Monthly Archives: July 2009
Acne – treatments
Available treatments
There are many products available for the treatment of acne, many of which are without any scientifically proven effects. Generally speaking, successful treatments show little improvement within the first two weeks, instead taking a period of approximately three months to improve and start flattening out. Many treatments that promise big improvements within two weeks are likely to be largely disappointing. However, short bursts of cortisone can give very quick results, and other treatments can rapidly improve some active spots, but usually not all active spots.
Acne – Diet and Hygiene
Diet
Chocolate
The popular belief that consumption of chocolate can cause acne is not supported by scientific studies. As discussed below, various studies point not to chocolate, but to the high glycemic nature of certain foods containing simple carbohydrates as a cause of acne. Chocolate itself has a low glycemic index.
Acne – Acne vulgaris
Acne (Acne vulgaris) is a common skin condition, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units, skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland via androgen stimulation. It is characterized by noninflammatory follicular papules or comedones and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules in its more severe forms. Acne vulgaris affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles; these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. Severe Acne is inflammatory, but Acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, blemishes, spots, zits, or Acne.
Hair Loss Treatment by Herbal Means
They applied 85% ethanol extract of S. Nigra (Schisandra Nigra) to rat vibrissa follicles. The most common effect was vibrissa follicles showed a significant increase in hair fiber length as well as the induction of the hair shaft’s anagen (growth phase) progression. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the bulb matrix region as well as the proliferation of immortalized vibrissa dermal papilla cells also increased with signs of more activity in the hair follicle cells when S. Nigra EtOH (ethanol) extract was applied.
Skin Care Products
Avene is a product line created for individuals with sensitive skin who may have recently had a skin condition become reactive. It seems recently there have been more cases of skin issues than ever before, often leaving those affected being unable to treat themselves or use most products as they react to the products they attempt to use. Avene was created for individuals who are unable to use other products, focusing specifically on their needs in order for them to be able to care for their skin without having to sacrifice the products which could help them.
Avene skin care products can help an individual with sensitive skin by offering a wide range of available products which target multiple needs. For instance, anti-aging from Avene can help an individual remove signs of aging without the harmful chemicals which are so widely used today. Sunscreens are also important as they help protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun, which can advance signs of aging and create brown sun spots on the skin. These spots even have the ability to become much worse as you age but they can be treated or you can simply be prepared and make sure that these spots are something that you will not get or have to deal with as a part of your life and your skin.
Avene also has a great cosmetic line focusing on different needs including cleansers, make-up concealers, moisturizers, and make-up. Each of these products is aimed at sensitive skin and the needs of the body by meeting what each person needs without adding harmful chemicals. Avene cosmetics are especially important not only due to the amount of allergies and reactions which are transpiring, but also because of helping the way that you feel about yourself and your skin. Emotions are important for your health and when you skin is healthy and taken care of it can help you too become healthier and have an easier time taking care of yourself and feeling great about the way that you look at all times.
When a person feels self conscious about their skin they may also feel self conscious while around other people. This can cause a great deal of embarrassment and can make a person feel uncomfortable having company, or even worse, have them decide that they would rather give up a part of their social life. Nothing should get to stand in your way and Avene tries to make sure that nothing can not even sensitive skin. This means that when you go shopping for you skin care products, rather then roaming down the isles trying to find something you skin might be able to handle or trying product after product that you have a reaction to you can simply look for Avene. Feel the comfort of Avene and feel comfortable knowing that it will work and that you will not have to miss any social engagement due to the way that you feel about your skin or how it looks at the time.
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4 Beautiful Skin Treatment Tips For Ageless Beauty
Every beautiful skin treatment program starts with skin texture and skin tone. Any beautiful skin treatment for skin texture starts with the understanding that skin texture naturally changes over time, which can lead to dry and rough textured skin. A beautiful skin treatment for skin tone starts with the knowledge that the environment and one’s lifestyle choices can affect skin tone, causing sun and age spots known as hyper-pigmentation. Evenly toned and softly textured skin is the secret to the ageless, youthful appearance that most of us crave, however, the elements we’re exposed to regularly, coupled with our lifestyle choices, pose a challenge to our beautiful skin treatment.
As we get older, the skin tends to get dull because the cell turnover rate slows. Sun damage, redness, and hyper-pigmentation won’t allow the skin to reflect light the same way it used to, causing it to look sallow. In-office treatments like lasers, peels, fillers, and injections, matched with at-home treatments and all-natural skin care products, can help to reverse damage. The most important beautiful skin care treatment tip is to protect your skin from the sun and keep it well-hydrated.
Beautiful Skin Treatment
- If you aren’t consistent about exfoliating or using a lightening cream, consider using a cleanser that contains high-performance, active ingredients like glycolic acid and salicylic acid. They help to encourage faster cell turnover in the skin, thereby potentially lightening, and possibly removing, superficial pigmentation. Beautiful Skin Treatment
- Exfoliation is a crucial step in maintaining healthy skin because it reduces dark spots and uneven skin tone. All exfoliation treatments work to the same objective: remove dead skin cells in the outermost layer of skin. It’s critical to keep the skin‘s top layer exfoliated since discoloration, especially from the sun, can live here. Beautiful Skin Treatment
- Ashy skin is an extreme form of dry skin characterized by white flakes. Most people think this condition only affects very dark complexions but, in reality, it can affect every skin tone and type. While it may be more noticeable on darker skin types, even on Asian skin, the dryness and flakes are not naturally camouflaged. The best way to prevent ashy skin is to moisturize and stay out of the sun. Beautiful Skin Treatment
- Antioxidant rich foods, like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, as well as those with vitamin C, help heal and smooth weathered skin. Over time, the texture and tone of our skin naturally change. An effective beautiful skin treatment starts with the knowledge that hormones, pollution, diet, and lifestyle are critical factors in causing dramatic changes in your skin. Following the 4 simple tips above can do much to defer the natural aging processes.
