Alopecia

What is this condition?

Hair loss usually occurs on the scalp; hair loss elsewhere on the body is less common and less conspicuous. In the nonscarring form of this disorder, the hair follicle can generally regrow hair. But scarring hair loss usually destroys the hair follicle, making hair loss irreversible.

What causes it?

The most common form of nonscarring hair loss is male-pattern hair loss, which appears to be related to androgen levels and aging. Genetic predisposition commonly influences time of onset, degree of baldness, speed with which hair loss spreads, and pattern of hair loss. Women may experience diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp.

Other forms of nonscarring hair loss include:

• physiologic hair loss - sudden hair loss in infants, loss of straight hairline in adolescents, and diffuse hair loss after childbirth; usually temporary
• alopecia areata - patchy hair loss that is generally reversible and selflimiting (in rare cases alopecia areata can lead to complete hair loss); occurs most frequently in young and middle-aged adults of both sexes
• trichotillomania - compulsive pulling out of one’s own hair; most common in children.

Other causes of nonscarring hair loss include radiation, many types of drug therapies and reactions to drugs, bacterial and fungal infections, psoriasis, seborrhea, and endocrine disorders, such as thyroid, parathyroid, and pituitary dysfunctions.

Scarring hair loss may be caused by physical or chemical trauma or chronic tension on a hair shaft, as occurs in braiding.

Diseases that produce hair loss include destructive skin tumors, granulomas, lupus, scleroderma, inflammatory skin disease involving the hair follicles, and severe fungal, bacterial, or viral infections, such as tinea infection, folliculitis, or herpes simplex infection.

What are its symptoms?

Male-pattern hair loss occurs gradually and usually affects the thinner, shorter, and less pigmented hairs of the front and side of the scalp. In women, hair loss is generally more diffuse; completely bald areas are uncommon but may occur.

Alopecia areata usually affects small patches of the scalp but may also occur as alopecia totalis, which involves the entire scalp, or as alopecia universalis, which involves the entire body. Although mild redness may occur initially, affected areas of the scalp or skin appear normal. “Exclamation point” hairs (loose hairs with dark, rough, brushlike tips on narrow, less pigmented shafts) occur at the periphery of new patches. Regrowth initially appears as fine, white, downy hair, which is replaced by normal hair.

In trichotillomania, patchy areas of hair loss and many broken hairs appear on the scalp and possibly on other areas, such as the eyebrows.

How is it diagnosed?

A physical exam is usually sufficient to confirm hair loss. In trichotillomania, an occlusive dressing can establish the diagnosis by allowing new hair to grow, revealing that the hair is being pulled out. Diagnosis must also include tests to identifY any underlying disorder.

How is it treated?

Topical application of minoxidil, a drug more commonly used to treat high blood pressure, has had limited success in treating male­pattern hair loss. (The topical form of this drug is known as Rogaine.) An alternative treatment is surgical redistribution of hair follicles by autografting.

In alopecia areata, Rogaine is more effective, although treatment is often unnecessary because spontaneous regrowth is common. The doctor may administer corticosteroid injections into the affected areas; this is beneficial for small patches and may produce regrowth in 4 to 6 weeks. Hair loss that persists for over a year is unlikely to grow back.

In trichotillomania, use of an occlusive dressing may protect the person’s hair and allow normal growth. Long-term treatment may include behavior modification therapy. Treatment of other types of hair loss varies according to the underlying cause. Some hair products are also used for the treatment of Hair Loss.

What can a person with hair loss do?

• If you’re a woman with female-pattern hair loss, know that it doesn’t lead to total baldness. Consider restyling your hair to mask thinning areas or consider wearing a wig.
• If you have alopecia areata, be aware that complete regrowth is possible.

ShareThis

Dyshidrotic eczema of the foot is distinguished from the other eczematous diseases in that the process begins as dyshidrosis. Patient history identifies the fact that minute, noninflammatory vesicles preceded the appearance of the eczematous changes. These changes begin on the tips and sides of the toes; the clinical characteristics are otherwise similar to those described for dyshidrotic eczema of the hands. Dyshidrotic eczema of the feet is a particularly common problem in children.

