New group for patients with skin disease

A new organisation has been launched to support people with skin conditions.
The Irish Skin Foundation brings together three groups - the Irish Eczema Society, the Psoriasis Association of Ireland and the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Society.
The new body has been established to support, educate and advocate on behalf of people affected by skin conditions and their families and carers.
The new organisation will work in close liaison with the Irish Association of Dermatologists.
It is estimated that more than one-third of the Irish population is living with a skin condition at any time and the incidence of skin problems is rising. Skin problems are the fourth most common reason for visiting a GP in Ireland.
The Irish Skin Foundation aims to provide comprehensive information on skin disease, in addition to support services for patients, their families and carers.
It also aims to set up an Irish registry of skin diseases, to establish new education and awareness programmes, to promote research into these diseases, and to advocate on behalf of patients.

Fonte: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=21863

15 GREAT THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SKIN

Hey--your epidermis is showing--all 20 square feet of it. And keeping it in showroom shape is no easy task. You could be battling breakouts, sun damage, dryness, irritation, unwanted hair, or all of the above.
The good news: You'll grow nearly 1,000 new layers of skin throughout your lifetime, so you've got plenty of chances to make sure it's smooth and glowing. To help, we sifted through the latest research and talked to lots of dermatology experts to come up with the 19 best tips. Follow them, and your skin will look so great you'll want to walk around naked (but don't, unless you're wearing sunscreen). Don't wash money down the drain. "There's no need to buy an expensive cleanser loaded with fancy ingredients," says photobiologist Daniel B. Yarosh, Ph.D., author of The New Science of Perfect Skin. "They're on your skin for less than a minute, so they don't have time to really do anything."
Adding injury to insult: Some pricey ingredients can actually cause irritation (that would be you, peppermint and eucalyptus). Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revitalize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser, $7 for 6.7 oz, drugstore.com) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3, drugstore.com).
Both remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells without stripping away your skin's natural (and necessary) oils.
Cover your mouth. We're talking about a lip balm with UV protection, not ruby red lipstick. Your lips (along with your eye area and upper chest) have some of the thinnest skin on your body, so they need extra shielding.
A survey by a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that only 47 percent of respondents used lip protection containing UV blockers. That's bad news, because "when skin cancer originates from the lips, it's especially aggressive and has a higher risk of spreading," says Erin Welch, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Guard your smackers by stocking up on balms with sunscreen, like Softlips Lip Protectant/Sunscreen with SPF 20 ($4 for two tubes, drugstore.com).
Get the red out. For the estimated 14 million people in the U.S. with rosacea--the condition whose symptoms can be triggered by alcohol, spicy food, exercise, and sun exposure--their reddened skin can feel like a scarlet letter.
Researchers have found that when rosacea sufferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare System, $195, 12. clarisonic.com), their skin calms down. The theory is that the gentle exfoliation allows skin treatments to be absorbed more effectively to put out facial fires.

Tips

Sometimes it may seem like your skin is impossible to manage, especially when you wake up and find a huge zit on your nose or a cold sore at the corner of your mouth. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat common skin problems — read on for some tips.

Acne

A pimple starts when the pores in the skin become clogged with a type of oil called sebum, which normally lubricates the skin and hair. Acne is common during puberty when hormones go into overdrive, causing the skin to overproduce sebum. Because many oil-producing glands are on the forehead, nose, and chin, this area — the T-zone — is where a person is most prone to pimples.
Here are some tips to help prevent breakouts and clear them up as fast as possible:

