Dr Pranjal Shamsher speaks about, THE MENOPAUSAL PIGMENTATION

Although ageing process plays a role in skin changes, the hormonal shifts of menopause hastens the appearance of pigmentation. One such pigmentation usually affects the face and is called Melasma. Melasma is caused by over-activity of the melanocytes which secrete excess melanin. The excess melanin gets deposited in the outer layer of the skin causing butterfly shaped pigmentation on the face. Though the excess melanin can be removed from the surface, the overactive melanocytes secrete it again making the patch reappear. This becomes a never-ending cycle. To treat Melasma one needs to thus stabilize the overactive melanocytes than merely keep peeling the skin from the surface.

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher is a Multi-Therapy Consultant & a pioneer in skin friendly treatments. She can be contacted at Dr. Health Clinics on 42067474 - 75 or 23568290 - 91. To read her articles log on to - skinarticlesbydrpranjalshamsher.wordpress.com

Back Pain Busters

Back pain is a common symptom of musculoskeletal disorders or of disorders involving the lumbar vertebrae and related soft tissue structures such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and intervertebral discs.

The most common cause of back pain is due to muscular strains. This happens when an unexpected force, twist, or pull is applied to one or several of the muscles in the back. As a result, several tears occur in the muscle. These muscular tears cause back pain.

Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention -

• Don't lift by bending over. Lift an object by bending your knees and squatting to pick up the object. Keep your back straight and hold the object close to your body. Avoid twisting your body while lifting
• Push rather than pull when you must move heavy objects
• If you sit at your desk or at the wheel of a car for long hours; take short breaks and stretch
• Wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels
• Exercise regularly. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower back pain
• Sit in chairs with straight backs. Keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Turn by moving your whole body rather than by twisting at your waist
• When driving, sit straight and move the seat forward. This helps you to avoid leaning forward to reach the controls
• If you stand for long periods, keep your shoulders and hips in a straight line, with your head up and your stomach pulled in
• The best way to sleep is on your side with your knees bent. You may put a pillow under your head to support your neck.
  
  But, if you get back pain without any particular reason or if it is accompanied with chest pain, breathlessness, stomach pain, fever, nausea or vomiting, weakness or sweating etc. and the pain does not go after two to three days or if the pain spreads to other areas like legs, knees, feet, consult a doctor immediately.

Health tip: Be healthy, look young! Antioxidants and Anti Aging

The cells of the human body need oxygen for metabolism. But when there are excessive oxygen molecules and other free radicals that are formed due to other cellular reactions, they cause infinite damage to the body. These unstable oxygen molecules are referred to as free radicals and they are cited as an important cause for many chronic diseases. These free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances that travel throughout the body and wreak havoc on the cells. We are also exposed to free radicals in the atmosphere. Cigarette smoke and pollution contribute to free radical cell damage.

It is believed that large amounts of free radicals cause the skin to wrinkle and lose its elasticity. Aging also sets in with reduced immunity and loss of memory. Antioxidants are known to reduce the oxidization in the mitochondria, thereby slowing the process of aging. This slows down the aging processes such as sagging tissues and deterioration in bodily organs. A body has reduced antioxidant defense capacity as it ages. Therefore, it is necessary to keep up the antioxidant levels with natural substances and supplements.

Antioxidants work as scavengers of these free radicals. When the body has insufficient antioxidants, it can lead to significant damage and disease. Boosting the body’s defense mechanism with adequate amounts of natural antioxidants and antioxidant supplements can boost body resilience and reduce the chances of disease.

Foods rich in natural antioxidants are tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and pepper. Vegetables and fruits that have rich color are high in phytonutrients. These are probably the best-known natural antioxidants.

Blueberries, spinach, carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, plum, raisins, grape fruit, kiwi, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, onion, corn and mangoes are also natural storehouses of antioxidants.

Citrus fruits are rich sources of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Vegetable oils such as olive oil, soybean oil, safflower oil and whole grains such as wheat, brown rice and soybean also provide natural antioxidants.

