Dermatologist’s Full Guide For A Perfect Skin

It is very important for you to identify your skin type. This ensures your skin is cared for properly. The choice you make when buying cosmetics must be determined by your skin type.
Although your skin type is unlike any other, most have common characteristics which enable grouping in one of the following types:

• Dry skin
• Normal skin
• Mixed skin type
• Oily skin

To determine your skin type, we recommend cleaning your skin with a cleansing wipe . After 30 minutes, apply on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin a clean white small piece of paper.If traces of fat do not appear on paper it means your skin is the dry type. Dry skin is rough and prone to premature wrinkles and fine lines. If you see oily marks on some parts of the paper and dry on others, then you have a mixed skin type. Normal skin is usually smooth and not prone to acne. Oily skin is oily when touched and shiny. Oily skin is prone to blackheads and pimples. Sensitive skin requires special attention, as it can be sensitive to certain ingredients found in most cosmetics. People who have sensitive skin should always purchase hypoallergenic products to protect themselves from skin allergic reactions.

A regular skin care program tailored to the particular needs of each skin type, ensures a brighter and smoother skin within one week.

Skin Types

Dry Skin Care

Dry skin needs requires extra care, because it is prone to wrinkles and fine lines. This is especially true in winter when it is drier, and the skin may be tensioned it can peel off.
There are some measures that can relieve dryness, keep the skin supple and, and also fight against premature aging.

1. Always clean your skin with a gentle cleanser, never use a soap. Do not use soaps because they are unable to remove the natural secretion of sebum.
2. Always use a moisturizer cream during the day. Apply cream on the  face through circular and gentle movements. Do not aggressively remove the peeling skin.
3. You can use a night cream before going bed. It is recommended to use creams with alpha-hydroxy acids (or AHAs, as they are considered the most effective). AHAs are derived from milk, certain fruits and sugar cane. These acids exfoliate the superficial layers of your skin very gently and moisture the new discovered layers. They have beneficial effects on dull, dry peeling skin , giving it a healthy and shiny appearance.
4. Both AHA and Vitamin C help reduce fine lines and other signs of aging. Therefore you can get a quick result by using a moisturizer during the day and a product that contains vitamin C and AHA during the night. Most known brands have moisturizers and creams that contain both vitamin C and AHA.
5. If you have dry skin that tends to peel, with red and itchy plates that form a crust, it is recommended to exclude medical eczema. Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is considered to be a hereditary condition that occurs throughout the whole year. Other causes of eczema can be materials like wool, some skin care products or detergents. Your doctor may prescribe a cream to relieve redness and irritation.
6. Many people suffer from dry skin during cold weather. If the weather is drier during the winter months and tends to dehydrate your skin, I recommend using a moisturizer that keeps your skin supple and hydrated.

Home Care For Dry skin

1. Remove the petals from one rose, add water and a spoon of  honey, wait 30 minutes then and apply the mixture on your face. Wait about 15-20 minutes, then wash your face with warm water. Honey moisturizers and softens dry skin and is gentle enough for daily use.
2. Regular massages with almond and olive oil do miracles for dry skin.
3. Take a quarter of a pear. Remove the peel then chill it in a refrigerator. Apply it on the skin and leave it there for 15 minutes. Then rinse with cold water. Pears help soften dry skin and give a fresh shiny look.

Dry Skin Type

Normal Skin Care

Normal skin does not usually raise issues and requires minimal care to stay healthy and good looking. It also tolerates most popular skin care lotions and creams. A regular skin care program combined with a balanced diet, is enough for a skin full of suppleness and youthfulness. Regular skin care normally includes:

1. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing performed daily help keep normal skin in a good shape for a long period of time. I recommend using natural products.
2. It is very easy not to have skin problems. But if you neglected your skin, it will begin to form fine lines and wrinkles. So always remember to adopt a healthy diet and always be well hydrated.
3. Creams and lotions that combine vitamin A, C and E help improve skin texture, making it smoother and softer to touch. Furthermore, these vitamins neutralize the effects of free radicals.
4. Even if the skin is normal, you still need regular care. The skin on your face, like any other type of skin is constantly under the aggression of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules formed in the skin, due to exposure to the environment, pollution and solar radiation.

Normal Skin Type

Mixed Skin Type Care

Skin that is oily in some areas and dry or normal in others is considered to be a mixed skin type. Oily skin is focused on the T-zone, located on the forehead, nose and chin. Every time you wash your face, certain areas of the skin may feel tensioned, and have a matte aspect, are harsh and dry, while the T-zone looks shiny, oily at the touch. This type is very predisposed to pimples and blackheads. Mixed skin type requires special attention because fatty areas require daily care for avoiding acne-type rashes.