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Hepatitis C – HVC – Epidemiology
Epidemiology
It is estimated that Hepatitis C has infected nearly 200 million people worldwide, and infects 3-4 million more people per year. There are about 35,000 to 185,000 new cases a year in the United States. It is currently a leading cause of cirrhosis, a common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, and as a result of these conditions it is the leading reason for liver transplantation in the United States. Co-infection with HIV is common and rates among HIV positive populations are higher. 10,000-20,000 deaths a year in the United States are from HCV; expectations are that this mortality rate will increase, as those who were infected by transfusion before HCV testing become apparent. A survey conducted in California showed prevalence of up to 34% among prison inmates;[34] 82% of subjects diagnosed with Hepatitis C have previously been in jail,[35] and transmission while in prison is well described.
Prevalence is higher in some countries in Africa and Asia. Egypt has the highest seroprevalence for HCV, up to 20% in some areas. There is a hypothesis that the high prevalence is linked to a now-discontinued mass-Treatment campaign for schistosomiasis, which is endemic in that country. Regardless of how the epidemic started, a high rate of HCV transmission continues in Egypt, both iatrogenically and within the community and household.
Co-infection with HIV
Approximately 350,000, or 35% of patients in the USA infected with HIV are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus, mainly because both viruses are blood-borne and present in similar populations. In other countries co-infection is less common, and this is possibly related to differing drug policies. HCV is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the USA. It has been demonstrated in clinical studies that HIV infection causes a more rapid progression of chronic Hepatitis C to cirrhosis and liver failure. This is not to say Treatment is not an option for those living with co-infection.
Hepatitis C – HCV- Diagnosis
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of “Hepatitis C” is rarely made during the acute phase of the disease because the majority of people infected experience no symptoms during this phase of the disease. Those who do experience acute phase symptoms are rarely ill enough to seek medical attention. The diagnosis of chronic phase Hepatitis C is also challenging due to the absence or lack of specificity of symptoms until advanced liver disease develops, which may not occur until decades into the disease.
Chronic Hepatitis C may be suspected on the basis of the medical history (particularly if there is any history of IV drug abuse or inhaled substance usage such as cocaine), a history of piercings or tattoos, unexplained symptoms, or abnormal liver enzymes or liver function tests found during routine blood testing. Occasionally, Hepatitis C is diagnosed as a result of targeted screening such as blood donation (blood donors are screened for numerous blood-borne diseases including Hepatitis C) or contact tracing.
Hepatitis C testing begins with serological blood tests used to detect antibodies to HCV. Anti-HCV antibodies can be detected in 80% of patients within 15 weeks after exposure, in >90% within 5 months after exposure, and in >97% by 6 months after exposure. Overall, HCV antibody tests have a strong positive predictive value for exposure to the Hepatitis C virus, but may miss patients who have not yet developed antibodies (seroconversion), or have an insufficient level of antibodies to detect. Rarely, people infected with HCV never develop antibodies to the virus and therefore, never test positive using HCV antibody screening. Because of this possibility, RNA testing (see nucleic acid testing methods below) should be considered when antibody testing is negative but suspicion of Hepatitis C is high (e.g. because of elevated transaminases in someone with risk factors for Hepatitis C).
Anti-HCV antibodies indicate exposure to the virus, but cannot determine if ongoing infection is present. All persons with positive anti-HCV antibody tests must undergo additional testing for the presence of the Hepatitis C virus itself to determine whether current infection is present. The presence of the virus is tested for using molecular nucleic acid testing methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA), or branched DNA (b-DNA). All HCV nucleic acid molecular tests have the capacity to detect not only whether the virus is present, but also to measure the amount of virus present in the blood (the HCV viral load). The HCV viral load is an important factor in determining the probability of response to interferon-based therapy, but does not indicate disease severity nor the likelihood of disease progression.
In people with confirmed HCV infection, genotype testing is generally recommended. HCV genotype testing is used to determine the required length and potential response to interferon-based therapy.
Hepatitis C – HCV – Virology
Virology
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (50 nm in size), enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus. It is the only known member of the hepacivirus genus in the family Flaviviridae. There are six major genotypes of the Hepatitis C virus, which are indicated numerically (e.g., genotype 1, genotype 2, etc.).
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact. In developed countries, it is estimated that 90% of persons with chronic HCV infection were infected through transfusion of unscreened blood or blood products or via injecting drug use or sexual exposure. In developing countries, the primary sources of HCV infection are unsterilized injection equipment and infusion of inadequately screened blood and blood products. There has not been a documented transfusion-related case of Hepatitis C in the United States for over a decade as the blood supply is vigorously screened with both EIA and PCR technologies.
Symptoms Hepatitis C – HCV – Hepatitis C Treatment
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver, caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but once established, chronic infection can progress to scarring of the liver (fibrosis), and advanced scarring (cirrhosis) which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure or other complications of cirrhosis, including liver cancer.
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact. Most people have few, if any symptoms after the initial infection, yet the virus persists in the liver in about 85% of those infected. Persistent infection can be treated with medication, peginterferon and ribavirin being the standard-of-care therapy. Only 51% are cured overall. Those who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may require a liver transplant, and the virus universally recurs after transplantation.
An estimated 270-300 million people worldwide are infected with Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a strictly human disease. It cannot be contracted from or given to any animal. Chimpanzees can be infected with the virus in the laboratory, but do not develop the disease, which has made research more difficult. No vaccine against Hepatitis C is available. The existence of Hepatitis C (originally “non-A non-B hepatitis“) was postulated in the 1970s and proved conclusively in 1989. It is one of five known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E.
