Acne DOs and DON'Ts
Acne DOs and DON'TsEvery little thing counts when it comes to fighting acne andkeeping it under control. After all, zits are not that bigthemselves, they just bug us in a big way. We don't alwaysrealize that seemingly insignificant things can help us lookbetter (or worse, depending on what they are), whileintentionally following myths, we do more harm than goodto the skin.Here are a few things to consider if you don't want to seethose pimples pop up.DO:= Clean your face twice a day. Use a cleanser that isdesigned for your skin type and avoid harsh and irritatingproducts. When cleaning your skin and rinsing it with water(make sure to use plenty!), move from the neck to thehairline - that way you are not likely to spread hairbuild up over your face, as it can aggravate acne.= If you work out and sweat, clean your face afteryou exercise.= Use a moisturizer for your skin type. Even if your skin isoily, don't ignore this important part of your daily routine.Your skin needs protection. Overdrying your skin will not doany good: on the contrary, the oil glands will start workingeven harder.= Choose cosmetics made for your skin type.= Use products with fruit acids. They help to shed old skincells and prevent pore clogging. You are not likely to seethe results overnight, but be patient and stick to thetreatment - you will be pleasantly surprised.= Protect your skin from wind and harsh environment as theymake skin prone to infections.= Shampoo your hair regularly. Oil glands on your scalpproduce the same sebum as those on your face. Add hair careproducts residues and environmental elements that stick toyour hair - and you have a super-effective acne causingsolution.= Drink lots of water to clean your body of toxins and keepyour skin hydrated from the inside.= Take vitamins and eat a healthy diet. People who sufferfrom acne often don't get enough vitamin A in their diets(you may want to consult your doctor about that since largedoses of vitamin A can be toxic). Zinc supplements are knownto fight acne outbreaks. Healthy eating is good for all partsof your body. While diet changes alone won't spare you ofacne, they will help your skin look better.= See a doctor if your acne is severe.DON'T:= Don't use drying cleansers and harsh scrubs. They destroythe protective barrier and alter skin pH, making skinvulnerable and prone to infections. Astringents should beused on oily areas only.= Don't squeeze zits. This is the worst thing to do,and for many the hardest to avoid. Still, if you don'twant to aggravate the condition, don't pick on your pimples.You can, however, drain them with a sterilized needle oncethey are mature.= Don't scratch or rub your skin. Sometimes rubbing can causezits on otherwise clear complexion. You may want to experimentif you are brave enough, otherwise try to keep your hands offyour face and avoid wearing hats, helmets or bands that maycause unpleasant surprises.= Don't tan. Even though tan will mask the blemishes, theeffect is temporary. Excessive sun exposure can aggravateacne. Many over-the-counter and prescription acne productsmake your skin sensitive to sun. In addition to causing skindehydration and premature aging, UV rays destroy cellsresponsible for skin's immunology.Natalie Katsman(C) Cody Cosmetics Co., 2003Protect your skin, defy aging and restore healthy complexionwith high-performance aloe vera formulas.http://www.naturalaid.com/al.shtml
Hepatitis C is a real threat for our lives
Hepatitis C is considered to be quite a tricky disease, due to the fact that the virus acts in silence and can infect a person for many years until doctors find out. The Center for Disease Control (CDC), has declared Hepatitis C to be a "silent epidemic" and it seems that 20 to 30 % people affected of chronic Hepatitis C are exposed to future life threatening symptoms.
Hepatitis C was first observed in US in 1960, after blood transfusions and drug injections began to be widely applied. Nobody knew exactly how many people got affected by the disease, until 1990 when HCV blood tests have developed. Studies have proved that in 20 years a person affected of chronicle C Hepatitis will develop cirrhosis, and many of them will turn into liver cancer. Patients with HCV are considered to be in need for a liver transplant.
