What Are Small Brown Spots On Face?

What Are Small Brown Spots On Face And Neck? Small brown spots which appear on face and neck are essentially sun damage.

Myth of A Surrogate Baby In Indian Society

If a couple is unable to have children because the woman is not able to conceive, still they can have a baby through a surrogate mother

Healthy Breakfast For Normal Health

As its been said – ‘breakfast is the most important diet of the day’it in fact means so. You may wonder, but if you start your day

Instant Tips To Get Beautiful And Blemish Free Skin

We’ve all heard the saying ‘beautiful skin comes from the inside’ and it is absolutely true. What you eat shows up in your complexion

Mood Disorders Effect On Normal Life

Mood disorders or mood swings are a kind of a mental health problem which includes depression of all kinds and bipolar disorder

Thursday 27 June 2013

What Are Small Brown Spots On Face?

What Are Small Brown Spots On Face And Neck? Small brown spots which appear on face and neck are essentially sun damage. They start as freckles during young age and gradually become larger as you age. First and foremost it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Small Brown Spots On Face And Neck

Small Brown Spotsermatologist to rule out the possibility of a skin cancer.
Now let’s see how to protect the skin from further damage. First of all to control these brown spots or age spots from further spreading you should use a good UVA protection sunscreen on your face and neck daily and wear a hat to cover your face and neck from direct sun. Use a sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 at least and containing 5% – 10% zinc or titanium.

How To Treat Brown Spots:-

Consult a dermatologist for the proper treatment of small brown spots or age spots, he may prescribe you an anti aging cream which contains skin bleaching agent particularly hydroquinone. The more the quantity of this bleaching agent in the cream the more effective the cream would be in reducing the brown spots on face. However these creams may cause damage to the quality of the skin. Usually these prescription bleaching creams contain 2% to 4% hydroquinone. Questions have been raised on the safety of hydroquinone in Europe and European Union has also banned the drug. Bleaching creams containing hydroquinone should be used strictly under medical supervision and a prolonged use of more than three months should be avoided. It should be noted that the use of bleaching creams does not protect you from the re-growth of brown spots or from the development of new spots. Continued exposure to the sun should be avoided because this stimulates the growth of small brown spots.

Removing Brown Spots By Chemical Peels:-

Chemical peels are yet another procedure of getting rid of brown spots from face. Under this process the dermatologist applies a thin layer of chemical solution containing glycolic acid on the affected area and when this layer is peeled off the brown spots or the age spots also come off. This procedure is quite effective though it might take a few numbers of sittings to completely remove the brown spots.

Laser Treatment For Brown Spots Removal:-

Laser treatment is a bit expensive but it is considered as one of the best treatments to remove the brown spots. In this treatment a surface layer of the skin is taken off from the affected area to remove the brown spots from the skin.

Cryosurgery:-

Cryosurgery is yet another method of getting rid of brown spots from the skin. Cryosurgery is the process of destroying the unwanted skin cells through freezing in order to remove the brown spots from the skin.
Natural Herbal Remedies To Remove Brown Spots On Face:
People who hesitate to take the chemical treatment to remove the brown spots because of the fear of getting side effects of such treatments and also because of the big costs involved in these treatments can look forward to natural herbal remedies to treat their brown spots. These treatments might take a longer time to remove the brown spots but they are safe and effective too.

Aloe Vera Gel:-

Aloe Vera is an effective treatment for brown spots on face. Apply Aloe Vera gel or juice directly on the face and the affected area regularly for a month and you will notice the brown spots disappearing from your skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar:-

Applying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and onion juice on the affected area for a month is another effective home treatment for the removal of brown spots from the face. You may also drink apple cider vinegar in water. Take three table spoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of cold or warm water, you may add a spoon of honey to enhance taste if you like, and drink it twice daily for a month. You will be surprised to see the brown spots vanishing quickly.

Lemon Juice May Work Wonders On Brown Spots:-

Take fresh lemon juice and dab it on the affected area with a cotton dab. This is another home remedy to reduce brown spots on face.

Applying Castor Oil On Brown Spots:-

Castor oil also acts as a wonderful treatment to cure brown spots on face. Just apply castor oil directly on the affected area and you will find the brown spots reducing in a month’s time.
It is good to treat the brown spots with these remedies but at the same time it is advisable to consult a dermatologist before starting on with any of the treatments because a dermatologist can check and make sure whether the brown spots are cancerous or benign so as to initiate the right treatment.
Hope you have benefitted from these remedies to remove brown spots from face and neck. Do share your experiences and thoughts with us in the comments below.