Atopic dermatitis of the foot is distinguished by the fact that itching precedes any evidence of skin disease. Moreover, the distribution pattern, which involves the dorsal surface of the distal foot, is highly characteristic. Lesions may also occur around the ankle near the malleoli. The plaques of atopic dermatitis on the foot are often quite sharply marginated and are often nummular in size and shape. In some instances, however, autoeczematization causes the disease to cover the entire foot. The itch-scratch cycle is prominent. Excoriations and lichenification are regularly present

Tinea pedis is an extraordinarily common condition, but it is less often the cause of foot eczema than one might expect. Those patients who do develop foot eczema as a result of tinea pedis are rather likely to have a history of preceding, chronic fissuring of the lateral toe webs. On examination, multilocular vesicles and bullae of the instep are regularly found. The dorsal surface of the foot becomes involved late in the course of the disease through the process of autoeczematization. Foot eczema secondary to fungal disease rarely, if ever, occurs prior to puberty. The typical distribution and course, together with the presence of onychomycosis and positive potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations, allow for definitive identification.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs primarily on the dorsal surface of the toes. Consequently, it is easily confused with atopic dermatitis. In contrast to atopic dermatitis, however, a rash is present at the time pruritus is first noted. Also, lichenification is not usually present. Most allergic contact dermatitis of the foot is due to the products used in the manufacture of shoes. These include glues, chemicals used in rubber processing, and chromates used in leather tanning. A suspected diagnosis can be confirmed by patch testing. Such tests are most practically carried out by removal of a small piece of the inner portion of the shoe. This material can then be bandaged directly to the patient’s skin in the manner described . Patch testing can also, of course, be carried out with chemicals supplied in most patch testing kits. Contrary to widespread belief, allergic contact dermatitis is not a common cause of foot eczema.

Irritant contact dennatitis of the foot has a distinctive appearance. The plantar and dorsal surfaces of the toes are dull red and shiny. Examination reveals chapping with hundreds of minute cracks and fissures. Peeling of the tips and plantar surface of the toes is usually present. The problem presumably starts because of maceration secondary to sweat retention. This condition is particularly likely to occur in individuals with hyperhidrosis of the feet and in those who wear shoes that retard evaporative loss of moisture. Consequently, it is an extraordinarily common problem in children who wear rubber-soled, tennis-type shoes all day long.

Stasis dennatitis of the foot occurs in older adults who have a history of chronic ankle swelling. The eruption begins first at the ankle and only subsequently extends to the rest of the foot. Appreciable swelling of the foot and ankle is always present. The dorsal aspect becomes involved first, but plantar disease is present in persistent, severe cases. Pigmentary changes secondary to both heme and melanin pigments are usually noted.

Foot eczemas, like hand eczemas, are commonly complicated by the development of autoeczematization. This process results in local as well as distant spread of eczematous disease outside of the original distribution pattern. The presence of alltoeczematization greatly hampers recognition of the originating eczematous process. Recognition of the various foot eczemas is also hindered by the regular presence of irritant contact dermatitis secondary to the retention of serum and sweat underneath footwear. Because of these two factors, it is often necessary to use a short course of systemic steroids so that the initial changes can be identified as they occur.

ShareThis

here are various men who also love to strengthen their sprits and power in order to make their training sessions more high in spirits. Apart from having a great fitness regime and balanced diet, these supplements are necessary to all those who require to compliment their fitness programs. These supplements are considered to be the most important part of any professional athlete as they provide them great strength. Also, one can also recover from any wound or scratch faced during the sports events or training periods. But it is highly recommended that users should take due prescription and advice before actually taking such supplements.

ShareThis

1. Distribution: random
2. Flat, nonpalpable
3. Homogeneous, light hrown color

Clinical Presentation

Individual cafe-au-lait patches are flat, light-brown, evenly pigmented patches 1.5 to 10 cm in diameter. Most lesions are round in configuration, but irregular and angular shapes are also seen. Cafe-au-lait patches may be present at birth, but sometimes they do not develop until childhood. Clinically it is not possible to distinguish a solitary cafe-au-lait patch from the flat, brown birthmarks that occur in about 10% of the population.

Course and Prognosis

Patients with more than four or five pigmented patches greater than 1 cm in diameter are rather likely to develop associated features of neurofibromatosis. Lesions somewhat similar in appearance to cafe-au-lait patches are also found in patients will Albright’s syndrome.Cafe-au-lait patches are permanent. Once present, they remain stable in size and color indefinitely. There is no predisposition to melanoma formation in these pigmented lesions, even when they have been present from birth.

Pathogenesis

The cause of cafe-au-lait patches is unknown. Electron microscopy reveals the presence of larger-than-normal melanin granules within the melanosomes of the melanocytes.

Therapy

No therapy is availahle or necessary.

ShareThis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease characterized by exacerbations and remissions. A few patients have a single episode and then remain clear indefinitely, but for most individuals, once the initial episode has occurred, future problems may be anticipated.

Individual episodes of atopic dermatitis left untreated generally continue chronically. Treatment, on the other hand, is usually quite successful and may lead to prolonged periods of remission. The initial episode of atopic dermatitis often occurs during childhood, and most, but not all, patients will have had their first episode by age 35.

