Acne, pimples, sunspots, age spots, wrinkles and other blemishes are skin conditions that plague people the world over. The global beauty industry already makes billions of dollars every year as women everywhere embark on quests to preserve (or achieve) a youthful, glowing appearance. Responding to this need, dermatologists, and other specialists continue to look for the best and safest possible treatments and formulations to combat skin ailments, the most common of which is acne. Apart from the services offered at skin clinics, many creams, gels and ointments that claim to treat acne, diminish sun or age spots and enhance skin elasticity are widely available in the market. There are scrubs, cleansers, masks, over-the-counter skin medicine and skin peel formulations, all offered at various price ranges. Most can be bought at department stores or drugstores, but the fact is that very few of these so - called “miracle” products actually work. And the latest medical research has shown that what does work as a proven treatment for acne, are skin peels. Plastic surgeon Dr. Keith Leiberman explains: “Unlike other techniques, TCA skin peels get to the root of the problem with acne, resulting in tremendously effective results - leaving the patient with noticeably fresher, smoother skin and great texture…without the acne! ” The TCA peel, or trichloroacetic acid skin peel, is recommended by many doctors and skin specialists as it is a medium-strength treatment that is among the safest, most effective, as well as easiest to use. It sloughs off layers of dull dead skin that may cover up the source of acne. It also enhances the blood flow and circulation in the skin, promoting skin cell rejuvenation and the build up of skin-strengthening collagen and elastin. Conventional skin peel treatments that involve suction-type dermabrasion can cause further damage, as it can bruise the skin and break some small blood vessels. Those who wish to treat their acne and other skin problems with TCA can control the strength of the treatment by starting off with a weak solution and gradually working their way up to more concentrated mixtures as needed. TCA can be mixed with other previously prepared creams such as Obagi or applied directly. It is important to remember that TCA skin peels should not exceed more than 20 minutes on one’s skin. The time limit generally depends on the strength or concentration of the mixture and the type of skin. Because of the chemical content, doctors recommend applying a neutralizer, such as a simple mixture of baking soda and water, to calm and stabilize the skin after the TCA peel is applied. Users should wait about six months before applying another treatment. TCA peels are great for treating acne and less expensive than clinic or spa-based treatments. Websites such as bestskinpeel offer this effective product at a fraction of the price one would normally pay per session or treatment at salons and spas. The set offered by this particular website is priced at under $30.00 and includes one ounce of medical-grade 50%-concentrate TCA skin peel (good enough for about 30 treatments) as easy-to-follow instructions by a licensed practitioner. Why pay hundreds of dollars when you can do this treatment at home? Apart from the 50%-concentrate, many suppliers also offer as low as an 8%-concentrate TCA skin peel for users with more sensitive skin.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Tips if you re considering laser eye surgery
Each eye surgery and each patient is unique. In spite of this, there are a number of universal tips that can help patients better prepare for eye surgery and speed their recovery time. First and foremost, Take the extra time you need to find a reputable surgeon with extensive experience in your type of surgery. o Finding the right doctor is the critical first step in the surgery process. Your eye surgery will only be successful if it is performed by a qualified medical professional. Selecting a doctor based on cost alone is rarely a good move, since surgeons offering cheaper solutions usually do so because they are inexperienced in performing that type of surgery. Keep in mind that should complications arise, you want someone who knows how to quickly and effectively deal with the situation and minimize any damage to your eye. Thoroughly research the procedure you will be undergoing before signing any consent forms. o This includes taking the time to ask your surgeon any questions you may have about the procedure. A good doctor will take the time to answer all of your questions, as well as inform you of any potential risks and side-effects of the surgery. Take advantage of this and be sure you are fully comfortable with the procedure before you agree to undergo the surgery. Follow all of the pre-operative procedures recommended by your doctor. o Your surgeon may advise you to avoid certain medications, foods, or activities (such as smoking and drinking alcohol) before undergoing eye surgery. These restrictions are put in place to ensure your eyes are in good condition for the procedure, giving you the best possible chance for a successful surgery and a quick recovery period. Failure to abide by these restrictions may put your health and the success of your surgery at risk. Stop wearing contact lenses in advance of the surgery, as directed by your doctor. o Since contact lens rest directly on your eye, they exert pressure on the cornea and can actually change the shape of your eye. This is an importance consideration for individuals undergoing eye surgery, especially patients of refractive eye surgery to correct their vision. In order for the procedure to be successful, it is necessary to pinpoint those regions of the eye that need to be treated. If your eye is not in its normal natural shape or state, any attempts to correct visual impairments will not be successful. For this reason, surgeons will request that many eye surgery patients stop wearing contact lenses anywhere from two to four weeks prior to the procedure. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the surgery. o A well-rested patient is less likely to be unduly anxious and will recover more quickly than someone who is stressed and suffering from lack of sleep. Remember – adequate sleep is necessary to stay healthy. Make arrangements to have someone you trust drive you home from the surgery. o Your vision will be blurry and you may be under the effects of a sedative after undergoing your eye surgery. Regardless of the type and extent of the procedure, patients are in no condition to drive immediately after the surgery. Ensure your safety and well-being by arranging for a ride home in advance. Know what side-effects you may experience before undergoing the procedure o Inquire about potential side-effects and make sure you know what to expect during the recovery period before you go in for the procedure. On your surgery day, you will likely be distracted and anxious and will not retain much information. It’s important to know what to look out for after your surgery so you can catch any potential problems immediately, before they can cause significant damage and jeopardize your health. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any unusual side-effects o If you experience anything unusual or are concerned about how you are recovering from your procedure, contact your doctor immediately. Refer to the potential side-effects of the procedure as discussed above, and use these as your guidelines for what is normal and to be expected. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and call your doctor – it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Take all medication as prescribed. o The medication prescribed by your surgeon is designed to speed the healing process and protect your eye from adverse side effects. Therefore, it is imperative that you take all medication as prescribed. Avoid touching, rubbing, or bumping your eye while it is healing. o Any direct contact with your eye while it is healing can result in damage to the eye and may result in severe complications. Wearing an eye shield as needed, especially while you are sleeping, can help you avoid unnecessary contact with your eye. Avoid makeup, lotions, and creams while your eye is healing. o These items can interfere with the eye’s natural healing ability and prolong your recovery period. Stay away from medications that can interfere with your body’s natural healing process, such as steroids o Some medications can prevent your eye from properly healing and delay the recovery process. And last, but not least Give yourself time to recover from the surgery before jumping back into your busy life o Keep in mind that you are recovering from an invasive procedure. It will take some time before you start feeling like your normal self. Taking it easy for a few days will enable your body to rest and heal faster than it will if you subject it to undue stress.
Friday, September 16, 2016
Stop snoring products how they can help you
If you snore, then you have probably considered purchasing stop snoring products to help relieve you of your nighttime nuisance. With so many stop snoring products available on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones work and which do not. In order to select the best of the stop snoring products, you will first need to know what is causing your snoring. If you have a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, it will need to be treated more aggressively and may require a physician’s help. Stop snoring products are not designed to cure sleep apnea, but they can be terrific at providing the snoring sufferer with a better night’s sleep. The best stop snoring products will often be recommended by a doctor, either directly or as a whole. For example, if you see a product that is labeled as being doctor recommended, you will instantly recognize the product as being one of quality. For example, the Sleep Genie, which is manufactured by Odyssey Direct Solutions, is doctor recommended and helps to prevent snoring by allowing the sufferer to sleep comfortably with their mouth closed. A majority of users notice instant relief during their first use. Stop snoring products not only help to prevent snoring, but they also help the sufferer to regain control over their life. A lack of sleep, which is often one of the many results of snoring, can affect everything. A noticeable change in personality, the inability to concentrate and overall exhaustion are just a few of the symptoms of sleep loss. Stop snoring products are ideal whether you have just started snoring or have suffered for years. When selecting stop snoring products, always remember to consider safety. Is the product safe compared to other stop snoring products? Are there any product warnings on the box? Most importantly, does the product look safe to you? If you do not feel that you would be comfortable, move on to other stop snoring products that will fit the bill. The Sleep Genie, as previously mentioned, offers comfort in it’s nylon and lycra blend while it’s sleek design lends to the wearers ability to move around without restriction. This article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as, or in place of, professional medical advice. Before beginning any treatment for snoring, please consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and remedy.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Is homeopathy safe
