Symptoms of Hyperpigmentation

Patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. These small, darkened patches, also called age or “liver” spots, are usually found on the hands and face or other areas frequently exposed to the sun.

Pregnancy and skin diseases such acne may also create larger patches of dark skin.

Causes of Hyperpigmentation

Various factors affects the Hyperpigmentation of the skin:

Geography also plays an important role in getting darker skin. Those who live on regions with more exposure to sunlight acquires darker skin than those who live in the northern regions.

Overexposure to ultraviolet rays present in sunlight will cause the skin to tan itself. It’s a natural mechanism wherein the dark skin produces more melanin to shield and protect itself from the harmful rays of the sun.

Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin. Pregnancy or Addison’s disease (decreased function of the adrenal gland), may cause a greater production of melanin and hyperpigmentation. It can also be caused by various drugs, including some antibiotics, anti-arrhythmics, and anti-malarial medication.

Skin diseases such as acne and Lichen Simplex Chronicus causes severe itching that leave the skin thick, dark and patchy.

Home Remedies / Natural Treatment for Hyperpigmentation

Here are some of easy-to-do whitening packs that you can do at home to help lighten your skin tone:

1.Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and rinse the remaining residue after 10-15 minutes. This will lighten tanned skin and will make skin glow.

2.Mix oatmeal, curd and tomato juice. Apply on the face for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
Potato: Slice raw potato and place it on the blemished part to remove facial marks.

Lime: Mix lime juice with turmeric powder and apply it on the skin. Lime juice is a natural bleaching agent.

Orange: Mix dried orange peels with curd. Rinse with cold water after 15 minutes. It will help reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars.

Orange: Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, then twice a week.

Gram: Mix 1 tablespoon of gram flour, 2 teaspoon of fresh milk, and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply mixture on the skin and leave it for 15 minutes. Rinse well. Do it for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Mint: Make a paste out of grounded mint leaves. Apply on the skin and leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. Do it for 15 consecutively.

Tomato: Grate fresh tomatoes and mix it with 2-3 drops of juice. Apply on the face and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse well. Do it twice a day for 15-20 days.

Diet Suggestions for Hyperpigmentation

A healthy, well-balanced diet will help make your skin glow. Incorporate whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Drink lots of water, about 4-5 liters a day. It flushes out the toxins inside the body.

Avoid eating oily foods.

Other Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

Apply sunscreen with the appropriate amount of SPF before going out to protect your skin from getting excessive amount of ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Follow a regular skin whitening regiment to help achieve results.

It was recorded that the said condition was once connected with misconception that the person suffering from Hansen’s Disease must be isolated from healthy people because of the paranoia that it is easily transmitted into healthy person. The WHO considers the said action as unethical and not necessary. Up to these days, there are still lepers colonies remain in operation anywhere in the world, Vietnam and India to name a few.

Symptoms of Hansen’s Disease

• Skin lesions that are lighter than your normal skin color
• Lesions have decreased sensation to touch, heat, or pain
• Lesions do not heal after several weeks to months
• Numbness or absent sensation in the hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Muscle weakness

Skin lesions are the primary external symptom of this condition. If this condition is left not treated, it can be progressive which causes permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

Tubercoloid Leprosy – mainly affects skin nerves and mucous membranes

Paucibacillary Hansen’s disease is characterized by one or more hypopigmented skin macules and anaesthetic patches, i.e., damaged peripheral nerves that have been attacked by the human host’s immune cells.

Multibacillary Hansen’s disease or borderline Leprosy– chronic infectious

It is of intermediate severity, the most common form. It is associated with symmetric skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened outer skin, and frequent involvement of the nasal mucosa resulting in nasal congestion and nose bleeds but typically detectable nerve damage is late. Skin lesions looks like tuberculoid leprosy but are more prevalent and irregular; large patches can affect the limbs, and peripheral nerve involvement with weakness and loss of sensation.. This type is unstable and may become more like lepromatous leprosy or may undergo a reversal reaction, becoming more like the tuberculoid form.

Causes of Hansen’s Disease

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent of leprosy. It is an intracellular, acid-fast bacterium, Mycobacterium. leprae is aerobic, gram-positive, and rod-shaped, and is surrounded by the waxy cell membrane coating characteristic of Mycobacterium species.

