Beauty Corner : How to Deal with Dry Skin ?

Dry skin is often temporary (depend on the weather) but it may be a lifelong condition. The severity of dry skin depend on your age, your health, where you live, time spent outdoors and the cause of the problem. If you have dry skin, you may feel one or more of the following condition :

• A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
• Skin that feels and looks rough
• Itching 
• Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
• Fine lines or cracks
• Gray, ashy skin
• Redness
• Deep cracks that may bleed

Risk Factor for Dry Skin

Everyone can have dry skin. You might have naturally dry skin. Even if your skin tends to be oily, you can develop dry skin from time to time. But there are some factors that might increase your chance to develop dry skin, such as : 

• Age. Older adults are more likely to develop dry skin. As you age, your pores naturally produce less oil, raising your risk of dry skin.
• Medical history. You’re more likely to experience eczema or allergic contact dermatitis if you have a history of these conditions or other allergic diseases in your family.
• Season. Dry skin is more common during the fall and winter months, when humidity levels are relatively low. In the summer, higher levels of humidity help stop your skin from drying out.
• Bathing habits. Taking frequent baths or washing with very hot water raises your risk of dry skin.

Can dry skin lead to serious skin problem ?

Dry skin is usually harmless. But when it's not cared for, dry skin may lead to:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema). If you're prone to develop this condition, excessive dryness can lead to activation of the disease, causing redness, cracking and inflammation.
• Infections. Dry skin may crack, allowing bacteria to enter, causing infections.

These complications are most likely to occur when your skin's normal protective mechanisms are severely compromised. For example, severely dry skin can cause deep cracks or fissures, which can open and bleed, providing an avenue for invading bacteria.

So, what should I do to deal with dry skin?

• Prevent baths and showers from making dry skin worse. When your skin is dry, be sure to:
• Close the bathroom door
• Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5 or 10 minutes
• Use warm rather than hot water
• Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
• Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but avoid using so much that you see a thick lather
• Blot your skin gently dry with a towel
• Slather on the moisturizer immediately after drying your skin

• Apply moisturizer immediately after washing. Ointments, creams, and lotions (moisturizers) work by trapping existing moisture in your skin. To trap this much-needed moisture, you need to apply a moisturizer within few minutes of:

• Drying off after a shower or bath
• Washing your face or hands
• Use an ointment or cream rather than a lotion. Ointments and creams are more effective and less irritating than lotions. Look for a cream or ointment that contains an oil such as olive oil or jojoba oil. Shea butter also works well. Other ingredients that help to soothe dry skin include lactic acid, urea, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, glycerin, lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
• Wear lip balm. Choose a lip balm that feels good on your lips

• Use only gentle, unscented skin care products. Some skin care products are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. When your skin is dry, stop using:

• Deodorant soaps
• Skin care products that contain alcohol, fragrance, retinoids, or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA)
• Wear gloves.
• Use non-irritating laundry detergent.
• Stay warm without cozying up to a fireplace or other heat source. Sitting in front of an open flame or other heat source can dry your skin.
• Add moisture to the air. Plug in a humidifier.
• Drink plenty of water

Reference :

www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin

www.healthline.com/health/dry-skin#treatment

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885

Difference Between Vitiligo and Pityiriasis alba

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an idiopathic disorder characterized by the disappearance of melanocytes in lesional skin resulting in sharply demarcated depigmented macules and patches ( get bigger with time ). Although often fairly distinct clinically, the differential diagnosis includes postinflammatory hypopigmentation, tinea versicolor, pityriasis alba, and, less commonly, hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (MF) and leprosy, among other entities. 

Vitiligo can appear in any age (usually starts at twenties) and any area of the body. About 15 to 25 percent of people with vitiligo are also affected by at least one other autoimmune disorder, such as Hashimoto's disease , Rheumatiod arthritis, Type 1 diabetes meliitus, psoriasis, Addison disease, or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In the absence of  autoimmune conditions, vitiligo does not affect general health or physical functioning.

