How to treat dandruff

Dandruff is a condition of the scalp that causes flakes of skin to appear. It is often accompanied by itching.

The exact cause is unknown, but various factors increase the risk. It is not related to poor hygiene, but it may be more visible if a person does not wash or brush their hair often.

Dandruff can be embarrassing and hard to treat, but help is available.

Fast facts on dandruff

Here are some key points about dandruff. More detail is the main article.

Dandruff is a common condition, but it can be embarrassing and difficult to treat.

It is not related to hygiene, but washing and brushing the hair can help remove old skin flakes.

Risk factors include having certain skin or medical conditions and the use of inappropriate hair products.

Various treatments are available over the counter, but more severe cases should be seen by a doctor.

Home remedies

Treatment aims to stop the dandruff by slowing down the reproduction of skin cells or counteracting the yeast production that might be the cause.

The strategy will depend the patient's age and the severity of the condition. However, there are some lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help; these include:

Managing stress: stress can trigger dandruff in some people, so managing it better can reduce symptoms.

Shampoo more often: if you have oily hair and scalp, washing daily can help.

Sunlight: a little exposure to sunlight can be helpful.

Tea tree oil: although there is little evidence, some people believe that preparations that include tea tree oil help reduce symptoms of dandruff. It can cause allergic reactions in some people, so use caution.

Treatment

Shampoos and scalp products are available over the counter at most stores and pharmacies. These can control seborrheic dermatitis, but they cannot cure it.

Shampoos and scalp preparations

Before using an anti-fungal shampoo, individuals should carefully try to remove any scaly or crusty patches on the scalp, as far as possible, This will make the shampoo more effective.

Dandruff shampoo is available to purchase online. Products are also available to treat dandruff in the beard.

Ingredients to look out for

Most anti-dandruff or anti-fungal shampoos contain at least one of the following active ingredients:

Ketoconazole: An effective anti-fungal. Shampoos containing this ingredient can be used at any age.

Selenium sulfide: This reduces the production of natural oils by glands in the scalp. It is effective at treating dandruff.

Zinc pyrithione: This slows down the growth of yeast.

Coal tar: This has a natural anti-fungal agent. Dyed or treated hair may become stained by long-term usage. Tar soaps may also make the scalp more sensitive to sunlight, so users should wear a hat when outside. Coal tar can also be carcinogenic in high doses.

Salicylic acids: These help the scalp get rid of skin cells. They do not slow down the reproduction of skin cells. Many "scalp scrubs" contain salicylic acids. Treatment can sometimes leave the scalp dry and make skin flaking worse.

Tea-tree oil: Derived from the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), many shampoos now include this ingredient. It has long been used as an anti-fungal, an antibiotic, and an antiseptic. Some people are allergic to it.

The best strategy is to select a shampoo containing one of these ingredients and shampoo the hair every day until the dandruff is under control.

After this, they can be used less frequently.

Alternating dandruff shampoo with regular shampoo may help. A specific shampoo may stop being as effective after some time. At this point, it may be a good idea to switch to one with another ingredient.

Some shampoos should be left on the scalp for around 5 minutes, as rinsing too quickly will not give the ingredient time to work. Others should be rinsed at once. Users should follow the instructions on the container.

Causes

The exact causes of dandruff are unknown.

One theory is that it is linked to hormone production, as it often begins around the time of puberty.

Here we look at 10 more possible factors.

1. Seborrheic dermatitis

People with seborrheic dermatitis have irritated, oily skin, and they are more likely to have dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis affects many areas of the skin, including the backs of the ears, the breastbone, eyebrows, and the sides of the nose.

The skin will be red, greasy, and covered with flaky white or yellow scales.

Seborrheic dermatitis is closely linked with Malassezia, a fungus that normally lives on the scalp and feeds on the oils that the hair follicles secrete.

It does not usually cause a problem, but in some people it becomes overactive, causing the scalp to become irritated and to produce extra skin cells.

