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How to prevent chilblains

December 30, 2008

What are chilblains
Chilblains are a medical condition found on the extremities of the body, such as the fingers, hands or toes. They are caused by a congestion of blood capillaries in the skins lower layer. Chilblains usually occur due to exposure to cold and humidity and can worsen due to a poor diet or tight shoes. It is an inflammation of the skin on feet, hands or ears and is followed by an itchy irritation.

Symptoms of chilblains
The common symptoms of chilblains are:

• Inflammation of the skin on toes
• Redness of nose
• Inflammation of the skin on fingers
• Redness of skin
• Inflammation of the earlobe

Treatment for chilblains
With treatment, chilblains heal in a period of four weeks. During chilblains treatment, it is essential to keep the affected area warm and clean. Scratching must be avoided by using a suitable anti-itching cream, powder or oil.

Studies have shown that approximately 1 out of every 10 Brit’s suffer from chilblains due to the poor blood circulation in their fingers and toes. For the prevention of chilblains, it is essential to improve the circulation to the fingers and toes. It is commonly seen in winter and you must keep yourself adequately warm by wearing gloves and other protective clothes.

A good diet and regular exercise help in maintaining the overall health of your body and prevent chilblains. Products used in chilblains treatment are available online and can be easily ordered.

Category: Chilblains

Is your foot infected with fungal infection?

December 27, 2008

It is a known fact that your feet exhibit the overall health of the body. While infected feet could look unappealing to the eye, it could also lead to serious consequences like amputation. Therefore, it is essential to not neglect the feet and take good care of them at all times. Like our body, our feet also react to seasonal and climatic changes.

During hot weather, the space between the toes is likely to collect moisture (sweat) due to humidity in the atmosphere. This is the beginning of most fungal skin infections as fungus tends to grow rapidly in damp area. The symptoms of a fungal infection could be redness, severe itch and thickening of toe-nails.

‘Tinea pedis’, commonly known as Athletes foot, is a fungal infection that could leave the toe nail discoloured, brittle and infected. Fungal infections are chronic, which means that one is likely to get them time and time again. The only thing to keep in mind is good hygiene and timely attention to the foot.

While there are various foot creams, termed as the antifungal treatment cream available. It is essential to consult a doctor and take a prescription, this being important as one might apply the wrong cream and aggravate the infection even more. A specialised skin doctor would prescribe the right drug and also advice the patient so that the infection does not spread and reappear in the future.

Nail fungus myths busted

December 24, 2008

There is a lot of factually inaccurate information available which can be misleading about nail fungus. Such incorrect information is also available on a wide range of health topics and it poses a serious danger to our health if we are influenced by them. Similarly there are some common myths regarding nail fungus, like:

Nail fungus is incurable
Nail fungus is caused by micro organisms like fungi, yeasts and molds. These organisms prosper in a warm and moist environment, similar to the environment in the foot. Due to their reoccurrence, most people believe nail fungus are incurable but with regular antifungal treatment and medication they can be completely eradicated.

Public places spread nail fungus
The main reason for nail fungus is because of the inability shown by your immune system to fight it. Nail fungus is not highly contagious and therefore avoiding public places dos not help in its prevention.

Nail fungus can be speedily cured
Nail fungus affects the nail and with the nail being hard, it is difficult for most medications to penetrate it. All fungal nail treatment can take some time before the results can be seen and if the treatment is not followed dutifully, there can be a repetition of the problem.

Nail fungus can spread from one nail to another and the best way of treating nail fungus is prevention. Good care should be taken of your nails and they should be washed and cleaned regularly. If needed, fungal nail treatments are available which help in preventing the fungus from reoccurring.

Category: Infections

chilblains

December 22, 2008

Chilblains are very itchy.  A burning sensation is also typical.  They are usually red to start with but may become purple. Pain and tenderness over the chilblains often develops.  In some cases the skin over a chilblain may blister which may delay healing.  Sometimes the skin breaks down to leave a small ulcer which is prone to infection.

