Dry Winter Skin: Eczema, Psoriasis, and Rosacea Explained

By Catherine Winters

Dry, itchy skin is a common winter companion when the humidity drops, especially as we get older.
“The oil-producing glands that lubricate skin shrink and don’t work as efficiently,” says Amy Kassouf, M.D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. And that dry winter skin can certainly be uncomfortable.
Some people with find relief with self-help measures, over-the-counter products, or medication. Here are some strategies for three common dry-skin conditions: eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Soothing the Itch of Eczema

More than 30 million Americans have eczema, or patches of red, thick, scaly, itchy skin.
Older adults are at higher risk for asteatotic eczema, which often causes intense dryness and itchiness on the lower legs.
Eczema crops up often in people with asthma or hay fever, but stress, dry heat, allergens, and fragrances and dyes in household products can set it off, too, says Jonathan Silverberg, M.D., director of the Northwestern Medicine Multidisciplinary Centre for Eczema at Northwestern University in Chicago.
DIY care: Moisturize several times per day, and run a humidifier when the heat is on at home. Use detergents and soaps that are free of scents and dyes, and wash new clothes and bedding before use.
Occasional use of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can also help calm the itch.
See a doctor if you see little change after several weeks of self-care or you have severe itching or patches that blister or ooze.
He or she might prescribe a steroid cream or, in severe cases, an oral immunosuppressant for the itch.
Photo­therapy, which uses ultraviolet light to tame ­inflammation, is an option, too.

Easing the Discomfort of Psoriasis

An estimated 6.7 million Americans have this chronic condition, marked by flaky, itchy, slightly ele­vated patches covered with silvery skin cells.
These “plaques” develop when skin cells grow too rapidly, flaring up when “something triggers the immune system to become overactive,” says Ronald Prussick, M.D., of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
Triggers can include stress, skin injury or infection, allergies, and certain medications.
And “scratching an itchy spot can create new psoriasis in that area,” says Jessica Krant, M.D., a dermatologist on Consumer Reports' medical advisory board.
DIY care: To ease itching and loosen dead skin, soak for 15 minutes in a lukewarm bath to which you’ve added baby oil, oilated oatmeal, or Epsom salt.
A shampoo or an OTC cream that contains salicylic acid can soften plaques; one with coal tar can ­reduce discomfort.
You can also subdue itching with OTC hydrocortisone cream.
See a doctor if self-care doesn’t help. Your doctor might prescribe a biologic drug for inflammation, methotrexate to slow skin-cell growth, or phototherapy.

Coping With Rosacea

A chronic condition that’s more common after age 30, rosacea can lead to redness, bumps, and pustules, usually on the face.
Some people with the condition may also experience dryness, stinging, itching, and burning.
“The skin of rosacea patients is very sensitive,” says John Wolf, M.D., chairman of dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Triggers include cold or hot weather, ­indoor heat, stress, sun, wind, alcohol, hot baths, vigorous exercise, and spicy food.
DIY care: Use a gentle facial cleanser and moisturizer before bed, and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen for sensitive skin with an SPF of at least 30.
See a doctor if your symptoms don’t resolve with DIY care or if rosacea causes physical discomfort or distresses you.
Prescription treatments might include a topical anti-­inflammatory cream or an oral antibiotic for more severe inflammation and redness. Laser or light therapy can also be used to reduce redness.

Keeping Dry Winter Skin Healthy

Whether you have eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, these strategies for dry winter skin can also help.
Turn down the thermostat a few degrees. “It may keep the air from drying out as much, and cooler air is less likely to aggravate your itch,” Silverberg says.
Bathe briefly, and only in tepid water. The hotter the water, the more skin oils are stripped away.
Moisturize after bathing while you’re still slightly damp. Use a product that’s fragrance-free, hypo­allergenic, or made for sensitive skin.
Run a cool-mist humidifier. Or place pans of water near heating vents to moisten indoor air. Humidity should be 30 to 60 percent (40 to 50 percent if you have ­allergies or asthma).
Stick to fragrance-free soaps. Also use detergents made for sensitive skin.

http://www.consumerreports.org/conditions-treatments/dry-winter-skin-eczema-psoriasis-rosacea/

5 strange body symptoms and what they mean

By Gabrielle Frank

Our bodies are complicated machines. While it's easy to get spooked when something out of the ordinary happens, there is usually no reason to panic.
Still, unusual symptoms shouldn't be ignored. And while you shouldn't run to Google for every weird body quirk that occurs, you may want to keep these five unusual symptoms in the back of your mind. NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar stopped by to discuss these five symptoms you've probably never heard of:

1. Geographic tongue

If you have dry white patches that occur in weird shapes on your tongue, it could be a sign of celiac disease, a serious genetic autoimmune disorder where consuming gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.
"The tongue can take on the look of a map," said Azar, explaining where the name originates from. Other symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting or weight loss. Though any changes in your mouth or tongue warrant a visit to the doctor.

