Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease which affects the skin and joints. When it affects the skin it commonly appears as red scaly elevated patches called plaques. Psoriasis plaques frequently occur on the elbows and knees, but can affect any area of skin including the scalp and genital area.

Psoriasis can vary in severity, from minor localized patches to extensive or even complete skin coverage. Fingernails and toenails are often affected psoriatic nail dystrophy. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints. This is known as psoriatic arthritis.

Who Gets Psoriasis?
More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with psoriasis, and approximately 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. An estimated 20 have moderate to severe psoriasis.

Is Psoriasis Gender Biased?
Psoriasis occurs about equally in males and females. Recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link. It seems that psoriasis is most common in Caucasians and slightly less common in African Americans. Worldwide, psoriasis is most common in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. It appears to be far less common among Asians and is rare in Native Americans.

There also is a genetic component associated with psoriasis. Approximately one-third of people who develop psoriasis have at least one family member with the condition.

Research shows that the signs and symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between 15 and 35 years of age. About 75 develop psoriasis before age 40. However, it is possible to develop psoriasis at any age. After age 40, a peak onset period occurs between 50 and 60 years of age.

Childhood Psoriasis
About 1 in 10 people develop psoriasis during childhood, and psoriasis can begin in infancy. The earlier the psoriasis appears, the more likely it is to be widespread and recurrent.

There is growing emphasis on quality of life research in all of medicine, and psoriasis impacts on every dimension of health-related quality of life. In my patient population, many of my patients are spending an hour a day taking care of their psoriasis and are using numerous treatments. Psoriasis treatment is costly, financially and psycologically.

Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis develops in roughly one million people across the United States, and 5 to 10 experience some disability. Psoriatic arthritis usually first appears between 30 and 50 years of age, often months to years after skin lesions first occur.

Everyone has heard of skin peels and there are many – lactic, glycolic, salicylic, TCA trichloroacetic acid, and phenol. Of these there are basically 3 levels

Minor, superficial peels – lactic, glycolic, salicylic.
Medium depth peels – TCA, Jessner’s
Deep peels – phenol.

We will only deal with medium strength TCA peels here as they are the easiest to apply Jessner’s can require multiple concurrent applications and taping to aide in skin penetration, safest, and, by far, the most effective against numerous skin ailmentsconditions. They are also one of the most effective treatments for acne currently known to the medical community.

The most common treated area is the face. TCA is applied usually in a cream. Doctors will mix Obagi, Apeel, or other previously prepared cream with TCA and then apply this mixture to the face or body area to be treated. The creams tend to have a skin dye of green or blue so the doctor can easily see what areas have and or have not been treated. It is usually applied with a cotton or foam applicator. This is then left on for 10-20 minutes. Some doctors prefer to use a straight non-cream solution of TCA. This works much faster and penetrates deeper and is used for deeper peels.

After application and proper time for the desired depth is achieved, the doctor will apply a neutralizer. This is usually just a mixture of baking soda and water made into a paste. Some doctors will add chipped ice to further cool the skin. The skin will now be inflammed and if no dye was used will look like a bad sunburn. This will last 2-4 days until it starts to peel off and reveal new, clean, younger looking skin. Depending on the skin problems treated it may take several treatments, but a major difference will be seen immediately.

The results from a TCA peel are far more reaching than with a regular, superficial peel. Results can last 6 months to a year and it has been known to keep acne at bay, shrink and lessen acne scars, reduce and tighten up wrinkles, improve color, pigmentation, etc… A TCA peel cannot be applied as often as a more superficial peel. Generally speaking, a superficial peel can be applied every 2-5 weeks. A Stronger, medium depth peel needs more time batween peels for the skin to properly heal and regenerate. Doctors like to wait 2-6 months or more between these peels.

This process of chemically exfoliating the skin is more rapid and deeper in a TCA peel than in most peels. Many skin peels, like lactic, glycolic and salicylic are good at reducing oily buildup overactive sebaceous glands, and very minor skin imperfections. but they cannot effectively treat acne, wrinkles, fine lines, etc… TCA has been proven to treat these deeper skin conditions and is offered at almost every dermatologist and plastic surgeon office. The improvement in skin color, tone, etc… is so drastic that women, even men are lining up in droves to have this done all over the world.

Home Remedies – Facts or Quacks?

Myths and legends often have their basis in a grain of truth. So I wondered if home remedies, alternative treatments, and folklore cures might also be based on truth. First, lets try to define the phrase home remedy.

Theres No Place Like Home

The name itself proclaims that a home remedy is, well, a remedy thats administered at home! Prescription drugs are often given at home as remedies, so we need to dig a little deeper. When you think of home remedy, dont you think of some sort of cure or treatment thats outside mainstream modern medicine? Me too. Lets take a look at some choices.

The Holistic View

The dictionary defined holistic medicine as an approach to medical care that emphasizes the study of all aspects of a person’s health, including physical, psychological, social, economic, and cultural factors. The holistic definition is very broad and could apply to many medical approaches.

Peaches & Herbs?