Antioxidant supplements include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Copper and Zinc. Other antioxidant enriching substances are green tea extract, gingko biloba and flavonoids such as grape seed extract and red wine. Taking antioxidant supplements is not to create an artificial antioxidant defense system but instead to boost the body's own enzymatic antioxidant defense system.

DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE SPEAKS ABOUT ACNE AND SCARS

K.V Sreenivas, 31 yrs. asks Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic,

I have severe acne on my face and back. I have been using some ointment or the other since many years. My face has developed deep scars. I have been advised to go for abrasion. Will it help my scars or worsen them?
Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic says,

Amongst the various types of acne, scarring is most commonly seen with Cystic acne. Cystic acne is the harshest and the most painful form of acne. Unlike the usual acne, cystic acne takes a longer time to heal and often leaves behind scars. Any invasive approach to treating cystic acne should be avoided as there is a risk of developing 2 types of scars – either the depressed scars or the raised scars. The depressed scars are also called as ice pick scars and can be shallow or deep. The shallow ones can give the skin a typical wave-like appearance making it look old and withered. The deeper ones can be more deforming making the skin appear like a cobbled road. The raised scars are called keloids and can appear quite unsightly. The best approach with cystic acne therefore should be non-invasive. Early treatment is the best solution. The first aim of the treatment should be to prevent newer acne and minimize the scarring. Severe acne should never be ignored as just a part of growing up.

Sandhya, 23 yrs. asks Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic,

The black marks on my face after pimples never seem to heal? More than pimples, now I am worried about the black marks?
Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic says,

Post Inflammatory hyper pigmentation (PIH) is a common cause for skin discoloration after Cystic acne. PIH develops when acne causes skin inflammation, which triggers the skin to produce too much melanin. The excess melanin darkens the area for a long time after the active acne has healed. This can make the face appear dark, blotchy and discolored. Rather than worrying about marks, make sure you are regular with your skin regimen, exfoliation and use of face packs so that you can prevent acne. If acne is prevented, marks will automatically not form.

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher is a Multi-Therapy Consultant at Dr. Health Clinics located at R.T Nagar, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and Malleswaram. She can be contacted at 42067474/75 or 23568290/91.

Links to other articles by Dr. Pranjal Shamsher:

http://consumerexpress.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/dr-pranjal-shamsher-says-sweating-causes-acne/
http://consumernewsonline.blogspot.com/2010/03/middle-age-acne-by-dr-pranjal-shamsher.html
http://fortheconsumer-raghav.blogspot.com/2010/03/acne-triggers-says-dr-pranjal-shamsher.html
http://consumerexpress.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/stress-triggers-your-acne-says-dr-pranjal-shamsher/
http://consumerconnect.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/dr-pranjal-shamsher-speaks-about-the-causes-of-acne-acne-triggers/

DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE, SPEAKS ON ACNE AND BEING HAPPY

Manohar, 46 yrs asks Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic,
My wife is 43 years old and has recently been through a stressful phase.
I feel it may have led to the sudden breakout of acne on her face. She had quite a clear skin 6 months back. Her BP had also shot up. We have met a doctor and have started her on some anxiety tablets. Will these tablets bring down her acne as well?

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic says,
Stress is one of the commonest acne triggers. When one is tensed, the body releases stress hormones including cortisol. This sets up a chain reaction causing excess skin oil production, leading to clogged pores and the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, thrive and cause acne breakouts. A recent study had infact shown that stress was one of the biggest factors of persistent acne. If the stress condition is short-lived, such as a college student getting an acne flare during finals, there is not much to do because these are episodic. But if the stressors are more chronic, such as bereavement, difficult marriage or unemployment etc then the patient may need to be put on a proper course of acne medication along with relaxation therapies.




Sheila, 27 yrs. asks Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic,
I have blackheads on my face. I tend to instinctively squeeze the skin around the blackhead so as to remove them. But they keep coming back. Where do they come from and how do I stop them?