2. Sweet cravings

Craving chocolate, doughnuts or cookies? You're probably dehydrated. When your body is dehydrated, it can be hard for organs to release glycogens, which help to provide energy for the body, so you actually start to crave food, and frequently, sweet food.
This is more likely to happen after a workout. To re-hydrate, grab a snack that has high water content like fruits and vegetables, or a drink with electrolytes.
Other symptoms of dehydration include increased thirst, fatigue, dry eyes or blurred vision, headaches, muscle cramps, lack of sweat, dark urine, fever and shrivelled and dry skin.

3. Achy Achilles heel

Your Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It's located on the back of your ankle. Any pain in your Achilles tendon or heel can be a symptom of psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, swollen "sausage-like" fingers and toes are also a sign of psoriatic arthritis, a type of tendon pain that is linked to the skin condition.
A doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever to treat it.

4. Vivid dreams or nightmares

You could be pregnant! No one knows exactly why, but some pregnant women report experiencing a change in their dream state while they sleep during pregnancy. It may be a result of hormones and sleep patterns changing, since pregnant women tend to sleep more than usual.

5. Thinning eyebrows

If your eyebrows are getting thin or you notice you're losing hair there, it could be a sign of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a health condition where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain hormones that your body needs. Women over 60 are more likely to have this condition.
Other symptoms include sudden weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating and nervousness or irritability.

http://www.today.com/health/5-strange-body-symptoms-what-they-mean-t104588

Woman living with psoriasis: We should never hide away

By Laura Milne

When Holly Dillon arrived at Faro airport for a flight home after her holiday with friends, she was feeling relaxed and happy. Yet everything changed when the 26-year-old freelance film director tried to check in.
The attendant asked her friend whether Holly had a “problem” with her skin.
Holly, who runs the online campaign #GetYourSkinOut and has lived with the chronic skin condition psoriasis since her teens, was furious.
“He actually stopped me,” she recalls of the incident in June this year. “I said, ‘excuse me, you should be asking me directly if you think something is wrong’. It was completely unacceptable, rude and unprofessional.”
It might sound like a one-off, unfortunate episode but, as many of those living with psoriasis know, this is far from the case.
A recent Novartis survey on the impact of moderate to severe psoriasis has revealed the shocking emotional impact of the condition.
It might sound like a one-off, unfortunate episode but, as many of those living with psoriasis know, this is far from the case.
One of the most disturbing findings was that more than 80 per cent of people with psoriasis regularly experience humiliation and discrimination because of the appearance of their skin.

Around a third report being stared at and 41 per cent have been asked if they are contagious.
Some report being denied service in a hairdressers’, beauticians’ or shops and some had even been asked to leave public transport. For Holly, from Peckham, London, who has worked on films with Brad Pitt and The Wolf Of Wall Street star Jon Bernthal, it was one of a series of encounters that are all part of living with the disease. “I was 14 when I first noticed my psoriasis,” she says.
“It appeared under my chin and was the size of a five pence piece. I didn’t know what it was. I went to my GP and was given all the usual steroid creams and ointments. By the age of 18, 98 per cent of my body was covered with guttate psoriasis, which causes small sores all over the body.
“Because I wasn’t referred to a specialist dermatologist until then, I had overused the steroid creams so much that my skin, particularly on my back, was so thin it had started to lose pigmentation.
She adds: “Thankfully, once I was with a specialist dermatologist and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, I was given the correct advice and treatment I needed to learn more about the ways in which I can live with the condition.”
Psoriasis affects around 1.8 million people in the UK. It is often misunderstood and wrongly assumed to be contagious and “just a skin condition”.
It occurs when cells mature too quickly, leading to a build-up of excess immature cells on the surface of the skin. These appear as red, flaky, crusty and raised patches of skin covered with silvery scales. Other symptoms include itching, redness and chronic hardened or dry skin. Psoriasis sufferers are at increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and arthritis.
It can also have a profound emotional impact and has been linked to an increased risk of suicide. Holly says: “Living with psoriasis is a full-time job. It’s a constant challenge.
It’s painful, upsetting, uncomfortable and at times prevents you from doing normal things such as swimming, getting your hair cut, buying a little black dress, dating or going to work. It affects everything you do, it can feel as if there is no escape.” She has tried many treatments over the years.