More than 4 million Americans (1.3% of the U.S. population) and 170 million individuals in the world (3% worldwide) are infected with hepatitis C virus. The prevalence (number of cases in a population at a specific time) of hepatitis C virus infections varies in different parts of the world. It seems that in Eastern Europe the prevalence is higher than in Western Europe. It is estimated that 13 cases/100,000 persons of new symptomatic infections of HCV are annually discovered. In US there are annually 26,000 new HCV infections discovered.
In the future, HCV will become a major problem for the health system because many people who have only mild symptoms will progress to an end-stage liver and then to liver cancer, so there will be a 528% increase in the need for transplantation over the next 10 or 20 years.
The treatment options include conventional interferon (now outdated), combined conventional interferon and ribavirin, pegylated interferon, and combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Successful treatment can be achieved in up to 80% of patients infected with genotype 2 or 3, and less effective in those with genotype 1.
There is no natural cure for HCV, the natural products can only protect and support the liver. Another medical product is the Maximum Milk Thistle which has scientific validation and is considered to be helpful.
Until now, no vaccine has proved to be effective, and scientists are still looking for a solution. Compounds that specifically interfere with the reproduction of the hepatitis C virus are now being studied as well.
If you want to find out more resources about hepatitis c transmission or even about hepatitis c symptoms you should visit this website http://www.hepatitis-guide.com
Hepatitis B is transmittable to foetus
It is known that Hepatitis B is transmittable from mother to baby during pregnancy. In India the prevalence of HBV is 4% and the most frequent form of virus transmission is from mother to child, during pregnancy, and in early childhood.
The HBV infection is possible to occur during pregnancy on a healthy person and infect the foetus too, or it could have existed long before the mother got pregnant.
A North Indian study showed that HBV has no predilection for pregnant women. Of the pregnant and non-pregnant women that were involved in this study, 19% of the pregnant women were infected, and 18 % of the non-pregnant women were infected too. Also, the disease was not affecting pregnant women in a different way than affecting non-pregnant ones.
Some of the symptoms that come along with the prodromal stage of hepatitis can be mistaken with those for pregnancy: nausea, vomiting. Also fatigue, headaches, muscle ache, and low grade fewer can be mistaken with flu. In 2 to 10 days of the prodrome jaundice appears and the patient could accuse pain in the right side of the body, just beneath the rib cage. The doctor could sense hepatomegaly (meaning that the liver has swollen), and sometimes splenomegaly. In approximately 6 weeks these symptoms will disappear, and if not treated, in 6 months, chronic hepatitis could install.
Sometimes the installation of the disease could cause premature labour (in 31.6% of the infected patients), and post partum hemorrhages.
In diagnosing acute hepatitis B doctors use viral markers like: HBsAg and IgM Anti-HBc.
The treatment of HBV in a pregnant woman is similar to the one used for a non-pregnant woman: bed rest, vitamins, and high calorie diet. The vaccine is not recommended in pregnant women.
The chronic hepatitis does not manifest in its early stages but only when it affects most of the liver. The chronic hepatitis is diagnosed most frequently when the patient feels ill and asks the doctor for some tests, or when a woman gets pregnant and the obstetrician recommends her some usual blood tests. If the level of serum transaminases is high, this means chronic hepatitis is present. Sometimes the doctor can palpate the spleen and liver but if the pregnancy is in the last months that can not be done. Also, the palmar erythema could suggest hepatitis but this sign is found in pregnancy too.
Pregnant women with chronic hepatitis usually have a normal pregnancy, and complications appear only if cirrhosis develops. Cirrhosis leads to portal hypertension and esophageal variceal hemorrhage, which could lead to maternal mortality.
Treating chronic hepatitis B is made in similar ways with treating non-pregnant women. Interferon alpha is no used because it can lead to foetus malformations. Lamivudine is considered to be safe for pregnant women and foetus and it is administered daily in an oral dose of 100 mg.
If you want to find out more resources about hepatitis c treatment or even about causes of hepatitis c you should visit this website http://www.hepatitis-guide.com