You have visited a study group, bought a homeopathic over-the-counter remedy or investigated the use of a single remedy on the advice of a friend. You have had a small success and would like to use homeopathy to tackle a more important health problem, or you want a homeopath to take care of your family. Where do you go from here? Homeopathy is practiced by a wide variety of health-care practitioners, including medical doctors, osteopaths, naturopathic physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nurse midwives, and podiatrists, as well as by professional homeopaths, who practice only homeopathy and are unlicensed in any other discipline. The problem for the consumer is that the practitioners level of competence in homeopathy often has little to do with his or her type of licensure. The best test of qualifications is whether they have been certified in homeopathy. The CCH credential (Certified Classical Homeopath) is excellent, as well as the DHt (Diplomate in Homeotherapeutics, available for MDs and DOs), and the DHANP (Diplomate of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians, available for naturopathic physicians). For veterinarians, the credential CVH indicates that they are a Certified Veterinary Homeopath. What kind of questions will help you identify your chosen practitioner? The questions will certainly vary with each case, but a few pertinent ones might be: Does the practitioner specialize in homeopathy? Does the practitioner use classical homeopathy? Where was the practitioner trained? How long has the practitioner actively been using homeopathy? Has the practitioner had experience with the diagnostic category in which your condition fits? Some other important issues might be: how distant the practitioner is from your home and whether or not your insurance company will cover the visit. As a general rule, if the type of practitioner is covered by your insurance, then the visit will be covered. You may also consider whether the practitioner includes other therapies in his or her practice and if you would like to use those therapies. The choices open to you will vary according to where you live. If you are in a major metropolitan area, you will have more choices, although many practitioners are spread throughout the United States. Remember, use the resources close at hand, and good luck with your homeopathic experience.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
New treatments available for those with aids
AIDS is a fatal illness that affects the immune system. It accounts for millions of deaths each year and is a serious worldwide epidemic. Over forty million people in the world are infected with AIDS. The immune system degenerates, making those infected susceptible to infection and disease. Over three million people died of this disease in 2005. There is no cure for AIDS but there are treatments available to help slow the progression. AIDS is researched throughout the world in order to discover new treatments to prolong life and to find a cure. Currently, there have been studies on two new drugs that show promising results. Merck & Co., a drug manufacturer in New Jersey, conducted clinical trials on a new pill. It is to be taken orally twice per day to help slow the progression of the disease. Studies indicated this drug is performing better than the other medications currently on the market. This drug will be especially beneficial to long term AIDS sufferers who have developed a resistance to pharmaceuticals existing today. The studies were performed on 167 patients who have shown progression of the disease and have critically impaired health. Many of these patients have taken the drug AZT, a common treatment, for more than ten years. In the clinical trials, varying doses of the drug were experimented on with patients with varying conditions. In the most successful group, seventy two percent of the patients showed an improvement with virus levels becoming undetectable. In the least successful group, virus levels were reduced to undetectable amounts in fifty six percent. The results of the clinical trial were surprising but welcomed. The effects were astounding and the drug manufacturer is hopeful that it will help prolong the lives of people with AIDS. They are continuing to conduct research in larger trials and hope to apply for approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2007. Gilead Sciences, a competing drug manufacturer, also showed positive results from a similar type drug. Although the clinical trials were much smaller then Merck’s, the company is hopeful the results will set the stage for larger trials. The drug is called an integrase inhibitor. Integrase is an enzyme that speeds the progression of HIV. The inhibitor blocks the enzyme, slowing this process. The initial trials were only conducted with only ten patients. However, after ten days there was a one hundred fold reduction in virus levels. Similar to the Merck study, this shows promise in helping to prolong the life of patients. This pill will be taken once per day in conjunction with Novir, another AIDS medication. Increased studies of this drug will begin in the spring of 2006. Although AIDS is a world wide epidemic with no cure as of yet, continuing research is showing promise. Recent studies indicate there will soon be two new drugs available for treatment, both showing incredibly enhanced improvement from existing medications. As science advances, scientists are hopeful that they will one day find a cure for this disease, eradicating it from existence.