Hair Loss – Remedies for the Treatment of Hair Loss

Aclump of hair in the shower drain or scattered .on the pillowcase can alarm anyone. For many folks, their mane is their crowning glory. When they’re having a “good hair day,” it adds extra zip their step. So anytime it looks like they may be losing their locks, they’re not happy.

In reality, it’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. That’s generally not a problem, since the typical head of hair has about 100,000 hairs. It’s simply part of the shedding phase that all hair goes through. Hair first goes through a growth stage, which lasts anywhere from months to ears. “Women with very long hair have long growing phases. It’s not an acquired trait; either you have it or you don’t,” says Alvin Solomon, M.D., associate professor of dermatology and pathology at Emory University School of medicine in Atlanta. Hair then moves into a resting phase for about three months. Finally, the shedding phase occurs, and the whole cycle starts over again with a new hair.

By far, the most common cause of hair loss for both men and women is pattern balding. In men, this hereditary condition affects the front and/or top of the head. “All men undergo this to some degree,” says Douglas Altchek, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai school of Medicine in New York. Pattern hair loss and women isn’t generally as severe as it is in men, and it’s more diffuse, with the thinnest patches of hair usually at the top of the head. Still, the number of women with pattern balding is “much more than most people think,” says Solomon. While there is no cure for pattern balding, there are treatments available (see “Help for Pattern Balding”).

Hair loss does occur for other reasons, some of which you can have control over if you know about them. In most of these instances, the hair loss is temporary, although you may have to wait six to eight months after the precipitating cause has been removed before you see the growth begin again. The following tips can help you prevent some of other situations that can cause hair loss:

Stay healthy. Easier said than done sometimes, but a whole host of diseases may have the unfortunate result of causing hair loss. “These diseases may have the effect of shortening or interrupting the growth phase of the hair cycle,” says Marty Sawaya, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology and biochemistry at the State University of New York at Brooklyn. Illnesses as diverse as measles, thyroid disease, lupus, pneumonia, anemia, diabetes, syphilis, polycystic ovaries, and tumors on the adrenal gland may all produce hair loss.

Watch your medications. “Literally hundreds of different medications can cause hair loss,” says Solomon. Chemotherapeutic drugs (medications used in the treatment of cancer) certainly affect the hair, but the list of offenders also includes some birth control pills, high blood pressure medications, certain types of steroids, diuretics, antidepressants, and even aspirin when taken chronically. Whether you will be affected by your medication in this way depends on your own sensitivity. Check with your doctor to see if the medications you are taking are associated with hair loss and whether there are alternative medications available, suggests Altchek. However, do not stop taking any prescription medication without first talking to your doctor about it.

Eat a balanced diet. People who eat a very-low­protein or iron-deficient diet run the risk of shedding more than normal amounts of hair. This can happen, for instance, when someone eats a poor diet or tries crash dieting. This holds true especially for women. “We don’t understand it fully, but some investigators have been finding that in women, iron and iron metabolism have an effect on the hair cycle,” says Sawaya. On the other hand, going overboard with certain vitamins can harm hair, too. Taking Vitamin A or D in excess can cause hair loss. “People who are taking the so­called megavitamin regime should be very careful,” warns Altchek.

Keep calm. Severe stress or a traumatic event like a death in the family can bring about heavy shedding of the hair. But moderate stress can leave its mark on your mane as well. “Gradual hair loss or thinning of the hair can be brought on by constant, low-grade stress,” says Altchek. Try to find a way to cope with stress and minimize its effects on your health-and your hair. Do whatever works for you, whether it’s exercising, practicing meditation or some form of relaxation technique, or making time for a hobby.

Don’t overprocess or overstyle your hair. We do many things to our hair to make it look beautiful, but some of them may not be good for our tresses. Cornrowing, tight braiding, bleaching, teasing, chemically straightening, and using hot rollers or hot combs can all cause hair breakage. “The rule of thumb here is the less you do to your scalp, the better,” advises Altchek. Whoever told women to brush their hair 100 times a night gave them “the worst possible advice,” he says. If you can’t forgo the styling and processing altogether, at least try to space them out a bit and give your hair a break from these treatments whenever possible.

Check out your supplements. Selenium supplements taken in excess and foreign herbs that contain heavy metals can cause hair loss. If you are taking any such supplement and notice hair loss, discontinue the supplement and see your doctor to be sure that the supplement has not caused other complications that may not be as readily apparent as the hair loss.

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Grinding Teeth

Everybody handles excess stress differently. Same people develop an ulcer, some people develop high blood pressure, and some people grind Or clench their teeth.

Stress, it’s now believed, is the major cause of grinding and clenching, say dental researchers. In the past, a malocclusion (the way your teeth fit together) got the blame, and dentists would grind e teeth dawn, trying to readjust the bite.

In a small percentage of cases, sleep patterns are responsible, says Daniel M. Laskin, D.D.S., M.S., professor and chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and director of the TMJ and Facial Pain Research Center at the Medical college of Virginia in Richmond. The reasons children grind remain unclear.

The problem with bruxism, as the habit of inding and clenching is called, is the wear and tear on your teeth. “It can wear away tooth enamel, causing decay and sensitive teeth,” says Laskin. Expensive dental work can get destroyed in the process, too. “And, you can get aching jaw muscles, which may be confused with pain in the joint and the symptoms of temporomandibular [ jaw] joint disorder [TMJ],” Laskin adds. (See TMJ.)

Prolonged grinding may damage the jaw joint enough ta cause osteoarthritis, says John D. Rugh, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Ortho­dontics and director of research for the Dental school at the University of Texas Health Science center at San Antonio. And it can increase bone loss in periadontal (gum) disease, although it does at actually cause gum disease.

Yau may inherit the tendency to grind, says Rugh. Three times as many women as men brux, says Thomas F. Truhe, D.D.S., codirector of the Princeton Dental Resource Center in New Jersey. Bruxism is most common in those between 20 and 40 years of age.

Ironically, the regular grinder may do less harm than the intermittent grinder-sort of like the weekend athlete who’s not in shape for intense activity. The regular grinder can wear down teeth, but his or her muscles get stronger from the habit, says Laskin.

Clenching may do more harm than grinding, adds Laskin. “Your jaws are constructed for bruxing, or chewing, but clenching loads the joint isometrically and can end up causing degenerative changes in the joint.”

People who grind are usually aware of their habit, too, says Laskin. They wake up with a stiff or tired jaw, or their spouse hears the noise during the night. Clenchers, on the other hand, may be ignorant of their problem. “If you notice the pain gets worse as the day goes on, then you’re doing something in the daytime,” says Laskin.

