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Skin Irritants: How to Get that Glowing Look

January 6, 2015

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look – Prevention & Treatment of Irritants

Fighting Common Skin Irritants

Fighting common skin Irritants for a glowing facial look. And once you’re no longer exposed to the irritant or allergen, redness usually vanishes.

The beauty of the skin can easily be affected by a simple skin irritation and the sooner we get to serious business of fighting common skin irritants the better for a glowing and radiant looking skin. It is important to note that individuals with sensitive skin can easily trigger an irritation even by changing the kind of soap they use leading to an outbreak of redness, stinging and itching. Things that cause skin irritations are all around us even in our homes. In fact our homes harbor most of these common skin irritants including triple-antibiotic ointments, bandage adhesives, and jewelry that contains metals such as nickel. When your skin becomes inflamed after coming in contact with one of these substances or many more the condition is called contact dermatitis. People with sensitive skin can get two types of this condition:

Irrespective of the kind of dermatitis you’re suffering from doctor Akoury will be there to help you get well as well as fighting other common skin irritants for a glowing look.

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look: Irritant Contact Dermatitis

This form of skin irritants is the most common one affecting about 80% of all reported cases. Like for instance when your skin get into contact with an irritating substance, you’ll often get a reaction that resembles a burn with red, chapped, and dry skin. This skin reaction tends to be more painful than itchy. Skin irritants contact dermatitis is naturally triggered by common substances we are exposed to in our day today life like:

  • Strong soaps
  • Acetone in nail polish removers
  • Drain cleaners
  • Acids
  • Detergents
  • Plants

How this affects vary depending on the sensitivity of individual patients skin. Individuals with high skin sensitivity can develop irritation from even mild soaps and detergents they use regularly. Besides that doing house activities where your skin can be exposed to cleaning products like detergents and waxes, this can wear down the protective barriers of your skin making your skin to be vulnerable for an attack by all these irritants. Typical irritant contact dermatitis symptoms include:

  • Dry, cracked skin
  • Mild skin swelling
  • Blisters or painful ulcers on the skin
  • Stiff, tight-feeling skin

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look: Allergic Contact Dermatitis

This less common form is a true allergic reaction. In allergic contact dermatitis, the immune system responds to a substance that touches the skin. You can become allergic to the substance after one exposure or many. In fact, people can be exposed to a substance for long periods, even years, before developing an allergy. Common sources of allergic contact dermatitis include:

  • Fragrances
  • Preservatives
  • Cosmetics
  • Poison ivy
  • Topical antibiotics
  • Rubber or latex
  • Metals in jewelry, such as nickel

Some people are also allergic to over-the-counter topical triple-antibiotic ointments. All told, thousands of substances can cause allergic dermatitis. When a person who has become sensitized to an allergen becomes exposed by touching the substance, symptoms, such as itching and skin inflammation, are often delayed. They can show up anywhere from a few hours to as many as four days after contact. Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis include:

  • Reddened skin
  • Darkened, leathery, cracked skin
  • Dry, scaly patches of skin
  • Burning or intense itching
  • Blisters that ooze
  • Hives
  • Sun sensitivity
  • Swelling in the eyes, face or genital area

In addition, some people get a form called photo allergic contact dermatitis. This type happens only after the skin touches certain substances and then comes in contact with sunlight. These substances may include:

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look: Finding the Source of Skin Irritnts

If you suspect that a certain product or substance is causing your dermatitis, avoid it and watch whether your rash improves.

But it’s not always easy to pinpoint a specific cause. For example, your eyelids may be chronically dry, red and flaky, but what’s to blame: your eye shadow, eyeliner, makeup remover, or overnight eye cream?

Sometimes, people have no clue at all — they get a rash, but they can’t recall the substances that have touched their skin. Or their facial skin becomes inflamed, leading them to suspect a face product. In fact, they might have unwittingly transferred a substance from their hands to their face. The substance doesn’t affect the hands, but the more sensitive facial skin will react.

If you can’t figure out the source of irritation, see a dermatologist. He or she will quiz you about your job, household chores, hobbies, drug and cosmetics use, and other factors in order to gain clues about the root of the problem.

Your doctor may also do testing. No test can be performed for irritant contact dermatitis. But your doctor may do patch testing to see if you’re sensitive to various types of allergens that are known to cause dermatitis. Small patches of these substances are placed on your skin for one to two days so that your doctor can check if a rash develops.