Due to extensive loss of genes necessary for independent growth outside the host, this mycobacterium is unculturable in the laboratory, a major factor why it is difficult to positively identifying the organisms. Molecular genetics is now used and allowed to understand more and established the cause of such condition.

Prolonged close contact and transmission by nasal droplet have both been proposed as how the Mycobacterium infects people. Although prolonged close contact best fits the pattern of disease, both are still unproven.

The only other animals besides humans’ known to contract leprosy are the armadillo, chimpanzees, sooty mangabeys, and cynomolgus macaques.

The exact time taken for the cell to multiply is not known. It is generally agreed that the average incubation period of Mycobacterium laprae to develop leprosy is between 3 to 5 years.

Treatment for Hansen’s Disease

Chalmoogra Oil:
In liniment form, mixed with lime Juice, helps in elimination of various inflammations and ulcers of the skin throughout the body.

Gota Kola:
In extract form, add a few drops when drinking tea. It is used for the treatment of leprous wounds and inflammations. Can be eaten raw or with rice.

Not until the discovery and development of dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine in the 1940s, there was no effective cure for leprosy.

To date the best medicine that treat Hansen’s Disease is Multi-Drug Therapy or MDT

Best practice in combating Hansen’s Disease:

• early detection of patients
• appropriate treatment;
• adequate care for the prevention of disabilities and rehabilitation

Since Hansen’s Disease is an infectious disease, antibiotic therapy plays a major role in the management of newly diagnosed patients.
Early recognition is important. Early treatment limits damage by the disease, renders the person noninfectious, and allows for a normal lifestyle.

Prevention for Hansen’s Disease

Vaccination against the leprosy bacillus may be considered. BCG vaccination is reported to be partially effective for protection against leprosy.

Causes of Xerosis

• Excessive bathing
• long-term use of air conditioning or central heating
• exposure to hot or cold weather with low humidity levels

Symptoms of Xerosis

• Redness
• Rough Skin
• Skin tightness
• Itching (pruritus)
• Fine lines or cracks
• Flaking, scaling or peeling
• shrunken or dehydrated skin
• Deep fissures that may bleed

Treatment / Home Remedies for Xerosis

Severe or chronic Xerosis problems may require a dermatologist’s attention for it may cause by some underlying illness.

Moisturizers:
One of the tested home remedy for Xerosis is readily available in form of lotion and moisturizers, apply in Xerosis areas at least twice daily. It provides a seal to the skin to keep water from escaping.

Baby Oil:
If your skin is extremely dry, baby oil is one of the best immediate home remedy for Xerosis . It is best to apply after bathing while your skin is still moist. Oil stays more in the skin to retain its moisture than that of moisturizers.

Warm water:
Bathing with warm water is much better than hot shower since hot water removes oils in the skin. Use warm water in bathing and limit bathing time up to 15 minutes to avoid drying the skin.

Prevention for Xerosis

Avoid harsh drying soaps
Use bath gels and cleansing cream in bathing
Use a humidifier in hot, dry indoor
Limit using perfumes since it irritates the skin
Pat Xerosis after bathing rather than thoroughly drying

• Outer
• Middle
• Inner ear

Two types of  Ear Pain

* Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear that is common on children
* Otitis externa - infection of the outer ear and is common during winter season

Symptoms of Ear Pain

Symptoms for otitis media include catching fever or a minor illness, dizziness, fluid or pus discharge, hearing problems, itchiness, painful sensation and vomiting.

For otitis externa, there is itchiness in the infected ear, inflammation accompanied by fluid discharges, severe pain even by the slightest movement of the jaw or ear lobes, slight fever, and temporary decline in hearing.

Causes of Ear Pain

Otitis media is primarily caused by a blockage of the eustachian tubes, an air passageway that is found in the middle of your middle ear and throat. It can be due to cold, allergies or other respiratory problems. This blockage allows entry to bacteria to build up in the middle ear and cause infection. Ear drums may swell if infected by a virus. Although infant and children are the main targets, it can also affect adults.

Otitis externa is the inflammation of the outer ear and the ear canal. It can be caused by none, or both bacterial and fungal infections. It is often called the “swimmer’s ear” primarily because the condition is most prevalent to swimmers and those who have prolonged exposure to water. Swimming in contaminated water will trigger this condition as there are chances bacteria can infect the skin, especially if there are ear impairments.