As these extra skin cells die and fall off, they mix with the oil from the hair and scalp, forming dandruff.

2. Not enough hair brushing

Combing or brushing the hair regularly reduces the risk of dandruff, because it aids in the normal shedding of skin.

Source: Medical News Today

Diabetes: The insulin pill may finally be here

Individuals with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with the required dose of insulin daily to manage their condition. In the future, injections may no longer be necessary; scientists are developing a viable way of delivering insulin in pill form.

Researchers have developed a pill for the oral delivery of insulin, and they hope that it will eventually be made available to patients.

Type 1 diabetes is a less widespread form of the disease that, unlike type 2 diabetes, is often hereditary and non-preventable.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system wrongly attacks and damages the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that is key to regulating blood sugar levels.

Unmanaged, type 1 diabetes could cause many health problems due to the unregulated blood sugar levels.

To prevent complications and keep the condition under control, people diagnosed with this type of diabetes must receive daily doses of insulin delivered into the bloodstream through either injections or insulin pumps.

But these methods are cumbersome, and multiple daily injections are disruptive and unpleasant — especially to individuals who may have needle phobia.

Administering insulin orally, in pill form, would be a preferable alternative. But unfortunately, insulin quickly deteriorates when coming into contact with gastric acid, or digestive enzymes.

And, researchers have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to develop a coating that would safely carry insulin beyond the obstacles of the digestive system and into the bloodstream.

Recently, however, a team of specialists from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Cambridge, MA, have come up with a pill that, they say, is able to do this job.

"Once ingested, insulin must navigate a challenging obstacle course before it can be effectively absorbed into the bloodstream," says senior study author Samir Mitragotri.

Mitragotri and team describe their research, and the insulin-delivering pill they developed, in an article now published in the journal PNAS.

'Like a Swiss Army knife'

The researchers created a complex pill coating, designed to shield the insulin from gastric acid and the enzymes of the small intestine and also be able to penetrate the intestine's protective barriers.

In this pill, insulin would be inserted in an ionic liquid that contains choline and geranic acid, itself encapsulated in enteric coating, which is resistant to gastric acid.

The enteric coating protects the rest from the acidic environment of the stomach, only dissolving in the small intestine. Here, the ionic liquid would resist the digestive enzymes, shielding the insulin against them.

Type 1 diabetes: Does the gut hold the key to prevention?

Type 1 diabetes is a non-preventable condition. Or is it? Researchers investigate.

"When a protein molecule such as insulin enters the intestine," says first author Amrita Banerjee, "there are many enzymes whose function is to degrade the proteins into smaller amino acids." However, she adds, "the ionic liquid-borne insulin remains stable."

And the combination of choline and geranic acid is then able to pierce both the mucus that lines the small intestine, and the dense cellular wall of the intestine itself.

"Our approach is like a Swiss Army knife, where one pill has tools for addressing each of the obstacles that are encountered."

Samir Mitragotri

The scientists also note that the pill is easily manufactured, that this process would be more cost-effective than the other therapies, and that the pill is not readily perishable — it can be safely kept for up to 2 months at room temperature — surviving longer than some of the injectable insulin that is distributed at present.

'Remarkable results'

After so many instances of trial and error when it came to finding a way of delivering insulin orally, other specialists now praise the researchers involved with the new study for their achievement.

"It has been the holy grail of drug delivery to develop ways to give protein and peptide drugs like insulin by mouth, instead of injection," explains Mark Prausnitz, Regents' Professor and J. Erskine Love, Jr. Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

"This study shows remarkable results where insulin given by mouth in combination with an ionic liquid works about as well as a conventional injection. The implications of this work to medicine could be huge, if the findings can be translated into pills that safely and effectively administer insulin and other peptide drugs to humans," he adds.

Insulin delivered orally, the researchers explain, would reach the blood in a way that is more similar to the natural release of insulin by the pancreas. Also, this method may lessen the adverse effects associated with receiving repeated insulin injections.