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Five Things A Contact Lens Wearer Should Know

If you’re a contact lens wearer, you’ll be aware of the many benefits contact lenses have; they provide freedom from glasses, give clear, uninterrupted vision while playing sport and even allow you to experiment with your eye colour. To make sure that you get the most out of your contact lenses, there are some essential facts you need to know. Whether you’re new to contact lenses or have been wearing them for years, these vital tips will help to maintain your eye health and make sure that you are always safe and comfortable when wearing your contact lenses.

Always Seek Professional Optical Advice:-

Five Things A Contact Lens Wearer Should Know

Eyesight Testing:-

When was the last time you had your eyes tested? It’s essential to regularly visit your Optician to ensure that your eyes are healthy and that your prescription is correct and up-to-date. An Optician will be able to quickly and easily assess your eye health, and identify any potential issues early.

If you’re a first time wearer, your Optician will be able to provide guidance and advice about which lens type and strength is most suited to your eyes. If you have any specific questions concerning your eyesight, you can also seek advice online.

Ensure That You Are Inserting Your Contact Lenses Correctly:-

For new contact lens wearers, this can seem like an intimidating part of wearing contact lenses. It’s important to fit your lens correctly to make sure that they are comfortable, and that they don’t move around throughout the day. Always wash your hands with an antibacterial wash before touching your eyes or your lenses.
Five Things A Contact Lens Wearer Should Know

Wearing Contact Lens:-

You can find many handy guides for first time contact lens wearers online. For those of you who are old hands, it’s well worth reviewing your technique every now and again to make sure that you are inserting your contact lenses safely and effectively. For a video showing you how to correctly insert and remove your contact lenses, click here.

Care For Your Contact Lenses:-

In order to get the most out of your contact lenses and keep them hygienic, it’s essential that you establish a dedicated cleaning routine. By cleaning lenses daily and changing them as often as advised by your Optician, you will help to keep your eyes healthy.
o clean your contact lenses correctly, invest in a high quality contact lens solution. You should also keep an eye on the expiry date of the solution, and never top up a new bottle using old product as this can cause the eyes to become irritated. Also make sure that you have a sturdy and transportable lens case for easy and hygienic storage.
If you wear eye makeup such as mascara and eyeliner, only apply it after you have inserted your lenses, which will help to keep them clean. Avoid sharing makeup with others and replace your makeup frequently – depending on the product, this should be around every three months – to keep your eye area as healthy as possible.

Be Prepared – Especially When Travelling:-

Even if you have been wearing contact lenses for years, there may be times when your eyes become dry or sore and it’s necessary to remove your contact lenses. Carry your lens case, solution and glasses around with you to ensure you’re never caught out and can store your contact lenses hygienically. Make sure you always have a ready stock of lenses in advance of travelling to ensure that you never run out.
Carrying comfort drops will help to prevent dry eyes when staring at a computer screen or a small object for too long. If you want to go for a swim, consider purchasing some prescription goggles before your trip.
Buy Your Contact Lenses From A Reputable Store:-
There are many benefits to buying your contact lenses from a reputable store; convenience, fast delivery, a wide range of products to choose from. Always make sure the store you’re choosing is reputable and features some solid customer testimonials to back up their claims. Be extra cautious when buying coloured or Halloween contact lenses from non-specialist stores, as they can be of low quality.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Myth of A Surrogate Baby In Indian Society

If a couple is unable to have children because the woman is not able to conceive, still they can have a baby through a surrogate mother, the baby born from a surrogate mother is called a surrogate baby. Medical science has developed a method called in-vitro fertilization to create an embryo from which your baby will grow. The doctors implant this embryo into the uterus of a surrogate mother rather than a biological mother where it grows until the baby is born. The baby born out of such arrangement is genetically related to one of the partners.
Myth of  A Surrogate Baby In Indian Society

Types Of Surrogate Mothers:-

Basically there are two kinds of surrogate mothers –
(1) Traditional Surrogate Mother: A traditional surrogate mother is a woman who is inseminated with the fathers sperm artificially. She then bears the baby until the surrogate baby is born and handed over to the parents to raise. A traditional surrogate mother is the baby’s biological mother because in such cases it is the surrogate mother’s egg which is fertilized with the fathers sperm. For traditional surrogacy donor sperm can also be used.
(2) Gestational Surrogate Mother: In gestational surrogacy eggs from the mother is harvested and fertilized with the sperm of the father by a medical process called in-vitro fertilization and the embryo is then placed into the uterus of a gestational surrogate mother who carries the baby till the birth. Gestational surrogate mother is called the birth mother and not the biological mother because it is not her egg which is used. The biological mother of such surrogate baby still remains the women whose egg is used for fertilization.
In gestational surrogacy both the intended parents have genetic ties with the baby. Gestational surrogacy has become more common than traditional surrogacy because it is less complex legally.
Surrogacy Can Be An Option For The Following Reasons:
Woman has got her uterus removed through hysterectomy

Facing medical problems with uterus:

Cases where pregnancy becomes impossible or risky due to certain medical conditions
Women who have been unsuccessful to get pregnant through assisted reproduction techniques such as IVF
Surrogacy has also helped people to become parents who were unable to adopt a child because of their age.

