Skin cancer cases are on the rise, this could be attributed to increase drive of the government in educating people with regards to awareness of early detection and treatment of skin cancer. Surgical removal of the suspected skin lesions are far the best treatment options. Specimen is send for histology, giving proper orientation to the whole lesion under the microscope and it removes the cancerous cells with adequate margin (including margin of healthy skin).
The following are practical advise to look after your wound:
- Keep the area dry after 24-48 hours, then you can have a shower but avoid soaking your wound not unless it healed.
-It is best to keep the wound without a dressing after 48 hours not unless you are intructed to do so. Surgical wound is a clean wound and exposing to the air can promote wound healing.
-Apply vaseline ointment 2x a day on the area , moist environment promotes wound healing. Remember to wash your hand before applying the ointment.
- If bleeding continues, apply a pressure on the area for 10-15 minutes. Place your hand and apply a gentle pressure, this helps to stop the bleeding. If persistent, see your health practitioner.
- avoid strenous exercise, heavy lifting, bending, flexing near the area, these can cause the wound to open.
-Take paracetamol for pain but avoid aspirin and brufen. These meds can aggravate bleeding because it reduce the blood to clot.
- If soreness persist, the areas are red and the wound secretes yellow to greenish exudates then most likely it is infected. See your health practitioner to treat it with antibiotics.
-See your nurse for removal of stitches as instructed.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Hair loss
Hair is one of the appendages of the skin. Healthy looking hair symbolises beauty and good health. There are a lot of my readers, perhaps at somepoint experience if not, have seen a friend with hair loss problem. Hair loss can be attributed to decrease growth of hair, increase shedding/falling, breakage of hair, and conversion of thick terminal hair to thin vellus hair.
Hair growth have cycles, starts from the growing phase----middle phase--- then the falling out phase. Each strand of hair grows 1cm per month, after 3-4 months, the resting phase or the falling out phase takes place and new hair grows to replace it. It is normal to have 50 or more hair to fall everyday, although excessive falling may occur as well.
What causes hair loss/ thinning?
1. Drug or medicines can cause hair loss. Blood thinners (Anticoagulants), drugs for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems meds, birth control pills, excessive Vit A, and anti-depresants. Replacing the drugs help to regain hair growth.
2. Children with fungal infections on the scalp may temporarily loss hair- treating the infection will alleviate hair loss.
3. Underlying illness like lupus, or diabetes
4. Thyroid gland- over active and under active thyroid glands can cause hair loss.
5. Hormonal inbalances- Androgen (male hormones), estrogen (female hormones). Correcting the hormone inbalance may stop your hair loss.
6. Stress from illness like fever, operation, wieght loss, after child birth can temporarily cause hair loss.
7. Iron deficiency.
8. Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), atopic dermatitis- can cause temporary hair loss.
9. Injury to the scalp may lead to scarring alopecia.
10. Genetic or most likely tendency to baldness due to genes inherited from your ancestors.
11. Age - 50 year old or above may icrease thinning of hair.
12. Trauma- includes tight curlers, certain hairstyles cause traction alopecia, hair dryer (broken hair shafts), perming solution/ bleach, and brushing too often.
Trichotillomania- is a disorder where there is repetitive pulling, plucking and breaking of one's hair. This type of individual needs mental hygiene (more appropriate words use now a days) assessment and help. At times, this is one way of seeking attention. Please consult your health practitioner.
Treatment is geared towards finding the cause of hair loss. Some individual may need to have diagnostic biopsy done- a portion of skin taken and examine under the microscope. although there is an over the counter remedy called Minoxidil (Rogaine) that can be used, it may take up to 6 months before result can be seen. Once treatment is discontinued, hair loss re-starts. If your hair loss causes anxiety and depression, please see your health practitioner for advice.
References:
1. Dermnetnz.org
2. Family Doctors.org
3. Bad.org.uk
Hair growth have cycles, starts from the growing phase----middle phase--- then the falling out phase. Each strand of hair grows 1cm per month, after 3-4 months, the resting phase or the falling out phase takes place and new hair grows to replace it. It is normal to have 50 or more hair to fall everyday, although excessive falling may occur as well.