Mitragotri explains that the next step from here will be to conduct further studies in animal models and make sure that the pill they designed is completely safe for ingestions, though the scientists are fully optimistic.

They say that choline and geranic acid are already considered as safe compounds, and they hope that this will help to smooth the path toward clinical trials in humans.

Source : MedicalNewstoday

Five hot baths per week may be good for the heart

A new study shows that taking at least five hot baths every week can improve cardiovascular health for seniors.

For those of us who enjoy indulging in hot baths, a new study has some good news.

Several new studies have pointed to the health benefits of saunas.

From slashing the risk of high blood pressure in men to drastically lowering the risk of stroke in both men and women, relaxing in steamy, hot rooms seems to do wonders for one's cardiovascular health.

Specifically, one study revealed that those who enjoyed a sauna four to seven times per week had a 60 percent lower chance of stroke than those who only had one sauna per week.

Another study found a 46 percent lower risk of hypertension among people who had four to seven weekly sauna sessions compared with those who had just one.

But, for those of us who perhaps cannot afford to go to the sauna so regularly, could we derive the same health benefits from hot baths?

A team of Japanese-based scientists led by Prof. Katsuhiko Kohara, of the Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation at Ehime University in Matsuyama, set out to find an answer to this question.

Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Studying the benefits of hot baths for seniors

Prof. Kohara and team asked 873 study participants aged between 60 and 76 years old to fill in a questionnaire regarding their hot water bathing practices.

"Hot" water was defined as having a temperature of over 41°C, and a single hot bath lasted 12.4 minutes, on average.

Frequent sauna use may reduce dementia risk in men

The benefits of regular sauna use may extend beyond the heart.

To assess cardiac health, the researchers took several measures, including brachial-ankle pulsewave velocity, which is a measure of atherosclerosis, and plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide, which is a standard measure of cardiac loading.

Of the 873 participants, the researchers had access to longitudinal data on 164 people who had undergone a minimum of two medical examinations, averaging a follow-up period of almost 5 years.

Five hot baths may improve heart health

Overall, the study found that "[h]ot water bathing showed a favorable effect on atherosclerotic and central hemodynamic parameters."

More specifically, people who took at least five hot baths every week had significantly lower markers of atherosclerosis and cardiac loading. Prof. Kohara and his colleagues conclude:

"Based upon these findings, it is conceivable that hot water bathing could have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in the general population."

Reacting to the study, Prof. Jeremy Pearson — an associate medical director with the British Heart Foundation in the United Kingdom — explains that "there are [...] plausible reasons for why a long soak could be beneficial for a person's heart health."

"This study," Prof. Pearson adds, "shows an association between having regular hot baths and some indicators of better heart and circulatory health."

"However," he cautions, "this is just an observation and might be related to other lifestyle factors, such as people who have regular baths may also be more likely to live a low-stress lifestyle, or have a healthier diet."

"Far more research is needed," concludes Prof. Pearson, "to understand the link before doctors start prescribing a hot bath to the elderly."

Source : MedicalNewstoday

Is drinking ginger water good for health?

Ginger water can be easily made at home and is a convenient way of consuming ginger for its potential health benefits. People have used ginger for thousands of years, as both a flavoring in foods and a natural remedy, to treat a variety of conditions, such as pain and nausea.

In this article, we examine the potential benefits and risks of ginger, and some of the scientific evidence for these, as well as how to make ginger water at home.

Health benefits

Although there are studies that support the potential health benefits of ginger, there is limited research on drinking ginger water specifically. Most studies do not indicate whether the participants took ginger in capsule form, added it to food, or drank it as ginger water or tea.

However, ginger and ginger water may be helpful for the following conditions:

Pain

Ginger water may help decrease some types of pain. In a study that involved 60 adults with migraine pain, researchers found using ginger as an add-on therapy was better than taking painkillers alone.

Nausea

People have long used ginger as a herbal treatment for nausea. In a 2015 review, researchers looked at nine studies in which people used ginger for postoperative nausea, chemotherapy side effects, viral nausea, and morning sickness. The studies, although not always clinically watertight, all indicated that ginger provided a reduction in nausea and vomiting.