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look: Prevention & Treating Contact Dermatitis

To relieve itching, contact dermatitis is commonly treated with:

  • Oral or topical steroids
  • Oral antihistamines
  • Skin emollients
  • Oatmeal baths

Once you’re no longer exposed to the irritant or allergen, redness usually vanishes after a week. But itching, scaling, and temporary skin thickening may go on for days or weeks. You can also take steps to protect your sensitive skin from developing contact dermatitis. For example:

  • Once you’ve identified an offending substance, avoid it. Wear gloves or protective clothing to prevent exposing your skin to cleansers, weeds, and other substances during housework or yard work. If your skin makes contact, wash the substance off right away with soap and water.
  • Learn to recognize poison ivy and poison oak.
  • Use mild, unscented laundry detergent.
  • If you have sensitive facial skin, consider using gentle, soap-free, liquid cleansers. Or use a moisturizing soap that’s free of fragrance and dyes.
  • Don’t scrub your face vigorously with a rough washcloth or buff puff. Instead, cleanse gently and pat dry.
  • Avoid deodorant or antibacterial soaps.
  • Choose moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetics that are fragrance-free and don’t contain acids or botanical ingredients. Physical sun blocks that contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide are less likely to cause skin problems than chemical sunscreens.
  • Test cosmetics and personal care products before using. Apply a small amount of the new product twice a day to a small patch of skin near the inside of your elbow. If no irritation occurs in that spot after a week, you can try using the product.

Protect your skin by applying petroleum jelly or a thick, moisturizing cream two or three times a day. The objective of fighting common skin irritants may not be realized if the experts are not adequately involved. Therefore scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury an expert in skincare with over two decades experience of practice would be the starting point. The beauty of your skin is and must be your number one priority. Call doctor Akoury today for that very important appointment.

Fighting Common Skin Irritants for a Glowing Look – Prevention & Treatment of Irritants

 

 

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Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

December 28, 2014

Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

hot-flashesHot flushes sometimes called hot flushes refer to a quick sensation of heat and sometimes a red, flushed face and sweating.  This is a common problem, however the exact cause of hot flashes is not known, but may be related to changes in circulation that take place during menopause. Hot flashes happen when the blood vessels near the skin’s surface dilate to cool. A woman may also sweat to cool down her body. And some women have a rapid heart rate or chills. Hot flashes with sweating can also happen at night. These are called night sweats and may make it harder to sleep. Hot flushes may also be accompanied by a red neck. When affected the period that it takes to ease vary among women who are going through menopause. In some women the hot flashes may disappear after a week while in other women it will affect them for life. Hot flashes become less severe as time goes on.

 Symptoms of Hot Flashes in Women

Women may suffer the following symptoms when hit by hot flashes

The frequency of hot flashes varies; sometimes you may have many hot flushes in a day while in other times you will have few hot flashes that may subside after few minutes. Though they can affect you during the day, they are more common in the night. When a person is affected by a hot flush it may take more than a year but most hot flashes will stop on their own within five years. Though hot flashes can subside on their own it is important to seek medical help if the symptoms become too severe.

Causes of Hot Flashes in Women

The exact cause of hot flashes in women has never been known. Not every decline in hormones results in hot flashes. It is also true that some women can go through menopause without suffering from hot flashes. However here are some factors that have been thought to have a great bearing on the cause of hot flashes.

Medications and Foods

When a drug or a type of food is introduced to the body the body will react to it in a way. There are some drugs and foods that are thought to induce hot flashes. These medications may include raloxifene (Evista) and tamoxifen (Tamoxifen and Nolvadex). There are some drugs that may also produce effects that mimic hot flashes. Spices used in preparing foods like peppers can also induce feelings similar to menopause induce hot flashes.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are some of the emotional causes of hot flashes. In reaction to external stimuli the body may release the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which pump up blood flow and produce a warming sensation throughout the body. External stimuli such as migraine may cause heat that spreads all over your face.

Changes in hormonal balance

A change in hormonal surroundings may cause hot flashes even if it is not related to menopause. It is believed that hypothalamus plays a bigger role in occurrence of hot flashes. This is because it is the part of brain that deals with the body temperatures therefore any conditions that affects the hypothalamus can result in abnormal rise in temperatures such as hot flashes.

hot-flashes-symptoms

Other risks associated with hot flashes include;

  • Women who smoke are more likely to get hot flashes.
  • A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher frequency of hot flashes.
  • Physical inactivity. If you don’t exercise, you may be more likely to have hot flashes during menopause.
  • More African-American women report menopausal hot flashes than do women of European descent. Hot flashes are less common in women of Japanese and Chinese descent than in white European women.
  • Alcohol- Alcohol may induce hot flashes in some people. Generally it is thought that using drugs of reaction may escalate the probability of hot flashes occurring.