If you are prone to chilblains then tyring to prevent them is sensible.  Apart from keeping hands and feet warm when out in cold weather ‘Warm that Sole’ is a highly effective blend of essentials oils which is proving to help prevent this painful condition.  The oils have a therapeutic affect and gently warm and aid circulation to the affected area.  Patients who have been using Warm that Sole over four winters now report a marked lessening of the occurence of chilblains.  0ne lady has said  “she never wants to be without ‘Warm that Sole’ again in her life”.

Category: Uncategorized

Preventing fungal nail infections

December 21, 2008

Just like bacteria and other viruses, fungi also are a cause of many infections. Fungi can live on the dead tissues of our body such as our hair and nails. These areas can be consequently destroyed due to fungal infections. The most common parts affected by fungi are the nails. Fungal nail infections can damage the colour, shape and texture of the nail. Since this is the most common form of fungal infections, we tend to ignore it.

Once the nail is infected, the fungus can spread and grow into the nail. This infection is commonly seen in the nails of the elderly and people who constantly work with water. People suffering from diabetes, AIDS, cancer and circulatory disorders are also prone to the infection.

The use of synthetic material like rubber or plastic gloves, footwear, etc. increases the risk of fungal nail infections as these materials do not absorb sweat catering to the growth of fungi with constant moisture and humidity.

The usual symptoms of fungal nail infections are brittle or dull nails. At times the nails may also thicken. Infected nails also separate from the nail bed giving off a foul odour. Fungal nail infections can be painful, especially if not treated and cause a fever, pus and swelling.

The best way to prevent fungal nail infection is to keep your nails short and clean, and by making sure that these areas are always kept dry. Along with this wearing ventilated footwear can also help keep this fungus away. The constant use of an anti-fungal spray or powder is a form of fungal nail treatment and also helps in keeping the fungi away.

What causes fungal skin infections

December 18, 2008

Skin infection and diseases caused by bacteria are very common. Do you know that certain types of bacteria are necessary to eliminate skin diseases? Fungus growing on your skin can also be the causes of various infections. The total elimination of bacteria on your skin encourages fungi growth on your skin.

Fungal skin infections take place in areas that are prone to heat and moisture as these are the optimum conditions for the fungus to breed on your skin. Therefore, it is necessary that you keep areas such as your armpits, toes, crotch, etc. well ventilated so that sweat is prevented and fungi growth is inhibited.

Fungal skin infections can be spread by sharing various articles such as towels, shoes, socks, etc. with people who already suffer from them. These problems are difficult to get rid off as once infected the fungi goes to the roots of your skin.

People with a weak immune system are prone to fungal skin infections. Also, people with diabetes are also prone to fungal infections due to their high sugar levels. These high sugar levels provide constant food allowing the fungi to grow rapidly. Obese people are also prone to fungal infection due to their increased number of folds in their skin that constantly sweat.

Fungal infections can also be hereditary, with the genetics of a person maybe increasing the risk of fungal infections due to their immunity. One of the best ways to avoid fungal infection is to increase your immunity which can be done with large consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Cure foot diseases before they spread

December 15, 2008

Fungal infections are the most common diseases that could leave the foot fouled and infected. Fungal infections are caused due to the rapid growing fungus that dwells in damp surroundings. Fungus requires a wet and soggy area to grow and spread its territory.

The feet are covered up in shoes and socks most of the times and it is important to give them some breathing space otherwise due to lack of oxygen and fresh air fungal infection is bound to occur. The blood circulation also needs to be stable and constant usage of tight footwear could impair the blood flow.

The climatic changes also affect the foot. Chilblains are acral ulcers occurring usually during winters when the weather is extremely cold. The toes appear red and severely swollen. It is advisable to cover up the feet with warm and clean socks so that the blood circulation is maintained.