Pityriasis Alba

Pityriasis alba (PA) is an eczematous dermatosis characterized by patchy hypopigmentation. It is usually seen in children, although it may occur in all skin types. It usually worsens during the summer, as the contrast between normal and lesional skin becomes greater with sun exposure. Lesions are usually asymptomatic, although they can be slightly pruritic.

Lesion reveals multiple, ill-defined, finely scaling patches that are symmetrically distributed. Lesions are most commonly found on the face (especially the cheeks). They may be slightly erythematous early on, then become hypopigmented. Lesions may persist for months to years, with a chronic relapsing course, but eventually resolve spontaneously without any medication.

Reference 

Soro, L. A. et al., 2013,'Inflammatory vitiligo versus hypopigmented mycosis fungoides in a 58-year-old Indian female', Indian Dermatol Online J, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 321-325.

www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/pityriasis-alba/ (July 21, 2020, 20:21). 

Tinea Cruris

Dermatophytes are fungi that invade and multiply within keratinized tissues (skin, hair, and nails) causing infection. Dermatophytes can be classified into three groups: Trichophyton (which causes infections on skin, hair, and nails), epidermophyton (which causes infections on skin and nails), and Microsporum (which causes infections on skin and hair). Based upon the affected site, these have been classified clinically into tinea capitis (head), tinea faciei (face), tinea barbae (beard), tinea corporis (body), tinea manus (hand), tinea cruris (groin), tinea pedis (foot), and tinea unguium (nail). Trichophyton is the most common isolate with tinea corporis and cruris. 

Occlusive footwear and tight fashioned clothes, has been linked to this infection. However, all people are not equally susceptible to fungal infection, even when they have similar risk factors. There is evidence of familial or genetic predispositions that could be mediated by specific defects in innate and adaptive immunity.  Impaired function of Th17 cells leading decreased production of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-22 (key cytokine in clearing mucocutaneous fungal infection) results in persistence of infection.

The predisposition factors of infection are underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus, lymphomas, immunocompromised status, or Cushing's syndrome, older age, which could produce severe, widespread, or recalcitrant dermatophytosis. The areas of the body are more susceptible to the development of dermatophyte infections such as intertriginous areas (web spaces and groins) where excess sweating, maceration, and alkaline pH favor the growth of the fungus.

Treatment

Non-pharmacology

1. Wear loose-fitting garments made of cotton or synthetic materials designed to wick moisture away from the surface.
2. Areas likely to become infected should be dried completely before being covered with clothes. 
3. Avoid walking barefoot and sharing garments.

Pharmacology

A meta-analysis by Rotta et al.(2013) shows topical antifungals for the outcome of fungal cure showed butenafine and terbinafine each to be superior to clotrimazole, oxiconazole, and sertaconazole; terbinafine to be superior to ciclopirox, and naftifine to be superior to oxiconazole.

Cochrane review by El-Gohary, M. et al. (2014), on the topical antifungal treatments for tinea cruris and tinea corporis suggests that the individual treatments with terbinafine and naftifine are effective with few adverse effects. Other topical antifungals like azoles treatments are also effective in terms of clinical and mycological cure rates. Regarding combinations therapy of topical steroids and antifungals though there is no standard guideline. Topical antifungal are usually given once or twice daily for 2–4 weeks. 

Reference

El-Gohary, M. et al., 2014,' Topical antifungal treatments for tinea cruris and tinea corporis', Cochrane Database Syst Rev., vol. 8. 

Rotta, I. et al., 2013,'Efficacy of topical antifungals in the treatment of dermatophytosis: A mixed-treatment comparison meta-analysis involving 14 treatments', JAMA Dermatol., vol. 149, no.-, pp. 341–9. 

Sahoo, A. K. & Mahajan, R., 2016,'Management of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis: A comprehensive review', Indian Dermatol Online J., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 77–86.

Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff

Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) and dandruff are common dermatological problems. It is estimated that SD and dandruff combined affect half of the adult population. However their etiology is not well understood. The skin changes are thought to result from an inflammatory response to a common skin organism, Malassezia yeast. 

In infants up to three months of age (42%), SD involves the scalp (termed “cradle cap”), the face, and diaper area. In adolescents and adults (1-3%), SD affects the scalp and other seborrheic areas on the face, upper-chest, axillae, and inguinal folds.Men are affected more frequently than women (3.0% vs. 2.6%) in all age groups, suggesting that SD may be associated with sex hormones such as androgens.

SD is more prevalent in immune-compromised patients such as HIV/AIDS (30-83%), organ transplant, and lymphoma. Most cases of SD in HIV patients are diagnosed with CD4+ T lymphocyte counts between 200 and 500/mm3. These observations suggest that immunological defects may play a role in SD.

SD is also associated with neurological disorders and psychiatric diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, neuroleptic induced parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, facial nerve palsy, spinal cord injury and mood depression, chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, hepatitis C virus , and in patients with congenital disorders such as Down syndrome. 

Comparing with SD, dandruff is much more common, and affects approximately 50% of the general adult population worldwide( males > females). Dandruff starts at puberty, reaches peak incidence and severity at the age of about 20 years, and becomes less prevalent among people over 50. Incidence varies between different ethnic groups: in a study in the U.S. and China, dandruff prevalence was 81–95% in African Americans, 66–82% in Caucasians, and 30–42% in Chinese.

 (Borda, L. and Wikramanayake, T., 2015)

Reference 

Borda, L. and Wikramanayake, T., 2015,' Borda, L. and Wikramanayake, T., 2015) ', J Clin Investig Dermatol., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 10.

Clark, G. et al., 2015,' Diagnosis and Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis ', Am Fam Physician., vol. 91, no. 3, pp. 185-190.

Beauty Corner : Best Food for Healthy Skin

Having healthy skin is very important to everyone especially for women. Who does'nt want glowing, youthful, and clear skin?  Because healthy skin very important, many people spending their money to buy skincare products, right ? But, people often forget that nutrition to have beautiful skin not only comes from the outside, but also from the inside. Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Remember the term "you are what you eat"? Actually, your skin naturally reflects your body's internal needs, including what nutrients it requires. If your diet is lacking key vitamins, it is likely that your skin will start to show this. It may look discoloured, dry and spots can start to appear.

Food that good for skin

Zinc is very important for maintaining healthy skin, especially for acne sufferers. The skin contains about 20% of the body’s zinc, if the skin is lacking in this, acne is often a symptom. Foods rich in zinc:

• fish/seafood
• eggs
• whole grains.

If you’re suffering inflamed or dry skin, upping your intake of essential fatty acids may help. EFAs contribute to the moisture of our skin and also help to repair it. The body can't produce these, so they are an essential part of your diet. Foods rich in EFAs:

• salmon
• nuts and seeds
• vegetable oils.

Selenium is a mineral that helps the skin maintain its elasticity and firmness. The mineral has also been found to help reduce sun damage. Foods rich in selenium:

• whole grains
• meat
• garlic.

Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that converts into vitamin A in the body, helping to grow and repair body tissues. It is thought that beta-carotene can help prevent premature ageing as it helps to reduce environmental damage. Foods rich in beta-carotene:

• carrots
• sweet potato
• apricots.

On the other side, some foods seem to be associated with skin damage. For example, some research suggests that a diet high in processed or refined sugars or other carbohydrates and unhealthy fats promotes skin aging.

Remember, best food for skin is also promote our health overall. So, rather than focusing on specific foods for healthy skin, concentrate on a healthy diet in general. Weight loss alone is not the goal. Weight loss alone may not improve acne or reduce the risk of CVD or cancer. The goal, rather, should be healthy eating patterns.

