry skin may be prevented or treated by:

* Taking lukewarm baths or showers (instead of hot ones)
* Limiting baths/showers to 5 to 10 minutes
* Applying a moisturizer right after drying off from a shower or washing your hands
* Using a moisturizing body soap and hand soap
* Using heavier creams or ointments during the winter months and lighter lotions in the summer

How Do I know if I Have Dermatitis?

Dry skin is defined as flaking or scaling — which may or may not be itchy — when there is no evidence of dermatitis, or inflammation, of the skin. Some flaking along with redness, however, may be a sign of an underlying dermatitis. There are different types of dermatitis that may cause dry, itchy, flaking skin.

They include:

* Seborrheic dermatitis. This type involves a red, scaly, itchy rash on various areas of the body, particularly those areas that contain many oil glands. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur as scaling on the scalp, eyebrows and sides of the nose.
* Allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an immune reaction, such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis of the hands often causes scaling on the fingers.
* Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this is a long-lasting type of dermatitis that often runs in families. It also may cause excessively dry, itchy skin.
* Athlete’s foot. In many cases, athlete’s foot, a fungal infection, shows up as dry flaking on the soles of the feet.

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Acne Medication Pregnancy Safe

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Safe Acne Medication During Pregnancy for Healthy Skin

Pregnant women do not have to suffer from acne. With care and research, and the help of your doctor, you CAN take steps to clear your skin.

The best time to research safe acne medication during pregnancy is before you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. Obviously, you can’t control the unexpected and planning isn’t always exact. But it helps to be prepared so you can avoid using harmful medications.

Some medications still linger in the body even after prescriptions have ended. This is important for expecting mothers to know since the greatest risk to a baby is during the first month or two. This is the stage when his or her organs are still forming.

Many women are uncertain what acne treatments are pregnancy safe. Make sure you discuss all medications with your doctor before using anything.

Safe Medication During Pregnancy for Acne

Acne medications considered safe for expecting mothers include erythromiycin, clindamycin, azelaic acid, and oral contraceptive pills.

Erythromycin and clindamycin can be used in both topical creams and oral prescriptives. The oral forms of these are antibiotics for severe acne. Since bacteria are able to build resistance to antibiotics, however, erythromycin and clindamycin, though safe, may not be very effective.

Azelaic Acid (Azelex, Finacea, Finevin) is a topical cream for moderate acne with antibacterial properties. There is little risk to the fetus, but there haven’t been any human studies to provide any useful information.

Despite general belief that oral contraceptive pills for acne will harm the baby if continued, there is no evidence showing women to be at a higher risk for defects.

Unsafe Medication During Pregnancy for Acne

Acne medications to avoid during pregnancy include topical and oral retinoids, various antibiotics, and other prescription medicines.

Topical Retinoids like tretinoin and adapalene are derived from Vitamin A and should be avoided during pregnancy. Tretinoin is related to isotretinoin (accutane). There is risk of these ingredients being absorbed into the skin and bloodstream and causing birth defects.

Oral retinoinds like isotretinoin (accutane, roaccutane) are extremely dangerous and should be avoided like the plague during pregnancy. Isotretinoin is commonly used to treat cystic acne. It is banned during pregnancy because it causes malformations to the fetus. Besides a slew of fetal defects, this drug increases the chance of miscarriage and infant death.

If you find out you are pregnant and on this drug, stop taking the drug immediately. If you’re trying to get pregnant, you should stop the drug a month before you start, as recommended by the Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS).

Oral Antibiotics

As a general rule of thumb, oral antibiotics are generally not safe medication during pregnancy, with the exception of oral erythromycin.

Both tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin V) and Doxycycline and Minocycline are oral antibiotics for acne that are frequently prescribed for acne. However, they should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding because of the risk of interfering with bone growth in fetuses.

Other Prescription Medication

Sodium Sulfacetamide is a topical anti-infective medication used to treat acne and seborrheic skin conditions. If taken orally it can affect the fetus. Topically, it likely won’t harm the fetus, but its risk in pregnancy is unknown.

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Eczema Treatment and Prevention

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Allergic forms of the eczema are treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. This medical condition is treated with topical medications, both corticosteroid and non-corticosteroid. In severe cases, systemic (pill) corticosteroids may be needed to control it. In older adults, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is sometimes used against atopic dermatitis, but the skin cancer risk makes this unsuitable for younger people.

Contact dermatitis is treated by removing the irritant responsible and letting the skin heal. The only cure for lichen simplex is to stop scratching.

If you have sensitive skin, you will have to live with it. Susceptibility to most forms of eczema is genetic and unavoidable. Knowing what allergens and irritants to avoid can help you get through life without being inconvenienced by eczema.

Varicose eczema isn’t an allergic or inherited problem. You can prevent it by keeping in good physical shape so that blood flows freely through the legs. Support stockings assist in pumping the blood up out of the leg. Elevating your leg also increases circulation.

Mild seborrhea can be treated and prevented with over-the-counter dandruff shampoos.

Other tips to help you deal with eczema include:

* Bathe in cool or tepid water with gentle soap.
* Use moisturisers immediately after you bathe to keep the moisture locked in. Be cautious of perfumes in these moisturizers, as they may worsen the condition.
* Avoid scratching affected areas. Some people wear cotton gloves at night to prevent scratching in their sleep.
* Keep your fingernails short.
* Don’t let sweat stay on your skin.
* Avoid clothes that don’t let the skin breathe.