What causes hair loss/ thinning?
1. Drug or medicines can cause hair loss. Blood thinners (Anticoagulants), drugs for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems meds, birth control pills, excessive Vit A, and anti-depresants. Replacing the drugs help to regain hair growth.
2. Children with fungal infections on the scalp may temporarily loss hair- treating the infection will alleviate hair loss.
3. Underlying illness like lupus, or diabetes
4. Thyroid gland- over active and under active thyroid glands can cause hair loss.
5. Hormonal inbalances- Androgen (male hormones), estrogen (female hormones). Correcting the hormone inbalance may stop your hair loss.
6. Stress from illness like fever, operation, wieght loss, after child birth can temporarily cause hair loss.
7. Iron deficiency.
8. Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), atopic dermatitis- can cause temporary hair loss.
9. Injury to the scalp may lead to scarring alopecia.
10. Genetic or most likely tendency to baldness due to genes inherited from your ancestors.
11. Age - 50 year old or above may icrease thinning of hair.
12. Trauma- includes tight curlers, certain hairstyles cause traction alopecia, hair dryer (broken hair shafts), perming solution/ bleach, and brushing too often.
Trichotillomania- is a disorder where there is repetitive pulling, plucking and breaking of one's hair. This type of individual needs mental hygiene (more appropriate words use now a days) assessment and help. At times, this is one way of seeking attention. Please consult your health practitioner.
Treatment is geared towards finding the cause of hair loss. Some individual may need to have diagnostic biopsy done- a portion of skin taken and examine under the microscope. although there is an over the counter remedy called Minoxidil (Rogaine) that can be used, it may take up to 6 months before result can be seen. Once treatment is discontinued, hair loss re-starts. If your hair loss causes anxiety and depression, please see your health practitioner for advice.
References:
1. Dermnetnz.org
2. Family Doctors.org
3. Bad.org.uk
Friday, February 05, 2010
Men's Vanity?
For the past months, I have been writing about skin diseases. I guess for a change, it is somewhat nice to debate about men being metrosexual. Is there such thing as vanity for men? I know there are some guys who are conscious about their looks and the way women appreciate their physical beauty not necessarily the masculinity.
Recently you have seen an increase marketing of men's product ranging from moisturisers to anti-ageing serum. The last one that I have seen today in the magazine, anti-ageing serum (50ml) for almost £500. That is totally rubbish, a waste of money. Famous brand advertise product with all these natural ingredients, which a normal homo-sapien eats and now produce it to be applied as night cream to reduce ageing. I'm not convince at all, a simple moisturiser that cost £1 will do the same tricks.
Men normally sweat a lot compare to women, this produces a natural sebum (oil) that helps to maintain a moist skin. Although, bacteria (normal flora) may thrive on these sebum and leads to chemical breakdown producing an end product that may not be pleasant to smell. Not to worry though, this smell signifies manliness and suppose to attract the opposite sex. Ha ha ha, it sounds weird, but in a modern world it is in fact unhygienic. Yes for the animal kingdom, it does the trick to attract mating.
Simple essentials are fine after all, men need good grooming and improve their confidence. Don't over do it and to my female readers, guide your husband or boyfriend.
Recently you have seen an increase marketing of men's product ranging from moisturisers to anti-ageing serum. The last one that I have seen today in the magazine, anti-ageing serum (50ml) for almost £500. That is totally rubbish, a waste of money. Famous brand advertise product with all these natural ingredients, which a normal homo-sapien eats and now produce it to be applied as night cream to reduce ageing. I'm not convince at all, a simple moisturiser that cost £1 will do the same tricks.
Men normally sweat a lot compare to women, this produces a natural sebum (oil) that helps to maintain a moist skin. Although, bacteria (normal flora) may thrive on these sebum and leads to chemical breakdown producing an end product that may not be pleasant to smell. Not to worry though, this smell signifies manliness and suppose to attract the opposite sex. Ha ha ha, it sounds weird, but in a modern world it is in fact unhygienic. Yes for the animal kingdom, it does the trick to attract mating.
