Why we develop under-eye bags?

One cause, experts say, is natural ageing. With age, the muscles in the eyelids weaken and the collagen too starts degrading, leading to wrinkling and sagging of the skin. Collagen is responsible for giving structure to our cells and maintaining the tautness and elasticity of youthful skin. Besides skin and muscle, another culprit for under eye puffiness is fat. As one gets older, the ligaments that hold the fat layer get weak, allowing the fat to push forward, forming a little puffy pillow under the eye. However, recent research discounts this theory. Instead, the amount of fat beneath the eyes actually starts to increase with age, causing baggy lower eyelids. More research is needed to determine the exact mechanism that leads to baggy lower eyelids, but it is universally agreed that as the calendar pages turn, the bag-forming process naturally progresses.

We all age but why do only some of us develop under-eye bags?

Like with most of our characteristics, heredity plays a major role in this too. Those who have a family history of this develop this problem sooner or to a greater extent than others. Apart from the genes we inherit, lifestyle factors matter too. Do you consistently deprive yourself of sleep? Do you eat a lot of salty food that causes you to retain water? Are you getting enough exercise? Inappropriate lifestyle choices invariably reflect on your skin and may hasten the process of developing dark circles and under eye bags.

Can some other conditions masquerade as under-eye bags?

Yes. Under eye puffiness can also be a result/symptom of a medical condition such as chronic sinusitis. Those with sinus trouble often experience swelling around the eyes. The process of blowing up of the skin and then reverting to normal keeps happening all the time and can loosen the skin. Over a period this lead to bags under your eyes. So if you’re experiencing symptoms of sinusitis [pain in cheeks and brow, puffy and watery eyes] take precautions to avoid this in later years. You can use an extra pillow or a wedge that props up the head to help create some drainage and this might make the eyes look less puffy in the mornings. Sudden swelling of both upper and lower eyelid points towards a severe allergic condition known as angioedema. This may or may not be associated with itchy hives on the skin. Hypothyroidism or low levels of the thyroid hormone may present with bagginess of lower eyelids along with dry skin, frizzy hair, sallow complexion and menstrual irregularities. Finally, if the puffiness below the eyes changes with posture or the time of the day you need to rule out renal or cardiac causes.

Do home remedies work?

Using cucumber slices, ice-packs or frozen tea bags help, but only for a short while. These home remedies seem to work mainly because of the cold temperature that has an anti-inflammatory effect and temporarily reduces swelling. Amongst all the home remedies, using green tea bags works the best as green tea contains a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient known as EGCG that reduces fluid retention responsible for puffiness.

What are the medical options to treat under-eye bags?

Medical/cosmetic therapy aims at not only improving the puffy lower eyelid but also to rejuvenate the appearance of the skin around the eyes. This can be achieved with temporary measures like Botulinum injections or dermal fillers.

Botulinum or botox, a protein derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, when injected into muscles leads to temporary paralysis and flattening of the muscles. It stretches the overlying skin and results in smooth, wrinkle-free appearance. It is often used to iron out the wrinkles around the eyes commonly known as &lquo;crow’s feet&rquo;. The maximum effect is seen 1 or 2 weeks after the procedure and lasts for 3 – 6 months. If performed by trained hands, it is a safe and effective measure to give a youthful look. If the injection is placed in the wrong muscle or in excess, it may lead to temporary drooping of the eyelids.

The other option is to use injectable dermal fillers to fill up the tear trough. The tear trough is the junction of the lower eyelid and upper margin of the cheek. The filler is injected just under the puffy area to even out the look and remove the indentation caused by the puff. The commonest filler agent used is hyaluronic acid. This is a natural component of the dermis, which binds water and renders volume and turgidity to skin. Dermal fillers work well in early stage puffiness and bags. The result lasts for 6 –9 months and then the procedure has to be repeated.

Surgical eye lift offers a more permanent solution. In one surgical intervention, the fat under the eyes is melted with the help of tiny electronic probes. Another surgical method is blepharoplasty. In it, the under eye fat is removed along with loose skin either with the help of a scalpel or laser. This corrects both drooping and sagging. In either case, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin around the eye to remove excess fat. Often, the surgery is done on upper eye lids as well.

