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Tag: Skin

SKIN CARE

Reasons And Protection

Skin care is a method which improves the integrity of the skin,
improves the skin appearance and resolves the skin problems.
A well balanced diet, refraining from sun exposure and moisturizing the
skin improves the skin texture.

Skin Care

Skin Care by Famhealth

Modern skin care methods include use of cosmetics, botulinum, exfoliation, fillers, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, peels, and retinol therapy.

Skin care is recommended daily to deal with oily and dry skin. Also, skin care is recommended to prevent dermatitis and skin injuries.

Dermatology and cosmetology work side by side to treat and enhance the skin problems. Dermatology is healthcare profession which aims to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent skin diseases.

Skin care has less medical intervention and includes non-physician professionals.

Some of the key methods which one must practice for skin care include:

Protect yourself from the sun

A prolonged and lifetime skin exposure can result in wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems and even skin cancer.

One must use apply sunscreen to prevent hazardous effects of the sun

Use sunscreen. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen after 2 hours especially if you are sweating or swimming in sun.

Stay away from sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are at its peak.

Cover yourself with proper clothing

Use tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. In market look for clothes which can protect from harmful UV rays

 Quit smoking

Smoking heavily contributes in making the skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking constricts the blood vessels on the superficial part of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

In addition, smoking increases your risk of Squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

Gently care for your skin

Do not cleanse or shave your skin on daily basis as it can have harmful effects on your skin.  Some tips to keep your skin cool are:

  • Restrict bath time. As it depletes essential oils from your skin. Avoid hot water and prefer lukewarm water.
  • Say no to harsh soaps. They also remove oil from your skin. Use gentle soaps.
  • Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
  • Do not rub your skin after bath rather pat dry after a wash
  • Daily moisturize your skin

Eat well balanced diet

Consume foods rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The correlation between diet and acne isn’t clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates removes acne and makes the skin appear youthful. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.

Use stress busters

Keep stress a bay, as stress can damage your skin in the form of acne. Enjoy good sleep and try to manage stress by methods like exercise, yoga and meditation.

Your skin is a mirror of your internal health. Try to maintain a good lifestyle so as to make your skin ever glowing and radiant.

Skin care in elderly and children

Skin in both elderly and children are fragile and prone to infections. The best tip of skin care in both is to keep the skin clean and free from infections.

A regular skin cleaning and moisturizing the skin in both children and elderly can produce immense benefits.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/basics/skin-care/hlv-20049421

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/11/keep-your-skin-healthy

https://www.cdc.gov/family/minutes/tips/protectskin/index.htm

SAFE DRINKING WATER

About Requirement And Safe
Water Drinking

As per the World Health Organization, safe drinking water is that
which doesn’t cause any health issues even after long
periods of consumption.

Safe Drinking Water

Safe Drinking Water by Famhealth

How much water does a person need?

The United Nations estimates that every person needs 20 to 50 liters of clean water every day for drinking, food preparation and personal hygiene.

Some of the common causes which can cause water contamination are as follows:

  • Sewage and Waste Water: Sewage, garbage and liquid waste of households, agricultural lands and factories are dumped into water bodies. These wastes contain harmful chemicals and toxins , which is a major cause of water pollution.
  • Dumping: Dumping of solid wastes and litters in water bodies is other major cause. Litters contain glass, plastic, aluminum, styrofoam etc.
  • Industrial Waste: Industrial waste contains pollutants like asbestos, lead, mercury and petrochemicals which contaminate the water.
  • Acid Rain: Rain water gets polluted when acids gets mixed from the air

How is water made safe for drinking?

