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Know Your Diseases
ACNE
Most commonly known as Pimples. The most common skin disorder. Most of the individual, male or female experience some degree of Acne between the age of 12 to 30 years. It's most active in 15-25 years age group.
Acne is an inflammatory disorder of Pilosebaceous unit. Acne can be of various severity - Comedone- white or black, Papules, Pustules, Nodulocystic. Acne are most commonly seen over face, chest, arms, back, also on buttocks & thighs.
Hormones, heredity, stress, certain drugs can aggravate acne. Use of on counter available creams which often contains steroid, cosmetics, self medication, etc. worsens the problem.
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Time has changed.Once upon a time acne was not considered as major problem. Now a days each and every youngster is conscious about his/her look. In sensitive persons it reduces the self confidence, increases anger & frustration, social withdrawl & decreased self esteem.
It can be successfully treated with various antibiotics & creams. Peels, Lasers can be added to reduce the treatment period & get faster result. It helps in treating the complications like pigmentation & scars. It is very essential to get acne treated as early as possible to avoid scars and pigmentation on face. Generally it take around 2-3 months to get satisfactory control. Relapse can occur because of so many reasons. Proper cleansing, balanced diet, regular life style, can help preventing frequent relapses.
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PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is one of the diseases in which patient is having so many misbeliefs. It is not at all a killer disease. It can be successfully treated by so many modalities.
It is a common skin disorder seen in any age group of patients. Most commonly seen in 3rd & 4th decade of life. Familial cases are seen in very small no. of patients.
It is characterised by silvery scales on pink/red skin any where in body, including scalp, extremities, trunk, joint area, palms & soles. There are various types of Psoriasis i.e. Ps Vulgaris, Guttete, Elephantine, Palmoplanter, Pustular, Flexural, Erythrodermic, etc. Psoriasis involves joints sometimes.
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It is aggravated in winter commonly. Obesity, Stress, Smoking, Alcohol, Trauma, Certain drugs, Infection are the other aggravating factors. Avoidance of triggering factors helps in preventing relapses.
Psoriasis can be successfully treated with emollients, keratolytic agents, photo therapy, anti metabolite drugs, biologics, etc.
Be positive and you can live a healthy life with psoriasis in remission.
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ECZEMA
When a consultant examines & tells the diagnosis to the patient that - Its Eczema... Patient gets so frightened & scared like he is having cancer which is never going to get cured.. It is a misbelief. Eczema can be treated & cured with treatment. Like any other disease, it can also come again sometime. Negligence to keep the area moist after cure & not keen on avoiding predisposing factors are also the reasons for relapse of the disease.
Eczema is one of the common skin problem. It is a clinical pattern of inflammation of skin. Eczema can be intrinsic (endogenous) or extrinsic (exogenous). Climate, individual susceptibility, heredity, atopy, barrier functions of the skin are the affecting factor in intrinsic eczema.
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Where as, sun light, plastic, pvc, certain metals, cement, lime, cosmetics, detergents, medical tapes, chemicals, pollons, soaps, etc. are the affecting factors in extrinsic eczema. There are so many types of eczema, i.e. are Asteotic, Discoid, Infantile, photo ds, Allergy contact, Psoriasiform, Housewives' dermatitis, Infective, Seborrhoeic, Stasis, etc. Self medication, steroid, improper topical cream suggested by friends, relatives or chemists can worsen the condition. Anxiety, over scratching, diabetes, thyroid, other medications are also influencing factors.
Its like a part of your house is damaged. Our skin will also take time to regenerate. Proper diagnosis & treatment can give you relief from the disease. Proper after care & avoidance of precipitating factors can give you freedom from the disease.
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HAIR LOSS
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Everyone, particularly females are much worried for their & their childrens' hair loss.
Hair loss can be in the form of diffuse, alopecia or balding. Diffuse hair loss and alopecia areata can occur at any age. Androgenic alopecia can start at any age after the adrenarche.
In children, wrong dietary habits, junk food, vitamin deficiency plays the major role for hair loss & premature greying of hair.
In young age group same food habits, hormonal influence, nutritional deficiency are affecting factors.
Hormonal effect is the main reason in addition to above factors, in adults & elder age group. Side effect of different medicines can also be a reason.
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Alopecia areata is a patchy hair loss over scalp, beard or moustache area of unknown origin. Patches can be more than one.
Most of the hair fall can be successfully treated. Finding out the cause & proper management gives satisfactory results. Balanced diet is one of the key factor. Androgenic alopecia requires a long time management & care. Avoidance of harsh shampoos benefits in maintaining better quality of hairs.
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BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
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Skin is a barrier for us to protect from various environmental infections. Any disruption in this function can give rise to infection.