How To Find A Surrogate Mother?

One can find a surrogate mother by any of the following ways –
Asking Friends Or Family:
Because of high cost of surrogacy and complex legal issues for parental rights, some people ask their friends or relatives to become surrogates for them because a family relationship becomes much easier to handle and less complex.

Contacting A Surrogacy Agency:-

Surrogacy agency helps find a suitable surrogate mother for people who are otherwise unable to find a surrogate mother. Surrogacy agency finds a suitable surrogate, handles the transaction of fees and reimbursements of other medical expenses between the parents and the surrogate mother. There are surrogacy agencies in the US as well as across the globe to help parents choose the right surrogate mother for their surrogate baby.

How To Choose A Surrogate Mother?

While choosing a surrogate mother, following points should be taken care of –
The woman has given birth to at least one healthy baby and understands well the risks of pregnancy and childbirth and the emotional issues of bonding with the newborn child
She is at least 21 years of age
Has undergone psychological tests by a mental health doctor to uncover any issue relating to handing over the surrogate baby to the parents after the birth
Has agreed to sign the legal contract to take full responsibilities of the child during the pregnancy and hand over the surrogate baby to the parents after the birth
The surrogate mother should be properly evaluated medically for a likelihood of a full term healthy pregnancy and should also be screened for diseases such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, gonorrhea etc.

We Want To Hear From You:-

Did you find the above article helpful? What improvements would you like us to do? Any other point you may like to add that we have missed on surrogacy, surrogate mother or surrogate baby please do so in the comments below.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Mood Disorders Effect On Normal Life

Mood disorders or mood swings are a kind of a mental health problem which includes depression of all kinds and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders are also known as affective disorders. Mood disorders can be associated with psychiatric conditions or chronic medical conditions or medication side effects that affect the central nervous system. Mood swings or mood disorders can be associated with medical conditions which deprive the brain of oxygen and nutrients.

Mood Disorders Effect On Normal Life

Causes Of Mood Disorders Or Mood Swings:

Though the exact causes of mood disorders are not well known it could be related to chemical imbalance in the brain. Mood disorders are also considered to be inherited with multiple factors both genetic and environmental.
There could be psychiatric as well as other causes of mood disorders.

Psychiatric Causes Of Mood Disorders:

Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Postpartum Depression
Mood Disorder due to unstable relationship
Mood Disorder due to extreme anger
Other Causes Of Mood Disorders:
Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia
Head Injury
Pregnancy
Menopause
Brain Tumors
Side effects of medication
Sleep Disorders
Puberty

Symptoms Of Mood Disorders:

Symptoms of mood disorders may vary from person to person depending upon his/her age and the kind of mood disorder the person is going through. However the most common symptoms of mood disorders are as follows-
Feeling of excessive guilt
Feeling helpless
Feeling sad
Feeling to want to die
Low self esteem
Low on energy
Unable to concentrate
Unstable relationships
Lose interest in daily activities
Unable to make decisions
No sound sleep
Thoughts to commit suicide
Sensitive to failure of rejection
Frequent complaints of fatigue, headaches etc.
If the above symptoms of mood disorders continue for a longer time and are so intense than what a normal person experiences and they interfere with the person’s interest in family and friends and his/her daily activities then there should be addressed immediately. It is advised to take immediate medical help for proper diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in case such symptoms persist for long.

