Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Light Therapy May Cure Acne

Acne Treatment - Acne may be cured by a simple light treatment, first developed to iron out wrinkles, as demonstrated a study carried out at a London hospital. The Hammersmith Hospital in West London tested Low Level Laser Therapy normally used in private beauty salons on 30 patients who were suffering mild to moderate acne.

In a period of 12 weeks their acne had halved. Meanwhile, those on a dummy treatment showed no improvement. Findings show that those with the most severe symptoms displayed the most astonishing improvement, mostly within the first month of treatment. Under experts conclusions, this is significantly faster than most conventional antibiotic treatments, which can take as long as eight months to work.


Light Therapy for Acne Treatment

The study showed that a single five-minute session could have a dramatic effect on acne for up to 12 months. Physicians used a treatment called pulse dye laser therapy in which the affected area is exposed to short bursts of light. The process had been used to combat wrinkles as it is known to stimulate the production of collagen.

Tony Chu, the dermatologist who led the trial, explained that “we were brought in to see if the anecdotal evidence worked in a clinical trial and we found out it was very successful. However, we still do not know exactly how it works and that is an area we are now working on.”

The expert said that the treatment appears to be showing the same kind of efficacy as antibiotics, but without the potential side effects. “What we need to do now is to see if it works as well on acne around other parts of the body, and work out the treatment which is most clinically effective”,
Saturday, June 4, 2016

WHAT CAUSED YOUR CHILD’S ALLERGIC SKIN REACTION?

Your little one may have a case of contact dermatitis, an eczema-like skin condition caused by touching something that triggers an allergic reaction or irritates the skin.

If the reaction is serious, talk to your doctor about a referral for allergy testing to determine the source. But for minor reactions, some easy sleuthing at home can help you figure out if a common allergen is to blame. Here are the worst – and most likely – offenders:


Metals

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 11 million children in North America are allergic to nickel, so this or another metal might have set off your child’s skin allergy. Clothing fixtures such as zippers and hooks or jewelry, including watch straps, are all easy ways we come into contact with metals. Face paints may also contain traces of heavy metals, and for older children, cosmetics could be the problem.

Preservatives

Carefully read the labels of body care products your child uses. An ingredient could be responsible. Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and formaldehyde releasers such as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (bronopol), diazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin are potent skin allergens.

Manufacturers add MI to body washes, moisturizers, sunscreens, baby wipes and even products labeled “hypoallergenic.” Bronopol turns up in some CVS diaper wipes and cosmetics products such as facial cleansers, nail polish and moisturizers. Watch out for diazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin in hair styling products, shampoos, conditioners and body washes.

Not sure if your family’s favorite products contain these or other allergenic ingredients? Search EWG’s Skin Deep database to find out.

Botanical Allergens

Plant-based essential oils such as lavender, tea tree or citrus are popular in “natural” personal care products in place of chemical fragrances. Because the concentration of these oils can vary, they can easily trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.

Parents often notice these reactions after using botanical bug repellents, which commonly contain citronella, clove, geranium, lemongrass, peppermint or rosemary oils, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Click here to learn about safer ways to beat bug bites.

Tips for parents:

Need help sleuthing? Allergic reactions typically break out where an allergen touches the skin, so the location of your child’s rash may indicate which allergen is responsible. Is the rash on your child’s face or hands? A personal care product, like lotion, may be to blame. Around your child’s wrist? Watch strap. At a certain spot on the chest? Zipper. Baby’s behind? Diaper wipe.

Reactions may occur immediately after contact – making it easier to isolate the cause – or after a long period of exposure. Keep both in mind when investigating possible sources.
Always contact a medical professional if your child shows symptoms of a serious skin reaction, particularly if she shows any sign of infection, such as a fever.
Take heart: Allergic reactions often clear quickly and are generally avoidable once you determine the culprit.

Taken from: _www.healthychild.org
Tuesday, April 12, 2016

How to Bath a Newborn Baby

How to Bath a Newborn Baby - Some babies enjoy being in warm water right from the start, while others need a little time to get used to these new sensations on their skin. Whatever's right for you and your baby, we have plenty of tips for keeping your baby clean and contented. Bathing your new baby may be about much more than just cleanliness.

Bath a Newborn Baby

If your baby is full-term and healthy, you can give your newborn her first bath as soon as you like. It’s best to wait at least an hour after the birth, and to keep the first bath short, no more than five minutes to 10 minutes.

A bath twice a week or three times a week is enough to keep your newborn clean. Between baths, wash your baby's face regularly, clean her genitals and bottom after each nappy change, and wipe any grime off her skin. If you enjoy giving her a bath every day, that’s fine, too.

If you live in a hard water area, bear in mind that too much tap water during the first month or so may dry out and damage your baby's skin. You could add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser or bath emollient to the water to protect your baby's skin. Though be aware that the emollient will make your baby slippery to handle.

Let's check this point. how to bathe your baby:

  • Start with only a few inches of warm water. Baby’s bath water should be between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. After filling the basin or tub, be sure to swirl the water with your hands so there are no hot spots.
  • Before you put your baby in the bath water, test the water’s temperature on the inside of your wrist to make sure it is not too hot. NOTE: Be sure that your home’s hot water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help protect against accidental scalding.
  • Using one arm to gently support your baby's back, head and neck, gently place her in the baby bath. Continue to support her using one arm while bathing her with the other.
  • Gently cleanse around your baby's eyes with a cotton pad dampened with clean, warm water. Use a new cotton pad for each eye and always wipe from the inside corner of the eye outward. Then, using a soft washcloth, wipe around your baby's mouth, nose and whole face, working from the middle outward. Wipe the creases in her neck and don't forget behind her ears!
  • For younger babies, wet a baby washcloth with warm water and use a gentle cleanser formulated for babies, like JOHNSON'S® baby HEAD-TO-TOE® wash. If your baby has more hair, you might try a gentle shampoo, like JOHNSON'S® baby shampoo. Don’t be afraid to gently wash the soft spots (called fontanels) on your baby's head.
  • Wash the diaper area last. For a baby girl, cleanse the genital area washing from front to back. For boys, gently wash the penis and genital area, also washing from front to back, and dry thoroughly. For an uncircumcised boy, avoid pulling back the foreskin.
  • Let your baby take a few moments in the bath to enjoy the warm water. Pour cupfuls of water over her body to keep her warm. Be mindful of running water directly from the tap as water temperature can sometimes change suddenly.
  • Wrap both hands around your baby's chest under her arms, support her head, and lift her out of the bath and quickly wrap her in a towel.
  • Dry your baby well in all the creases, as excessive moisture could lead to skin irritation. Pat skin to avoid skin damage.
  • Before dressing her, apply a gentle baby moisturizer, such as hypoallergenic JOHNSON'S® baby lotion which is clinically proven to be gentle and mild.
Monday, April 11, 2016

Keeping Baby Skin Healthy

Recent studies have shed light on the differences between adult and baby skin. Baby skin is more "active" than adult skin — it's constantly continuing to develop. It's more vulnerable to irritants, changes in temperature and changes in humidity. Therefore, you need to protect your baby's skin against environmental changes and harsh cleansers.


Your baby’s skin barrier is his first line of defense from the outside world. To remain healthy, it is important for the skin to be properly hydrated. Be sure to keep his skin moisturized to help protect against dryness.

Keep Your Baby’s Skin Hydrated

It’s a good idea to use a moisturizer after bathing your baby. In a clinical study, 10 percent of mothers surveyed believed that their baby's skin was dry, when in fact, more than 60 percent of these babies had clinical signs of dryness!

Your baby’s skin absorbs water faster than adult skin can, and can also lose water faster too! That's why regularly moisturizing your baby's skin is a good way to help protect against dryness.


Excess Oil Causes Cradle Cap

Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is caused in part by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions.

Avoiding Skin Problems at Bath Time

Remember, newborn skin is soft and sensitive. Keep baby's skin hydrated by bathing in warm water for only three to five minutes. Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply a baby lotion or moisturizer immediately after bath while skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.

Baby Massage

A nice way to monitor the healthiness of your baby's skin is through massage. It gives you an opportunity to go over the entire surface and to check for dryness or chafing. But that's not the only benefit: as your baby grows and undergoes developmental changes, massage can help ease transitions. It provides many emotional and physiological benefits for your growing baby to help:

  • Calm him when he's fretful — massage has been shown to reduce the circulation of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream
  • Increase his sense of well-being — massage has been shown to stimulate endorphins, which can lift your baby's mood
  • Ease gas and constipation — stroking his tummy can help disperse air
  • Release tension caused by, for example, teething
  • Relax his arm and leg muscles
  • And of course, to help him develop a close and trusting relationship with you
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
5 Recommended Medication Remedies to Treat Cystic Acne

5 Recommended Medication Remedies to Treat Cystic Acne

It is very hard to find an effective cure to treat cystic acne. Cystic acne is an advanced form of acne, hence early treatment of your skin condition is a must. The pimples in this case will give you so much pain as the swelling is bacteria-laden mixed with dead skin cells and white blood cells. Cystic acne affects not only the superficial skin but attacks the tissues within. This could lead to permanent damage to your skin in the form of scars. Acne is bad enough but carrying the scars that go with can really hurt your confidence in yourself.

There are numerous suggested cures to treat cystic acne although you ought not to wait for cysts to show before becoming concerned with the pimples on your face. You need to identify the level of your acne condition so that the appropriate remedy could be resorted. There are three identified stages of acne with the corresponding names for each form. Acne during the initial stage appears in the form of blackheads and whiteheads. It then graduates to what you refer to a pimples or zits. The final stage with the severest form is the cysts or nodules. This is the reason why you need to find a way to treat cystic acne.

1. According to some health experts, one highly advised medication on treating cystic acne is via oral antibiotics. Antibiotics attack the bacteria that are present in the cysts to reduce the inflammation within. You should purchase medicines such as doxycycline or tetracycline capsules or pills, among others.

2. Female contraceptives taken orally are likewise claimed to be helpful on treating cystic acne. The production of a high level of sebum triggers acne thus this over release of sebaceous fluids needs to be controlled by the contraceptives. The downside is that this treatment may be taken only when approved and under the supervision of your doctor.

3. A third option would be corticosteroid injections. The cysts are injected with steroids that are targeted to diminish the swelling after a few days. A skilled medical practitioner should be the one to perform this method as this is a delicate procedure. One of the benefits of this particular process to treat cystic acne is preventing the scarring as the cysts or nodules should dry up and disappear naturally.

4. The last 2 recommended remedies involve particular drugs – Accutane and Isotretinoin. The former is a drug to be taken orally for a period of at least 4 to 5 months on a daily basis. It is said to be quite efficient in preventing the incidence of scarring on your skin. However, it ha numerous side effects, which you should try to understand before buying this medicine.

5. The latter is actually a Vitamin A pill that addresses the main causes of acne like the development of clogged pores, production of excess oils, swelling of the skin and the presence of bacteria. Isotretinoin likewise has side effects especially of you are a pregnant.

The 5 discussed solutions can provide you with a cure to treat cystic acne.

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Summary:
It is very hard to find an effective cure to treat cystic acne. Cystic acne is an advanced form of acne, hence early treatment of your skin condition is a must. The pimples in this case will give you so much pain as the swelling is bacteria-laden mixed with dead skin cells and white blood cells.