• Wash your face twice a day (no more) with warm water and a mild soap made for people with acne. Gently massage your face with circular motions. Don't scrub. Overwashing and scrubbing can cause skin to become irritated. After cleansing, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends applying an over-the-counter (no prescription needed) lotion containing benzoyl peroxide. This will decrease oil and bacteria.
• Don't pop pimples. It's tempting, but here's why you shouldn't: Popping pimples can push infected material further into the skin, leading to more swelling and redness, and even scarring. If you notice a pimple coming before a big event, like the prom, a dermatologist can often treat it for you with less risk of scarring or infection.
• Avoid touching your face with your fingers or leaning your face on objects that collect sebum and skin residue like your phone. Touching your face can spread the bacteria that cause pores to become inflamed and irritated. To keep bacteria at bay, wash your hands before applying anything to your face, such as treatment creams or makeup.
• If you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.
• If you get acne on your body, try not to wear tight clothes. They don't allow skin to breathe and may cause irritation. Scarves, headbands, and caps can collect dirt and oil, too.
• Remove your makeup before you go to sleep. When buying makeup, make sure you choose brands that say "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic" on the label. Throw away old makeup that smells or looks different from when you first bought it.
• Keep hair clean and out of your face to prevent additional dirt and oil from clogging your pores.
• Protect your skin from the sun. It may seem like a tan masks acne, but it's only temporary. A tan may worsen your acne, not improve it. Tanning also causes damage to skin that will eventually lead to wrinkles and increase your risk of skin cancer.

If you're concerned about acne, talk to a dermatologist. Dermatologists offer a range of treatments that help to prevent and acne scars. A dermatologist can help you find the treatment method that's best for you and can also give you lots of useful tips for dealing with acne and caring for your skin type. Some salons and spas have trained skin specialists, called estheticians, who can offer advice and skin care treatments.

Fonte: http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/skin_tips.html

Hirsutism

What is hirsutism?
Hirsutism is the term used when a woman grows too much body or facial hair in a pattern seen normally occurring only in men.
What causes hirsutism?
Androgens are often thought of as 'male hormones' but, in fact, both men and women produce them - men usually in greater amounts than women. Testosterone is the best-known androgen, but there are several others too. Hirsutism can be caused either by abnormally high levels of androgens, or by the hair follicles being more sensitive than usual to normal androgen levels.
A small minority of women with hirsutism produce too much androgen and sometimes this is due to an underlying medical condition. In addition, some medicines can cause hirsutism - these include hormones, anabolic steroids, and sometimes oral contraceptive pills.
In fact, most women with hirsutism have no hormone imbalance or underlying medical condition. Many women develop more facial or body hair gradually as they get older, especially after the menopause. Few realise how common this is - but at least 25% of normal middle-aged women remove unwanted facial hair. In addition, women from different ethnic backgrounds have different patterns of hair growth, in which it can be normal to have some hair on the face, nipples or stomach.
Is hirsutism hereditary?
A tendency to hirsutism does run in some families and is not associated with an excess of androgens. It is normal in some families with Mediterranean or Middle Eastern ancestry.
What are the symptoms of hirsutism?
Having too much hair can be highly embarrassing and cause great distress.
What does hirsutism look like?
The excess of thick, often dark, hair may be seen on the face, chest, abdomen and upper back. Women from certain ethnic groups tend to have more body hair than others and for them it may be quite normal to have some hair in these areas.
How will hirsutism be diagnosed?
Women with mild hirsutism and regular menstrual cycles seldom have an underlying medical problem. However, if a medical problem exists, your doctor should be able to detect it by asking you questions and then, if necessary, by performing blood tests.
It is important to see your doctor if your hirsutism is:
Severe
Developing quickly (over 1-2 years), or before puberty
Accompanied by menstrual problems
Associated with features suggesting an increase in androgens such as thinning of the scalp hair, baldness, or deepening of the voice
Accompanied by obesity or diabetes

Can hirsutism be cured?
Although a ‘cure’ is unlikely, local areas of excessive hair growth can often be cleared by electrolysis or laser therapy. The treatment of hirsutism with medication is usually less satisfactory as the problem often comes back when treatment stops.
For information about available treatments please go to this page on the website of the British Association of Dermatologists

Fonte: http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/SkinInformation/AtoZofSkindisease/Hirsutism.aspx

PLE

What is PLE?