Patients with atopic dermatitis are at considerable risk of developing the noncutaneous atopic diseases of hay fever and asthma. There is also evidence to suggest that these patients are more likely to develop alopecia areata, vitiligo, otitis media, nrticaria, and dyshidrosis, but many authorities doubt the validity of these relationships.

Patients with atopic dermatitis, as a reflection of the mild depression of cell-mediated immune responsiveness that accompanies the disease, are also more likely to develop cutaneous fungal and viral infections. Moreover, these infections when present may be unusually severe, For instance, atopics are at considerable risk for the development of disseminated cutaneous herpetic infection in the syndrome known variously as Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption or eczema herpeticum.

Staphylococcal organisms regularly colonize the lesions of atopic dermatitis. Interestingly, in spite of the large number of organisms that are present, clinical signs of true infection are not often found.

Therapy

One absolute rule exists regarding therapy of atopic dermatitis: scratching must be stopped. Therapy that fails to interrupt the itch-scratch cycle will not lead to consistent, prolonged clinical improvement.

Soaks are of help in the treatment of acute episodes accompanied by weeping and crusting. Such soaks serve two purposes. First, they restore a more physiologic environment to the sensory nerve endings. This result presumably reduces nerve stimulation, which, in turn, decreases the transfer of itch sensations to the brain. Second, by removing crust, maceration is reduced and bacterial overgrowth is minimized.

Topically applied steroids are almost indispensable in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Infants and adults with involvement of the face and groin should be treated with low-potency products such as 1 % hydrocortisone whenever possible. In other areas of the body higher potency products will be required. Cream vehicles are generally used because of easy spreading and cosmetic acceptability. If stinging on application is a problem, however, ointments can be substituted.

If ointments are used, they should be applied sparingly and should be spread as thinly as possible in order to minimize sweat retention and the development of maceration.

Patients with severe or extensive disease may initially require a burst of prednisone . Clinical response is extraordinarily good, but rapid exacerbation can be expected unless a good topical program is also being conscientiously carried out. Failure to recognize this point defeats the rationale for the short-term use of systemic steroids.

Systemically administered antihistamines are often necessary to help control pruritus. Part of their effectiveness is due to inhibition of intlammatory mediators, but an additional, more important component undoubtedly relates to their central nervous system effect as manifest by the presence of sedation. In fact, I believe that tranquilizers and other sedatives reduce pruritus about as well as antihistamines. Because of the sedation associated with most of these agents, they are generally best administered in the evening. Dosage should be adjusted to the point where, because of deeper sleep, nighttime scratching is stopped.

UVA (320- to 400-nm) and UVB (280- to 320-nm) ultraviolet light therapy and psoralen-long-wavelength ultraviolet light (PUVA) therapy can be very helpful in controlling pruritus. Of course, care must be taken to avoid sweating, burns, and excess dryness as a result of such therapy, since these factors may instead increase the severity of the itching.

Long-term lifestyle adjustments to reduce stress and increase relaxation are necessary in some cases and are particularly helpful in tense patients who cannot easily relax. Some of these adjustments occur as the patient develops insight, but counseling or behavior modification techniques such as vigorous athletics, transcendental meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and biofeedback are often necessary.

Modifications in routine skin care are highly desirable. Lubricants retard moisture loss from superficial epidermal cells, this reduces the nerve stimulatioll that occurs through dry, chapped skin. Hands should be lubricated 4 to 6 times/day, full-body lubrication should be carried oul twice daily.

Fingernails should be trimmed and rounded with a file so that no sharp edges remain. Hot water bathing and the use of soap must be decreased as much as possible, since both remove lipids necessary to keep the skin from becoming xerotic. The use of cotton clothing minimizes the deleterious effect of sweat retention, and wool clothing should be avoided, since the prickly wool fibers tend to have an irritating effect on atopic skin. Patients should, where possible, set room temperatures at a level that prevents heat buildup and sweat production. Finally, the use of alcoholic beverages as a means of inducing rapid relaxation should be discouraged, as alcohol in large amounts decreases the soundness of sleep later at night and in the early morning.

The therapeutic program described above is representative of the way most clinicians care for patients with atopic dermatitis. Three additional approaches favored by some dermatologists ought to be mentioned. The first is the modified Scholz regimen, which avoids all use of soaps and lipids. Cleaning is carried out with a nonlipid cleanser such as Cetaphil. Cetaphil lotion is also used as the vehicle for all medications.

The second approach substitutes coal tar products for topical steroids wherever possible. This avoids the potential side effects of steroids and is also quite inexpensive. Unfortunately, improvement occurs rather slowly, and patient compliance is poor because of the staining and odor associated with tar products.

