Everyone has suffered from itchy eyes at some point in their life without fail. Itchy eyes are a common problem and along with itchy eyes come itchy eyelids, which is more often more irritating than the itchy eyes. The base of the lashes – the difficult-to-reach area of the eyes often itches a lot. Itchy eyes may also lead to red eyes and swollen eyelids and the medical term for this condition is ocular pruritus. The word ocular stands to refer to vision. Itchy eyes require immediate relief, and often the very act of rubbing the eyes makes the problem worse. Causes of itchy eyes Usually, it is an allergy or a foreign body that is the root cause of the itchy eyes. Any irritating substance, also known as an allergen, which can be animal dander, pollen, dust or anything that a person is allergic to can cause itchy eyes. The reason behind this is the release of an anti-allergy compound that is known as histamine. It is released in the tissues around the eyes that causes swelling, itching, and redness as a response to the allergen. It is a defense mechanism of the human body. Rubbing itchy eyes often makes the problem a lot worse and eye allergies can be seasonal, or year long and can come in different shapes and sizes. For example, seasonal allergies often cause a problem called seasonal conjunctivitis. It usually affects a lot of people during the fall and the spring season. The main cause behind it is allergens like pollen, dust and animal dander, grass, weeds, etc. that float freely in the environment during the spring season. Year-long allergies, also known as perennial allergies, can occur anytime during the year due to allergens like dust and mold. It should be noted that every person is allergic to individual substances and not everybody may have an allergy.

There are various treatment options for the common problem of asthma. It is a long-term disease that usually has no cure but can be dealt with minor adjustments, medications and lifestyle changes. Most people see that their asthma gets cured as they age, so most of the asthma treatment options involve controlling the disease. A proper asthma treatment plan helps: Prevent chronic and troubling symptoms like shortness of breath, tightness in chest and coughing. Reduce the patients need for medicines considered to be a quick relief. Maintain steady levels of lung function. Maintain a steady breathing rhythm to enable sleep throughout the night. Maintain normal levels of everyday activity. Avoid, monitor and prevent emergency asthma attacks that may need immediate attention. The best way to control asthma and manage it as a part of everyday life is to partner with the doctor completely and follow strictly the instructions and medications routines that are recommended. How can one take in active role in controlling and treating asthma? Here are some tips to control asthma. Be aware of the condition and how and when it affects you. Work alongside your doctor and identify and treat other health conditions that may potentially interfere with the management of the main problem of asthma. Avoid things and triggers that make asthma worse. Maintain a decent level of physical activity despite asthma as it is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and it helps prevent other health conditions apart from being good for mental health. There are medicines available that help an asthma patient stay active and pursue physical activities with ease. Work with health experts to follow a good action plan that helps manage the problem. An action plan aimed towards managing asthma involves receiving guidance on the medicines and exercises and lifestyle changes required, avoiding triggers of asthma, tracking the severity and level of the problem, actively responding to symptoms that are getting worse and seeking and receiving emergency care whenever required.

Testosterone, a hormone generated by the testicles, is required for boosting masculinity and muscle development. An increase in the levels of this hormone during adolescence is the reason why boys develop male characteristics such as facial hair and a deep voice. In addition to this, testosterone promotes red blood cell production, strengthens the bones, uplifts mood, and fosters mental capabilities. The levels of testosterone in the body peak during early adulthood and they begin to decline after the age of 40 years. Beyond the age of 50 years, men may complain of the symptoms of low testosterone levels such as alterations in sexual drive, impotence, anxiety, fatigue, gain in body weight, lowered muscle mass, and anemia. Although a reduction in the testosterone levels occurs as one grows old, it may occur owing to other health conditions such as infections, injuries, cancer treatments, hormonal or steroid drug consumption, stress, obesity, alcoholism, and severe illnesses. Normally, testosterone levels in the body range between 300 and 1000 nanograms per deciliter of blood. Men with levels less than this lower limit are deemed as suffering from low testosterone. This is a major concern for men. Hence one must consider consulting a doctor for low testosterone treatment. Who Needs Low Testosterone Treatment? Every individual diagnosed with a low testosterone level does not require treatment. Indeed, doctors say that low testosterone therapy is needed only when accompanied by several associated symptoms that are severe. Since treatment of low testosterone involves certain risks such as increased disposition towards blood clotting, breast enlargement, acne, and stroke, physicians prefer to identify the cause of reduced blood testosterone levels. If an individual suffers from unnatural weight gain, thyroid disorders, or side effects of certain medications are determined as the cause, these reasons are addressed and treated as a priority. Similarly, if men do not suffer from important symptoms such as decreased energy levels and sexual desires, doctors do not immediately recommend therapy.