  • Water contains many impurities. These might include particulate matter, germs like bacteria, and poisonous chemicals like lead. To make water safe for consumption, it undergoes various types of treatments, like sedimentation, filtration and sedimentation.
  • To make drinking water safe, it has to clear physical, chemical and microbiological tests. Physical tests include testing for some poisonous chemicals and also the clarity of the water. Microbiology testing checks for the presence of bacteria like coliform bacteria.
  • Though the water in kitchen taps is considered safe for drinking, some people use home water purifiers for added protection.
  • These might be with carbon filters to remove odor causing chemicals and also some toxic chemicals.
  • Other types are the ion exchange units which are effective for hard water and remove minerals like calcium and magnesium.
  • Reverse osmosis units remove harmful nitrates and also pesticides.
  • Distillation units boil the water and the steam is condensed to give clean water.
  • Before deciding on the purification system for your home, it’s a good idea to get your water quality tested to know which system would be best suited to your needs.

Why is safe drinking water necessary for good health?

Contaminated water is a major cause of infections and even deaths. It can cause many diseases like

  • Diarrhea
  • Worm infestation
  • Cholera
  • Fluorosis
  • Typhoid

Water safety during travel

To stay safe during travel, it’s important to follow some safe water practices

  • It is best to use bottled water while travelling.
  • In addition to drinking, it’s a good idea to use the same water for brushing teeth, especially for children.
  • Make sure the glasses used for drinking are properly washed, or use disposable glasses.
  • Stay adequately hydrated, especially in hot weather conditions.
  • Avoid washed fruits.
  • Avoid ice cubes as these might have contaminated water.
  • Store water in food grade bottles only. Ensure these are washed at regular intervals.

Safe drinking water plays a very important role in maintaining good health.

Source:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases-risks/diseases

https://www.commonfloor.com/guide/what-are-the-major-causes-of-water-pollution-in-india-27741.html

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MELANOMA

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It gets its name from the pigment producing cells of the skin, called melanocyte. Sometimes, these melanocytes get triggered to start replicating very rapidly and erratically and they are termed to have turned cancerous.

What are the causes for Melanoma?

Melanomas are most commonly caused by sun damage- the harmful ultraviolet sun rays damage the DNA of the cells. Melanomas can run in families and tends to be more common in people of Caucasian descent.

How to recognize Melanoma?

The most common way that people recognize melanomas is by seeing changes in a mole. Most melanomas tend to be brown but they can be pink, purple or even white.

It also helps to know some things that you need to keep a watch for

  • Asymmetry in a mole- Moles tend to be uniform in their shape. Any change in their shape would be a warning sign that needs to be checked.
  • Uneven border of a mole- Most moles are quite smooth to touch. But, if the edge feels rough or irregular, then it’s a significant change.
  • Any colour change in a mole is another warning sign and should be examined by a doctor.
  • Any bleeding or itching in a mole should be checked.
  • A sudden increase in the size of the mole is another warning sign.

If you notice any of these signs, a visit to your doctor is called for. Your doctor might recommend a skin biopsy in which a small piece of skin is removed and examined. In case required, a biopsy of lymph nodes, CT scans and other tests might also be advised.

If diagnosed early, most melanomas are easily cured by surgery which involves removing the affected part of the skin. If the cancer is more advanced, the surgery might also involve removing the lymph nodes in the surrounding area. In case of the cancer having spread to other parts of the body, immunotherapy or chemotherapy might be recommended. Immunotherapy involves energizing the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer. In chemotherapy, strong drugs are used to destroy the cancer causing cells.

Can I prevent Melanoma?

  • The commonest cause of melanomas is excess sun exposure. So, a few precautions, like using sunscreen with an SPF of 20-30 and a four or five star UVA protection can help. Reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours is also important.  Also, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between 11 am and 3 pm, can actually help in preventing melanoma. It’s also advisable to avoid tanning rooms as these are also damaging.
  • Self-monitoring of moles can also help. By keeping the warnings signs in mind, any change in a mole can be checked immediately.

Just a few precautions and timely detection can help in keeping a check on melanomas.

 We strongly recommend that you consult your doctor before starting any treatment regime.

For more related topics please visit: https://famhealth.in