Here’s what you can do to try to stop bruxing and to cope with discomfort until you do:

Wear a night guard. Your dentist can make a plastic or acrylic appliance for you to wear at night. It will redistribute the forces from grinding and protect your teeth from damage. “It’s a little like banging your head against the wall and putting a pillow between your head and the wall so it doesn’t hurt anymore,” says Rugh. Opinions are divided as to whether it will actually keep you from grinding. Your dentist will want to see you regularly to check for any tooth movement or cavities that might result from wearing such an appliance. Keep in mind, however, that in order for the night guard to do any good, you must remember to put it in.

Keep your lips sealed, but your teeth apart. Your teeth should be touching only when you’re chewing or swallowing. Drop your jaw and feel the muscles relax-then try to maintain that feeling.

Take a warm bath before bedtime. You may temporarily relax your jaw muscles, although they may not stay that way, says Laskin.

Exercise. Your body, not your jaw, that is. A walk or other mild exercise may help relieve some of the tension and stress that’s causing bruxism, says Rugh.

Remind yourself. If you’re a daytime clencher, you can put a red dot on your phone, stickers on your wrist­watch, or even a string on your finger to remind you to keep your jaw relaxed, says Rugh.

Relieve stress. “Change jobs, get a divorce, get married, move the kids out, but if you can relieve stress, you can relieve the bruxism,” says Rugh.

“Don’t forget that good things as well as bad things can cause stress,” says Laskin. “I’ve had patients say they don’t have any stress, then they go on to say they’ve got a wonderful husband, two kids, a great job, they’re active in the PTA, they do this and that, and it’s all good, but it’s overload.” (See “Stress Thermometer.”)

Learn coping skills. See a psychologist or psychiatrist. Take an assertiveness training course. Practice techniques such as progressive relaxation or guided imagery or self-hypnosis. Listen to relaxation tapes. In other words, find something that helps you to better handle the stress in your life.

Take a mild analgesic. Ibuprofen, for example, can dull the pain and help relax stiff muscles.

Apply heat. Warm, moist heat is best. The simplest method: Soak a washcloth in hot water, wring it out, and hold it up to your jaw. You can use a heating pad, although moist heat will penetrate better. A hot shower’s nice, too. “Think of these muscles like the baseball pitcher treats the sore muscles in his pitching arm,” suggests Truhe.

Massage. It works for the rest of your body, so try a gentle massage to your jaw muscles.

Give your jaw muscles a break. Avoid the steak, the hard-crusted bread, and the popcorn for a while. “Your muscles aren’t able to tolerate that much activity,” says Laskin. Chewing gum’s a no-no, too, if your jaw muscles ache.

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Earwax - Information and Treatment for Earwax

Before you pick up a cotton swab or car key to wage war on the wax in your ears, you need to know which side of the battle you’re on.

Earwax is formed in the outer part of the ear canal. Normally, earwax is good for the skin in the outer ear canal. It becomes a problem only when the ear canal is almost completely blocked by wax, preventing the entry of air and sound and preventing the escape of trapped fluid. Here’s how to deal safely with earwax.

Respect its role. The skin in the ear canal has special modified sweat glands that produce earwax. This wax acts as a trap for dust and other particles that might find their way into your ear and cause injury, irritation, or infection. It also contains enzymes to help fight bacteria. In addition, it “waterproofs” the skin of the ear canal, protecting it from water damage, which would make the skin susceptible to infections such as swimmer’s ear. Earwax doesn’t need to be removed under normal circumstances-it’s there naturally as a barrier against injury and infection. Only when there is evidence of hearing loss or discomfort should it be attended to. “This is certainly an instance when the old adage holds true: ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,”’ says Daniel Kuriloff, M.D., associate director of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. In fact, without wax, or with a diminished amount of it, the inside of your ears would become dry and,itchy.

Wipe it out. Usually, wax accumulates a little at a time, gradually dries up, and rolls out of your ear on its own, carrying all the foreign matter with it. Sometimes, however, the wax moves to the outside of the ear canal more slowly. In this case, you can simply wipe off the wax once it becomes visible. “If you look in the mirror and see little dried-up bits of yellowish matter, you should take a piece of cotton moistened with water to wash it away,” advises Jack J. Wazen, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology and director of otology and neurotology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.

Use your elbow. One bit of wisdom that has been handed down through generations is: “Never clean your ears with anything smaller than your elbow.” Unfortunately, most people never think twice about cleaning their ears as often-and with the same vigor-as they wash their face. Cotton swabs are the most popular tool, but an endless list of “cleaning” utensils have been employed, including toothpicks, paper clips, and pencil tips. “The point is, don’t try to clean your ears at all. You may harm the delicate lining in the ear canal or poke a hole in your eardrum, either of which will lead to infection,” says John W. House, M.D., associate clinical professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. “Most important, you are almost certain to poke the wax deeper into your ear canal, even up against your eardrum, where it will interfere with hearing.”

Don’t rush out for softening drops. Different people form different amounts and types of earwax, and in some cases, the wax may accumulate to such an extent that it interferes with hearing. If you suspect that earwax is hindering your hearing, however, don’t use over-the-counter drops to soften the wax-at least not until you check with an ear doctor. These drops, although effective for some benign external ear conditions, are generally not recommended until the exact source of the hearing loss or ear discomfort is determined by a doctor. In fact, the drops can actually exacerbate certain ear problems, says Kuriloff Wax buildup that is causing symptoms must be removed by an ear doctor. Likewise, if your ears are tender to the touch, reddened in an area that you can see, or draining fluid, don’t use any kind of ear drops or medication before consulting an ear doctor.

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Denture Discomfort Remedies for the Treatment of Denture Discomfort

Dentures have come a long way since the wooden teeth worn by George Washington. But, as anyone who has worn them can attest, dentures can cause discomfort. There are two times when dentures often cause discomfort-during the initial “adjustment” phase, when dentures are new, and after several years of wearing, when dentures may stop fitting properly.

Most people become accustomed to their new dentures within a short time. However, at first, you may have difficulty talking and eating. You may find the dentures tend to “slip,” or you may develop sore spots in your mouth.

Even people who have had dentures for years sometimes develop problems with them, usually problems related to fit. “When the teeth are extracted, the dentures sit on the bony ridge that’s left,” says Sandra Hazard, D.M.D., a managing dentist with Willamette ­Dental Group, Inc., in Oregon. “Without the teeth, the stimulation to the bone is gone and, over many years, the bone is reabsorbed by the body. The plastic denture, of course, stays the same but starts to fit badly.”

Poor fit is probably the most common cause of denture discomfort. As the bony ridge shrinks, the dentures can slip, move around, and cause sore areas. Often, people try to refit their dentures by using commercial denture adhesives. But using too much adhesive can change the relationship of the denture to the tissue and result in more soreness. Sometimes the body itself tries to solve the ill­fitting denture problem by causing tissue to overgrow in the mouth.