Follow these simple steps each day and note the impressive effect they will have on your skin.

1. Clean the entire face twice a day. Always use a gentle facial cleanser to remove impurities, dirt and makeup from your face.
2. The dry zone requires hydration to prevent premature wrinkles. Use a moisturizer on the dry areas of your skin, and if possible, use an oil-free moisturizer on the T zone.
3. If you use makeup, always use fat free products on the T zone. These products are available on the market and help eliminate the excess of sebum and help control the excess shine.
4. If you have a mixed skin type, your skin will benefit from hidroxy-acid and vitamin C based products which tend to normalize the skin.

• Home Care For Mixed Skin Type

1. Take 150 grams of seeded papaya pulp, bake it well. Mash it well then chill it in the refrigerator. Apply it on your face for 10-15 minutes, then remove it with cold water. Papaya helps normalize oily and mixed skin types, giving the skin a healthy shine.

Mixed Skin Type

Oily Skin Care

The skin is very shiny, greasy when touched and prone to blackheads and pimples. It is very important to keep this type of skin as clean as you can and control the excess sebum secretion. Oily skin has the advantage that ages more slowly than other types of skin as the natural secretion of sebum protects the skin against the appearance of lines and wrinkles. A simple care program, associated with a balanced and healthy diets can do wonders for oily skin type, and also lowers the risk of acne-type rash.

Oily Skin Type

1. It is essential to clean your skin twice daily, in the morning and evening. Always use a gentle cleanser. This prevents the pores form clogging and causing pimples.
2. The removal of makeup must be followed by application of toners (astringents).This will remove the excess sebum. It is recommended to avoid using alcohol based astringents. Alcohol-based products remove too much sebum from your skin causing your skin to become dry.
3. If the rash appears, touching or squeezing pimples is the worst thing you can do. Pustules, if squeezed can leave permanent scars. There are a wide variety of acne products available on the market. You should see a dermatologist, he will recommend the most appropriate one for your skin type.
4. If possible, get a professional cleaning of your skin once a month.
5. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. Fluids help remove toxins from your body.
6. Avoid chocolate consumption.
7. Make sure you have a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and green vegetables.

Gastritis

Gastritis is characterized by gastric mucosal damage represented by inflammatory processes, degenerative metaplasia, allergic processes. These lesions can have a self-limited evolution leading to scarring or the contrary, as they may lead to serious complications especially bleeding or perforation.

Gastritis Symptoms and Causes

Frequently gastritis is manifested by a burning sensation in the upper abdomen region, but may also develop without symptoms. There are numerous causes that can determine the onset of gastritis, the most frequent are represented by: Alcohol, certain drugs (aspirin, abuse of analgesics, NSAIDs – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids) may cause gastric mucosal irritation up to gastritis complications sometimes even when managed in usual doses for those who are sensitive. Coffee abuse, eating habits like serving too cold or too hot meals, infection with Helicobacter pylori, accidental ingestion of caustic substances, certain infectious diseases, stress can lead to gastritis.
In patients with this condition using specific means of investigation (radiology and endoscopy) certain signs of impaired gastric mucosa can be seen, as well as functional signs related to the secretion of hydrochloric acid.

Gastritis

Treatment

Treatment of acute gastritis will be based on etiology (the factor that lead to it). In case of acute gastritis with hyperacidity

-antacids drugs  (mixtures with alkalinization role in neutralizing acid secretion)
-anti-secretory (substances that are designed to inhibit acid secretion by acting on histamine receptors: Ranitidine, Famotidine, and the proton pump – Omeprazole)
-gastric bandages (drugs designed to form a gastric mucosal protective cover that helps recovery).

When Helicobacter pilory is present in the gastric mucosa different antibiotics will be combined  for eradicating the infection: Amoxicillin associated with Metronidazole or two antibiotics asociated with a proton pump inhibitor like: Amoxicillin with Metronidazole + Omeprazole.

Among those treatment schemes, an alcohol, tobacco and spice free diet will be also required.

Pills

Prevention

To prevent gastritis, there are some principles of nutrition that can be applied and adapted to any individual requirements. It is useful to eliminate sugar and synthetic food additives – the explosion of cases of gastritis in recent years is caused by foods fortified with additives, as they affect digestion, favor (especially sugar) the Helicobacter pylori development, and cause digestive disturbances. Those who are predisposed or already suffering from gastritis must strictly avoid sugar and foods with synthetic additives (primarily those used for taste, aroma and dyeing).

