Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Skin disorders are quite common in adults. Because they are often visible, on the face or hands for example, sufferers may be very self-conscious or even embarrassed about them. Nearly all of the population gets some sort of skin, hair or nail disorder at some time in their lives. Most of these are not serious and certainly most are treatable. They are not things you must simply ‘learn to live with’.Adult acne is becoming increasingly common in women, with many continuing to have blemishes into their thirties and forties. The exact cause for this is not known, although there are several possibilities.Some women have true ‘hormonal acne’ which is associated with premenstrual pimples and irregular periods, and occasionally with excessive facial hair. Hormonal acne responds well to Aldactone and Androcur. These drugs work against excessive production of male-type hormones.In other women acne is caused by excessive use of moisturizing cosmetics. Usually, women in their twenties start becoming aware of skin care products, and spend their hard-earned pennies on various cleansers, moisturizers, anti-age creams and night creams, only to find that blemishes appear for the first time. Once they stop using such creams their skin tends to improve dramatically. For these women, correct skin care advice (away from department stores) is essential.Stress may be another contributing factor. Many women today find themselves working not only in paid employment, but bringing up children and running a household as well. Stress is thus an escalating factor in most women’s lives and it is not surprising that acne can be a manifestation of this.
*32/150/5*

Comments (0) Jun 21 2011

An itch is one of the commonest complaints relating to the skin. Frequently it is unaccompanied by any visible causative disease. Although everyone knows what an itch is, it is nevertheless difficult to define. The most widely accepted definition might be: ‘that unpleasant sensation which provokes the desire to scratch. Itching is an important symptom of many diseases of the skin, and also of internal disorders. It also warrants attention because of the further damage to the skin that would be caused by continued scratching.

Although itching has been extensively studied, its causes are ill understood. However any discussion of itching must refer to the physiology, so that the limitations of treatment may be understood. Itching, then, is a disagreeable sensation produced by the action of stimuli of a harmful nature on the skin surface. It is a signal of actual or potential danger to the skin. The purpose of the reflex action of scratching is to remove the causative agent from the body surface.

It is thought that a wide variety of stimuli and noxious agents may liberate chemicals in the skin which then act on peripheral nerves, eliciting the itch sensation. These chemicals include histamine, bradykine, protease, and prostaglandins. Throughout the skin there are many itch receptors. On the forearm these points lie approximately one millimetre apart. However they are more closely set in areas about orifices such as the mouth or anus. The small skin nerves then carry the impulses to the spinal cord, from where they are transmitted via the pain fibres to the brain. It is not yet understood how scratching relieves itching, but possibly it disturbs the rhythm of the impulses travelling towards the spinal cord. Scratching may also simply damage the nerve fibres which are conveying the itch.

Possible causes of itching.

1. Physical and chemical spicules, e.g. fibre glass, wool, detergent, proteases, e.g. nettles, Rhus tree drugs, e.g. opiates, quinidine.

2. Skin diseases Obvious e.g. eczema, tinea, bites. Not obvious e.g. scabies, hives, winter itch, parasitophobia.

3. Internal diseases or conditions.

Metabolic disorders, e.g. diabetes, thyroid disorders, liver disorders, kidney disorders, blood disorders, pregnancy, cancer, parasitic infestation iron deficiency.

4. Psychological disorders. Primary, secondary.

*90\44\4*

Comments (0) May 08 2009