Simple essentials are fine after all, men need good grooming and improve their confidence. Don't over do it and to my female readers, guide your husband or boyfriend.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Latex allergy
A friend has requested, for me to write about latex allergy. Natural latex rubber is a milky fluid obtained from the rubber tree (Havea Brasilieasis)mostly grown in South East Asia including the philippines. It is use in large number of products including glue, foam, gloves, catheters, condoms, balloons, toys, erasers, sports equipment, clothing, elastic bands, medical and dental equipment. Tell your health practitioner if you have latex allergy especially if you are recieving treatment from them, most hospital equipments are with latex component.
There are two types of allergy related to natural rubber latex, one is cause by natural latex proteins and the other is the chemicals use to convert it to the useable items. An example of these chemicals include thiurams, dithiocarbonates, mercaptobenzothiozoles(MBT). Allergic reactions to natural latex proteins are potentially life threatening, this is type I allergy (contact urticaria). Immediate symptoms includes urticaria (hives) at the site of contact with latex (hands-gloves, genital-condom), hayfever type symptoms, bronchial constriction(asthma) and breathing problems may occur. if your airway(breathing) is affected, this is an emergency situation and call for help as soon as possible. This reaction is manifested between 5-15 minutes after contact with latex product, or delayed for several hours. Symptoms can continue after latex contact had stopped.
Allergy to the chemical components of NRL is a type IV allergy (contact allergy) that is delayed type of reactions, 6-48 hours after exposure. It can cause a rash, itching and at times blisters. Contact allergy is not sensitivity to latex protein but rather to chemicals used in the manufacture of latex product. History taking and clinical examination can help with diagnosing latex allergy. There are some test that are use to help in confirming the diagnosis.
Patch test is use for contact dermatitis where a series of batteries (chemicals) are place in an alluminum chambers and applied on the person's back and left for 48 hours. Afterwards initial reading is done and repeated after 48 hours. Results are interpreted if the person is allergic or not to the test done.
Prick Test is done for person that are suspected to be allergic to the latex protein. The solution is prick into the intradermal part of the skin and the result is interpreted after 15-30 minutes. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) is a blood test to determine if the person is allergic to certain substances, it is not as accurate as the skin test but it needs to be correlated with the clinical symptoms.
If you are allergic to latex, then it needs to be avoided. Check the day to day products you use and warn your employer about your latex allergy. Topical steroids are used for contact allergy and contact urticaria with airway obstruction is treated as an emergency situation. Mild to moderate urticaria is treated with antihistamine. Please see your health practitioner if you suspect that you are allergic to latex.
There are two types of allergy related to natural rubber latex, one is cause by natural latex proteins and the other is the chemicals use to convert it to the useable items. An example of these chemicals include thiurams, dithiocarbonates, mercaptobenzothiozoles(MBT). Allergic reactions to natural latex proteins are potentially life threatening, this is type I allergy (contact urticaria). Immediate symptoms includes urticaria (hives) at the site of contact with latex (hands-gloves, genital-condom), hayfever type symptoms, bronchial constriction(asthma) and breathing problems may occur. if your airway(breathing) is affected, this is an emergency situation and call for help as soon as possible. This reaction is manifested between 5-15 minutes after contact with latex product, or delayed for several hours. Symptoms can continue after latex contact had stopped.
Allergy to the chemical components of NRL is a type IV allergy (contact allergy) that is delayed type of reactions, 6-48 hours after exposure. It can cause a rash, itching and at times blisters. Contact allergy is not sensitivity to latex protein but rather to chemicals used in the manufacture of latex product. History taking and clinical examination can help with diagnosing latex allergy. There are some test that are use to help in confirming the diagnosis.
Patch test is use for contact dermatitis where a series of batteries (chemicals) are place in an alluminum chambers and applied on the person's back and left for 48 hours. Afterwards initial reading is done and repeated after 48 hours. Results are interpreted if the person is allergic or not to the test done.