Treatments for Hot Flashes in Women

There both orthodox as well as natural treatments for hot flashes. The natural treatment for hot flashes may include;

  • Evening primrose oil is a botanical herb that is often used to treat hot flashes, although there is no scientific evidence to support this. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea. Women taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, should not take evening primrose oil.
  • Although there is no scientific evidence to support using flaxseed, it is thought to decrease the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. It’s also known as linseed.
  • Soy products. Plant estrogens, found in soy products, are thought to have weak estrogen-like effects that may reduce hot flashes. Soy foods, not supplements, are recommended.
  • Black cohosh. Some studies suggest that black cohosh may be helpful in the very short term (6 months or less) for treating hot flashes and night sweats. Side effects include gastrointestinal upset.

Hot flashes are just some of the known symptoms that may trouble your life during menopause. Just like any other serious disease, it is necessary that you seek medical help. Contact Dr. Dalal Akoury an expert in natural therapies on (843) 213-1480 for help.

Understanding Hot Flashes And It’s Treatment

 

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Alcoholism Increases the Risk to Diabetes

December 18, 2014

 Alcoholism Increases the Risk to Diabetes

Alcoholism is a vice that ought to be fought at all costs. This is because apart from the health risks and diseases associated with it, it also affects the economy of a nation. Today there are very many people who have been rendered liabilities to their families as a result of their addiction to alcohol. Most people who have become dependent on alcohol have no places to work. Even if they were employed they will lose their jobs as no organization is interested in employing a person who can’t control his craving for alcohol. Being drunk and disorderly is a common recipe for arrests and so it is not strange to hear men who have been jailed for assaulting their wives when under the influence of alcohol. These are the heavy penalties that our societies suffer as a result of alcoholism. However there are some problems that will affect the individual health wise and this includes diabetes.

Alcohol and Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that is associated with high blood sugar levels.  The term  describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood sugar level which is either caused by deficiency in  insulin production is  or failure of  the body’s cells do not respond appropriately to insulin, or both. Common symptoms associated with high blood sugar level are that the patients will typically experience frequent urination, they will become increasingly thirsty and hungry at the same time.

Diabetes is a serious disease that has disabled many people around the globe and so anything that may heighten the risk of getting this disease should be avoided. In 2013 alone it was estimated that over 382 people in the world had diabetes. That just shows how serious problem diabetes really is. The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.

What is the relationship between diabetes and alcoholism?

Through numerous research studies scientists have been able to establish the fact that alcoholism can increase a person’s chances of getting diabetes. As known to many, diabetes type 2 is caused when there is insulin resistance. In an experiment done on rats it was found that binge drinking directly caused insulin resistance. In the past it was the link between binge drinking and diabetes had not been established but now scientist have proved that binge drinking alone aside from other factors as overeating can directly cause insulin resistance thereby leading to type 2 diabetes. People with a history of binge drinking have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

A group of Researchers at the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, published their findings in the 30 January issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.  The scientists report that alcohol appears to disrupt insulin-receptor signaling by causing inflammation in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that among other things is important for metabolic processes.

Alcoholism induces Insulin Resistance

Typically, the main role of the insulin receptor is to control the uptake of glucose. When there is a decrease in signaling of this receptor the cells will not be able to take up glucose, and this will result in too high sugar level in the blood a condition known as hyperglycemia among other consequences of type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance refers to a condition in which insulin does not bind properly to the receptor, thus hindering its ability to send the right signals to cells so they can use glucose for energy. This can happen even when the pancreas is producing enough insulin to keep glucose levels under control. One major symptom of insulin resistance is high levels of insulin in the bloodstream. This is a major component of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that together increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Senior author Christoph Buettner, an Associate Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, at the Icahn School of Medicine, is quoted in a research report saying; “Insulin resistance has emerged as a key metabolic defect leading to type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD).” This statement shows the link between insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

“Someone who regularly binge drinks even once a week, over many years, may remain in an insulin resistant state for an extended period of time, potentially years,” he adds.