Nutritional deficiency, allergy and other infections are also some factors that may cause ear infections.

Home Remedies / Treatment for Ear Pain

Garlic:
Put few drops of garlic juice into the infected ear.

Blow dry:
This is to remove excess water trapped in the Eustachian tube, use a blow dryer from about 12 to 15 inches from your head.

Olive oil:
Using a warm spoon, put 2 to 3 drops of olive oil in each ear.

Lobelia:
Put few drops of lobelia extract into the infected ear and rub it gently.

Colloidal Silver:
It is a natural antibiotic that the patient can use to wash and clean their ears.
Mango: Put few drops of mango juice in the infected ear using a warm teaspoon.

Diets Suggestions for Ear Pain

Eat lots of foods reach in calcium and vitamin C to boost your immune system and help fight infection. You can also take in tablet form.

Zinc will also help reduce ear infection.

Avoid processed foods and foods that are rich in hydrogenated oils.

Breast-feeding is the most effective way to combat any infection for infants.

Other Treatments for Ear Pain

Stay away from smoke fumes as it blocks the Eustachian tube passageway.
Stay away from people with colds.
Keep your hands clean when touching your ear by washing it regularly in antibacterial

Young people around 20 years of age having multiple sexual partners while practicing unsafe sexual intercourse are highly susceptible to this infection.

Symptoms of Venereal Warts

It usually takes 3 months for the symptoms to appear. It may take years for some people to show signs of this infection.

An infected person having Venereal Warts often experiences bleeding, itching, moistness, or a burning sensation along with an appearance of small red, gray or pink bumps around the genital area. It also causes discomfort during a sexual intercourse.

For women, there is abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharges. Bump, lesions or swelling may not appear visible for some cases.

Intensive skin medical examination of the genital area is the most effective method of identifying the warts.

Causes of Venereal Warts

Venereal Warts are a form of STD. Sharing personal items such as toothbrush or shower towels, and sexual or genital contact with an infected person leads to the transmission of this disease.

In extremely rare cases, newborn babies may suffer from this infection during childbirth.

Home Remedies / Treatment for Venereal Warts
Vitamin E: Apply vitamin E in oil form on the skin. Place some crushed garlic over and cover it with an adhesive tape. The warts will gradually drop on within a week.

Onion: Prepare some onion juice. Add with salt and leave it overnight. Apply the mixture on the affected area until all warts disappear.

Fig: Apply fig juice extracted from fig stems for 2-3 times a day.

Apple cider vinegar: Use a cotton ball when applying apple cider vinegar to the affected area.

Diet Suggestions for Venereal Warts

Foods that are rich in folic acid and beta-carotene are good in preventing Venereal Warts.

Fruits and vegetables that are yellow, orange and red in color such as like mango, radish, squash and tomato are good for health.

It is also highly recommended to consume dark green and leafy vegetables such spinach and cabbage for treatment of Venereal Warts.

Other suggestions for Venereal Warts

Quit smoking tobacco or any cigarettes.

Use contraceptives for prevention of this condition. However, it is advisable to stay away from using oral contraceptives.

Undergo a pap smear test on regular basis to check your body’s condition against HPV.

The usual cause of losing of smell is the result of nasal congestion or blockage of the nasal area. This condition usually wears off after addressing the main cause that brings nasal congestion. For some reasons, if the nasal congestion and loss of smell stayed more than the usual, it is more likely because of a neurological disorder.

Other causes of Loss of Smell

• Alzheimer
• Nasal polyp
• Sinus surgery
• Head tumors
• Natural aging
• Lead poisoning
• Radiation therapy
• Nasal deformities
• Nervous Disorder
• Nasal decongestants drugs
• Endocrine System irregularities
• Head trauma because of an injury

Home Remedies/ Natural Treatment for Loss of Smell

There is no known specific cure to get rid of loss of Smell however, addressing the main cause of the problem can usually correct the loss of smell.

If the cause of losing the smell is due to Common colds these can help:

The Lemon Cure

Lemon is believed to be a miracle cure for common colds. Loaded with Vitamin C, lemon can significantly increase your resistance and can help you recover from colds a lot faster. The ultimate lemon cure is to dilute the juice of one whole lemon with a whole glass of warm water. Add honey to it, and drink it twice a day.