Another option is transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty, which is a procedure to remove excess fat from the lower eyelid through the conjunctiva, thus hiding the surgery marks. The eye lift usually doesn’t require hospitalisation as it can be done in an hour. It heals in a couple of weeks.

Who can opt for these surgeries?

There are certain pre-requisites for the laser correction of under eye bags. An ideal candidate for this procedure should be 35 years or older, physically fit and should be made aware to expect results that are realistic rather than fantastic. Furthermore, a person with pre-existing medical conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes or high blood pressure is at a higher risk of a difficult procedure and could also expect suboptimal results.

What are the risks associated with surgery?

Eyelid surgery may also be associated with certain discomforting after-effects such as blurred vision or double vision. However, these disappear in a week or so. You need to also factor in some swelling and bruising, which heals in a few weeks. A few patients also develop tiny white heads called milia in the suture line after removal of the stitches. However, these can be easily removed by the doctor.

Certain complications are long-lasting. Some patients have difficulty closing their eyes. This problem generally resolves within a few weeks, although rarely, it can be permanent. Ectropion, a condition that causes the lower lids to be pulled down, is another rare complication that requires surgical correction.

Lastly, conditions such as glaucoma, dry eyes, and detached retinas are rare complications associated with eyelid surgery. One needs to be aware of these potential complications before signing up for the procedure.

This was first published in the November 2011 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Bye-bye, under-eye bags appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

How STDs affect health

Though STDs are not a much-talked about health issue, as per the World Health Organization, more than a million new cases of STDs occur every day throughout the world. In developing countries, STDs are among the top five diseases to affect the adult population. What is alarming is that these infections are mostly seen during 15 – 49 years of age—the most productive years of one’s life.

STDs are more common in adolescent girls and women. These infections, if not promptly treated, can cause blockage of the fallopian tube and also lead to infertility. STDs could also be detected during pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies [pregnancies occurring at sites other than the uterus] are more likely in individuals from STDs. Active genital infection such as herpes, during delivery, puts the newborn at the risk of herpetic infection of the skin and/or internal organs as well.

Often STDs are without symptoms. Lack of symptoms, however, does not mean fewer chances of complications. Thus, women with sexual partners, who have symptoms suggestive of STDs should seek care, even in the absence of complaints.

Also, in case the person has an HIV infection, STDs tend to be more florid, severe and resistant to standard treatment. HIV infected individuals who are not on therapy for the same, generally need a longer course of treatment for STDs.

Common STDs

• Caused by bacteria: Gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, granuloma inguinale or donovanosis and chancroid.
• Caused by a virus: HIV, herpes, hepatitis B, genital molluscum, human papillomavirus causing cervical cancer.
• Caused by parasite: Genital scabies and pubic lice.
• Caused by fungus: Candidiasis.
• Caused by protozoa: Vaginal trichomoniasis.

What are the symptoms of a STD?

In case of STDs, usually there is a discharge from the vagina, penis or urethra, urinary tract infections or swelling of lymph nodes in the groin. There could also be ulcers in the genital area. These symptoms are not specific to any particular organism and could be due to herpes, chancroid, and syphilis or donovanosis infection.

The genital discharge could also be due to gonorrhoea, candidiasis or trichomonal infection. Infections such as the HIV or hepatitis B do not have specific symptoms. Therefore, to diagnose these conditions, a detailed examination and tests like pus culture, antigen and/or antibody levels are required. In case you suspect that you’ve contracted an STD, get yourself checked by a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Can STDs be prevented?

Since these infections are transmitted during sex, it is necessary to follow safe sexual practices. The chance of contracting an STD increases with increase in number of sexual partners. So it’s best to restrict your sexual activities to a loyal, uninfected partner. Also, if you doubt that you have contracted an STD, avoid any sexual contact till you get it verified by an expert. STDs don’t always spread only via intercourse; they also spread via oral and anal sex.

Using barrier contraceptives such as condoms reduces the risk of becoming infected with STDs, especially if the condoms are used correctly and consistently. However, certain STDs like genital molloscum or herpes, are present in the skin around the genitals. And since the condom does not cover the area, the infection may still get to passed on to the sexual partner.

Oral contraceptives protect against pregnancy not STDs. There are vaccines to protect against Human papilloma viruses [HPV], which causes genital warts and cervical cancer. These are most effective when used before the first sexual contact; the vaccine can be given as early as nine years of age up to 26 years of age. It has also been used in males to prevent genital warts.