Cholesterol levels

One study in rats suggests that ginger might reduce cholesterol levels. The rats ate a high-cholesterol diet, which increased their total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins. The researchers then found that also feeding the rats supplements containing ginger prevented high cholesterol in the bloodstream.

However, more research is needed to determine if ginger would have the same effects on cholesterol levels in humans.

Blood sugar control

Ginger water may help control fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

In one 12-week study, researchers divided 41 people with type 2 diabetes into two groups. One group took 2 grams of a ginger powder supplement each day, while the second group received a placebo drug. The people who took the ginger experienced a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar.

Weight loss

In another study, researchers divided 10 men into two groups. One group drank hot ginger water after eating breakfast. The other group did not. The men who drank the ginger water reported greater feelings of fullness.

Although the study was small, and additional studies are necessary, it suggests that ginger water might have a role in weight management.

Risks and side effects

Drinking ginger water appears to be safe for most people. However, there may be some situations when it is best to consult a doctor first.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there are some concerns that ginger may interfere with blood-thinning medication. Although research is inconclusive, people who take blood thinners should speak with their doctor before drinking ginger water.

People who drink ginger water in excess may experience mild side effects, including:

• gas
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• heartburn

One study, which used data from 1,020 women, reviewed the safety of ginger during pregnancy. The researchers found that using ginger during pregnancy to treat nausea and vomiting did not increase the risk of:

• stillbirth
• preterm birth
• birth malformations
• a low Apgar (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration in newborns) score

However, although no studies have concluded that ginger causes harm in pregnancy, it is still best to talk with a doctor before drinking ginger water while pregnant.

Source: Medical News Today

Can you treat baby ear infection without antibiotics?

Baby ear infections are common but are usually nothing to worry about. Many young children will not need antibiotics and can be treated with home remedies, such as acetaminophen, warm compresses, and drinking more fluids.

This article looks at when antibiotics might be needed to treat an ear infection in a baby, and how to treat the symptoms at home while the baby's natural defenses fight the infection.

Are antibiotics necessary?

Treatment for an ear infection in a baby will depend on the type and severity. Doctors may prescribe antibiotic ear drops for some infections, such as acute otitis externa (AOE), but in many cases, the baby's immune system will fight the infection on its own. Other infections, such as otitis media with effusion (OME), will usually clear up on their own without any antibiotics.

As OME and mild AOE do not usually require treatment, doctors tend to recommend a period of "watchful waiting" before prescribing antibiotics. This is because antibiotics can cause side effects.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), antibiotics cause diarrhea and vomiting in around 15 percent of children. Up to 5 percent may also have an allergic reaction, which can be serious or life-threatening in some children.

Within the first 24 hours, around 60 percent of children feel better. That figure rises to between 80 and 90 percent of children within a few days.

If there is no improvement or the infection gets worse during this time, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Home and natural remedies

Doctors usually advise caregivers to watch their child for 2 to 3 days to give the baby's immune system the chance to fight off the infection without the need for antibiotics.

During this time, doctors will probably recommend that caregivers treat the symptoms of the infection at home. Remedies may include:

Over-the-counter medication. In babies of 6 months or older, caregivers may consider giving the child acetaminophen to relieve pain or fever. Speak to a doctor before giving any medication to babies under 3 months of age.

Warm compress. Holding a warm compress to the child's ear may also help ease the pain.

Fluids. Giving the child plenty of fluids to drink encourages swallowing, which can help drain the middle ear and relieve painful pressure.

What are ear infections?

Ear infections, which can affect the ear canal or the middle ear, are common in babies. According to a study in Pediatrics, 23 percent of babies in the United States will experience at least one ear infection by the time they are 12 months old. That figure rises to more than half by the age of 3 years.

Ear infections tend to start either with an unhealthful bacterial growth or a viral infection, such as a common cold.

