PIMPLES

PIMPLES (acne, skin problems)

Acne or pimples is the inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous (oil) glands in the face and also in the scalp, neck, chest and back. Pimples start at puberty, and are characterized by small red bumps on the skin and, sometimes, large cysts or nodules. Pimples cannot be cured, but it gradually clears up after adolescence. Acne runs in families and is more common in men than women.

Symptoms

• Painful red pimples that are sometimes filled with pus on the face and, in some cases, on the back, chest, neck, and scalp.
• Painless black bumps (pimples).
• Cysts.
• Nodules.

Causes

Not yet fully known, but attributed to the blockage of hair follicles and the sebaceous glands by plugs of oil (sebum). Bacteria in the plug multiply and cause the collection of pus in the pimples. Pimple is associated with:

• Increased production of androgen (male sex hormone). At puberty, the levels of androgen in both men and women go up, simulating the production of oil (sebum).
• Heredity.
• Menstruation, in women.
• Stress.
• Certain medicine (e.g., corticosteroids), which simulates sebum production.
• Exposure to grease (e.g., fast food cooks, mechanics), which may block hair follicles.

What you can do

• Apply anti acne cream. Do not squeeze a pimple, as scarring can occur.
• Wash your face twice a day to get rid of debris which could cause acne infection.
• If you use cosmetics, choose water-based not oil based cosmetics. Use clay masks which remove excessive oil.
• Expose yourself to sunlight.
• Avoid stress.
• Consult a doctor if the acne is severe or scarring occur.

What your doctor can do for you

• Prescribe anti-acne cream.
• Prescribe and supervise appropriate acne treatment. Acne treatment involves appropriate washes, lotions, creams and oral tablets including antibiotics hormones, and retinoids. Acne treatment can:

1. Prevent scarring.
2. Clear the acne.
3. Reduce the size and the number of acne.
4. Prevent new acne formation. Acne treatment has to be individualized and monitored.

• Prescribe special medicines for severe cases although there may be serious side effect (liver damage)
• Recommend the use of oral contraceptives to regulate production of hormones. However, oral contraceptives are not effective in all acne cases.
• Treat acne lesions by injecting medicines into them. The treatment also decreases scarring.
• Perform dermabrasion (removal of the epidermis), when scarring is severe.

Product Guide

Acne Aid

Bar 25 g, 90 g
Contains Sulfonated surfactant blend of vegetable oil 6.3%
Uses Treatment of acne & greasy skin.
How to use Use like an ordinary soap. Repeat as required.


Benoxyl 5 / Benoxyl 10

Benoxyl 5 Lotion 5% x 30 ml
Benoxyl 10 Lotion 10% x 30 ml
Contain Benzoyl peroxide
Uses For the treatment of acne
How to use Apply once daily to the affected areas after washing the skin with soap & water.
Precaution For external use only. Avoid application to sensitive area e.g eyes, mouth & other mucous membrane & skin of the neck. Discontinue treatment when there is a feeling of discomfort, redness or excess peeling occurs. May bleach dyed clothing & fabrics.
Warning Known allergy to benzoyl peroxide

Betadine Skin Cleanser

Cleanser 60 ml, 120 ml.
Contains Povidone-iodine 7.5%
Uses For feminine hygiene during menstruation. For cleansing wounds. For pimples, ringworms, athlete's foot & other skin fungal infection.
How to use use as a liquid soap.
Warning Discontinue use if there is skin irritation or sensitivity.

Cetaphil

Lotion 250 ml
Contains Purified water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, soduim lauryl, sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben,
Uses Atopic dermatitis & other diseases which may be aggrevated by oily and greasy substances of animal & vegetable origin. General cleanser for patient with acne or with dry skin. Diaper rashes & cradle craps.
How to use Apply & massage to produce lather.
Precaution Avoid Contact with eyes

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
(Venereal diseases, Genital herpes, Gonorrhea, Non-go-nococcal urethritis Syphilis AIDS, Vaginitis)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections passed on by intimate sexual (venereal) contact. Common venereal diseases include AIDs, genital herpes, genital HPV (human papilloma virus), genital ulcers e.g chancroid (painful) and syphilis (painless) genital warts, gonorrhea, non-gonococcal (nonspecific) urethritis, and vaginitis. Not all STDs are discussed in this topic.