In their study, the researchers replicated human binge drinking by giving rats alcohol for three days while keeping another group of rats as controls. Both the groups had the same calorie intake but the control group was not fed alcohol. After the three days the researchers then ran a series of tests to check glucose metabolism. They found that even when there was no trace of alcohol left in their bloodstream, the binge drinking rats had higher levels of circulating insulin than the control rats this was a proof of insulin resistance in the drinking rats. This increase in circulating insulin hormone in the blood of drinking rats was induced by the alcohol.

Alcohol and Diabetes

Another author Claudia Lindtner, an Associate Researcher of Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine, is quoted in the report saying; “Previously it was unclear whether binge drinking was associated with an increased risk for diabetes, since a person who binge drinks may also tend to binge eat, or at least eat too much.”

“Our data show for the first time that binge drinking induces insulin resistance directly and can occur independent of differences in caloric intake,” she concludes.

Drug Addiction is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. It does not matter what kind of addiction you are wrestling with right now, just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Alcoholism Increases the Risk to Diabetes

 

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The Need For Private Residential Rehab Clinics

December 17, 2014

The Need For Private Residential Rehab Clinics Provide To Personalized Treatment

The way people respond to treatments differ. The fact that a person went successfully through an alcohol or other drugs treatment doesn’t mean that you can also go through the same treatment successfully. The standard treatment methods may not work well at certain times but this doesn’t mean that they no longer work. This therefore calls for more personalized, structured, planned program of psychotherapy and other treatments to effectively fight addiction in rehab centers.

Alcohol addiction among executives and professionals is a growing problem in Ireland. Alcohol addiction has a hugely negative impact on individuals, their families and on their workplace environment. There are many people who have lost jobs because of alcohol addiction. Very many families have also been broken because of failed alcohol addiction treatments. This is why private alcohol residential rehab treatment is necessary as it can transform the life of someone with alcohol addiction, rebuild their family relationships and change them from an unproductive employee and a liability in the workplace into a positive and fulfilled employee. This will not only help him health wise but will also improve his social relationships as the stigma that is associated with addicts will be no more.

private-rehab-clinics

There are people who have been through alcohol addiction recovery centers but still did not stop drinking; this doesn’t mean that you can never be free from alcohol. There are alcohol rehabs centers that are offering more personalized treatment that are structured and tailored to suit your condition and correct every nerve dysfunction that you might have suffered as a result of the addiction. If you are related to such a person it is important that you help him seek professional help that may first help him change that perception that he can’t be saved from alcohol use and have him put in a personalized program that will yield desired results. Private alcohol rehab treatment is a better option as compared to the haphazard treatment that may not put in consideration different conditions that the addicts may be battling with as a result of the alcohol use.

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common addictions in the world today. Thanks to ready availability of distilled and fermented beverages that addicts can access whenever they need. There are also different brands that cater for the different tastes of the alcohol drinkers. Unfortunately many alcohol drinkers do not seek help until the problem is severe and they are faced with problems at work, broken family relationships and financial ruin. This may be too late to be solved by standard alcohol recovery procedures.

The benefits of residential rehab treatment

A person who has gone for private residential rehab treatment will enjoy some of the following benefits; Personalized treatment- Private residential rehab clinics offer patients a personalized, structured program of psychotherapy and other activities that are geared towards achieving efficiency and effectiveness in alcohol addiction treatment.  The person will also be available on a 24/7 basis to the staff who will have to will have to do medical assessments on the progress of the program. The program usually includes medical assessments, detoxification, psychotherapy, medical care, psycho-educational lectures, exercise, relapse prevention skills and aftercare planning. Importantly residential rehab clinics provide accommodation for drug and alcohol addicts in a drug-free environment, away from the temptations and distractions of the outside world. The patient is thus able to fully focus on their recovery. When triggers are evaded in a recovery program the patient is likely to succeed in quitting alcohol drinking.

Consistency- in private residential rehab clinics a patient will be consistently getting treatments as the medical staff is there to offer support and guide the patients throughout the whole process unlike in other rehab centers where the patient will be prescribed medicine go home with them to take them alone. In case there is unexpected reaction to the medicine the patient will stop using the drugs or may not use them as prescribed breaching consistency. There are also aftercare programs in private residential clinics and this ensures the patient of ongoing support to desist from alcohol use.

How costly are private residential rehab treatment?

Different private residential rehab clinics charge different prices for their services but there are some factors that are looked into before deciding on what price to charge a client. These factors may include; the length of stay. When your treatment takes longer it is more likely that you will pay more. Expertise of staff also has a influence on pricing as more experienced experts charge more for their services.

private-rehab-clinics

The other crucial factor that affects pricing is the medical therapies offered. The facilities that are available in the clinic for use by the patient will also affect pricing these facilities may include gym among other extra facilities.