 

The term ‘light eruption’ is easy to understand - a rash that comes up after exposure to light. ‘Polymorphic’ is more difficult. ‘Poly’ means ‘many’, and ‘morphic’ means ‘forms’. In other words, the rash of PLE can take many different forms, including small red bumps, larger red areas, and blisters. In PLE, a rash with one or more of these components comes up a day or two after exposure to the sun. PLE is common, perhaps affecting up to 10% of the population. It tends to appear in the spring.   

 

What causes PLE?

 

PLE is a response to sunlight. As little as 20 minutes of strong sun can trigger it. PLE can come up even when the light has passed through window glass, and sometimes even after exposure to fluorescent lighting. Both long (UVA) and short (UVB) wavelengths of ultraviolet light can cause PLE in a susceptible person, but it is still not clear how they trigger the rash. An immunological reaction seems the most likely explanation.

 

Most people with PLE get it in the spring after they go out in the sun. Often it comes up on a holiday abroad, and sometimes it clears up before they return home. The rash tends to affect areas that have been covered by clothing during the winter. It goes away without treatment in about a week if there is no further sun exposure. If you stay in the sun, the rash will get worse and spread; but as the summer wears on, the skin becomes resistant to sunlight and more of it is needed to provoke the rash.

 

Other points about PLE:

 

Women get PLE more often than men. 

It usually starts under the age of 30.

It affects people with all types of skin but is most common in those who are fair. 

It is most common in countries where the climate is temperate, and exposure to the sun is usually not heavy.

It is not infectious and has no connection with skin cancer.

Is PLE hereditary?

 

Probably not, although about 15% of those who have PLE know of other family members who have it too.

 

What are the symptoms of PLE?

 

The rash of PLE can itch or feel like a burn.

PLE can be embarrassing as it comes up on exposed areas.

It restricts outdoor activities and holidays in the sun.

 

What does PLE look like?

 

PLE ranges from a mild rash that lasts for only a short time to a severe and extensive eruption that spoils the quality of life.

The rash comes up equally on both sides of the body, affecting mainly those parts of the skin that are kept covered in the winter – such as the arms and the upper trunk. For this reason the face and the backs of the hands are sometimes, but not always, spared. 

The appearance of the rash varies from person to person. The most common type has large numbers of small red bumps. In other people the rash is made up of larger red areas and small blisters. The rash of each affected person usually looks the same every time it comes back.  

When the rash settles, it does so without leaving scars.

How will PLE be diagnosed?

 

Your general practitioner may refer you to a skin specialist who will base the diagnosis of PLE on the appearance of the rash and the story that it has been provoked by sunlight. Tests will be done to rule out other conditions that can cause sun sensitivity, such as lupus erythematosus. Phototesting (trying to reproduce the rash by testing the skin with different amounts and wavelengths of ultraviolet and visible light) is sometimes helpful too.

 

Can PLE be cured?

 

No treatment will get rid of PLE forever. However, many people remain clear if they avoid exposure to the sun and use an effective sunscreen. The tendency to get PLE may go away by itself after a few years.

 

To find out about available treatments, please see this page on the British Association of Dermatologists website

 

 