Warm Garlic Soup

Another remedy for common colds is garlic soup. Garlic soup is made by chopping three or four cloves of garlic and then boiling it in a cup of water. Garlic is a known natural antibiotic, an antispasmodic, and an antiseptic, among many other health benefits. Eating garlic soup helps to open up the airways, thus relieving you of congestion.

Other Suggestions for Loss of Smell

Minimize usage of nasal decongestants.

Nail splitting is a condition that causes mostly horizontal splits in the nail plate. Longitudinal splitting is called onychorrhexis – or ridging of the nail plate. The two almost similar conditions are called collectively as “brittle nail syndrome.”
This kind of disease is common to those who work as house cleaners, janitor/janitress, nurses, and hairdressers

Causes of Nail Splitting

• Frequent wetting and drying of the hands
• veruse of cosmetics for Nails
• Exposure to chemicals
• Accidents and traumas
• oral medications made from vitamin A
• Medical condition (e.g. including gland diseases, tuberculosis, Jorgen syndrome)

Symptoms of Nail Splitting

Pain in the nail bed
Appearance of single or numerous nail splitting
Loosening of nails in the growing area

Treatment for Nail Splitting

Lanolin Cream:
Apply topically in the nail plate at least 3 times a day

Petroleum Jelly:
Apply in affected area, also moisturizes the surrounding skin

Biotin Supplement:
Take at least 1 tablet a day for speedy repair of the affected area

Prevention for Nail Splitting

Avoid frequent washing off hands.
Wear plastic or rubber gloves while doing housework
Keep the nails trimmed short to reduce worsening of nail splitting.

Viral infection is caused by a virus present in the body. Various kinds of viruses can affect almost any part of the body thus, compromising any persons’ state of well being.  Viruses can infect any type of tissues in the human body from the smallest part up to the largest human organ.

Most viral infections don’t need antibiotic treatment since they can be worsened but, it can be treated with the body’s immune system.

The best way to fight viral infections is to pay attention to one’s well being with the help of:

• Proper body hydration
• Proper healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Enough sleep
• Avoiding stress

Viral infections that can’t be easily treated with the body’s immune system can be treated but it must depend on the type of virus that infects and the location of the virus in the body.

Vaccination against Viruses

Ideally, antiviral drugs are administered into a persons’ body in the form of vaccine especially during the childhood years. However, some vaccine can administer to adults if it’s needed.

Vaccines are inactivated or dead microorganisms/organisms or purified products derived from them.

There are several types of vaccines for different strategies used to reduce risk of illness and retaining its ability to induce a beneficial response to immune system.

Vaccines may be monovalent or multivalent

Monovalent vaccine - immunization against a single antigen or single microorganism
multivalent vaccine - immunization against two or more microorganisms

Type of Vaccines

Toxoids  Vaccines – contains inactivated toxic compounds

Example vaccines are against:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria

Killed Vaccines- contains killed microorganism

Example vaccines are against:

• Flu
• Polio
• Cholera
• Hepatitis A
• Bubonic plague

Subunit Vaccines – contains proteins or “whole agent”

Example vaccines are against:

• Hepatitis B
• human papillomavirus (HPV)

Conjugate Vaccine- contains polysaccharide

Example vaccines against:

• Haemophilus influenzae type B

Attenuated Vaccines - contains live attenuated virus microorganisms

Example vaccines are against:

• Measles
• Rubella
• Mumps
• Yellow fever

Experimental Vaccines – vaccines that are innovative and now in development

Example vaccines are:

• T-Cell Receptor
• DNA

Other serious viral infections can be treated with anti-viral drugs with the supervision of a general practitioner and/or a specialist.

Although “Pins and Needles”is not desirable to feel, it is not a serious condition, usually the normal feeling of the affected part will return within a couple of minutes. When the feeling of numbness and tingling continue, chances are you might have a pinched nerve.