“I’ve tried the drugs, creams, ointments, the weird and wonderful homemade concoctions and devices,” she explains. “But the best treatment for me has always been a form of light treatment.
For some reason, my pale Irish skin loves the artificial sunshine. I’ve recently finished PUVA (ultraviolet) treatment and within a few sessions my skin is clear, although months after stopping, it returns.” During her recent treatment she started the online campaign #GetYourSkinOut to encourage those living with psoriasis to talk about and post pictures of their skin condition.
Within months she has picked up 3,000 Instagram followers and reached thousands of fellow sufferers around the world. “One of the biggest challenges is to accept your skin and the mental and physical challenges that come with it,” Holly explains.
“I have spent the last year saying ‘yes’ to every single thing that would make me uncomfortable: showing my skin, talking about it. It has allowed me to connect with incredible people who have taught and inspired me to be strong.”
She adds: “We need to bridge the gap between GPs, dermatologists and patients. Psoriasis can be difficult to live with but we should never hide away. Get the help you need and do not let it define you.”

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/726967/Psoriasis-patient-health-suffer-skin-condition-GetYourSkinOut

Nutrition for Psoriasis: Sweet Potatoes

By Alaina Falk

Do you enjoy sweet potatoes? Did you know they’re a super food that contain many nutritional benefits? 'The World's Healthiest Foods' list numerous benefits of incorporating sweet potatoes into your diet. Some of these health benefits include increasing your antioxidant intake, consuming more anti-inflammatory nutrients, and even regulating your blood sugar. That doesn’t even include all of the vitamins and minerals contained in these root vegetables. According to the Cleveland Clinic, sweet potatoes provide 400 percent of your daily vitamin A dose!
Sweet potatoes often appear on Thanksgiving menus and for other holiday celebrations, but it’s time for them to be in the spotlight! Eating them regularly can be beneficial for your health.
Enjoy baked or roasted sweet potatoes, use them instead of rice under curried dishes, or mash them for a delicious side. Whether you like them savoury or a little sweeter (try honey or maple syrup for natural sweeteners), include sweet potatoes in your weekly menu plan.
Here’s a simple and delicious sweet potato and black bean soup shared with permission from The Cooks Next Door.

SWEET POTATO AND BLACK BEAN SOUP
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 c. peeled and diced sweet potato
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
4 c. chicken or vegetable stock
1 28-oz. can diced tomato
1 15-oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
Heat oil in the bottom of a large pot. Add onion and sauté until slightly translucent. Add sweet potato and continue to cook for five minutes or so. Add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt and cook another minute. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. Makes four to six servings.

http://psoriasisnewstoday.com/2016/10/28/nutrition-for-psoriasis-sweet-potatoes/

Erectile Dysfunction and Psoriasis: Could There Be a Link?

By John Dugan

Few things are as worrisome to a man as erectile dysfunction. Despite the fact that many men experience some erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, it's a topic that is not openly discussed, even among friends. Many myths and much misinformation therefore exists around this topic, which makes evidence-based information on this penis care matter that much more valuable. Interestingly, a recent study has raised the possibility that there could be a link between psoriasis and erectile dysfunction.

The study
Published online in the International Journal of Impotence Research, the study looked at 191 men with psoriasis and 191 men without psoriasis. (Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by red, itchy patches on the skin.) When the scientists crunched their numbers, they found that almost 53% of men with psoriasis also had erectile dysfunction, compared to about 40% of men without psoriasis who also had erectile dysfunction. Further, of those men with erectile issues, those with psoriasis were more likely to classify the erectile issues as severe. The authors thus determined that the data suggest that men with psoriasis are significantly more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than those without the skin condition.
What does it mean?
Does this study mean that psoriasis is a cause of erectile dysfunction? Though this study was not designed to definitively answer that question, the likely answer is no, psoriasis is not a cause.
That doesn't mean, however, that there's not a link between them, as the study found. It means that the factors which actually cause psoriasis are probably not responsible for a man's inability to obtain or maintain an erection. Instead, it suggests that other characteristics shared by people with psoriasis may be contributing factors to the dysfunction issue.
Other factors
For example, many people with psoriasis also have other conditions which are also linked to erectile dysfunction. These include diabetes, cardiovascular issues, hypertension and obesity. Each of these conditions is often associated with diminished blood flow throughout the body - including blood flow to the penis. And as most penis owners know, erections are dependent upon an influx of blood to the penis both to initiate and to sustain them.
In addition, many men with psoriasis in the study also reported experiencing feelings of anxiety and/or depression, as well as low self-esteem. All of these issues can have a severe impact on a person's sex drive, which in turn can lead to pronounced erectile issues. These psychologically-based factors may be even more pronounced when psoriasis occurs on or near the penis itself. This can lead to a man feeling ashamed of or embarrassed by his penile appearance; this in turn makes him less likely to want to engage in sex.
Psoriasis
So in short, psoriasis does not appear to be a major physiological cause of erectile dysfunction, but it can be an indicator of potential dysfunction. It also demonstrates again that erectile dysfunction can be a signal of other health conditions, some of which (such as hypertension, diabetes, etc.) a man may not be aware. So if a man has recurring erectile dysfunction, a good physical check-up is recommended to search for causes - many of which can and need to be treated.
While psoriasis is not a direct cause of erectile dysfunction, its appearance on the penis can be disheartening. Getting it treated by a doctor is essential, as is regularly applying a top notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) to help keep the skin and the penis itself healthy. A crème with vitamin D is especially helpful; psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder, and vitamin D contributes to healthy immune function. If the crème also includes L-arginine, so much the better; this amino acid helps blood vessels to dilate, which in turn allows a proper flow of blood into and out of the penis. And a really good penis health crème will simply make the organ look and feel healthier.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Erectile-Dysfunction-and-Psoriasis:-Could-There-Be-a-Link?&id=9521252