While dentures will never be as comfortable as your natural teeth, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent and resolve denture discomfort:

Keep those chompers clean. When you first have! your teeth extracted and your new dentures fit, it’ important to keep your dentures clean, because excess bacteria can retard the gums’ healing process, says Hazard.

Once you’re accustomed to your dentures, it’s important to clean them at least twice a day. “Yo can brush them with toothpaste or use a special denture cleaner,” says Hazard.

Jack W Clinton, D.M.D., associate dean of Patient Services at Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry in Portland, plain old soap and water to keep dentures sparkling. “Using a hand brush and soap and I water works great,” he says.

Brush the gums. Don’t forget to brush your gums, too. “You can help maintain the health of the ; tissues that lie underneath the dentures by brushing the gums twice a day with a soft brush”, says Ken Waddell, D.M.D., a dentist in private I practice in Tigard, Oregon.

Brushing the gums, palate, and tongue not only stimulates the tissues and increases circulation, it . also helps reduce bacteria and removes plaque.

Baby your mouth. At least at first, your gums will: need time to adjust to the compression created by. the dentures. Hazard advises patients to eat soft foods during the denture adjustment period to avoid damaging the tender tissues.

Once the gums have healed and your dentist ha: refit your dentures properly, you’ll be able to chell more normally. But Waddell says some foods, sud as apples and corn on the cob, are probably best avoided by people who wear dentures. “Adver­tisements show people with dentures eating all kinds of hard foods,” he says. “But hard foods cause the denture to traumatize the gums and bon of the upper jaw. Cut up your apples and take the corn off the cob.”

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Dandruff - Treatment and Remedies for Curing Diabetes

Don’t toss out all those dark suits. There’s a better way to deal with dandruff. As a matter of fact, you may be able to simply wash it away.

If you are like most people, you have always thought of those unsightly flakes as dry skin. In reality, though, dandruff is usually a condition of oily skin and an oily scalp.

The process that causes dandruff-the shedding of dead skin cells-is a natural one that goes on continu­ally all over your body. In fact, you get a whole new suit of skin about every 27 or 28 days. The old stuff just sort of flakes away. You simply may not no- notice the tiny skin cells dropping off your arms and legs.

You happen to see the skin cells that make up dandruff because your hair traps them before they can float off unnoticed. Then the oil from your hair and scalp clumps up the cells until they turn into those visible flakes that decorate your shoulders. Naturally, they are even more noticeable on first dates, job interviews, and other important occasions.

According to Joseph P. Bark, M.D., chairman of dermatology at 8t. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, you should be glad your scalp flakes away. “If you didn’t lose that skin progressively, everybody would be carrying their scalp around in a wheelbarrow,” he says. “It would be tremen­dously thick.”

Unfortunately, few of us are brave enough to shrug off dandruff, even if it reflects a normal and necessary process. Fortunately, you can take steps to sweep those flakes away once and for all.

Shampoo each day to keep it away. What easier way to get rid of dandruff than to wash it down the drain? Often, this is all that’s required, says Andrew Lazar, M.D., assistant professor of clinil dermatology at Northwestern University School shampoo Medicine in Chicago. Getting rid of excess oils anc flakes through daily shampooing may be the easiest way to tame your mane.

Switch shampoos. If your regular shampoo isn’t doing the trick, even with daily washing, it’s time to switch to an anti-dandruff shampoo. Check the ingredients for over-the-counter shampoos, says Fredric Haberman, M.D., author of The Doctor’s Beauty Hotline. Look for a dandruff shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, sulfur, or salicylic acid.

Switch, and switch again. Your favorite dandruff shampoo may stop working after a while. To your dismay, those little white flakes may take up residence on your shoulders again. It’s not the fault of the shampoo, says Haberman. You simply may build up a resistance to the shampoo’s active ingredient. Haberman recommends rotating three brands of dandruff shampoo (each with a different formulation), using each for a month. In other words, use one shampoo for a month, then switch to a second brand for a month, then to a third brand for a month, then back to the original shampoo for a month, and so on.

Lather twice. The first lathering and rinsing gets rid of the loose flakes and the oily buildup on you hair and scalp. It sort of clears the area so the second lathering can get to work. Leave the lathered shampoo on your hair at least five minutes before rinsing it off, advises Haberman. That gives the shampoo a chance to penetrate the skin cells and do what it’s supposed to do.

Try tar. If the antidandruff shampoos aren’t working, it’s time to bring out the big guns, name( the tar shampoos. Tar shampoos have been a proven remedy for more than 200 years, says Bark.

The tar decreases cell turnover quite effectively. However, there are some drawbacks. Tar shampoos rong odor, may stain the shaft of lighter colored hair (it can take weeks of using a milder shampoo to get rid of the discoloration), and may irritate the skin.

Rinse. If you decide to go with a tar shampoo, rinse your hair with lemon juice, a conditioner, or creme rinse to get rid of any odor lingering from the shampoo, according to Paul S. Russell, M.D., professor of dermatology at Oregon Health University in Portland. Russell says that using a conditioner after washing with an anti-dandruff shampoo is a good idea anyway, because the medicated shampoos tend to stiffen hair and make it less manageable.

Be sensitive to your sensitivity. There are some People who just plain shouldn’t use a tar shampoo.Why? because they’re so sensitive. Rather, their. Bark says the shampoo can irritate and the hair follicles of some people”and can condition called folliculitis. The cure? switch to a milder shampoo.

Stop those itchy fingers. Try to resist the temptation to go after those itchy patches like a dog chasing fleas. You may end up with wounds your scalp, caused by your fingernails. If you break the skin on your scalp, discontinue use of medicated shampoo for a while. Switch to a mild 100, such as a baby shampoo, advises I, and use it daily until the scratches are healed.

Shower away sweat. After exercise or strenuous work that makes you perspire, shower and shampoo as soon as possible. Sweat irritates the scalp and speeds up the flaking of skin cells, says Lazar

Go easy on the sticky stuff. Although you needn’t give up the various mousses, sprays, and gels that hold your hairstyle in place, try to use them less often, says Lazar. These hair products can contribute to oily buildup.

Be kind to yourself. People who are under a great deal of stress seem to have more dandruff, observes Haberman. He says that stress somehow contributes to the proliferation of skin cells. Although there is no known diet connection to dandruff, “poor diet can stress you out and contribute to any dermatitis condition,” says Haberman. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and finding ways to relax or let off steam can make a difference.