We recommend giving up alcohol – regardless of origin or country – along with tobacco are the greatest threats for the stomach. The sweet taste, spicy, sour or very bitter may be the trigger of gastritis pain through a simple mechanism : the intense taste stimulation produces a strong secretion of gastric juices that are not supported by the stomach.
Smoking plays a major role in the etiology of gastritis and ulcers – recommended quitting smoking fastest possible in case of  a gastric disease.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, it can be acute or chronic. The liver is a unique organ and is the only organ that can regenerate and in some cases we can talk about complete regeneration. For other organs like the heart, damaged tissues are replaced with scars, like those we all have on the skin. The liver has the capacity to replace dameged or diseased cells with new and healthy ones.
Long-term complications of liver diseases usually occur when the regeneration is either incomplete, or prevented by the appearance of scar tissues. It is the case of aggressive agents such as viruses, drugs and alcohol abuse that continue to attack the liver and preventing therefore the complete regeneration process. Once the scar tissue is formed reversibility of this process is very difficult to obtain.

Hepatitis

A disease characterized by the appearance in large amounts of scar tissues is the liver cirrhosis. End-stage liver cirrhosis is the final stage of the liver disease, usually followed by life threatening complications.

Types of hepatitis

– Acute hepatitis that evolves in less than 3 months

– Viral hepatitis

1. Viral hepatitis A
2. Viral hepatits B
3. Viral hepatitis C
4. Viral hepatitis D and E (quite rare)

– Chronic hepatitis

1. B viral chronic hepatitis
2. C viral chronic hepatits

– Toxic hepatitis and drug induced hepatites

1. Toxic hepatitis
2. Alcoholic hepatitis

– Autoimunne hepatitis

Causes of Hepatitis

Symptoms and signs

They are inconstant and variable in intensity. Some are common for all types of hepatitis: jaundice, dark collored urine, pale stools, nausea, liver sensitive to palpation, or liver pain. Others depend on the cause of hepatitis: flu-like syndrome in cases of viral hepatitis (fatigue, intense headaches, joint pains) enlarged and “rocky” liver with signs of alcoholic impregnation (vulnerable skin, leg pain, tremors) in the case of alcoholic hepatitis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is confirmed by blood sampling and tests, which often show a significant increase in transaminases (liver enzymes) levels, and a transitory evidence of acute destruction of the liver cells, abnormality of conjugated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, biological evidence of jaundice. Also tests search abnormalitys in blood clotting factors which are synthesized in the liver, signs of hepatocellular failure in order to assess the hepatitis impact on the liver. Blood tests also orientate doctors towards the cause of hepatitis.

Treatment

Liver Sequels

There are small variations in treatments depending on the cause, but the main purpose is targeting symptoms  (analgesics, transfusions in case of digestive bleeding, portocaval anastomosis in case of portal hypertension) and rebalancing nutrition (intake of vitamins and trace elements) and removing the cause of course.

The severity of chronic hepatitis is related to the possibility of irreversible liver failure in the near future (blood clotting disorders, hepatic encephalopathy, metabolic acidosis) and portal hypertension. This kind of evolution is caused by cirrhosis. Cirrhosis may also evolve into hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

Nose Fracture First Aid And Treatment

By performing the following maneuvers you can relieve the intensity of the painful symptoms in case of a nasal fracture (also known as broken nose).

First aid and home measures

• Apply ice packs using any kind of material you can find wrapped around the ice, every 15 minutes, then remove the icepack. This process can be repeated several times during the whole day. Ice packs will be applied shortly after the injury occurs and maintained one up to two days after the incident, to reduce swelling and pain. It is recommended taking a break between applications. It is very important to know that you should not apply ice directly on your skin.

Ice bags

• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen administration is the next step. These drugs should be administered only in case of pain (all types of drugs can have side effects, do not abuse them).
• Administration of a nasal decongestant like Afrin for facilitating nasal breathing. Remember to read the side effects of these kind of drugs and the way of administration before using them.These type of drugs should not be taken more than three days.
• Lift the head, especially during sleep, to avoid swelling of the nose. The head is fastened to the pillow or telephone books will be placed under the mattress so that the head is kept lifted during sleep.