Verruca warts infect the foot due to viruses that spread around it. They occur on the ball of the foot as it is exposed to maximum pressure. They are contagious in nature and could spread on the skin rapidly. While they seem to subside on their own, doctors also prescribe corrosive solutions for application on the wart.

With so many infections around us, it is extremely important to keep the feet strong and hygienic in order to withstand the diseases. Therefore, like we pay attention to other parts of our body, we need to do the same for our feet.

Does your foot itch severely?

December 12, 2008

If your foot is itching and redness has appeared on the skin then it is time to pay strict attention to your feet. You may be contracted with what is known as the fungal infection of the foot. While it could take some time to appear on the skin, but once it infects the foot it spreads rapidly as fungi are organisms that multiply and breed quickly.

The symptoms could leave your feet itchy, red and in terrible pain. The fungal infection also takes a lot of time to heal and a proper course of medication and antifungal creams have to be applied diligently.

Fungal infections prominently occur due to wet and moist weather. It is the dampness between the toes that helps the fungus to dwell. Places like the swimming pool and a wet and muddy playground are breeding grounds for fungal infections. It is therefore essential to be alert at such places and maintain a good hygiene.

Fungal infections leave the skin and nail of the feet absolutely aching. In order to make sure that the condition does not worsen the infection should be left open to the fresh air and dry at all times.

It is the damp and moist areas where the fungus thrives therefore do not let your footwear choke your feet. The socks should also be changed after a use. These are simple things to keep in mind so that the foot does not itch any more.

Category: Infections

Fungal infections that infect the feet

December 8, 2008

Athlete’s Foot is a common fungal disease that infects the foot of humans. It occurs between the toes and also affects the skin of the feet. Walking bare-foot on moist and wet ground is an easy way to contract this infection. In fact, a swimming pool is a common place to infect the entire body with a fungal infection. Therefore, one should remain clean and hygienic at such a place.

Symptoms of an athlete’s foot are bleeding, itching, reddening of skin, small blisters, thickening of nails, discolouration of nails, smelly odour, white patches on nails and a callous sensation.

For self treatment, one should pay special attention to hygiene. Bathing with soap and warm water is a must. Make sure that the infection is not aggressively rubbed as fungal infections spread rapidly. Do not expose feet to moisture and dampness. Make it a habit to change socks regularly and avoid tight footwear. The air circulation is necessary for the feet as it keeps them dry and fresh.

A fungal infection is the worst infection of the nail and toe. If it is not cured in the initial stages the bacteria could reside and worsen it even more. It is also advisable to take prescription drugs from a specialised doctor in order to keep the infection in control. The process may take a long time to heal and could get painful but correct medicines and ointment would only lessen it.

Category: Athletes Foot

Chilblain: Causes and effects

December 6, 2008

Chilblain is a foot disease that is always confused with frostbite due to its name. Though it occurs when an individual is exposed to cold, it is nowhere close to frostbite as the effect is ulcers formed on the extremities of our body, like the toes and fingers. Even though Chilblain is a disease of its own kind, it can be a symptom for serious medical conditions that may need to be investigated.

Although Chilblain is painful, it does not cause any permanent impairment. Chilblain does not take much time to develop if your skin is extremely sensitive to cold weather. Therefore, one way to prevent Chilblain is to keep your hands and feet warm at all times during winter.

If you have developed Chilblain, make sure that you wash and clean the affected area carefully. Keep them warm by covering them lightly with loose clothes so that your natural body heat is restored. This disease is extremely common among children and the aged as their skin is very sensitive to changes.

Chilblain occurs mainly due to rapid change in the heat supplied to the body. You may also develop Chilblain if your body has been in the cold for long and then is suddenly exposed to extreme heat. Chilblain can be identified as a small itchy red area on your skin that is painful. Swelling on the affected areas is also common.

There are natural methods for Chilblain treatment that helps in keeping the wound warm and clean. This disease can be treated and cured within a minimum time span of 4 weeks.

Category: Chilblains
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