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher at Dr. Health Clinic says,
Blackheads are forms of acne. They are caused due to excess accumulation of oil and dead skin cells in the oil glands. Squeezing blackheads might seem very tempting, but it can cause infections and even scarring of the skin with tiny pits. A regular cleansing routine prevents the blackheads from hardening and makes them glide out easily. Stubborn blackheads may need medication which works by increasing the cell turnover and reduces the stickiness of the clogged material. This helps to expel the blackhead returning the pore to normal.

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher is a Multi-Therapy Consultant and a pioneer in skin friendly acne treatments. Dr. Pranjal Shamsher can be contacted at Dr. Health Clinics located at R.T Nagar, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and Malleswaram. She can be contacted at 42067474/75 or 23568290/91.





Links to other articles by Dr. Pranjal Shamsher:

http://consumerexpress.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/dr-pranjal-shamsher-says-sweating-causes-acne/

http://consumernewsonline.blogspot.com/2010/03/middle-age-acne-by-dr-pranjal-shamsher.html

http://fortheconsumer-raghav.blogspot.com/2010/03/acne-triggers-says-dr-pranjal-shamsher.html

http://consumerexpress.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/stress-triggers-your-acne-says-dr-pranjal-shamsher/

http://consumerconnect.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/dr-pranjal-shamsher-speaks-about-the-causes-of-acne-acne-triggers/

The Middle Age Acne by DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER, DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE

I have begun to suddenly break out into big lumps of acne on my face. I am 36 years old and it is surprising for me to suffer from a problem that is common in teenagers. Kindly advice.

Kavya Reddy asks DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE

DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE SAYS,

You are suffering from the middle-age acne. It is also called as the adult-onset acne as adults who have never had acne even as teenagers tend to suddenly breakout into painful, deep seated and inflamed pimples and nodules. The pimples generally form on the chin, jaw line and around the mouth. Apart from the adult onset acne, sometimes teenage acne can persist well into one’s 30s, 40s, and even 50s. This type of acne that does not clear by mid twenties is called Persistent Acne. Adult acne is triggered off by stress, fluctuating hormones, birth control pills, hereditary factors etc. It can also be caused by improper use of cosmetics. Apart from these triggers, adult acne can also be a warning sign of an underlying medical condition like polycystic ovarian disease in which case along with acne, the patient may have other symptoms like excessive facial hair, irregular periods and weight gain. Therefore a thorough evaluation of every case and a specific approach as per the type of acne is essential.

I have a lot of acne only in my beard area. Can shaving cause them?

Venkatesh, 37 yrs asks DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE,

DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER AT DR. HEALTH CLINIC, BANGALORE, SAYS,

While shaving itself cannot cause acne; not using a proper blade or shaving cream can cause acne breakouts. Some are also prone to shaving bumps which is the result of inflammation in the hair follicle brought on by shaving. To prevent this you may follow a few steps. Rinse your beard with warm water before shaving. Use a single blade razor as the closer you shave, the more likely you are to get shaving bumps. After shaving, use an alcohol free anti-bacterial gel. If you can, use an electric razor. The shave may not be close, but will minimize acne.

Dr. Pranjal Shamsher is a Multi-Therapy Consultant and a pioneer in skin friendly acne treatments. Dr. Pranjal Shamsher can be contacted at Dr. Health Clinics located at R.T Nagar, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and Malleswaram. She can be contacted at 42067474/75 or 23568290/91.

Other links to the articles by DR. PRANJAL SHAMSHER:

http://consumerexpress.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/dr-pranjal-shamsher-says-sweating-causes-acne/

http://consumerconnect.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/the-summer-itch/

http://fortheconsumer-raghav.blogspot.com/2010/03/acne-triggers-says-dr-pranjal-shamsher.html

A true Incident........ Beware

A man came over and offered his services as a painter to a female putting petrol in her car and left his card. She said no, but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the service station. She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn repeatedly to ask for help. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently, there was a substance on the card that could have seriously injured her.. This drug is called 'BURUNDANGA' and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal from or take advantage of them. This drug is four times more dangerous than the date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards.. So take heed and make sure you don't accept cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services.