Many people associate herbs with home remedies. The definition for herbal remedy is a plant, or plant part, or an extract or mixture of these used to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease called also herbal medicine. That sounds like a good definition, although home remedies tend to encompass more than herbal remedies. Whats next?

Folk Medicine

Folk medicine is defined as traditional medicine especially as practiced by people isolated from modern medical services, and usually involving the use of plant-derived remedies on an empirical basis. Now were getting somewhere! The old-timers practiced medicine not based entirely on plants when modern medicine wasnt available. Lets dig a little deeper into the dictionary.

Home At Last

Finally we find the dictionarys definition of home remedy a simply prepared medication or tonic often of unproven effectiveness administered without prescription or professional supervision. So – it is a remedy prepared outside the realm of modern medicine, its not limited to herbs, but unproven effectiveness? I disagree. I can prove that some of the simplest home remedies have led to some of our greatest medical breakthroughs but thats another article.

Is That Your Final Answer?

Based on the research above, lets agree to define a home remedy as follows

An experienced-based or even accidental remedy or cure prepared by common folk from herbs, plants, or other available ingredients when modern medical help was unavailable or hadnt been devised yet.

Thats my answer, and Im sticking to it!

Want to try free home remedies for yourself? Use the resources below to learn more. You can save time, money, and embarrassment.

A rhinoplasty, better known as a nose job, is a surgical operation on the nose, either to enhance appearance cosmetic or to facilitate breathing or correct a birth defect reconstruction. This procedure can either be partial or full reconstruction, depending on preference and necessity.

The procedure of rhinoplasty can vary, depending on necessity. Major work would require general anesthesia, whereas minor or less reconstructive work may only require a local anesthesia. This is not clear-cut, of course, as patient and doctor preferences also play into which is to be used. Small, usually inconspicuous incisions are made inside the nostrils where any impending scars cannot and will not be seen. However, if a total reconstruction is necessary, major incisions will also be applied to the outside. Skin from the columella, separating the nostrils, or even cartilage from the ear, rib, or other part of the body may be used in the process to strengthen or reshape the nose. This is done in both cosmetic and functional objectives.

Rhinoplasty can also involve synthetic implants if the structure of the nose is either too severely damaged or weakened, but alloplastic synthetic materials tend to cause complications, such as migration or extrusion, and so synthetics are used in rhinoplasty on an only-as-necessary basis.

A septoplasty, strongly related to the rhinoplasty, is sometimes conducted to assist in the rhinoplastic surgical process. This procedure can include or not include cosmetic alterations. The cartilage of the septum may be moved, removed, and reshaped to be used in restructuring of the nose, either to enhance appearance or to facilitate breathing or both.

A rhinoplasty is usually an easy procedure although, like anything else, not without its risks, but it can also have its complications, especially in the more serious and severe cases. A person thinking about having one should consider all the advantages and disadvantages before making the decision. Still, its popular, especially among film stars in Hollywood, since facial beautification operations are rampant there!

Acupressure is one the oldest Chinese traditions used to cure many of our health problems. It involves use of pressure by your hand, elbow and other means. This form of healing has been in existence for more than 5,000 years. A technique recommended by many and has been used world over. It is a simple method if you know how to do it. Acupuncture is another practice wherein needles are used on the pressure points to cure ailments.

How does Acupressure work?

Acupressure is a plain and simple science which has helped many people. Our body has many different pressure points. By applying pressure on these points, it energizes the necessary organs, which leads to healing of the ailing body. The idea behind acupressure is harmony of mind and soul. The relief it provides by the simple touch and pressure can be turn around in their life.

It helps in resurfacing the lost and blocked energy in the curvatures of your body. There is a belief that our body gets charged by the ‘Qi’ pronounced as ‘Chi’. The energy moves along the surfaces of our bodies known as ‘meridians’. Applying pressure does all trick sending energy to places where it has been stuck for a very long time.

Two common ways of doing acupressure are the ‘Shiatsu’ and the ‘Jin Sin’. Shiatsu is the common therapy which uses immense pressure, whereas Jin Shin is the gentler form of acupressure that uses soft touch and gentle strokes. Irrespective of the techniques of acupressure, the basic aim is to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Benefits of Acupressure

It is a very easy process and can be learnt without much difficulty. The best way to learn acupressure is to try it on oneself. Some of the common benefits which acupressure provides us are

1. Relaxes your mind and body
2. Increases blood circulation
3. Relieves from stress related problems like fatigue, insomnia
4. Heals injuries
5. Helps with Menopause and PMS
6. Helps in relieving joint aches and pains
7. Acts as a first aid in case of injury
8. Builts in vigor
9. Reduces labor pain
10. Cures common illnesses like cold, sinusitis, migraine
11. Relaxes the muscular tension
12. Helps in improving muscle strength and tone

Precautions

- Learn acupressure from a thorough professional
- While practicing on yourself, have someone around you
- Avoid open wounds, surgery, broken bone, skin infection and other problems
- Prevent specific pressure points during pregnancy
- Avoid acupressure on full stomach
- Avoid cold drinks especially during winter
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Do acupressure for a limited period of time do not overdo it