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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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The fast changing patterns in cosmetic dermatology
Cavities in milk teeth
Beware of herb-medicine interactions
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The fast changing patterns in cosmetic dermatology
The beauty of the human body is difficult to define but it can easily be recognised in an instant. Higher cheekbones, a thinner jaw, larger eyes, shorter distance between the mouth and the chin and between the nose and the mouth are the features that add optimal attractiveness to a female face.
There has been consistent improvement in techniques concerning various cosmetic and dermatological problems during the last decade. Many procedures used for the treatment of baldness, blemishes, wrinkles and hirsutism (coarse facial hair in ladies) have undergone a change. First, the downtime of recovery has shortened to a great extent and, secondly, the risks involved in the surgeries and procedures have been minimised. Since the methods of treatment have become more precise and accurate, there has been a big reduction in the cost factor. A cursory glance at the fast changing patterns of cosmetic dermatology as well as cosmetic surgery will be beneficial. Baldness: The punch grafting procedure involved in transplantation of 4 mm grafts from the donor area to the recipient area resulted in paddy and doll hair. Then, follicular hair transplantation was introduced which focused on extracting a hairy strip from the scalp. This strip was then traversed under the microscope and follicular grafts were obtained. These grafts were then put into tiny slits and holes made on the bald frontal area. The results obtained by this method were, of course, satisfying but the donor area used to be bothersome, especially when the hair were short in length. To overcome the problem of donor area scars, a new technique of follicular unit extraction has been introduced. This method is quite popular because just 1mm-size punches are used to extract intact hair follicles from the donor area. There is negligible scarring at the donor area, whereas the results at the recipient area, whereas the results at the recipient area are excellent. The patients who do not have adequate donor hair but want to cover their baldness can go in for artificial hair implantation known as biofibres. Blemishes: The treatment originated from bleaching agents but evolved into chemical peeling. Fruit acids (glycolic acid) were used by dermatologists to clear the blemishes on the face. The results were good when adequate precautions were taken in the form of sunscreen usage and lesser exposure to sunlight. The power-peel and diamond-peel are two relatively newer techniques which are used for treating post-pimple (acne) scars. Both these techniques remove the superficial dead layers of the skin. Wrinkles: Facelift which used to be the only remedy for treating wrinkles has taken a back-seat, especially after the introduction of newer methods like botox and fillers. For dynamic wrinkles, botox is the gold standard and for static ones, filler injections are the treatment of choice. Hirsutism: Gone are the days of electrolysis when each and every hair root had to the destroyed with a tiny needle inserted into the hair follicle. This invariably led to small ice-pick scars. But with the advent of hair removing lasers, the situation has changed. Now the requirement is of six laser-sittings, at six-week intervals. This leads to permanent hair reduction, that too, without any side-effect like pigmentation, marks or scars. The writer is Chief Dermatologist, Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation,
Ludhiana
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Cavities in milk teeth
It is a joyous occasion in the family when a baby cuts its first tooth. This happens at approximately six months of age. A child gets 20 milk teeth by the time he is two and a half years of age. Dental cavities are the most common affliction in milk teeth. Children can develop cavities very early in life, as soon as the teeth start erupting. Early childhood dental caries is a fact and is known as ECC. Dental lesions on the teeth can vary from a few cavities to completely broken down milk dentition. It is frustrating for parents to discover cavities in their child’s teeth, because the child is too young to undertake dental treatment. Dentist has to resort to giving treatment under sleep-inducing medication so as not to cause psychological trauma. This pharmacologic method does not give sufficient time for lengthy dental procedures. General anaesthesia is required to obtain the total cooperation of the child, but it carries its own risks. Several studies have established that children with fewer carious lesions in primary teeth get fewer caries in their permanent teeth. How to prevent cavities?
After the ingestion of food — particularly food that contains sugar — bacterial action on the teeth leads to the production of acid which erodes tooth enamel. A microscopic cavity is produced. Many such attacks lead to a larger cavity visible to the naked eye. There is a need to restrict frequency of sugary items to thrice a day. Studies of dental caries have confirmed that individuals who take sugar or sugary items more than thrice a day have markedly more cavities in their teeth. Nature gives protection by repairing, thrice a day, the damage done by the acid on enamel. This process, done with the help of calcium and phosphorus present in the saliva, is known as re-mineralisation. The re-mineralising effect is enhanced if fluoride is provided by the regular use of fluoridated toothpaste. Do not let the child sleep with the milk bottle in the mouth, particularly if it contains sweetened milk.
Use fluoride toothpaste
Use fluoridated toothpaste only after your child learns to spit toothpaste out — as opposed to swallowing it — during brushing. On an average, a child of 3-4 years ingests 30 per cent of toothpaste during brushing.