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Diabetes – Treatment for Curing it Fast and Effectively

Each day, some 12 million diabetics in this country walk a tightrope between too little sugar in the bloodstream and too much. Too little-which may come from a complication of medication -and they may quickly be overcome by dizziness, fatigue, headache, sweating, trembling,and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness and coma. Too much-which can happen after eating much, especially if the person is older and overweight-and the person may experience weakness, fatigue, excessive thirst, labored breathing, and loss of consciousness. Left untreated, the picture is bleak: Blindness, kidney,disease, blood vessel damage, infection, heart disease, nerve damage, high blood pressure, stroke, lb amputation, and coma may result.

Because the initial symptoms (fatigue, weakness,frequent urination) are usually mild, half of all diabetics do not realize that they have the disease.And that’s a real shame, because with early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of living a long and productive life are higher than if the disease creeps along undetected until irreversible problems set in.

If you’d like some proof that diabetes is clearly a ease you can live with, take a look at these prolific diabetics: jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, singer Ella Fitzgerald, actress Mary Tyler Moore, eball Hall of Fame great Jim (Catfish) Hunter.Even before treatment was as sophisticated as it is today, author Ernest Hemingway and inventor Thomas Edison, both of whom were diabetic, managed to leave their marks on history.

If you are one of the lucky ones whose diabetes has been diagnosed by a doctor, you have an idea what has gone awry in your body. The disorder stems from the way your body processes carbohydrates, which you take in through food. Normally, these foods are converted into a form of sugar called glucose, which floats along in the bloodstream until the pancreas, a large gland located behind the stomach, goes into action. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that signals body cells to soak up the glucose. Once inside the cell, the glucose is either used to produce heat or energy or is stored as fat. A person with diabetes produces little or no insulin or else becomes resistant to the hormone’s action and can’t compensate. Either way, the glucose can’t get into the cells; it accumulates in the blood and is later expelled in the urine. In short, blood sugar rises while cells starve.Only about one-tenth of all diabetics have the severe form of the disease, called Type I, which usually affects children and young adults and requires daily injections of insulin. Most have what doctors refer to as Type II, or adult-onset diabetes. While about one-third of Type II diabetics do require insulin to control blood sugar, and another one-third use medications to increase insulin production, the remaining Type II diabetics rely on non-medical measures (such as diet, weight loss, and exercise) alone to control their disease. No matter which group you fall into, you can benefit from taking an active role in your treatment. But don’t make a move without consulting your doctor first. He or she will call the shots; then it’s up to you to carry through. Here’s how:

Dish up a special diet. “The goal of dietary intervention for Type I diabetes is to help minimize short- and long-term complications by normalizing blood sugar levels. The goal of dietary intervention in Type II diabetes is to help the I patient achieve and maintain normal body weight,” says John Buse, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, at the University of Chicago and director of the Endocrinology Clinic at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Both Type I and Type II diabetics should follow the guidelines offered by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which were revised in 1986 based on new research findings.

Know your carbohydrates. The traditional dogma for diabetics was this: Avoid simple carbohydrats or simple sugars (such as table sugar), because the raise blood sugar quickly, and choose complex carbohydrates (such as the starches and fiber found in grains, potatoes, beans, and peas), because they raise blood sugar more slowly. But this dogma has given way recently to newer rules which really aren’t rules at all in the strictest sensa.

“Diabetic meal planning must account for man) factors,” says Harold E. Lebovitz, M.D., professor of medicine, chief of the Division of Endo­crinology and Diabetes, and director of the. Clinical Research Center at State University of I New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. “A food eaten alone may affect blood sugar differently than when it is eaten with another food. The saml variations can be noted with cooked foods versus raw foods and even with different brands of foods And not least, different foods affect blood sugar differently in different people.”

Consequently, while complex carbohydrates like lentils, soy beans, peanuts, and kidney beans are still best for causing the slowest and lowest rise in blood sugar after a meal, present evidence suggests that sucrose (table sugar) may not be “off limits” for Type II diabetics if blood glucose levels stay normal after their ingestion. “Experimenting with ‘forbidden foods’ may be possible with a doctor’s! consent,” says Lebovitz. “But before you start beginning on bonbons, it’s important to be prepared to see what happens of the blood-glucose response.”

Get fond of fiber. The key to the effectiveness of complex carbohydrates may lie in the fiber content.”While the cause and effect of fiber in control of TypeII diabetes has yet to be established, we do know that such foods are very satiating and can help enormously toward weight loss, says Buse.

Understand “sweet” talk. Actually, there are a rober of different kinds of sugar, and each has a ,tentially different effect on blood sugar levels. “The most basic form of sugar is glucose, or dextrose. which will raise blood sugar levels faster 11 any other kind when swallowed,” says Ira J.Laufer. M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University School of medicine and medical director of The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Diabetes Treatment Center in New York. “Sucrose also tends to raise blood sugar almost as quickly as dextrose. But fructose, sometimes called fruit sugar, generally has a very , TId effect on blood sugar. If your diabetes is in good control, dietetic desserts and candies reetened with pure fructose are not likely to raise your blood sugar levels very much,” he adds. On the other hand, fructose provides as many calories as other sugars, so it may not be the wisest choice for diabetics who need to lose weight.

Reduce your risks. To emphasize the fact that excess weight is a Type II diabetic’s most serious problem, experts on diabetes are fond of saying that if you want to find out if there’s a possibility of getting diabetes, just keep on eating and get fat.You can do other things, too, but the main thing is get fat. An estimated 80 percent of those with Type II diabetes are obese when diagnosed with the disease. Added weight can both accelerate the diabetes and bring on its complications, especially cardiovascular disease and stroke.

In contrast, even a modest weight loss can have amatic effects: High insulin levels drop, the liver begins to secrete less glucose into the blood, and peripheral muscle tissues begin to respond to insulin and take up glucose better. Just as obesity leads to insulin resistance, so weight loss reverses the condition. When persons with Type II diabetes lose weight, they frequently are no longer diabetic. “Type II diabetics may only need to get and stay at an ideal body weight,” says Buse. “And unless they do that, nothing else will work very well.”

Don’t “crash”. Too rapid weight loss rarely works in the long run and is potentially dangerous if undertaken without a doctor’s advice. Sometimes, a doctor will, in fact, prescribe a very-low-calorie diet to initiate weight loss, but only for a very short period of time. Generally, the best approach is to lose weight gradually with a low-fat, lower-calorie, nutritionally balanced diet combined with increased activity. Avoid the use of over-the­ counter appetite suppressants that contain phenylpropanolamine (PPA).

Graze. Many experts believe that a Type II diabetic may more easily achieve normal blood sugar levels by not overloading with too much food at one time. “Three smaller meals a day-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-plus two or three snack-type meals in between is easier for the diabetic person’s insulin to handle. Just be sure that you don’t overshoot your calorie limit, however,” advises Lebovitz.