Medical treatment

Nose fracture treatment

• In case of a mild nose injury without dislocation (the bone is not bent), the doctor will only prescribe analgesics, nasal decongestants and ice packs.
• In case of fracture with dislocation, the doctor may try reducing the fracture (bone alignment).
  The doctor may use analgesics, local anesthesia and nasal instruments. Please note that not all fractures require immediate reduction. Not all fractures can be reduced in the emergency department.Your doctor will recommend the best treatment.
• If the bleeding does not stop, nasal tampons are required. A tampon will be inserted in the bleeding nasal fossa, which should finally stop the bleeding and will be removed within 2-3 days. Do not remove the tampon yourself, go to the physician!
  Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics and painkillers after buffer insertion. In case of other associated injuries, other diagnostic tests will be performed and proper treatment will be established.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an quite common eye disease, especially among children. It can be corrected easily with contact lenses, glasses or through surgical intervention. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea, the front surface of the eye, has an irregular and abnormal curvature. Astigmatism is a refraction disorder and can be normal (when it has a value around 0.5 diopters) or pathological (if more than 1 diopter). In other words if the curvature of the cornea is very pronounced, patients have to be treated. If  the diopter values are not very high and do not interfere with the patients quality of life, the treatment is not recommended.

The eye has a spherical shape and two lenses: the cornea and lens.The cornea is transparent and covers the iris, pupil and  the anterior chamber of the eye. The lens is located behind the iris. It has a biconvex shape and with the cornea it refracts the light that will be focused on the retina.

The cornea and lens have together, more than two thirds of the entire optical power of the eye. Normally, when light enters the eye it reflects uniformly and forms a clear, unique image of the object.
In the eye with astigmatism that does not happen – the  light is refracted in different ways, resulting in a poor focalization (only parts of the object are focused). The whole object will appear blurry and unclear. Patients with astigmatism may not perceive fine details and sometimes vertical lines appear distorted.

candidate astigmatism

Causes of astigmatism

Astigmatism can be hereditary. In is can be present at birth or it can be acquired – as a result of significant pressure exerted by the eyelids on the cornea, improper posture, or prolonged use of vision at the work place (especially for observing details). Most refractive disorders tend to stabilize (in terms of dioptric) around the age of 22 to 25.

Although the exact cause of astigmatism is not fully known, there are many potentially harmful factors (considered risk factors) such as:
– Healing with scars or abrasions due to corneal perforations
– Eye-bruises or other eye injuries
– Eye-infections and shape changes of the cornea secondary to eye surgery.

Symptoms

Patients with astigmatism are often misdiagnosed and therefore untreated usually complain about headache, eye-fatigue, blurred vision, low perception of details, especially at distance. Although these symptoms are not specific and do not necessarily suggest an astigmatism, patients are advised to visit the doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment if they notice this kind of symptoms

Treatment options

Laser Eye Surgery-Astigmatism

1. Eye glasses with cylindrical lenses. They have a particular form, used for equilibrating the cornea pathological form (which caused the disturbances of visual acuity). The glasses are very useful for distant vision. If the patient constantly looks down for long periods of time, the images may appear distorted. Some experts believe that if the defect is small the astigmatism should remain uncorrected
2. Contact lenses. Special contact lenses can correct astigmatism. The lens change their normal position when the person blinks (they rotate). Lenses for astigmatism have the ability to return to the initial position no matter how often the patient blinks.
3. Surgical intervention. Astigmatism can be treated with the aid of a laser. The method reshapes the cornea so that light can focus much better forming therefore a good image on the retina. It is believed that surgical treatment is the best way to effectively correct the causes of this type defect.

The Common Flu

Influenza is an acute infectious respiratory disease, highly contagious, caused by influenza virus A or B, and occurs as outbreaks of variable severity almost every winter. The period during it occurs with increased frequency is from November to March. Influenza infection can affect anyone, but the risk of developing more severe clinical forms and develop complications is higher for children, for elderly and people with immunodeficiency or chronic diseases. Since influenza virus is found in a wide variety of subtypes, that change from year to year, even vaccinated people can develop a flu, but with smaller severity.

Common Flu

Way of Transmission

The way of transmission is respiratory from person to person through droplets of saliva eliminated through coughing, sneezing and talking.It is very contagious one to two days before and four to five days after onset. Patients with atypical forms of disease are also contagious.Other virus reservoirs can be some animals for type A virus.The peak incidence is situated during November to March.