Pimples can pop out of nowhere. This can be a cause for concern, especially if you have planned something big on that day. However, all is not that bad and with many best acne treatments available, getting rid of this problem is now fairly easy. Below we list some of the best acne treatments which will help you move out with confidence. Use an oil-free face wash Oil and bacteria normally cause acne and you will have to keep these away to let pimples to pop out. This can be done by using an oil-free face wash on a regular basis. Such oil-free face wash consists of salicylic acid and thus help in getting rid of excess oil. Salicylic acid is considered to be antibacterial and is known to exfoliate the dead skin cells which otherwise clogs away the pores. It aids and is one of the best acne treatments. Using a facial brush Degreasing the skin also helps in reducing the oil content of the same. This can effectively be done with the help of handheld facial brushes. This technique helps in leaving less oil and bacteria on the skin and thus prevents the development of acne. These facial brushes consist of rotating brush heads and help in loosening the clogged pores. It is essential and one of the best acne treatments. Using oil-free SPF An oil-free SPF should be used on a regular basis as oil always leads to clogging of skin pores as the use of scented products can always irritate the skin. When you use oil-free SPF on a regular basis, this will help in keeping the clogged pores under check. Effective transmission of air will keep the skin pores open and thus will keep your skin cells healthy. Apply the right kind of foundation Foundation can also be used to keep the oil cells from getting overactive and thus forming up acne on your face.

Alcoholism is the severe dependency and inability to control on consumption of alcohol by an individual. This type of addiction is irrespective of legal and health issues. Alcohol rehabilitation program provides services and recovery treatments to people who are addicted to alcohol. The addiction could be to the point that they might start experiencing health deterioration due to overconsumption of alcohol and withdrawal symptoms on quitting alcohol even for a brief period of time. Goals of an alcohol rehabilitation program The first and foremost important goal of an alcohol rehabilitation program is to end alcohol abuse. It can be achieved by making gradual psychological, personal and interpersonal changes that can help you remain abstinent from alcohol. The rehabilitation program also aims to improve overall health and explain the benefits of sobriety, aiming to reduce future health risks. Being addicted to alcohol comes with its set of psychiatric disorders and psychological problems. This is because the person has been addicted to alcohol for a significant amount of time. This could be because of an underlying psychological trauma and psychiatric disorder that might have stemmed from the previous physical or mental abuse. The program also aims to make the person completely addiction-free and integrate back into the society. These programs help the rehabilitees and former alcoholics to meet educational and employment needs. They also help them resolve legal issues that they might have had before rehabilitation. How does an alcoholic rehabilitation program work? Alcohol rehabilitation program works on the idea of keeping the person under observation until they are free from addiction. As it has been mentioned in the previous section that, a person addicted to alcohol might be due to an underlying condition, there is a high possibility that the person might quit the program and resume to their old routine.

Constipation is a disorder related to the digestive and excretory systems of the body. Constipation affects a lot of people in the country and many suffer from chronic constipation, for which they often seek a doctor’s help. The constipation treatment is a complicated process because it could very well be caused by the foods one consumes or avoids, or how the patient lives their life, or the medication they are under and so on. For chronic constipation treatment, many go for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines or laxatives these days. However, improving your lifestyle and what you consume can relieve you of constipation very easily. As a disease, constipation is often characterized by the most common symptom of it, which means less than three bowel movements per week. Enlisted below are some tips to treat constipation that can be tried by adults at home conveniently. Increasing one’s daily consumption of water Being dehydrated, that is, devoid of the proper amount of water required by the body on a regular basis can make anyone become constipated to a large extent. To stop this from occurring, it is important to drink enough water and stay hydrated all through the day, under all circumstances. When a patient is constipated, then the first treatment for constipation suggests that they should try finding relief by drinking some carbonated or sparkling water, which would help them to rehydrate and get things moving again. Some studies and surveys have pointed out that sparkling water at times can prove to be even more effective than tap water. This technique is effective for most people, which include people with chronic idiopathic constipation or another type, namely the irritable bowel syndrome. The chronic constipation treatment shows great results in this aspect. However, patients are not advised to drink a large number of carbonated drinks such as sugary soda as doctors claim them to be a bad choice for health and might make one’s constipation worse.