Get a firm foothold. Neuropathy, damage to the nerves, is a common problem for diabetics. It occurs most often in the feet and legs, and its signs include repeated burning, pain, or numbness. “Neuropathy can be dangerous if it causes a loss feeling, because then even a minor foot injury ma go undiscovered-leading to serious infection, gangrene, and even amputation of the limb,” say Joseph C. D’Amico, D.P.M., a podiatrist in private practice in New York. Diabetics, therefore, need’ be diligent about foot care.

Be a sport. Regular exercise provides many benefits. It tones up the heart and other muscle strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the respiratory system, helps raise HDL (good cholesterol), gives a sense of well-being, decrease tension, aids in weight control, enhances work ­ capacity, and confers a sense of achievement. “For those with diabetes,” says Laufer, “exercise bestd additional benefits. It promotes the movement of sugar from the bloodstream into cells, where it is burned for energy, and it improves the cells’ abil! to respond to insulin, thus decreasing their need for the hormone.

Not all exercises are for every diabetic person. If blood sugar is high, exercise will lower it; if it’s low,exercise will lower it further.Those on medication must work with a doctor to make necessary adjustment.Because of the potential for neuropathy, diabetics need to protect the nerve endings in the feet and so may need to avoid high­impact activities such as jogging. Another consideration is that dabetics are particularly sensitive to dehydration. Also, intense exercise could endanger capillaries in the eyes already weakened by diabetes, leading to rupture, vision problems, and even blindness. So you will need to choose your exercise program carefully with the aid of your doctor. And, especially if you are over 40 years old, you will need to undergo a general medical examination, including a cardiovascular screening test and exercise test, before proceeding with your exercise program.

Once your doctor gives you the go-ahead to begin a program of regular exercise, you need to set up realistic goals in order to avoid too-high or too-low blood sugar levels and other problems that could result from doing too much too soon.

“Someone who has not spent much time engaged in physicall activity who is also overweight should not be thinking in terms of running races,” advises Laufer.

Swimming, bicycle riding, and brisk walking are all recommended. Indeed, walking is the one activity that all medical experts agree is ideal for a diabetic patient. “The average Type II diabetic patient is over 50, overweight, and underactive,” says Laufer. Walking is a kinder, gentler activity for such individuals. Remember, however, that the positive effects of exercise last for only a day or two, so your goal should be to exercise at least every other day.

Watch your mouth. Diabetics must be extra careful about their teeth. “Good dental hygiene is important for everyone,” says Andrew Baron, D.D.S., a dentist and clinical associate professor at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. “Because they are at increased risk for infection, diabetics should be super cautious about preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease.” Keep a supply of toothbrushes so you won’t have to deal with old, worn brushing aids. Brush and floss without fail after every meal and before bedtime. And see your dentist regularly for checkups and cleaning.

Check your dentures. Ill-fitting dentures or permanent bridgework cause frustration for anyone who has to live with them. For a diabetic, the consequences go far beyond annoyance. “Dentures that move around in your mouth can cause sores that don’t heal,” cautions Baron. “It’s a shame to suffer with such problems, especially when they are so easily remedied by a dentist.” If you notice sore spots in your mouth or find that your dentures are moving or slipping, see your dentist to have the problem corrected.

Take charge. How do you psych yourself up for a game that has no time outs and that never ends? That’s the question diabetics face every day. One way is to learn all you can about your illness so that you can better control it. “Diabetics are constantly learning and relearning lifestyle changes and behavior adjustments. It’s like studying for a master’s degree in diabetes-and, in this case, there is no graduation and no vacation,” says Laufer.

It’s a given that even in a diabetic whose disease appears to be totally under control, there will be occasional rapid and even violent swings in blood sugar levels, brought on by emotional or physical stresses, meals, medications, or even the time of day. But if they are anticipated and accepted, these episodes can be viewed as simply a bump in the road rather than a major detour.

Do something nice for yourself. While it’s important to learn as much as you can about your diabetes and stay with your treatment regimen, you also need to keep things in perspective. “It is a rare individual who takes time to ’stop and smell the roses,’ as it were,” notes Laufer. “This is especially true for diabetics, who often get so caught up in their disease that it is difficult for them to focus on other, more-positive aspects of life.” Make a list of all the things you would like to do if you had the time-and then make the time to do at least some of them. Obviously, finishing a box of chocolates should not appear on this list. While staring into space may be an ideal uplifter for one person, and napping the afternoon away does the same for another, straightening out a messy closet may do the trick for a third.

Do something nice for someone else. It’s hard to think of your own problems when you are engaged in making another person’s life more pleasant. In any city or town in the country, there are those who are less well-off, with more-severe problems. “You can call your local hospital or library to inquire about volunteers,” says Laufer. “Or you can knock on the door of an elderly, housebound neighbor who might appreciate a visit.”

Tagged under:  Kidney Problems

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Diarrhea - Curing Diarrhoea Fast and Effectively

You may blame it on a 24-hour bug or something you ate, but if you’re like the average American, you’ll suffer once or twice this year from diarrhea-frequent, watery bowel movements that may be accompanied by painful cramps or nausea and vomiting.

Gastroenteritis-the catch-all medical term for intestinal flu, viral infection, and food poisoning­is the second leading cause of missed work time (the common cold beats it).

Diarrhea is uncomfortable and unpleasant, but generally no big deal in otherwise healthy adults. However, if diarrhea becomes a chronic condition, the situation changes. If it affects the very young, the elderly, or the chronically ill, it can be dangerous. And if you’re not careful to drink enough fluids, you could find yourself complicating what should have been a simple situation.

What causes diarrhea? Because the condition generally lasts only a few days, doctors don’t usually culture the stool to diagnose what started it in the first place. It’s most often due to a viral infection, which antibiotics can’t fight. You just have to tough it out for a couple of days. The virus has invaded the bowel, causing it to absorb excessive fluid, which leads to the watery stools. You may also experience cramping, nausea and vomiting, headache, fever, malaise, and even upper-respiratory-tract symptoms, such as a runny nose. One clue: If members of your family all get sick, but at different times, it’s likely a virus that got passed around. Bacteria, which often cause traveler’s diarrhea in certain parts of the world, can also be responsible for diarrhea as the result of food poisoning. “When the whole family goes on a picnic and six hours later, they’re all sick, that’s a classic sign of food poisoning,” says Rosemarie L. Fisher, M.D., professor of medicine in the Division of Digestive Diseases at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

Much rarer are microbes like amoebae and giardia that try to set up permanent housekeeping in your bowel, causing diarrhea that lasts for weeks or months. You can get these from contaminated food or water, public swimming pools, and communal hot tubs.

