5 home remedies for alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, where the skin develops thick and scaly patches that are inflamed. This happens because the T-cells, a type of white blood cells that are supposed to protect the body from disease, mistakenly attack the healthy skin cells. Psoriasis, unfortunately, has no cure at the moment. However, its symptoms can be managed successfully with the help of prescribed medicines, topical solutions, and light therapy. Along with medical assistance, one can also use home remedies to keep the symptoms at bay. Here are some effective home solutions that one can try to prolong the psoriasis remission period. Diet At times, psoriatic flare-ups can occur among patients after having certain kinds of food items. Ideally, patients with psoriasis should avoid having processed meat and fatty food as they amplify the inflammation levels in the body. An anti-inflammatory diet that is especially rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help control the symptoms of psoriasis. Fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines are some varieties abundant with omega-3 fatty acids. To control inflammation in the body, one should focus on consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and plenty of water.

Skin is one of the largest external organs in the body. On a daily basis, our skin comes in direct contact with a lot of things that could either be sanitized or dirty. Fortunately, the immune system of our body constantly protects every organ, the skin in this context, from foreign substances that could prove to be harmful to our body. However, at times, due to several reasons, some people get exposed to certain allergens that cause the skin to get hives. Hives are medically known as urticaria, which is an outbreak of swollen red- or skin-colored bumps that appear like skin rashes and are itchy in nature. Appearance and characteristics When a person is suffering from hives, their body will appear to have several raised and itchy bumps with a skin- or red-colored surface. Upon applying pressure on the hives, they can appear to be blanching, and the red hives turn white when pressed. An important thing to know about hives is that it can appear on any part of the skin and can change its shape. Hives also appear and disappear or reappear over short periods of time. Hives are either acute (short-lived) or chronic (long-term); in either case, they don’t cause any harm to the body unless they appear in the throat and the swelling causes restrictions in breathing.

Keratosis pilaris is one of the most common types of skin conditions and is characterized by small bumps on the skin that often last long. This skin condition is harmless but is still disliked by people who suffer from it as it appears to be a large bumpy rash on the skin. Although keratosis pilaris can affect anybody at any stage of their life, it often occurs in people when they are in their adolescence and childhood. This condition is called keratosis pilaris because it is caused by the excess build-up of keratin, a skin protein. When keratin is in excess, it blocks the skin pores or hair follicles, thereby forming small and hard bumps. While doctors know the cause behind the skin condition, they have still not understood the reason behind the excess build-up of keratin in the first place. People with dry skin may have a risk of developing this condition. It is also often noticed that keratosis pilaris occurs when there is already another underlying skin condition like dermatitis. Signs and symptoms The appearance of keratosis pilaris often helps people identify the condition. When a person’s skin develops this condition, they can see that their skin has acne-like bumps on the affected area, and it has a rough appearance.

Also known as varicella, chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Often the symptoms are mild, and the condition resolves on its own in a few days or in a week or two. However, the virus that causes chickenpox never leaves the body but lies in a dormant state. It can reemerge in the form of shingles when one is in their sixties or seventies. Once a person is exposed to the virus, the infection begins projecting symptoms within 10 to 21 days. The classic sign of chickenpox is rash that undergoes three phases. Initially, the small pinkish or reddish bumps will form all over the body. These bumps will then turn into fluid-filled blisters. Finally, the broken blisters will heal by forming scabbed lesions. These will take a few more days to completely go away. Apart from the rash, some other accompanying signs and symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, and headaches. In rare cases, the rash can turn severe and spread to the eyes, throat, and genitals. Therefore, one should always consult a doctor when the symptoms start showing to prevent any complications. Some complications that can occur are as follows: Dehydration Pneumonia Encephalitis – brain inflammation Bacterial infections of the bones, joints, blood, skin, and soft tissues Reye’s syndrome Toxic shock syndrome Infants whose mothers never had chickenpox, pregnant women, people with weaker immune systems due to chronic conditions, children with asthma, and people using steroid medications or immunosuppressants are at a higher risk of developing any complications associated with chickenpox.

Skin conditions often require immediate attention as a majority of these conditions are contagious. One such skin condition that is known to cause immense distress and can spread quickly is scabies. Scabies is a form of skin infestation that is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, and this mite can survive on the surface of the skin for months. They can reproduce quickly on the surface of the skin and burrow themselves into the skin and lay eggs. Scabies is characterized by itchy, red rashes that appear on the surface of the skin. Scabies is so widespread that approximately 130 million cases of the same have been reported at any given time. As this condition is highly contagious, it can be passed on easily from one person to another through direct skin contact. To prevent an outbreak of scabies, it becomes essential to treat the condition right away. Read on to learn more about certain home remedies that have proven effective in treating scabies without any detrimental side-effects. Tea tree oil Essential oils have been used as a part of home remedies for a long time. Tea tree oil is one of the most potent essential oils that has proven to be quite effective in treating scabies.