The third approach involves the routine use of systemically administered antibiotics whenever weeping or crusting is present on the surface of the skin. Advocates of this approach believe that the bacteria that grow readily on eczematous skin (independent of the amount of true infection caused) play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The use of antibiotics does sometimes speed up healing but, of course, also raises the potential problem of eventual bacterial resistance.

Finally, mention should be made regarding the emerging use of cyclosporine . European reports suggest that it can be used safely and very effectively as short-term treatment.

ShareThis

Generally, there is no discomfort for the first 60 to 90 seconds after application. The operator can thus treat several lesions before the patient is aware of the process. This is a property that is clearly advantageous when small children with multiple lesions must be treated. Pain after application reaches a maximum in about 5 to 15 minutes and thereafter subsides fairly quickly. Most patients find the overall degree of discomfort quite tolerable.

Within several days of treatment, necrotic tissue forms at the site of application. This dead tissue sloughs spontaneously, and complete healing takes place in approximately 10 days. The cosmetic appearance at the treated area is generally excellent, but occasionally, pigment loss or a small amount of scarring is visible. The destruction caused by spillage of even a drop or two of these fluids is very great, and I cannot overemphasize the care that must be taken during their use.

These solutions are best used on nonscaling, benign lesions such as genital warts, molluscum contagiosum, skin tags, and some warts. Seborrheic keratoses can be treated if they are not too keratotic. Most hand and foot warts must be trimmed to reduce the amount of overlying keratin before chemical cauterants are used. Cauterants are not used for malignant lesions because the destruction is insufficiently deep to ensure cure.

ShareThis

Yes I am talking about the Nueslim diet pills. These are the ideal diet pills with all the natural ingredients, therefore do not require prescription. You can even purchase them online without any hassles whatsoever. Go online, order your requirement, pay by whatever means suitable to you, and get your pack of diet pills at your doorstep! Purchasing diet pills were never so easy.

Why these diet pills do not require any prescription is in almost all cases, not a single case complains of any complications or side effects after taking the pills. Rather they feel an energizing effect along with significantly losing weight. You will find yourself losing weight right in the first week of starting the treatment. If you are unhappy, return the package and get back your money. Yeah, the diet pills come with a lifetime money back guarantee too. So much the manufacturers believe in their product and now you will believe too after you start using it regularly!

ShareThis

Most people desire an ultimate solution that will put them on right track and will ensure quality physical fitness along with shiny hair and skin. If a single pill is capable of doing all these things for you, why not opt for it? Yes, I am talking about NV. It is an “all-natural” diet supplement that offers effective weight loss. NV does it because of metabolic fat burners like green tea. Because of presence of Hoodia gordonii in NV, it acts as a good appetite suppressant and renders a false fullness.

NV also provides you anti-aging collagens and collagens for smooth skin. When you get all these ingredients in one single product, why to opt for anything else? Just start on NV right away and find yourself blooming with svelte figure and sexy outlook on life. Basically getting slimmer is getting committed to your bodily needs. Start with well-planned exercise regime and diet specifications along with NV. It is not a far dream then to realize your potential!

ShareThis

The volcano vaporizer available in the market will suit your needs of achieving better health benefits. The people can make use of these vaporizers which can be safely used as an alternative to smoking also. Yes, smoking is injurious to health and passive smoking is more injurious to health. So, if you cannot curb your habit, at least do not let those around you to succumb to the bad effects of passive smoking. This is hundred percent achieved by vaporizers.

You smoke through the vaporizers and you spare yourself too of the bad effects of harmful gases like carbon monoxide and dioxide released during burning of plant material. This is because the vaporizer does not yield these gases as it heats the plant material at an optimal temperature lower than that of burning and does not yield tar. So, those around you will definitely thank you for your cooperation by using volcano vaporizer!

ShareThis

It is also said that what you wear depicts your personality. So, if you wear pearl jewelry it says volumes about your style and psyche. Your companions will surely be envious about your pearls that are so good to say the least. The pearls are an apt expression of your personality. Why not take advantage of online sales that are soaring sky heights? People are crazy behind the latest patterns and designs in pearl jewelry.

You need not feel that your pearl jewelry cannot have varieties. Just hit an online pearl gallery and you will understand how many different types pearls can have! There are fresh water pearls, Tahitian pearls, black pearls, south sea pearls, Akoya pearls and numerous varieties of these pearls that are on display online. Womenfolk are literally head over heels in love with these pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Even men are dying for pearl cufflinks, bracelets etc. if pearls are in so much demand these days, It would be a shame not to have ones for your jewelry collection!

ShareThis