Certain drugs, especially antibiotics, can have diarrhea as a side effect. Magnesium-containing antacids and artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol are often overlooked culprits.

Unless diarrhea persists, you usually don’t find out its cause. Treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms and at preventing dehydration, the most serious consequence of diarrhea.

So what can you do?

Ride it out. If you’re not very young or old or suffering from any chronic illness, it may be safe just to put up with it for a couple of days.

“Although there’s no definite proof that diarrhea is a cleansing action, it probably serves some purpose,” explains Richard Bennett, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Keep hydrated. In the meantime, make sure you “maintain your fluid and electrolyte balance,” as the doctors say. Obviously, you can lose a lot of liquid in diarrhea, but you also lose electrolytes, which are minerals like sodium and potassium, that are critical in the running of your body. Here’s how to replace what you’re losing:

• Drink plenty of fluids. No one agrees on which fluid is best-again, because of the electrolyte problem. The experts do agree you need at least two quarts of fluid a day, three if you’re running a fever. Plain water lacks electrolytes, although you may want to drink this part of the time. Weak tea with a little sugar is a popular choice. Some vote for Gatorade, although Fisher points out it’s constituted to replace fluids lost through sweating, not for diarrhea, a whole different ball game. Defizzed, nondiet soda pop is recommended by some, although anything with a lot of sugar can increase diarrhea. So can caffeine. Fruit juices, particularly apple and prune, have a laxative effect, but others may be OK.
• Buy an over-the-counter electrolyte replacement formula. Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, and Ricelyte are available over-the-counter from your local drug store. These formulas contain fluids and minerals in the proper proportion.

Keep your liquids cool but not ice-cold. Whatever you choose to drink, keep it cool, suggests Peter A. Banks, M.D., director of Clinical Gastroenterology Service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and lecturer on medicine at Harvard Medical School, both in Boston. It will be less irritating that way. Sip, don’t guzzle; it will be easier on your insides.

Sip some chicken broth. Or any broth, says Banks. But have it lukewarm, not hot, and add some salt.

Rest in bed. Give your body a chance to fight the bug that’s causing this.

Put a heating pad on your belly. Banks says it will help relieve abdominal cramps.

Try yogurt. You’ll want to make sure you get a product that contains live lactobacillus cultures, which are friendly bugs that normally live in the gut. “There are anecdotal reports but no good studies that yogurt works,” says Bennett. “But there’s no harm in trying.”

Eat light. Soups and gelatin may go down easy. Banks recommends bland foods like rice, noodles, and bananas. Potatoes, toast, cooked carrots, soda crackers, and skinless, defatted chicken are also easy on the digestive system.

Take the pink stuff. Stopping the diarrhea with an over-the-counter medication may not be the best thing for your body. Diarrhea probably reflects your body’s attempt to get rid of a troublesome bug. If you do feel it’s necessary, however, Pepto­Bismol is probably the safest over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine, says Bennett. And studies show it may have a mild antibacterial effect, which would be most useful in traveler’s diarrhea, since this condition is usually bacteria related.

Take Kaopectate or Imodium A-D. Again, you’re probably better off going without antidiarrheal medication. If you absolutely need some relief, however, you can try one of these over-the-counter medications. Imodium A-D slows down the motility, or movement, of the gut; Kaopectate absorbs fluid. Bennett does not recommend these for elderly patients because decreased motility can be dangerous in an infection and can lead to worse problems.

Don’t do dairy. Avoid milk or other dairy products like cheese during the time that you’re having diarrhea as well as for one to three weeks afterward. The small intestine, where milk is digested, is affected by diarrhea and simply won’t work as well for a while. “Milk may sound soothing,” says Fisher. “But it could actually make the diarrhea worse.”

Cut out caffeine. Just as it stimulates your nervous system, caffeine jump-starts your intestines. And that’s the last thing you need to do in diarrhea.

Say no to sweet treats. High concentrations of sugar can increase diarrhea. The sugar in fruit can do the same.

Steer clear of greasy or high-fiber foods. These are harder for your gut to handle right now. It needs foods that are kinder and gentler.

Tagged under:  diarrhea, diarrhea home remedies, diarrhea treatment Digestion Problems

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Diaper Rashes - Coping up with Diaper Rashes

Diaper rash. It’s not a pretty sight for you, and your baby probably doesn’t enjoy it much, either. While far from being a serious medical problem, diaper rash is just another of life’s little discomforts.

There’s not too much to say about how to recognize diaper rash-if your baby’s got a red, sore bottom underneath his or her diaper, that’s a pretty conclusive diagnosis. The good news is, you can cure that rash within a matter of days. And with some conscientious care, you can say goodbye to it forever.

The following are sure cures for diaper rash. Luckily, the same principles apply to the prevention side of the coin. In other words, the lery things that make the rash go away are also Ihat keep it away, so keep on doing them. Good riddance!

Get rid of the diaper. As its name implies, diaper rash is caused by a diaper. Say goodbye to the liaper, and-voila!-no more rash, says Gregory Z Hayden, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and an tending pediatrician at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville. “If the baby has a rash, take his diaper off whenever practical,” says Hayden. “This way, stool and urine won’t touch the skin.” To keep any mess to a minimum, you can put the baby on a rubber mat overed with a washable cloth while you air out his or her bottom.

Change the baby often. The best way to avoid diaper rash or to cure an existing rash is to make !sure that the baby is always clean and dry, says Jeannette M. Pergam, M.D., a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “The moist, warm environment under the diaper is one that is very conducive to causing skin infections,” she says.

Avoid commercial baby wipes. Many brands of store-bought baby wipes contain alcohol and other chemicals that can dry and irritate your child’s skin, says Pergam.Wet, soapy wash­cloths are best for cleaning baby’s bottom, she says. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with a clean, wet cloth or plain water to remove any soap.

Dry that bottom. When you change your child’s diapers, make sure you dry the area thoroughly with a towel, says Pergam. She also advises leaving the area exposed to air for a few minutes before putting on a new diaper. An old-fashioned way to keep baby’s bottom dry is to brown a little cornstarch in a frying pan and apply it to the child’s bottom, according to James E. Bridges, M.D., a specialist in family medicine in Fremont, Nebraska. He adds that commercial cornstarch baby powders probably work just as well.

Choose an ointment and use it. Many pediatricians recommend using a diaper-rash cream or ointment, such as A and D or Desitin, every time you change your baby. These heavy creams create a block so that stool and urine won’t irritate the skin, says Hayden. “Some people worry that the ointments will keep moisture in,” he says, “but they work pretty well for most skin.” A cotton ball dipped in baby oil will usually take the creams off without scrubbing.