Symptoms

The incubation period is about two days. The disease severity depends on previous exposure to related types of viruses. Influenza is often confused with runny nose, very common in children, especially in winter.The onset is sudden, sometimes violent, with chills, high fever of 39-40 degrees C, muscle pain, intense headaches, fatigue, eye pain (characteristic of flu), nasal catarrh (the stuffy feeling) dry cough, inappetence (lack of appetite), nausea, vomiting, even diarrhea.
Complication influence the evolution and prognosis of the infection, especially when chronic diseases occurs in children or dystrophic infants. It can be a primary influenza pneumonia or secondary through secondary bacterial overgrowth. Other complications that can occur are: cardiovascular (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis, meningitis), Reye’s syndrome. Children under 24 months require hospitalization due to the increased risk of developing complications. The convalescence period increases the sensitivity to bacterial infections.

The Common Flu

Treatment

• Bed rest in a breezy room (not overheated)
• Increased consumption of liquids: tea, canned fruits, juice, soup, which can be warm (not hot)
• Vitamin C (as tablets or syrups)
• Fighting the fever, which according to age can be syrups, suppositories or tablets
• Combating cough
• Antibiotics are used only in the case of bacterial overgrowth.

Preventive measures during the epidemic period are very important: avoid crowded places, visits, apply the basic rules of hygiene (use the handkerchief when you cough or sneeze). A very effective method is the active immunization against influenza (vaccination of children and the elderly), especially those who are prone to complications.

Fever and it’s causes

Fever is  is a frequent medical simptom that describes a raise in body temperature above normal. Fever is best defined as a 1-2 degrees C growth in body temerature above the thermoregulation point. Fever is caused by a change in the thermoregulatory point, determining a raised body temperature (which is usually 37 degrees C). Certain mechanisms are triggered in response to these changes. When a patient has fever, he feels cold despite the rise in body temperature, increased heart rate, muscle tone and tremors, due to the body’s attempts to counter the newly perceived hypothermia and achieving a new thermoregulation point.

Fever

Fever differs from hyperthermia in that hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature over the termoregultion point due to excessive heat production or insufficient thermoregulation, or in some cases even both. Fever is considered as an immune response of the body which attempts to neutralize the “intruder”, which can be bacteria or viruses. Fever is not a disease but a response to a certain disease.

When a patient has or is suspected to have fever, it is necessary to measure the body temperature using a thermometer.

Fever is present if:

• Rectal temperature is over 37.8 degrees Celsius
• Oral temperature is above 37.5 Celsius Celsius
• Axillary temperature is above 37.2 degrees Celsius
• Temperature in the ear canal (ear) is over 37.2 degrees Celsius.

The values described above are for a healthy adult, who served a meal, dressed comfortably, located inside a room with normal temperature (22.6 to 24.3 degrees Celsius), shortly after getting out of bed. For  oral temperature, the person should not eat, drink  or smoke at least five to ten minutes before the measurement.

The fever is usually classified as (measurement anal)

• Low fever: 38-39 degrees Celsius
• Moderate fever: 39-39.9 degrees Celsius
• High fever: 40 to 41.2 degrees Celsius
• Hyperpyrexia: over 41.2 degrees Celsius

Fever Causes

Fever is a symptom common in many diseases:

• Infections such as influenza, HIV, malaria, infectious mononucleosis, or gastroenteritis
• Various skin inflammations such as acne, pustules or abscesses
• Immunological disorders: lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, bowel inflammatory disease.

The benefits of fever

Theoretically, fever can help defend the body. Clearly there are some immunological reactions that are hurried up by the presence of fever and some pathogens only survive at specific temperatures can be therefore removed with the help of fever.Also, white blood cells proliferate faster due to to the increased temperature.

Fever Treatment

Fever must not be always treated. Fever is an important signal that there is a problem with your body and can be also used to asses a correct treatment. Besides not all patients that have fever also have an infection . Febrile patients are told to drink enough fluids, because dehydration caused by a mild fever can be more dangerous than the fever itself.

Many patients take antipyretic drugs because fever is very uncomfortable. Fever increases heart rate and metabolism, thus causing additional stress to the body for elder persons with heart diseases. Fever may even cause delirium. The potential benefit of fever should be carefully weighed in comparison to the risks of having fever. Fever should be treated if it reaches the stage of hyperpyrexia when tissue damages can occur.

Fever treatment is achieved by lowering the thermoregulation point, but favoring heat loss can also be very effective. This can be achieved by using antipyretic drugs like ibuprofen(Advil, Motrin) or paracetamol. Aspirin may be also administered but only to adults because it can be the source of Reye syndrome seen at children.

Heat removal can be achieved generally using wet towels, applied on the forehead, but can be achieved also with baths.These methods are very useful for infants where drugs should be avoided. Do not use very cold water and avoid vasoconstriction that which reduces the effectiveness of heat loss.