5 factors that can lead to acne in adults A skin disorder; acne can affect anybody and is a common condition across the world. The ailment is medically known as Acne Vulgaris and is generally triggered in the teenage years or at the onset of puberty. It occurs when the skin pores and hair follicles are blocked with oil, dead skin cells and other kinds of bacteria. Acne is most likely to affect the body parts that include face, chest, back, shoulders, and forehead. One can suffer from acne due to a side effect of a plethora of factors. Most often, it is essential to understand the underlying cause as this will dictate the best form of treatment. Listed below are some of the common causes of acne to keep an eye out for: Stress: Stress is found to be one of the most common triggers of acne as it releases a hormone called cortisol in the body. This natural hormone further leads to the production of excessive pore-clogging oil. The buildup of excessive sebum leads to the heightened occurrence frequency of acne. Stress can also cause the appearance of acne scars to be darker. It expands the capillaries and leads to an increased flow of blood that makes the skin look more inflamed.

A childhood infection, measles is a viral disease. Earlier it was quite common among infants and young children. It is highly contagious. Now, due to the availability of vaccines, measles can be easily prevented. The disease spreads through the droplets released from the throat, mouth, and nose of an infected person. The initial symptoms of measles occur 10 to 12 days after the first infection. Some of the most serious complications of this disease are encephalitis, pneumonia, severe diarrhea, extreme dehydration, and blindness. Read on to know more about this viral infection. Types There are two categories of measles based on the type of virus that causes the disease. The first one is the rubeola virus that causes the standard form of measles. The other one is the rubella virus that causes German measles or Rubella. German measles or rubella is a mild form of measles. It poses more risk to unborn infants as compared to young children. The risk is higher if the mother contracts the rubella virus during her pregnancy. However, this form of measles is not as severe as the standard form. Moreover, the infections caused by the rubella virus are as serious as those caused by the rubeola virus.

Living a seemingly normal life with a chronic skin condition is an extremely difficult task. Managing the sudden flare-ups to finding the right skin products for sensitive skin is time-consuming and requires a lot of patience. Moreover, the misconceptions surrounding these skin conditions can make it difficult for the individual to come to terms with the condition. One such chronic skin condition that is known to affect middle-aged women and cause reddened skin on the cheeks and nose is rosacea. It usually affects people with fair skin and becomes more prominent with age. Rosacea can start from the cheeks and nose, and later spread to the forehead, chest, back, ears, and even eyelids in severe cases. Though there is no permanent cure for rosacea, there are certain natural remedies that can prevent the flare-ups and keep the condition under control. These effective home remedies are as follows: Aloe vera Aloe vera is one of the most effective home remedies that is used to treat a variety of skin conditions due to the plethora of medicinal properties it possesses. Many moisturizers contain aloe vera as the gel from the inner leaf of the plant is emollient and moisturizing. Moreover, aloe vera has soothing properties which makes it the perfect treatment for rosacea flare-ups.

Fungi live on the human body, and normally don’t lead to any health issues. However, in rare cases, these could cause a skin infection. Dealing with fungal infections can be an exasperating experience. While it definitely makes one cringe, fortunately, it isn’t a serious cause of concern. For a person with a healthy immune system, fungal infections wouldn’t spread beyond the skin and will be easier to treat. However, people who have a weak immune system should definitely seek a dermatologist’s help to keep the symptoms from aggravating. Here are some of the most common types of fungal infections: Tinea versicolor Also known as pityriasis versicolor, tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that affects the epidermis, the topmost layer of the skin. The yeast that causes this condition thrives on oil glands. Therefore, this condition is typically observed in teenagers and young adults who are experiencing rapid hormonal fluctuations in the body. Tinea versicolor can recur even after receiving treatment. However, this fungal infection doesn’t cause bothersome symptoms such as itching and pain. Ringworm Unlike tinea versicolor, ringworm or tinea corporis causes noticeable rashes that are red and circular. Moreover, these are scaly and itchy. One is more likely to develop this fungal infection if they come in contact with a person or pet with ringworm or contaminated personal objects such as towels and combs.

Athlete’s foot is caused by the tinea fungus. It is the same fungus that causes jock itch and ringworm. Although it’s called athlete’s foot, it is not restricted to sportspersons and athletes only. One can catch the disease through direct contact with surfaces that are contaminated with the fungus or through contact with an infected person. The fungus grows in warm and humid conditions. It generally thrives in public showers, locker room floors, around swimming pools, and even damp shoes and socks. Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating can also cause athlete’s foot as it increases the probability of fungal infection. Read on to know more about this fungal infection What are the symptoms of this disease? Athlete’s foot usually starts with an itchy and burning rash. The itching becomes worse after taking off socks and shoes. There can be small blisters as well that look like tiny pimples. When it occurs between the toes, the skin becomes pale as if it has been over-exposed to moisture or sweat. The rashes will have fine scaling skin with a powdery appearance. There can be redness and the skin may start to peel. In some cases, there can be a foul odor as well.