Try baby powder, but be careful where you shake it. Dusting the baby’s bottom with baby talcum powder may be another way to protect your child’s skin against irritants, according to Hayden. However, studies have shown that if babies inhale the powder, it can be dangerous, even fatal.Cornstarch-based powders may pose less of a threat, Hayden adds. When using any powder, try shaking some into your hand-away from baby’s face-and then sprinkling it onto the diaper area.

Hang the diapers out to dry. “There’s an old wives’ tale that if you hang your baby’s diapers out to dry instead of putting them in the dryer, they won’t cause diaper rash,” Pergam says. Although she has no explanation for the efficacy of this tip, she swears that it worked for her own children. If you have a place to hang them, you may want to give this a try to see if it helps.

Fight back against yeast. Sometimes, what appears to be an innocuous diaper rash can really be an infection of yeast, also called candida albicans. It may be hard to tell the difference between the two, Hayden says, although a yeast infection may appear as little white specks dotting an area of red irritation. To cure a yeast infection, try using an over-the-counter anti yeast medication, such as Lotrimin, or see your pediatrician for a prescription.

Try vinegar solution. Urine is an extremely alkaline solution, says Bridges. It can burn the skin the same way that acid can. To balance out the equation, try adding half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse water when you wash the baby’s diapers, he suggests. “That neutralizes the ammonia,” he says. Pergam recommends wiping baby’s bottom with a solution of eight parts water to one part vinegar-the theory is the same.

Avoid plastic pants. Plastic pants worn over a diaper keep moisture in and may cause irritation or worsen an existing infection, Hayden says. “It’s better to let things evaporate and dry out.”

Tagged under:  baby wipe, diaper, diaper rashes Skin Disorders

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Dry Hair - Treating Dry Hair with so many Available Remedies

Your hair feels like straw-dry, fly-away, unmanageable. How could you have been cursed with such a mane? You probably weren’t, according to Frank Parker, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. “While some people are born with hair that tends to be more dry, most dry hair problems aren’t organic or genetic problems at all. They’re instead due to what you’re doing to your hair,” he says. That’s right. Those dry locks are most likely your own fault. Exposing your hair to harsh chemicals such as hair dyes, permanent-wave solutions, and the chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs dries out the hair. So does shampooing too often and using styling tools such as hot combs, hot rollers, and blow dryers. Even too much sun and wind can dry out your tresses. You can learn to treat your dry hair with T.L.e. and teach it to be more manageable. Here’s how:

Don’t overdo the shampoo. Overshampooing is one of the most common causes of dry hair, according to Parker. “Too often, people think they have to shampoo their hair every day with harsh shampoos,” he says. “It just strips away the natural oils.”

On the other hand, you shouldn’t go too long without a good lather. “Shampoo at least every three days,” says barber, cosmetologist, and hair­ care instructor Rose Dygart, owner of Le Rose Salon of Beauty in Lake Oswego, Oregon. “Gentle shampooing stimulates the oil glands.”

Be kind to your hair. Dygart says dry hair is the most fragile type of hair and is subject to breakage, so it must be handled with care. “Learn to shampoo your hair very gently,” she says. “Try not to pull the hair or put any tension on the hair shafts. ”

When lathering, avoid scrubbing with your fingernails, which can not only break the hair but can irritate your scalp. Work up a lather using your fingertips, instead.

Use a gentle shampoo. Dry hair needs a gentle, acidic cleanser, says Dygart. “Use a shampoo with a pH of between 4.5 and 6.7 for dry hair. Use a gentle cleanser you wouldn’t be afraid to put on your face,” she says. Some people recommend baby shampoos, but Dygart says their pH is far too high, and alkaline shampoos dry out the hair. Instead, she recommends acidic shampoos.

Pour on the conditioner.Dry hair needs conditioning, says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. “Find a conditioner that has as little alcohol as possible in it, because alcohol is drying,” he says. “Products that have little or no fragrance usually have less alcohol. For really dry hair, try an overnight conditioner that you put on and wear a shower cap over and rinse off the next day.”

For severely dry, damaged hair, Novick recommends using Moisturel, a body lotion that contains petrolatum and glycerin, instead of a conditioner. Apply the moisturizer to damp hair, and leave it on overnight beneath a shower cap. Rinse it out thoroughly in the morning.

Pour the hot oil. “Hot oil treatments are excellent for restoring dry hair,” says Dygart. She recommends using over-the-counter hot oil products that you heat and place on the hair for 5 to 20 minutes (according to package instructions). Wear a plastic bag or shower cap over your hair while the hot oil is on. Then, wash the hair thoroughly with a gentle shampoo.

Slather on the mayo. Mayonnaise is another excellent moisturizing treatment for dry hair, says Dygart. “Use old-fashioned mayonnaise, not diet or low-cholesterol types,” she says. “First, shampoo your hair, then apply about a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Wrap the hair in a plastic bag for 20 to 30 minutes. Then shampoo and rinse thoroughly. ”

Nix the 100 strokes. Novick says that because dry hair is so fragile, too much brushing can actually fracture the hair, causing hair fall. He suggests brushing gently and never brushing the hair when it is wet.

Dygart says the type of hairbrush you use is important. She recommends boar-bristle brushes or “vent” brushes, ones with rubberized tips, that don’t pull the hair excessively.

Give yourself a scalp massage. One way to stimulate the oil glands on the scalp is to gently massage the scalp during shampoos, says Dygart. “Use the tips of your fingers to very gently massage all over your scalp,” she says. “It not only stimulates the oil glands, it also feels great.”

Be an egghead. Dygart suggests beating an egg in a cup and, with tepid water (not hot-it cooks the egg!), lathering the egg into the hair and then rinsing it out with tepid water. There’s no need to shampoo afterWard. The egg not only cleans the hair but gives it a lovely shine.

Pace your hair treatments. If you perm on Tuesday, dye your hair on Thursday, and put it in hot rollers on Saturday, your hair is destined to be dry and damaged. “Think about your hair like a sweater,” says Novick. “How many times can you dye it repeatedly before it begins to look terrible?” Novick says people with dry hair don’t necessarily have to abandon styling practices like dyes, permanent waves, or hair straightening, but he says it’s important to space those treatments out.

Hold the heat. Using hot combs, hot rollers, and blow dryers is asking for dry hair trouble, says Paul Contorer, M.D., chief of dermatology for Kaiser Permanente in Beaverton, Oregon, and clinical professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Hot rollers are the worst because they stretch the hair while the heat shrinks it. Hot combs also tend to stretch the hair and expose hair to heat for long periods of time.

If you must use artificial heat on your hair, Dygart suggests that you use a blow dryer on a low setting and avoid pulling or stretching the hair while drying.