Fungal infection of the nails

What is a fungal infection of the nail?
Fungal infections of the nails are also known as onychomycosis, as tinea unguium, and as ringworm of the nails. The fungi in question are usually those that cause athlete’s foot – a common infection of the skin of the feet. In athlete’s foot the fungi live in the keratin that makes up the outer layer of the skin, but they can also invade the hard keratin of which nails are made. When this happens, the result is a fungal infection of a nail.
What causes onychomycosis?
Fungi spreading from athlete’s foot (known as ‘dermatophyte fungi’) cause most fungal nail infections. Far less often a nail infection is due to other types of fungi, usually yeasts (eg. Candida) and moulds (eg. Scopulariopsis), which do not cause athlete’s foot. These like to attack nails that are already weak, perhaps after an old injury. Fungal infections of toenails are common, those of fingernails far less so. Both are seen most often in the elderly.
Are they hereditary?
No, but several family members may have them at the same time because they can catch them from each other.
What are the symptoms of fungal infections of the nails?
At the start, there are usually no symptoms. Later the nails may become so thick that they hurt when they press on the inside of a shoe. They are then hard to trim. The look of an infected nail, particularly a fingernail, can be embarrassing.
What do fungal infections of the nails look like?
When fungi invade a nail, they usually start at its free edge, and then spread down the side of the nail towards its base. Eventually the whole nail may be involved. The infected areas turn white or yellowish, and become thickened and crumbly. Less common patterns of infection include white patches or streaks on the nail surface. The nails most commonly affected by fungal infections are those on the big and little toes. When several fingernails are infected, they are usually on the same hand.
How are fungal infections of the nail diagnosed?
Many nail problems can look like a fungal infection - for example the changes seen in psoriasis, or after a bacterial infection or an old injury – but long courses of antifungal tablets will not help them. This is why the diagnosis of a fungal infection must always be confirmed before treatment starts. Your doctor will take a piece from a crumbly area of your nail and send it to the laboratory to check if a fungus can be seen under the microscope or grown in culture. The right treatment may depend on knowing which fungus is causing the trouble but it can take several weeks for the final culture results to come through.
Can fungal infections of the nails be cured?
Yes - usually they can.
For information about available treatments please go to  this page on the website of the British Association of Dermatologists

Clearpores Review and Proper Acne Skin Care and Cleansing

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/13/2013 -- Acne can be the most irritating thing that can affect a person. Once it appears on the face it becomes difficult to get rid of this problem. Since there are huge amount of acne removal products available in the market people find it difficult to make the right choice. One of the most effective products that can remove acne from its roots is Clearpores System. The product is made of natural herbs and some cleansing agents. This system works both internally and externally. It has the capacity to fight all types of skin problems and make the face look beautiful. This product works well for both women and men and has proved to be much better than all the other creams available in the market.

The system follows natural process and provides a permanent solution to skin problems. This product is completely oil free and this protects the skin from clogging. It works by reducing the activity of bacteria and controlling the production of sebum. The Clearpores system consists on three products i.e. Deep Facial Wash, Daily Supplement, and Protection Cream. The three products work to fight acne and restore the original balance of the skin. One just needs to wash the face gently and prevent any type of flare up or breakouts. This process gives the skin a healthy glow and protects it from further problems. All the previous users have considered it to be the best acne treatment system.

The daily wash and the supplement included in the Clearpores system will start showing good results in around one month’s time and people will be more than satisfied with the difference it makes. During the first month the product mainly removes the bacteria, toxins, dead skin. But when the three month process ends the user will be surprised to see the effect it brings in the face. Once the person has a clear skin and looks good he automatically gains confidence. They will be able to properly communicate with people and talk to them confidently. People stop hiding their face and start meeting more people. This is the effect a good skin treatment cream can bring.

Acne is not only an external problem it is related with many internal factors. This product understands this fact and tries to heal it from the inside. Clearpores system works on the naturopathy technique and regulates the hormones. It flushes out the toxins from the body and improves the digestive system. Once the internal factors are taken care of the face will automatically retain its glow. One needs to give it three months time and see the best results.

To learn more about the Clearpores system one can visit http://www.the-health-review.com/2010/clearpores-review-best-acne-treatment-system-12-29.html.

About The Health Review
The Health Review is a blog developed for the fitness freaks and people who are on the lookout for effective treatments. All the products related to different treatments are reviewed in a detailed manner and one can find effective solutions for their problems.


http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/clearpores-review-and-proper-acne-skin-care-and-cleansing-222054.htm