Medullary Breast Cancer is a rare type of cancer with a better than average prognosis. Here’s everything you need to know about the disease. Similar to most other types of breast cancer, medullary breast cancer may not manifest in any type of visible symptoms during its early stages. This is a rare type of breast cancer that accounts for only about 5 percent of all breast cancer cases. However, the good news is that medullary breast cancer actually offers a better prognosis and survival rate as compared to other breast cancers . If you have been diagnosed with medullary breast cancer, here’s everything you need to know about its symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. What is medullary breast cancer? Medullary breast cancer is a rarely-occurring type of invasive ductal breast cancer. One of the pivotal risk factors of this cancer is a genetic mutation known as BRCA-1. People who are carriers of this genetic mutation have a higher chance of getting medullary breast cancer. Similar to other types of invasive ducal breast cancer, this type of cancer also starts in the milk duct of breasts before spreading to other tissues eventually. The word “medullary” comes from the fact that the epidemiology of the tumors of medullary breast cancer resemble the graying soft tissue matter in the medulla or the brainstem. How is medullary breast cancer different from other breast cancers? As compared to other types of ductal breast cancers, medullary breast cancer differs on a number of counts. The medullary tumors are actually smaller than average at about 2cms or so. Even though they are small, the cells of this cancer are high grade ones. This means that the cells look very distinct from normal cells, and are generally dividing very rapidly. Known as triple-negative tumors, these cells generally test negative for progesterone and estrogen receptors, as well as the protein HER2 or neu.

Eczema is a skin condition where some patches of skin get inflamed and become itchy, sore, rough, and cracked. In some cases, blood blisters may also occur. Eczema is not a single condition, but a group of conditions that include atopic dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, contact dermatitis, hand eczema, neurodermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and nummular eczema. This is a frustrating skin condition, where some people experience symptoms a few times a year while some deal with it on an everyday basis. Finding a soothing, natural eczema treatment can be life-changing for people suffering from this exasperating condition. Some facts on eczema Certain food items, such as dairy products, nuts, etc. can trigger eczema symptoms. Symptoms generally vary with a person’s age; however, most common symptoms include red and itchy patches of skin. A lot of times, eczema can be triggered by environmental factors such as dust, smoke, and pollen. There is no complete cure for this skin condition. The best eczema treatments focus on soothing damaged skin and relieving the symptoms. This is not a contagious condition. Symptoms of eczema The symptoms of eczema range from mild to severe, and can change from one outbreak to another. Common symptoms include: The appearance of small bumps that may ooze out liquid Rough, dry and scaly skin that cracks Red or brown patches of skin on the face, hands, feet, wrists, neck, eyelids, ankles, upper chest or scalp Sensitive skin that gets swollen and inflamed from scratching A rash that causes intense itching and irritation Rashes due to atopic eczema Best eczema treatment options There is no complete cure for eczema. The treatment for eczema aims to heal the inflamed area and prevent the symptoms from flaring up. Generally, eczema rash treatment is based on the patient’s age and symptoms. Also, for some people, eczema goes away over time, while for others, it is a lifelong condition.

Everybody has seen the occurrence of dark circles at one point or the other in their life. Now, what exactly are these dark circles? It is a condition where the skin under the eyes of an individual gets pigmented. Dark circles do not pose any serious threat to one’s health. However, they are believed to be aesthetically displeasing and may lead to low self-confidence. While the cause of these dark circles is often not dangerous, however, if these are persistent, there might be a serious ailment behind. The skin under the eyes is very fragile, because of which dark circles are prominent specifically in that area. The reason behind their appearance range from nonserious issues such as inadequate sleep, excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, allergies, old age to severe ones such as periorbital cellulitis, hyperthyroidism, and liver ailment. Dark circles may also be inherited from one’s parents. It is an arduous task to heal these dark circles. Hence, it becomes essential to have an improved lifestyle to prevent their development. The different ways in which dark circles can be treated are as follows: Potato juice – Yes, potatoes are not only meant for eating but also for healing purposes. Placing a cloth dipped in the juice of raw potatoes on the eyes for a few minutes daily makes this an effective dark circle treatment option. Slices of cucumber – Cucumbers are refreshing and known for their water content. Chilled cucumber slices, when placed on the eyes, provide a cooling effect, and these are also a great dark circle treatment option. Tea bags – This is an age old tried and tested remedy. The tea bags used to make your favorite green tea can be refrigerated and used as one of the dark circle treatments. Meditation – Insomnia is one of the major reasons behind the occurrence of dark circles.