Tagged under:  Hair Problems

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Dry Skin - Information and Remedies for the Treatment of Dry Skin

Everyone occasionally suffers from dry skin, according to dermatologist James Shaw, M.D., chief of the Division of Dermatology at Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center and associate clinical professor of medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University, both in Portland. “Dry skin is largely influenced by genetics and by climate and other drying factors like taking hot showers,” he says.

When there’s not enough water in the skin’s top layer (called the stratum corneum), the skin becomes flaky, itchy, and unsightly. In extreme cases, this layer can become rough, cracked, and scaly, and chronic dermatitis (skin irritation) can develop.

Normally, the outer layer of the skin is kept moist by fluid from the sweat glands and from underlying tissues. Oil, produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin, helps to seal in that fluid. But lots of things rob moisture from the skin’s outer layer. Some people simply have an outer skin layer that doesn’t hold water well. Others may have less active sweat glands. Age is also a factor in dry skin. The older you get, the less oil the sebaceous glands produce, and the drier your skin is likely to be.

One of the greatest skin-moisture robbers is low humidity. Cold, dry air, common in many areas during the winter months, sucks water from the skin. Add the drying effects of sun and/or high altitude to low humidity and the parching is compounded. Heated or air-conditioned air in your home or office may also be dry and cause your skin to lose moisture.

Water can actually take moisture from your skin. Over bathing or bathing in hot water for long periods of time causes a repeated wetting and drying of the tissue that holds the outer layer of skin together and, over time, can make it less able to hold and retain water. “People who bathe several times a day or take lots of hot tubs are actually leaching important proteins from their skin that normally keep the skin moist,” explains Frank Parker, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.

Harsh soaps, detergents, household cleansers, and chemical solvents can also take their toll on the skin. These products can damage the skin’s outer layer. People who must frequently wash and dry their hands, such as nurses and hairstylists, often complain of red, chapped hands, so-called “dishpan hands.”

While you can’t keep skin away from all of the external moisture robbers, here are some tips to keep your skin moist and youthful-looking for years to come:

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Always keep a lotion or cream on your skin, especially if you tend toward dry skin, says Parker. “Apply moisturizer right after you bathe, while you’re still damp,” he says. Pat, don’t rub, yourself dry-damp with a soft towel. Apply moisturizers throughout the day whenever your skin feels dry and before retiring to bed.

Which moisturizers should you use? “The more oil a product has in it, the more protection it offers, and the thicker the product, the more it seals in moisture,” says Shaw. “Thin lotions are mostly water. Cold creams are thicker and have more oil and less water. And products like Vaseline [petrolatum] are all oil.”

Dermatologist Margaret Robertson, M.D., a staff physician at St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, advises using a thick, unscented moisturizer that doesn’t automatically disappear on the skin. She says you can mix water with petrolatum to form a cream that provides good moisture protection.

Take short, cool showers and baths. Hot water actually draws out oil, the skin’s natural barrier to moisture loss, and can make itching worse, says Shaw. Bathe or shower only as often as really necessary and no more than once a day. If you insist on long, hot soaks, always apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing.

Use soap sparingly. Shaw advises decreasing soap and water washing. “People wash too much,” he says. “Overwashing with soap and water harms the skin’s outer layer.”

People who suffer from chronically dry skin should take brief baths or showers and lather up only the groin, armpits, and bottoms of the feet, says Robertson. When you use soap, opt for milder, oilated or superfatted soaps such as Dove, Basis, or Aveenobar. For super-dry skin, you may have to use a soap substitute to cleanse your skin.

Don’t be abrasive. Scrubbing your skin with washcloths, loofah sponges, or other scrubbing products dries your skin out even more, says Robertson. “Often, when people have dry skin, they develop scale and try to scrub it off with washcloths or sponges,” she says. “But they’re doing more harm than good.”

Oil that bath. “Bath oils can help,” says Shaw. But, he warns, if you put the bath oil in the water before you get in and get wet, the oil can coat your skin and prevent it from becoming saturated with water. Instead, he recommends adding the oil to the bath after you’ve been in the water for a while or applying it directly to your wet skin after bathing. (If you do add the oil to your bathwater, be sure to use extra care when getting in or out of the tub, since the oil will make the tub slippery.)

Robertson says that mineral oil makes an excellent bath oil. However, she warns not to soak, even in an oil bath, for longer than 20 minutes.

Raise the humidity. The higher the humidity, the less dry the skin. “In the tropics, where the humidity is around 90 percent, no one suffers from dry skin,” says Shaw. He says once the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity tends to drop off too.

Sixty percent humidity is perfect for the skin. It’s the point at which the skin and the air are in perfect balance and moisture isn’t being drawn from the skin into the air. If you live in a dry climate or if the humidity in your office or home is less than 60 percent, consider using a home humidifier. Even a vaporizer or kettle of water on slow boil can raise the humidity in a room somewhat.

Avoid detergents, cleansers, and solvents. Common household products, such as cleansers, window cleaners, ammonia, turpentine, lighter fluid, and mineral spirits can dry and damage the skin’s outer layer. Avoid directly exposing your skin to such products by wearing vinyl gloves and using less­ harsh alternatives (for example, vinegar and water make a great window cleaner) whenever possible. Use a long-handled brush to keep your hands out of dishwater.

Nix alcohol-based products. Some people like to cleanse their faces with alcohol wipes or astringents. They leave the skin feeling clean and tingling, but there’s a price. “Alcohol-based products have a drying effect,” says Shaw.

Use cream- or oil-based makeup. If you wear foundation and blusher, choose oil-based types that help retain moisture rather than water-based products, says Robertson. In the evening, wash off makeup with mild soap. Then, rinse thoroughly, blot dry with a soft towel, and moisturize well with a heavy, cream-type moisturizer.

Cool it off. Hot environments heated by wood stoves or forced air heating systems dry out the skin. Shaw recommends keeping the air temperature a few degrees lower to keep your skin moist.

Toss off the electric blanket, pile on the comforter. The heat from electric blankets can dry out your skin, too. Shaw says that for people who have chronically dry skin, opting for an extra blanket instead of an electric one is a good idea.

Avoid too much alcohol. The effects of excessive alcohol consumption usually don’t show up on the skin for several years. “We don’t really know if there’s a cause-and-effect relationship between drinking alcohol and dry skin,” says Robertson. “But we do know that alcoholics tend to have drier, more wrinkled skin.”

Each time you drink alcohol, your skin loses moisture needed to keep it young-looking. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it lowers the water concentration of the blood. To replace the lost water, the body draws water from surrounding cells. Limit your intake to no more than two ounces per day. Better yet, avoid alcohol altogether.

Tagged under:  Skin Disorders

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