Overcome Psoriasis with these natural ingredients!

From kashmirmonitor.in

Psoriasis is the most stubborn and complicated form of skin disease that affects skin, hair, nails, and joints.
Many health experts believe that psoriasis in nail is the hardest to treat as the thick nail bed makes topical meditation difficult to penetrate. This chronic skin disease is not age-related and mainly caused by the problem with immune system.
Red, scaly skin and severe itching are some of its common symptoms. The condition also gives rise to other diseases like diabetes, heart problems, obesity, and depression, which is why proper treatment is very important.
Till date, no medical treatment is available for psoriasis but, there are some medication and natural treatments that can soothe the itchiness and slow down its progression. That is why, self-care and natural treatment is the best solution to get rid of this disease.

Here are some natural ingredients that can cure psoriasis
Tea tree oil:
These trees are native to Australia and is used as an anti-inflammatory agent that treats psoriasis. It is a powerful natural antifungal and antimicrobial that can also cures athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and acne.
Olive oil:
Ozonated olive oil is a powerful natural remedy for psoriasis. This oil acts as a moisturizing conditioner that reduces itchiness and redness. The ozone content of the oil helps in creating enzymes that regulates skin growth and healing.
Pine bark extract:
Using Pine bark extract is the most effect way to keep the progression of psoriasis under control. It improves blood circulation, cleanses arterial plaque and enhances health of blood vessels. It's antioxidant properties treats acne and reduces signs of aging.
Oatmeal:
Oatmeal bath therapy is a wonderful way to soothe psoriasis flare-ups. For this therapy, all you need is some oatmeal and Epsom salts and mix them in luke warm water. This treatment moisturizes and soothes irritated skin.
Apple Cidar Vinegar:
Apple Cidar Vinegar is one of the traditional method to cure this skin disease. It eliminates itch and as well as flakes produced by psoriasis. Make a solution by mixing water and apple cidar vinegar in 2:1 ratio and then apply it on affected area. Avoid using it directly on cracked or bleeding skin.

http://www.kashmirmonitor.in/Details/109795/overcome-psoriasis-with-these-natural-ingredients

Alternative approaches for psoriasis

By Dr Peter Lio

Incurable diseases that are poorly understood, have limited conventional therapeutic options, or have treatments with real or perceived side effects are prime candidates for alternative approaches. Psoriasis, with its long history of suffering and confusion, nicely fits into this category. Indeed, for centuries, patients with psoriasis were treated as literal lepers, and were required to carry a bell or clapper to announce their approach. The medical side of that coin is perhaps best summarized by the pithy words of Paul Bechet: “Psoriasis is an antidote for dermatologists’ ego.”

Despite the truly spectacular advances in both the pathophysiology and therapy of psoriasis, there are still many unanswered questions and there is still no cure. And, as we wade through an embarrassment of riches of conventional therapeutic options, there remains—perhaps surprisingly—significant patient dissatisfaction with their treatments. This, too, opens the door to exploration of alternatives. Further, the notion that these powerful biologic agents—which truly do appear to be safer than their predecessors—still have the potential for side effects, with one recent study reporting more than one quarter of respondents experiencing a serious adverse event secondary to a biologic agent for psoriasis, though this admittedly included a large portion of patients on infliximab.

With such an extensive armamentarium for psoriasis, many of the things we will discuss below may better serve as complementary or adjunctive therapies rather than act as alternatives. Judging by a recent survey finding that nearly 50% of psoriasis patients had used a form of alternative medicine in the preceding year, this may be happening already for many of our patients without our knowledge. This approach—taking the best of conventional medicine along with helpful unconventional remedies—is a very nice approximation of the definition of “integrative medicine.”

http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatology-times/news/alternative-approaches-psoriasis