Alcoholism is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

The Need For Private Residential Rehab Clinics Provide To Personalized Treatment

 

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Alcohol Rehab in Middle East

December 17, 2014

Alcohol Rehab in Middle East

In the past people who were deeply in the Islamic religion did not drink alcohol. It was against their faith. Every Muslim was desist from alcohol lest he be ready to face the punitive laws that prohibited alcohol consumption in Muslim dominated nations-eighty lashes for men and forty lashes for women. In fact women were not supposed to be drinking. In these countries water was the sole beverage and any distilled or fermented drinks were not readily available. In public places you couldn’t find these beverages. This culture has not come to a halt and that has only made matters worse for alcohol addicts as they cannot seek professional help in the open for fear of being punished for using alcohol in the first place. It is well known fact that the Middle East and many Gulf States that are obviously Islamic nations have very strict alcohol laws.  There are very many cases where people found in possession of alcohol in public places have faced very severe penalties even death sentences. Whilst things have changed over a time and alcohol is fairly easily obtained in hotels and on the black market, severe penalties are imposed on those found to be in possession of alcohol, and, worse still, if they are found intoxicated in public.

Drug-Rehab-for-middleeast

The fact that alcohol consumption is not allowed in public places has only made matters worse as it has led to an increase of drinking in private homes, where little attention is paid to the amount of alcohol consumed. Those who drink in private homes often exceed the below risk quantities making them susceptible to problem drinking. A lack of up-to-date information on safe drinking and the wide-spread presence of beverages with unregulated or contaminated alcohol content has resulted in a steady increase of Middle East residents with growing alcohol problems. Moreover, they suffer from a lack of access to local resources to help them to quit. There is therefore need for more rehab centers to spring in the Middle East to help those addicted to alcohol. Today there are some alcohol rehab centers that have begun to offer discrete, cultural sensitive support for residents from the Middle East who are struggling with alcohol addiction.

The strict laws of the Middle East countries in relation to alcohol consumption are blind to the fact that if anybody is suffering from his use of alcohol and he can’t cut down or stop drinking altogether, he has an alcohol addiction-a problem that can’t be solved by even the strictest laws on the planet earth. An addict is a victim that should not be punished but should be helped and offered support to be free from cravings for alcohol. A person with an alcohol addiction may or may not be physically dependent on alcohol. People who haven’t developed physical dependency to alcohol can still be addicted: that is, they can’t control, cut down or stop using, even when drinking alcohol is negatively impacting their life. This therefore means that you do not need to be physically dependent on alcohol to seek support in a rehab. You should begin as early as possible to reduce the effects of alcohol.

However it is good to note that most people become chained to alcohol use at the dependence stage because that is when their attempts to stop alcohol use are met by very severe withdrawal symptoms. The available Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation centers in the Middle East has helped persons from all over the region lead a clean and sober life though various treatment programs. These rehab centers in the Middle East serve people from Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and Jordan. Since most countries in the Middle East are not proactive but rather strictly reactive to alcohol addicts, these rehab centers are creating a home for the alcohol addicts giving them support that no other public institution can ever offer. Most of the rehabs are located at discreet locations and are quite luxurious attracting alcohol addicts seeking help.

drug-abuse-in-the-middle-east

Rehabs offer Inpatient and outpatient treatments

To those victims of alcohol addiction and dependency seeking help, the rehabs have two options that can be used to help them win this war against unstoppable use of alcohol. The recovery and rehabilitation professionals will however guide you on the best course to take. The rehab centers will also avail you the best paraphernalia to help you stop drinking alcohol depending on the program you have chosen. There are two main choices in seeking drug and alcohol services- inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. With inpatient treatment, you become a resident at the rehabilitation center, living and partaking in therapy on-site. The inpatient treatment has been the most effective method as the patient is kept away from the triggers that could make quitting alcohol drinking a problem. He is also available all the time and the doctors can closely monitor his progress with the treatment.

However there are situations when an addict can only be on the outpatient treatment program. It involves visiting the rehab centers for treatments sessions throughout the week for as long as the doctors have found best and prescribed. It is also effective but the victim will need to avoid the triggers by himself and it needs self-discipline.

Alcoholism is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. We offer NER Treatment and Amino acid therapy that are the most effective approaches to addiction treatment and recovery. You call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

Alcohol Rehab in Middle East

 

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