Vitiligo is a health condition in which one gradually loses skin color because of depigmented patches appearing on the skin. Essentially, the immune system begins attacking melanocytes, or the cells in the body that produce melanin, which is responsible for skin pigmentation. Although vitiligo has no definite cure, doctors usually suggest certain repigmentation treatments to alleviate its effects. Opzelura (ruxolitinib) is one such topical repigmentation option often prescribed to treat this skin condition. About vitiligo With approximately 1.9 million patients diagnosed with vitiligo in the country, it is a fairly common skin condition involving depigmented skin patches. These patches usually begin to appear on the face, hands, genitals, and around the openings in the body, but eventually, they may spread throughout the skin. The discolored areas may progressively increase in size, and the disease can also affect one’s hair and the insides of the mouth. Further, those with conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, thyroid, lupus, etc. are more vulnerable to vitiligo. Opzelura for vitiligo It is a first-line treatment option for vitiligo that has been approved by the FDA as a prescription cream to control melanocyte destruction and restore one’s natural skin pigmentation. Ruxolitinib is the main ingredient in Opzelura and it works to protect the skin’s melanocytes. Who can apply Opzelura? Since Opzelura is a prescription treatment, one should apply it only with a doctor’s prescription and under their guidance. In general, doctors prescribe Opzelura for patients with non-segmental vitiligo (patches appearing on both sides of the body), who are aged 12 years and above. This product can also be applied on sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, and genitals. The treatment course may last over 24 weeks before one experiences visible results. Before using Opzelura for vitiligo, one should speak with their doctor about the area(s) on which it should be applied more extensively.

Ulcerative colitis, commonly known as UC, is a chronic disease that affects almost 1 million citizens of the country. It is a disease of the colon (large intestine) that inflames the colon lining and the rectum. According to an epidemiological research report, people following a diet consisting of high-fat foods are at a higher risk of suffering from this disease. Also, the Ashkenazi Jews and the Caucasians have the most number of sufferers. Although the exact reason behind ulcerative colitis flares is still unknown, according to many healthcare professionals, this is a result of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors. Treatments for ulcerative colitis flares Fortunately, a wide range of ulcerative colitis treatment options is available that can help to control UC. Achieving remission and getting UC under control are the main goals of these treatment processes. Immune system suppressors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, inflammation and other UC symptoms controlling steroids etc. are some commonly used medications to deal with ulcerative colitis flares. Removing the rectum and the colon by undergoing surgery is also another process of treatment for UC. However, it is advisable to undergo a surgery only if your doctor suggests and when the medications are not being effective. Other than the medications, many medical research reports have reflected the fact that plenty of natural treatments are available to deal with UC. These nonmedical treatments include everything from herbal medicines to lifestyle changes. Read on and know some effective tips to treat and control ulcerative colitis flares in natural ways. A healthy diet Maintaining a healthy diet is very important while dealing with ulcerative colitis. Various medical studies have shown that people who consume fatty foods are more exposed to this chronic disease. Hence, you need to make your diet chart accordingly. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, etc are some common problems faced by patients with UC.

Poison ivy is a toxic plant widely found throughout the country. This plant, upon contact with human skin, causes a painful rash, known as contact dermatitis. The rash is caused by an allergic reaction to an oily resin, called urushiol, which is found in the leaves, roots, and stem of the plant. If you come in contact with the oil, wash your hands immediately to avoid the rash. In case it develops, it may be extremely itchy and last for weeks. Mild cases of poison ivy rash can be treated at home, using cool baths and soothing lotions. However, if the rash becomes widespread and severe, you may require proper medical evaluation and suitable medication. Common symptoms of poison ivy rash Usually, the rash appears after 12 to 48 hours of the contact and lasts up to 2-3 weeks. The most common symptoms include: Swelling Redness Itching Blisters Difficulty in breathing. This usually happens if you have inhaled the smoke produced from the burning of poison ivy. The severity of the rash depends upon the amount of urushiol that comes in contact with your skin. If this oil is more, the rash will be more intense. Usually, the rash looks like a straight line because of the way the plant brushes against your body. If you come in contact with urushiol through pet fur or some piece of clothing, the resultant rash will be more widespread. This rash can be spread to other parts of your body through your fingers. Treatment of poison ivy rash There is no specific poison ivy treatment available on prescription. The rash generally clears up on its own with 2-3 weeks. However, there are some options that can help to lessen the severity of the symptoms. Changing clothes and showering It is important to take a shower and wear fresh clothes after coming home from outside.