Symptoms of “Pins and Needles”

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Pricking
• Burning
• Itching
• Tingling sensation
• Slight pain in the muscle or nerve

Causes of “Pins and Needles”

• Inactivity
• Sitting in bad position
• Traumatic nerve damage
• Nerve entrapment
• Nerve compression
• Stroke
• Migraine
• Alcoholism
• Multiple sclerosis
• Dehydration
• Reduced blood supply to the affected areas

Home Remedies / Natural Treatment for “Pins and Needles”

Simple repositioning of the affected limbs or part of the body will lead to normal feeling of the “Pins and Needles” affected part.

Avoiding being inactive for a longer period time
Avoid repetitive action of the certain body part for a longer period of time

Other Suggestion for “Pins and Needles”

When this feeling occurs in alarming rate, it is advisable to see a doctor for general health concern.

With the global scare of now popular Swine influenza or also called as Swine Flu. It is caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This kind of virus is endemic to pigs or popularly known as Swine. This kind of strain is also known as Swine Iinfluenza Virus (SIV).

Classification of Influenza Virus:

• Influenzavirus A, which is common
• Influenzavirus C , which is rare
• Influenzavirus B which is not reported in swine

All three clades, Influenzavirus A, B, and C, are also endemic in humans.

Causes of Swine Flu

Exposure to swine with known illness of Swine Flu, this includes a person who works in swine industry. Once a person has been exposed to swine flu, the virus mutates then it allows it to pass between humans. It is believed that these strain now on outbreak in many countries including Mexico and United States.

Symptoms of Swine Flu

The symptoms of swine flu if human is infected will be like similar to those of influenza illness.

These includes, chilling, fever, headache, and extreme muscular pains. The nose and throat are inflamed, and this may extend down to the windpipe of the lungs that could further result into cough, runny nose, sore throat and watery eyes.

For mild cases of fever, the temperature may rise from 39ºC (102ºF) – 40ºC (104ºF). Fatigue and general body weakness may persist for several weeks.

Home Remedies / Treatment for Swine Flu

Note: it is advised to report all cases of Swine flu with the nearest authorities for them to decide what are the best action can be done to avoid possible outbreak since the WHO is now on the brink of calling Swine Flu pandemic. The listed home remedies are just an aid and an initial action to address swine flu symptoms. Always ask your General Practitioners advice.

Long Pepper: Mix ½ teaspoon of long pepper powder with 2 teaspoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of ginger juice. Take it 3 times a day during the initial stages of flu. It can help avoid further complications in the larynx and the bronchial tube.

Garlic: Consume liberal amount of garlic. It is an effective antiseptic against flu.

Turmeric: Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of milk. Take it 3 times a day. This will prevent further complications and stimulates liver activity.

Mix equal parts of onion juice and honey. Take 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture everyday.

Ginger: Mix 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, 1 cup of fenugreek decoction and few drops of honey for flavoring. It is a excellent diaphoretic that increases perspiration and lowers down the fever. To make a fenugreek decoction, simply boil 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in 1 liter water until it lowers by 1/3.

Grapefruit: Consume moderate to liberal amount of grapefruit for it tones up the body’s system and digestive tract.

Basil leaves: Boil 1 gm of basil leaves and some ginger in 1 liter water. Wait until the water lowers to a half. Drink as tea when necessary.

Finger Millet: Burn some flour of ginger millet and inhale its fumes. It will help stimulate blood circulation in the nasal mucosa and gets rid of stuffy nose.

Diets Suggestions for People infected with Swine Flu

Abstain from solid foods during the acute stages of Swine Flu. For the first 3-5 days of the treatment, the patient should undergo an exclusive fruit and vegetable juice diet diluted in water on a 50:50 proportion, might also change depends if the condition is extreme.

Follow with an exclusive fruit diet for the next 2-3 days after the fever subsided. Follow again with a fruit and milk diet for the next 2-3 days.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables afterwards.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, as well as cheese, potatoes, rice, stale, spices and condiments, milk, seasoned meats and all refine, processed foods.

Other suggestions for Swine Flu

Warm water enema: Administer a warm water enema everyday for the first 3-5 days of the treatment.

Cold packs: Soak a large piece of linen material in cold water. Squeeze it, and then wrap it around the body and legs of the patient. Cover completely with a blanket. Leave for 1 hour. Remove the pack then sponge the body using lukewarm water. Repeat application several times a day to reduce temperature. Let the patient stay in bed until complete recovery.