There most common types of ear infections in babies are:

Acute otitis externa (AOE). Also known as swimmer's ear, AOE refers to an infection in the ear canal.

Otitis media. An infection in the middle ear can cause inflammation, leading to a fluid buildup behind the eardrum. Sometimes, the narrow passageways that connect the middle ear to the back of the nose, called the Eustachian tubes, can swell.

Otitis media with effusion (OME). This infection occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear but does not usually cause pain or fever.

Acute otitis media (AOM). This refers to a fluid buildup in the ear, which typically results from a bacterial infection.

 Babies and children are more prone to ear infections as their Eustachian passages are shorter and narrower that than those of adults. This not only makes it easier for bacteria to reach the middle ear, but it means fluid is more easily trapped.

Because babies and children do not have a fully-developed immune system, it can be harder for them to fight off infections. However, a baby's natural defenses are usually enough to fight off an ear infection.

Symptoms

One of the main signs that a baby has an ear infection is the baby tugging or pulling at their ear. However, the AAP points out that this action may be a self-soothing reflex in many young children or may simply be the baby exploring itself.

Other symptoms to look out for include:

crying more than usual, particularly when lying down

vomiting or diarrhea

reduced appetite

difficulty sleeping or hearing

fever or a headache

yellow or white fluid coming from the ears

an unpleasant smell coming from the ears.

Source: Medical News Today

Rare case of bubonic plague reported in Idaho

In the past week, reports have emerged from Idaho of a young boy who contracted bubonic plague. Here, we cover all the details and relay the official safety advice.

Bubonic plague is one of three types of plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

It is passed to humans by the bite of an infected flea, which can be spread far and wide by hitching a ride on small animals.

Y. pestis resides in some animal populations — such as ground squirrels — in the United States, but it is very rare to see it passed to humans.

This most recent case occurred in a 14-year-old boy in Elmore County, ID. At this stage, it is not clear whether the child — who has remained anonymous — contracted the disease in his home state of Idaho or during a recent trip to Oregon.

However, according to officials, ground squirrels near the child's home had tested positive for Y. pestis in both 2015 and 2016.

An unusual occurrence

The news was initially broken by Elmore County Central District Health Department (CDHD). In their statement, they make it clear that this is not an emerging pattern of infections, saying:

"Since 1990, eight human cases were confirmed in Oregon, and two were confirmed in Idaho."

This is the first case of bubonic plague in the state for 26 years and only the fifth since 1940. The press release continues, "Symptoms of plague usually occur within 2–6 days of exposure and include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, and weakness."

"In most cases, there is also a painful swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin, armpit, or neck."

In the Middle Ages, the plague descended on Europe. It is known as the Black Death, and it killed an incredible one third to one half of the continent's population.

With medical advancements today, the disease can be treated. The Elmore County CDHD news release provides us with a dash of comfort, saying that "[p]rompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment can greatly reduce the risk of death."

Safety precautions

Importantly, the CDHD also offer some advice to help minimize the risk of contracting plague. They explain signs to look out for in pets:

"Plague signs in cats and dogs include fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. There may be a swelling in the lymph nodes under the jaw."

If you are in the area, they offer further detailed advice:

·         Don't touch wild rodents or their dead bodies.

·         Keep pets from roaming and hunting rodents — when an animal dies from the plague, the fleas leave the body to look for a new host.

·         Ask a veterinarian about flea control before visiting areas where ground squirrels are common.

·         If you find a number of dead ground squirrels, you should report it to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

·         Don't feed rodents.

·         Clean up areas near the home where rodents might live.

·         Store hay, wood, and compost as far from the home as possible.

·         Don't leave pet food and water where rodents can access it.

Although bubonic plague is considered to be a disease of the distant past, in some parts of the world it does, occasionally, rear its ugly head. For instance, in 2017, there was a 4-month long outbreak in Madagascar. There were around 2,300 suspected cases and over 200 deaths.

Source : Medical NewsToday