There are so many types of bacteria which can give rise to infective menifestations over skin. Infants and children are more susceptible. Diabetes, dermatoses, low immunity, obesity, living in unhygienic conditions, certain drugs, nutritional deficiencies, humidity, climate are the contributing factors in adults. |
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Recurrent boils for months & months is a commonly seen scenario. Youth staying in hostels, lack of proper hygiene, skin tight clothings & jeans, frequent travelling, self medication, incomplete course or wrong choice of antibiotics are the affecting factors.
Bacterial infection can be treated satisfactorily with full course of appropriate antibiotics, personal hygiene & prevention of infection to others. Bathing, hand wash, selection of clothes according to the climate, care of other illness, awareness are the preventive measures
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FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Fungal infection has become the most common & resistant condition for last 2 years. Previously it was a simple infection to treat which has now turned out to be a tough one. In past, it was not that contagious. Now, if one person is affected and if he/she is not isolated from the initial days, there are full chances of infecting all other family members.
We live in hot & humid climate at most instances. Poor sanitary measures, overcrowding, over perspiration, poor hygiene, water pools, skin tight clothings, Unwashed Jeans, Shared Clothes with friends or family members, etc. are the responsible factors.
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Self medication in form of on counter available or suggested by unqualified persons in form of potent steroid containing creams give temporary relief, but end up with severe & serious complications at the affected area. Usage of topical cream for long term has worsens the management & developed resistance to the standard drugs.
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Fungal infections commonly known as ring worm infection, coz of its ring like distribution over skin. It is caused by dermatophytes. It can affect any part of the body, most common is groin. Scalp, face, abdomen, back, extremities, palms, soles & nails can be affected.
Your ignored small problem may lead to social isolation in future. Early diagnosis, proper isolation by linens & prompt treatment are the main stay of treatment. All family members must be treated at a time to prevent cross reinfection. Discontinuation and self medication without physician's advice are the main causes for relapse of the disease. |
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VIRAL INFECTIONS
There are so many kind of viruses that cause different type of viral infections in the skin & other organs. Commonly seen viral infections are - Measles, Chicken pox, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster, Herpes Genitalis, Molluscum Contagiosum, Warts, Planter Warts, Genital Warts, Cowpox, Hand Foot & Mouth disease, HIV, etc.
Some viral infections are self-limiting. But, to prevent any secondary complications, they must be treated accordingly. Various anti viral drugs are available to treat different conditions. Early diagnosis & proper management not only cures the disease, but also prevent from other complications.
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Molluscum, Warts, if not treated in early stage properly, can spread to other parts of the body. Widely spreaded warts take a difficult course then to get treated. Immuno deficiency, diabetes, Immuno suppressant drugs are the aggravating factors.
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URTICARIA
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Urticaria is a common disease with many different presentations, experienced by so many at some time in life. Commonly it is known as Allergy. In some regions, known as "Shilas", "Pitti", some where as "Dhrapad".
In urticarial, generally itching is followed by erythematous, pale to pink weals - raised areas in skin often with red flare. It can occur anywhere in body. In dermographism a linear elevation of skin occurs even from stroking. In agiooedema, swelling of eyes and or lips occurs.
It is classified by duration & clinical features. By duration it is acute or chronic. Generally upto 6 weeks, it is considered as Acute & if the duration is more than 6 weeks, it is called Chronic Urticaria. |
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By clinical features there are so many types of urticaria : Angio oedema, Dermographism, Solar, Contact, Cold, Cholinergic, Pressure, Aquagenic, Papular, Anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxix can be sometime life threatening.
Urticaria can occur becoz of drugs, food or any kind of infection. Any medicines for pain, blood pressure, cardiac problem, diarrhoea, etc can give rise to urticaria. Outside food, sour food, fermented food, artificial color, preservatives, any kind of infection are the precipitating factors. It can be also associated with other systemic diseases.
Urticaria can be idiopathic - without any specific reason or can be due to drugs, food or infection so often. Any medicines for pain, blood pressure, cardiac problem, diarrhoea, etc can give rise to urticaria. Outside food, sour food, fermented food, artificial color, preservatives are the precipitating factors. It can be also associated with other systemic diseases.
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VITILIGO
Vitiligo commonly known as white patches. A burning cosmetic problem. It does not affect your general health at any point. But the social stigma is the main issue for all.
It affects all races. 1% of the population is affected. In India, Gujarat, Maharashtra having the maximum no of patients. Few patients have positive family history. In 50% of cases, it starts before the age of 20 years.
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Varing number of white patches occur anywhere in body without any other complain. It gradually spreads. Sometimes spreads very fast. It can be associated with diabetes, thyroid or any other autoimmune disease.
It is not at all contagious. Not necessary it will run in family. It does not affect your physical health by any means.
Early detection and proper management gives the best results. Stress aggravates the condition. Positive attitude helps to give better results. |
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