Don’t transmit bacteria
If there are no bacteria in the mouth, there will be no caries. When the child is born, there are no bacteria in its mouth. These gain entrance in the mouth through sharing of utensils with the child and the mother, father or any care-giver. Spoon-sharing is the most evident culprit. Cleaning the pacifier by licking and passing it on to the child is a common source of transmitting infection to the child. Hence, don’t share your food and utensils with your child so that your caries-producing bacteria are not transmitted to the child. Maintain your own oral hygiene to reduce your own microbiological load and lessen the risk of transmitting caries-producing bacteria to the child. The writer is Professor, Oral Health Sciences Centre, PGI, Chandigarh.Email: chawlahs
@gmail.com
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Beware of herb-medicine interactions
Reports in medical journals suggest that many people are taking herbal and allopathic drugs concurrently, raising questions about the efficacy and safety of allopathic drugs. Hypoglycemia is a known adverse effect of anti-diabetic drugs. In one diabetic patient, hypoglycemia has been reported even with the use of minimal dose of anti- diabetic drug, chlorpropamide. Proper history revealed that the patient was taking “karela” juice as self-treatment concurrently with chlorpropamide . Hypoglycemic action of “karela” has been confirmed on review of literature and this interaction was due to additive action of karela and chlorpropamide. The other herbs which have known anti-diabetic action and can also interact with anti-diabetic drugs include jamun, fenugreek seeds (methi), vijayasar, tulsi, holybasil, chirayata, guargum, isapgula husk, aloevera etc. Isapgula husk is a known household remedy for diverse bowel disorders. In a clinical study, the chronic use of this agent in adolescent girls produced a reduction in the plasma levels of iron and calcium, by promoting their urinary excretion. In two epileptic patients, an unexpected loss of seizure control accompanied by a reduction in the plasma phenytoin levels was observed. Liquorice (mulethi) is a common household remedy for cough, fever, sore throat etc. The chronic overuse of this herb has been reported to produce hypertension, heart failure, edema and hypokalemia and these disorders were reversible. Co-administration of this herb can cause therapeutic failure of drug therapy in hypertension, heart failure and edema. The other agent which can also interact with the drug therapy of these disorders is digestive powder or Churna, as it is rich in salt. Garlic, ginseng and ginkgobiloba are also widely used herbs and their common adverse effect is bleeding. Bleeding in anterior chamber of eye has been reported with co-administration of ginkgobiloba in a patient on low dose aspirin. It is imperative for the physicians to take measures like enquiring patients about the use of herbs while making a diagnosis and advise patients to avoid their concurrent self-use with the prescribed allopathic drugs. The writer is Professor & Head, Department of Pharmacology, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar |
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Daily use of talcum powder
raises cancer risk in women
According to researchers, powder particles applied to the private parts may travel to the ovaries and trigger a process of inflammation that allows cancer cells to flourish. To reach the conclusion, experts from Harvard Medical School in Boston studied more than 3,000 women, reports The Daily Mail. They discovered using talc just once a week raised the risk of cancer by 36 per cent, rising to 41 per cent for those applying powder every day. The study also revealed that the risks were greater still for those with a certain genetic profile. Talc is made from a soft mineral called hydrous magnesium silicate, which is found throughout the world. It is crushed, dried and milled to produce powder used in cosmetic products by millions. Some experts say it has chemical similarities to asbestos, which can cause a deadly form of lung cancer. — ANI
Faith in God can relieve pain
LONDON: They say heartfelt prayers provide peace to a disturbed mind and even, sometimes, make our wishes come true. Now, the belief has been scientifically backed, for according to Oxford University, faith in God really can relieve pain. In a rather bizarre experiment, experts at The Oxford Centre For Science Of The Mind “tortured” 12 Roman Catholics and 12 atheists with electric shocks as they studied a painting of the Virgin Mary. From the analysis, the team found that the Catholics seemed to be able to block out much of the pain. They also discovered that the Catholics were able to activate part of the brain associated with conditioning the experience of pain, reports The Daily Mail. — ANI
Main source of food poisoning
WASHINGTON: Researchers from Lancashire, England, and Chicago, IL, have discovered that animals farmed for meat are the main source of bacteria for food poisoning. They suggested that 97 per cent of the food borne illnesses are caused by bacteria typically found in chicken and livestock. While studying campylobacteriosis cases, the research team found that 97 per cent of the cases in Lancashire, UK, were caused by bacteria typically found in chicken and livestock. The study was based on DNA-sequence comparison of thousands of bacteria collected from human patients and animal carriers. — ANI
Of dieting and gaining weight
WASHINGTON: Women who diet prior to becoming pregnant tend to gain more weight during pregnancy, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina. The study involving over 1,200 women showed that those dieting are prone to excessive gestational weight gain. The researchers note that excessive gestational weight gain “is of concern because of its association with postpartum weight retention” and other “adverse pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes mellitus, cesarean sections, large-for-gestational age, and breastfeeding duration.” “With the exception of underweight women, all other women with a history of dieting or restrained eating gained more weight during pregnancy and had higher adequacy of weight gain ratios,” the researchers found. — ANI
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LONDON: It might come handy while freshening faces, but according to a new shocking research, women who use talcum powder every day are 40 per cent more likely to develop ovarian cancer.