Symptoms
Common STD symptoms include genital discharge, growths, itch or sores; groin lumps; skin rashes; and pain when passing urine.

Consult a doctor if you think you have a venereal disease, as only a doctor can confirm and treat it. Do not attempt to treat it yourself.

Hair Loss

(Alopecia, Baldness, Falling Hair)
Scalp hair grows about one centimeters a month for 3 years, then falls out and is replaced by new hair. A person normally sheds from 50-100 hairs a day but with an average of about 300,000 strands on the scalp the loss goes unnoticed. The hair does gets thinner with age, but in some cases, lost hair does not grow back., even in early adulthood. Hair Loss (alopecia) may also be caused by disease, hormonal imbalance, scalp injury, certain medicines, or stress. The hair usually grows back when this cause is corrected

Symptoms:

• Male pattern baldness - the hairline recedes, first at the temples, then at the top of the head leading to partial or extensive (total) baldness.
• Generalized alopecia - the hair thins out or falls out completely, but usually grows back.
• Localized alopecia - the hair falls out in clumps (patchy baldness) but usually grows back.
• Itch, if hair loss is due to scalp infection.

Common Causes:

• Aging process
• Hereditary (eg male pattern baldness)
• Hormonal imbalance (e.g. in women, after childbirth or at menopause).
• Hair damage due to treatments (e.g. dyeing, blow-drying, perming).
• Trauma (injury) from hair pulling (e.g. rough brushing, a hairstyle that requires the excessive pulling of hair).
• Local scalp and general medication disorders.
• Certain Medicines (e.g chemotheraphy medicines, arthritis medication)
• Surgery, stress.

What you can do:

• Hair loss cannot be prevented or reversed when due to the aging process or heredity, but you can try to slow down the rate of the shedding by:

1. Being gentle to your hair (e.g., using conditioner to prevent tangles,combing with a wide-toothed comb, using hair treatments minimally, blow-drying only when absolutely necessary).
2. Avoiding hair pulling be it for styling or due to a nervous tendency.

• If hair loss (whatever cause) is permanent, you can only remedy it by:

1. Wearing a hairpiece (wig or toupee)
2. Having hair weaving done.
3. Having a hair transplant done.

• Consult a doctor if you suspect that your hair loss is due to a disorder.

What your doctor can do for you:

• Rule out serious causes of hair loss.
• Treat any underlying cause of hair loss due to disease, if possible.
• Prescribe certain medicine that may simulate hair growth.
• Recommend hair weaving or transplantation, if hair loss is permanent.

Product Guide:

FOLTENE Natrapharm
Vial 10's
Contains Tricosaccaride

Uses Helps improve the appearance,thickness & health of hair & scalp.

How to use Remove plastic cap & secure the applicator on the top of the vial. The applicator ensures a controlled flow of Foltene on the scalp. After shampooing when hair is towel dried, make a series of partings & apply Foltene directly to the scalp. Do not rinse off. Repeat until whole scalp has been treated & the vial is finished. Use only 1 vial. Massage gently with the fingertips. Do not shampoo again for at least 6 hrs to ensure the essential contact time.

Recommended program attack phase 1 vial every other day. Maintenance phase 2 vials/week (for instances every wednesday & sunday) for 3 months.
Resume the attack/maintenance cycle as needed to maintain hair & scalp condition.
For best results, shampoo your hair as you normally would. A mild shampoo is recommended. It is unlikely you will wish to use your normal conditioner as well as Foltene but if you choose to, do so to aid combthrough.
If it is impossible to wash your hair every other day during the attack phase, apply Foltene to a dry scalp. Do not miss a treatment.

Precaution A warm tingling sensation or a slightly reddening is not unusual. This is simply the circulation being simulated, and the effect will disappear after upto 30 minutes.
Avoid contact with eyes. If this should occur, rinse very well with plenty of water.
After coloring, perming or bleaching the hair, wait 2 days before using Foltene again.

Warning Do not apply if there is a lesion on the scalp.