Prick Test is done for person that are suspected to be allergic to the latex protein. The solution is prick into the intradermal part of the skin and the result is interpreted after 15-30 minutes. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) is a blood test to determine if the person is allergic to certain substances, it is not as accurate as the skin test but it needs to be correlated with the clinical symptoms.
If you are allergic to latex, then it needs to be avoided. Check the day to day products you use and warn your employer about your latex allergy. Topical steroids are used for contact allergy and contact urticaria with airway obstruction is treated as an emergency situation. Mild to moderate urticaria is treated with antihistamine. Please see your health practitioner if you suspect that you are allergic to latex.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Headlice
There are a lot of school kids that are infected with headlice. This may sound simple infestation but if not treated properly, it can infect others including the family members. Headlice is common, it is a small parasitic insect that thrive only on human scalp. If someone is infected with headlice, it does not mean lack of hygiene, as a matter of fact it affects any socio-economic group wether rich or poor . It is more common in girls than boys.
The lice produce 6 eggs a day, cement thier eggs (nits) near to the scalp and hatch between 7-10 days. By ten days the remnants of hatch eggs are far from the scalp and can be visibly seen, if hair shafts are parted. They can live upto 40 days, lay more than 100 eggs, bites and feed on human blood. The saliva and faecal matter of the lice can irritate the scalp causing itchiness. The individual scratch the scalp, causing soreness with open wound. This leads to secondary bacterial infection (Impetigo).
The headlice are acquired by direct contact (head to head), when kids are playing. It takes 30 seconds to tranfer to the other scalp of an individual. The headlice are also acquired indirectly through shared hats, combs, and pillows. Confirmation of headlice is through direct examination of the scalp with good lighting, sometimes a magnifier can help.
It can be cured with the use of pediculicides, although resistance to this treatment has been documented. Physical methods is also useful, removing the lice and their eggs through repeated combing. It is easier if the hair is wet and use a fine toothed comb. The common pediculicides are MALATHION, SYNTHETIC PYRETHROIDS and CARBARYL. Follow the instruction as directed by your health practitioners, usually treatment are left for 12 hours before being washed off. To completely irradicate the headlice and nits, it requires 2 applications 7 days apart.
Your local pharmacist can be consulted for resistance cases in your locality and different pediculicide is usually recommended. Some health practitioners rotate the different treatment to prevent resistance to them. There are reported cases where kerosene is use to treat headlice, it is not recommended since it is a hazardous and higly flammable. The skin on the scalp can absorb the chemicals causing neurological problems. It is advisable to consult your health practitioner for best treatment.
The lice produce 6 eggs a day, cement thier eggs (nits) near to the scalp and hatch between 7-10 days. By ten days the remnants of hatch eggs are far from the scalp and can be visibly seen, if hair shafts are parted. They can live upto 40 days, lay more than 100 eggs, bites and feed on human blood. The saliva and faecal matter of the lice can irritate the scalp causing itchiness. The individual scratch the scalp, causing soreness with open wound. This leads to secondary bacterial infection (Impetigo).
The headlice are acquired by direct contact (head to head), when kids are playing. It takes 30 seconds to tranfer to the other scalp of an individual. The headlice are also acquired indirectly through shared hats, combs, and pillows. Confirmation of headlice is through direct examination of the scalp with good lighting, sometimes a magnifier can help.
It can be cured with the use of pediculicides, although resistance to this treatment has been documented. Physical methods is also useful, removing the lice and their eggs through repeated combing. It is easier if the hair is wet and use a fine toothed comb. The common pediculicides are MALATHION, SYNTHETIC PYRETHROIDS and CARBARYL. Follow the instruction as directed by your health practitioners, usually treatment are left for 12 hours before being washed off. To completely irradicate the headlice and nits, it requires 2 applications 7 days apart.
Your local pharmacist can be consulted for resistance cases in your locality and different pediculicide is usually recommended. Some health practitioners rotate the different treatment to prevent resistance to them. There are reported cases where kerosene is use to treat headlice, it is not recommended since it is a hazardous and higly flammable. The skin on the scalp can absorb the chemicals causing neurological problems. It is advisable to consult your health practitioner for best treatment.
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