Types Of Mood Disorders:

The different types of mood disorders can be summarized as follows –
Bipolar Disorder:
One episode of depressed or irritable mood and one period of persistent elevated mood
Major Depression:
Decrease in interest in usual activities and a two week period of depressed mood
Dysthymic Disorder:
Chronic and low grade depressed mood for at least one year
Mood Disorders Due To Medication:
Depression due to side effects of medication, drug abuse, toxins and other treatments
Mood Disorders Due To General Medical Conditions:
Many chronic medical conditions such as infections, cancer, serious injuries etc may lead to symptoms of depression
Diagnosis Of Mood Disorders:
For a proper diagnosis of mood disorders, the medical practitioner would look into the following areas –
When did you observe the mood disorders for the first time?
Are you on any medications?
What mood swings you experience when you have mood disorders?
What makes them better or worse?
Are you suffering from any other psychiatric or medical problems?
Do you drink alcohol?
Are you addicted to any drugs?
Complications Of Mood Disorders:
If ignored and not treated timely, mood disorders may lead to serious complications such as –
Difficulties in day-to-day work
Memory loss, brain damage
Drug abuse
Risk of injury
Financial troubles
Self harm
Suicidal tendencies
Treatment For Mood Disorders:
For a specific treatment for mood disorders the doctor would take into consideration the following points –
The type of mood disorder a person is suffering from

How severe is the condition

The person’s age, general health and medical history
Tolerance towards specific medications, therapies and procedures
For an effective treatment of mood disorders the treatment should be based on through evaluation of the patient. The treatment for mood disorders may include the following –

Psychotherapy:

Psychotherapy is often used to change the person’s views about himself/herself and the environment around, to identify stressors in the environment and how to avoid them.

Family Therapy

Antidepressant medications
Have You Experienced Mood Disorders or Mood Swings?
Have you or anyone known to you been a sufferer of mood disorders or mood swings? What has been your way to handle the problem? Did you manage to successfully overcome the condition, if yes then how? Do let us know in the comments below.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Healthy Breakfast For Normal Health

As its been said – ‘breakfast is the most important diet of the day’it in fact means so. You may wonder, but if you start your day with a healthy breakfast you are there for a great day ahead. There are tremendous health benefits of breakfast, which not only includes enhancing your energy levels and concentration in studies or at work but healthy breakfast also aids in losing weight to help you maintain a healthy weight.

Healthy Breakfast For Normal Health

Studies suggest that breakfast eaters are leaner than those who skip breakfast. A healthy breakfast consisting of high fiber cereal helps in losing weight at the same time it is also beneficial in controlling diabetes and heart diseases and keeping a stroke away.

Health Benefits Of Breakfast:

(1) Healthy Breakfast Helps To Control Weight Gain:
Breakfast aids in controlling weight gain. Studies show having a healthy breakfast keeps your hunger pangs at bay and you do not tend to indulge in unnecessary, unhealthy snacking in between the meals which leads to weight gain and obesity. If you skip the breakfast you end up overeating at lunch and other meals which increases your total calorie intake. It’s worth mentioning here most of the studies show that when you eat a healthy breakfast, you are in a better position to control your weight by choosing a balanced diet for your breakfast. Mind you when we say ‘healthy breakfast’ we mean a meal consisting of protein and whole grains and not meals full of fats and calories.
(2) Healthy Breakfast Improves Concentration:
A healthy breakfast improves your concentration and performance at work or college. It gives you the required energy to push start your day energetically and enthusiastically.
(3) Healthy Breakfast Improves Your Metabolism:
Your metabolism improves when you start your day with the day’s first healthy meal in the morning. Healthy breakfast gives your metabolism a boost.

What Should Be The Healthy Breakfast?

Breakfast should have high fiber diet but it should not be limited to that. You may opt for whole grain breads for toasts and Trans fat free margarines. An egg may also be included in your breakfast twice or thrice a week, make sure to prepare it in low fat oil such as olive oil. Eggs contain protein which helps you keep full until lunch time. In a research conducted at Pennington Bio-medical research Center, researchers compared weight loss in women who ate either two eggs or a bagel for breakfast having equal calories and volume. It was observed that overweight women who ate two eggs for breakfast five times a week for eight weeks as compared to bagel eaters lost 65% more weight, reduced waistline by 83%, had no significant difference in their blood cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels and reported high energy levels.
But is the cholesterol in eggs good or bad? The research further shows that none of the women had increases in blood lipids which confirm that healthy adults with low fat diets can have eggs without having the risk of heart diseases. Studies have also suggested that people who add lean protein in their breakfast feel less hungry than people who ate breakfast without protein.

Cereals For Breakfast:

Including cereals in your breakfast helps you to maintain a healthy body weight. A study at Harvard points out those men who ate cereals in breakfast weighed less than the men who ate breakfast without cereals.
Some Quick Healthy Breakfast Choices For You:
A banana with a hard boiled egg
Fresh fruit with a low fat yogurt
Whole grain cereal with low fat milk and fresh fruit
Smoothie made with low fat yogurt and fruit
Resin and nuts, with oatmeal made with skimmed milk
What Are your Choices For Healthy Breakfast?
Do write to us about your healthy breakfast choices. Do you consider breakfast as an important meal for health? We await your comments below.