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Eczema Symptoms and Complications

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Atopic dermatitis appears as red, itchy, dry skin. It tends to first appear in childhood, and may disappear completely before adulthood. It most often affects the area behind the knees and around the elbows, as well as the face. In infants, it often appears on the chest, scalp and neck. Atopic people who contract the herpes simplex virus can be struck by eczema herpeticum, a dangerous secondary infection of the inflamed skin that causes a worsened rash and fever.

Seborrhea in adults is dandruff. In babies, it can form a thick yellow flaky rash on the scalp. In severe cases, bacteria can build up in fatty deposits, producing an unpleasant odor.

Nummular eczema appears as itchy, red, coin-shaped areas with discharge on the limbs and torso.

Contact dermatitis usually causes a dry, red rash, although there is often some discharge with the rash from poison ivy. The area involved may be a clue to the responsible allergen or irritant. The worst forms of allergic contact dermatitis, such as severe latex condom reactions, can be associated with the potentially fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which is a body-wide response to the allergen.

Varicose eczema appears as inflamed, scaly skin around the lower legs and ankles. Over time, it may turn dark brown.

A rare and severe form of eczema called statis dermatitis can result in bacterial infection and chronic ulceration. If left untreated, this condition can lead to potentially dangerous complications, such as cellulitis, which can be life-threatening.

Making the Diagnosis

If you get inflamed skin, it’s important to tell your doctor about any allergies you have and any unfamiliar substances you have recently come in contact with. Looking at the skin itself will often allow a physician to distinguish particular types of eczema. In people over the age of 6, when the doctor suspects the disease is allergic, you will probably undergo a series of allergy skin tests. The physician scratches the skin with a variety of common allergens to determine which ones you’re allergic to.

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Seborrheic Dermatitis

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Seborrheic dermatitis- Cure for Dry Skin.

Eczema or Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disease which has many causes and reasons. Various external and internal factors but major causes are a suppressed immune system and environmental factors. Usually people who have Dermatitis have a weak immune system and sensitive skin which is prone to allergic reactions and irritants. Most of the allergies are caused by allergens, food allergies, external chemical contact and infections. Thick scaly growth and reddish color is significant of Dermatitis and worsens with heat and humidity. Sometimes, stress also becomes a reason for eczema relapse leading to eruptions and discomfort. Dry and itchy skin is normally the ones which get irritated easily. Dry skin breaks easily and cracks are the way germs enter the body spreading it over the whole area.

Dry flaky skin usually occurs when the body’s natural oily layer when the skin becomes dry. When it is unable to produce natural oil, the cells are unable to replenish and dry out. Dehydration of the body happens as you grow old and itchy skin is prone to Dermatitis and breaks outs happen when skin comes in contact with metal. Scratching increases Dermatitis and irritation increases. To cure Seborrheic dermatitis is by making the skin moisturized and clean. It is better to avoid the allergen and irritants which can be anything from perfumes, jewelry to personal allergies.

Another good method is to stop scratching and even if there is an urge to scratch, don’t scratch. Apply intense moisturized lotions and creams, to sooth the itch and makes your skin smoother. Scratching causes the skin to break and increases discomfort while bathing in warm water and using a mild soap is helpful.

It is better to wash new clothes before wearing them as external infections, increase chances of infections. It is better to wear cotton which helps the skin breathe and limit the spread of Dermatitis. The dryness causes flakiness leads to cracking and chapping while intensive moisture helps the body becoming soft and supple.

Using good moisturizers and intensive creams are very useful to curb dryness which ultimately leads to Dermatitis. Using skin care products which help the cells get nourished and hydrated. Some people are not able to retain moisture and have flaky skin so they should moisturize after washing with water. Intensive scratching can lead to wounds so you should be careful. Avoid using harsh chemicals and artificial products that instigate allergic reactions.

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Infantile Seborrheic Eczema

Friday, May 16th, 2008

This article will focus on the ailment known as seborrheic eczema. This is something that goes after infants that are less than a year old and though it is not harmful the parents usually freak out about it. Scientists are not really sure what causes infantile seborrheic eczema but the bright spot is that it usually goes away on its own. The initial signs of seborrheic eczema show up on the scalp most of the time and tend to spread very quickly.

Seborrheic eczema looks terrible but is not uncomfortable at all. There are creams and oils on the market that can help to get rid of seborrheic eczema faster than it will eliminate itself, which is usually in a few months. Though not considered harmful, if your child displays signs of seborrheic eczema you should contact your pediatrician or dermatologist for a true diagnosis.

I can only imagine the awful feeling of seeing your child deal with what appears to be a very painful and debilitating ailment but according to all of our research the seborrheic eczema is not painful and as hard as it may be a parent should stay calm and rational and not worry the child. Though the children are usually extremely young we feel that the baby can detect the heightened stress levels in their parents. Contact the doctor and do the right thing but do not worry unless a doctor gives you a reason to be concerned. All will be fine with your child.

Seborrheic eczema is not so bad when compared to some of the other types of eczema since it is not uncomfortable and does not stay permanently.

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