It is time to shed our inhibitions to protect ourselves and the future generations from such diseases. It is the duty of each parent to educate their teens about safe sexual practices. The children should feel free to approach their parents for such matters. For information and treatment of matters related to sexual health, consult a trained doctor; only a trained professional can give you appropriate counselling and accurate treatment.

The post STDs: Beware of the love bugs appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Facial skin is delicate and repeated bleaching or waxing may damage it or cause pigmentation. This is why lasers come to the rescue. They eliminate unwanted hair without harming the skin.

Although women with unwanted facial hair use it more, it is also popular among metrosexual men who want to get rid of facial or body hair as per current grooming standards. Before opting for a laser treatment, though, familiarise yourself with how it all works.

The type of lasers used

Of the many types of lasers, the Nd:YAG, IPL and diode lasers are used for laser hair reduction [LHR].

The wavelength of Nd:YAG laser is such that it is almost entirely absorbed by the melanin [pigment] of the hair, leaving the skin unharmed [melanin is capable of absorbing wavelengths ranging from 800nm – 1000nm]. Hence, it is the most preferred for this procedure.

How it is done

First, the area to be treated is shaved. This reduces the chances of heat contact with the skin and facilitates smooth movement of the laser probe. Don’t worry, shaving does not increase the thickness of the hair.

A thick layer of cooling gel is then applied on the area and sequential laser shots are given. Many people report experiencing a warm/stinging sensation during this stage. Some sensitive areas are made numb using anaesthetic creams prior to the procedure.

At the end, ice is applied on the area to ease discomfort. Lastly, a high SPF sunscreen is applied on the area and you can go home.

Immediately after the treatment, you might find redness and swelling around the hair follicle. These symptoms usually disappear in a couple of hours.

After-care

Protection against sunlight is an absolute post-care measure, not only on the day of the session but throughout the therapy. Do not indulge in beauty or cosmetic treatments or cosmetic therapy like chemical peels for at least a week before and after a session.

Sitting schedule

Hair growth occurs in a cyclical manner. There is a growing phase or anagen, resting phase or telogen and a shedding phase or catagen. Only anagen hair is most affected by laser.

What that means is that though the laser targets the entire treatment area, it affects only around 30 per cent hair. The anagen hair needs to be targeted in the next cycle by repeating the session after 4 – 6 weeks.

That’s why LHR cannot be done in a single session; one might notice nothing more than a reduction in the density of hair after the first session. On an average, 6 – 8 sessions of LHR are needed for optimum results.

At the end of the prescribed number of sessions, around 80 per cent hair is permanently removed leaving the rest as fine and thin hair. This hair can be managed by follow-up [maintenance] sessions every three months or so.

For best results, rule out any hormonal imbalance. In case there is an imbalance, combining LHR with medication gives better results.

Thicker the better

Contrary to popular belief, lasers work best on thick and coarse hair. Thick hair is better able to absorb a laser than colourless and fine hair. Fine light-coloured hair may not completely disappear, but becomes finer than what it is.

What may go wrong

If the redness and burning sensation experienced immediately after the treatment persist, contact your doctor; it could be skin burn. Burn occurs mainly due to technical errors or due to extreme sensitivity of the skin.

Hence, get the procedure done from a trained medical professional. It’s better to ask for a patch test before the first session to see how your skin responds to laser.

Further, if lower intensity energy is used than required, it may stimulate hair growth. This is known as paradoxical hair growth and happens rarely. The new hair tends to be fine and light coloured. It is treated by graded increase in the energy used for treatment.

A word of caution

• Do not undergo the laser session if you have an infection of the skin or severe acne at the site to be treated.
• Skip the treatment if you are sensitive to the sun, are pregnant or suffer from auto-immune medical conditions.
• Ensure that the dermatologist does a detailed skin examination before your first laser session.
• Do not wax before a procedure as laser cannot be done on hairless skin. Your doctor needs to see some hair growth before starting the procedure to decide the energy settings of the machine according to the hair type.

Lasers have no effect on grey/white hair or bleached hair. Hence, do not bleach the hair immediately before the procedure.

The post Laser Hair Reduction: A hair razing act appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.