Reference :

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/healthy-skin/faq-20058184

https://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/skin-health.html#healthyeatingisyourdietdamagingyourskin

 Katta, R, Desai, S.P., 2014, Diet and Dermatology: The Role of Dietary Intervention in Skin Disease, J Clin Aesthetic Dermatology, vol. 7, no.7, pp 46-51

Beauty Corner : How To Deal With Oily Face?

Everyone has oil in their skin. Natural oil that produced by sebaceous gland helps preserve the skin.So actually oil is really good for our skin. But,  excess oil in your face gonna give you shiny appearance. If you don’t treat you oily skin, pores can become clogged and enlarged, and dead skin cells may accumulate. Blackheads, pimples and acne are very common with this skin type.

Why Can I Have Oily Face ?

Actually there are many factors to cause oily face. They could be genetic, hormone level, environment, wrong skin care, and lifestyle. So it's really important to identify the underlying causes. 

How to Deal with Oily Face?

Based on American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there are 10 do's and don'ts to help control oily skin. 

1. DO wash your face every morning, evening, and after exercise. While washing, resist the temptation to scrub your skin, even to remove makeup. Scrubbing will irritate your skin.

2. DO choose skin care products that are labeled “oil free” and “noncomedogenic.” This means that products that have these labels — including cleansers, moisturizers and makeup — won’t clog your pores or cause acne.

3. DO use a gentle, foaming face wash. Using a face wash that is too harsh can irritate your skin and trigger increased oil production. Instead, look for a mild, gentle face wash.

4. DON’T use oil-based or alcohol-based cleansers. These can irritate your skin.

5. DO apply moisturizer daily. Although you have oily skin, it is still important to apply moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. To save time and protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, look for a moisturizer that also contains a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

6. DO wear sunscreen outdoors. Sunscreen helps prevent sun damage that could lead to wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. To prevent acne breakouts, look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and do not use sunscreens that contain fragrance or oils.

7. DO choose oil-free, water-based makeup.

8. DON’T sleep in your makeup. Always remove all makeup before going to sleep.

9. DO use blotting papers throughout the day. Gently press the paper against your face and leave it on for a few seconds to absorb the oil. Don’t rub the paper on your face, as this will spread the oil to other areas.

10. DON’T touch your face throughout the day. Only touch your face when you’re cleansing, moisturizing or applying sunscreen or makeup, and make sure your hands are clean first.

Note : 

Oily skin is complex . It’s  possible to have more than one cause of oily skin. So, I suggest, beside doing skin care, please pay attention to your lifestyle as well. Having good eating habits is also important factor to have healthy skin. (I will post about this topic later). Last but not least, once you’ve come up with your oily skin action plan, you’ll need to give it some time to work. Be patient! Sometimes it take a month until two months to see the major improvements.

Reference : 

www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/oily-ski

www.healthline.com/health/oily-skin-causes

nowmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/oily-skin-1024x1024.jpg (pic)

Difference Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two distinct gastrointestinal disorders, eventhough the differences between the them can be confusing for many people.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

IBS is also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colitis. IBS is a group of intestinal symptoms that typically occur together. The symptoms  last at least three months for at least three days per month.

The risk of developing IBS was double for person with anxiety and depression.

IBS pain may feel like cramping. With this cramping, you will also have at least two of the following experiences:

1. some relief of pain after a bowel movement
2. a change in how often you have a bowel movement
3. changes in the way your stools look

There is no cure for IBS. Treatment is aimed at symptom relief. 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 

IBD is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

Reference

Sibelli, A. et al., 2016,'A systematic review with meta-analysis of the role of anxiety and depression in irritable bowel syndrome onset', Journal of Psychological Medicine, pp. 1-16.

www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm#:~:text=Inflammatory%20bowel%20disease%20(IBD)%20is,the%20gastrointestinal%20(GI)www.researchgate.net/figure/Comparision-of-Crohns-disease-vs-ulcerative-colitis_tbl1_267572261

www.celgene.com/ulcerative-colitis-chrons-different-strategies/

www.healthline.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome