Chloride (CSF) Tips

Are you noticing brown, scaly patches developing on your skin? Do you feel an itching sensation in the affected areas? These symptoms may indicate Erythrasma, a skin disease caused by the Gram-positive bacterium called Corynebacterium minutissimum. This type of skin disease is more common among diabetic patients and people suffering from obesity. This condition is likely to affect people living in warm climates. The border of an erythrasma infected area is very well defined. A sharp, contrasting border is present between the erythrasma affected area and the normal skin. The infection is most likely to develop in the folds of skin such as in the groin and inner thigh region, under the arms, in the crevice of buttocks, in the folds under breasts and also in between toes.

Symptoms
The common symptoms of erythrasma are as follows:

1. The skin becomes dry and pink.
2. Reddish brown scaly patches develop.
3. Headaches, weight gain and fatigue are likely.
4. Abdominal, chest and joint pain may accompany a urinary tract pain.

Treatment
By closely observing the affected area, erythrasma can be detected or diagnosed by any physician. In some cases, a Wood’s lamp may be utilized. This device emits UV light on the skin, helping the doctor to examine the skin condition. Some areas are scraped with a tiny blade by the doctor to collect samples. These samples are then tested in the laboratory for a detailed diagnosis.

In adults, erythrasma can be cured by applying several methods and techniques. Some of them are listed below:

1. Scrub the patches on your skin using an anti-bacterial soap. This willreduce the infection and help in curing the rash.
2. Use gels and oral medication,as prescribed by yourdoctor.
3. Apply topical antibiotic lotions to the affected area for quick and efficient healing.
4. Use a solution of aluminum chloride, which will helpin the inhibition of moisture and sweat.
5. A special ointment made of benzoic acidand salicylic acid is effective.
6. Use of certain oral antibiotics are also considered efficacious.

The medicines aim at eliminating the infection and preventing the recurrence or development of more complications. Antibacterial products help in eliminating the bacteria.
Photodynamic therapyusing red light can also be used to cure erythrasma. This therapy also treats rashes.

Prevention
For the prevention of erythrasma, you should:

1. Maintain proper weight and proper hygiene
2. Avoid excessive heat and moisture
3. Use antibacterial soaps
4. Use erythromycin gel
5. Use antibiotics when the infection is severe

With proper treatment, erythrasma can be totally cured. It is recommended that you visit a doctor for the best diagnosis and for knowing about the most effective treatment methods.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Salt or more specifically Sodium plays a crucial role in BP management. Too high salt/Sodium ingestion can cause high BP while too low salt/sodium levels can cause low BP. So it is important to maintain an optimum salt intake. Studies have shown that a reduction in the amount of sodium consumed through the diet leads to a noticeable decrease of blood pressure and therefore, it is important to keep salt intake as low as possible. Salt intake is not same as Sodium intake. Salt is Sodium Chloride and is just one of the forms in which human beings consume Sodium. Here are some tips--

1. Recommended Salt/ Sodium intake - Adults should consume <5gms of salt in a day (appx 1 teaspoon salt)/ Or <2.3 gms of sodium daily. Ideal Sodium intake should be <1.5 gms daily. 
2. To decrease salt/sodium, AVOID processed foods like Chips, nachos, popcorns, namkeens like bhujiya, salted peanuts etc, pickles, papads, chutneys, sauces like tomato and soya sauce, ready-to-eat meals, junk and fried food like burgers, french fries, cured hams or bacon or salami, packed salty drinks like juices or buttermilk, hot chocolate etc. 
3. Avoid adding salt from over the top in your salads, soups, curds and vegetables. 
4. DO NOT Absolutely remove salt from your diet. Hence, Salt used while cooking the food at home is fine, but once the food is cooked do not add extra salt/chaat masala in the cooked food. 
5. Teach healthy eating habits to your children by encouraging them to eat fruits, vegetables, drinking fresh food and home cooked meals rather than junk food. 
6. If you are heart failure patient or kidney disease patient discuss with your Cardiologist or Nephrologist about the optimum recommended salt intake specified for you. 
7. It is difficult to get used to low salt in terms of taste when you are used to salty taste, but it is possible. But the health benefits of controlling salt in diet can play a major role in BP reduction thus preventing the need for medicines, hence it can be worthwhile to get used to low salt taste.

Loss of hair from the scalp, one of the most common problems plaguing the world today, can be caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, disorders and environmental factors. There are a number of homeopathic treatments that are used to treat hair loss. These treatments focus on the cause of the disease rather than just treating the symptoms. 

Hair loss can be classified as -

1. Telogen effluvium: This is a disorder of the hair growth cycle where the telogen phase (where the hair falls out) becomes dominant. 

2. Alopecia aorta: This is an autoimmune disorder where the immune cells of the body destroy the hair. Hair loss tends to occur in patches.

3. Androgenic alopecia: This type of disorder is caused by hormonal and genetic factors resulting in a receding hairline. 

The various homeopathic treatments for hair loss are -

1. Silica

Silica is used to treat a number of diseases in homeopathy. Besides being an effective remedy for hair loss, it is also treat symptoms of vitiligo, nail problems and eczema.

2. Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another homeopathic treatment that is used to treat hair loss. It promotes hair growth in spots where hair loss has occurred.

3. Kaliumcarbonicum

This treatment is used for brittle and thinning hair as it enhances hair growth. It is usually recommended for people with various forms of alopecia.

4. Lycopodium

This treatment is prescribed for people who suffer from premature balding. It is also recommended for pregnant women if they suffer from hair loss.

5. Natrummuriaticum

This homeopathic remedy is made from sodium chloride and used to treat hair problems resulting from skin complications. It is also recommended for women who face hair loss from menstrual problems. It treats dandruff and hair disorders due to hormonal imbalances.

6. Sulfur

Sulfur is an excellent homeopathic remedy to treat hair loss as it promotes hair growth. It also eliminates dandruff from the scalp.

Most dieticians are of the opinion that limiting your salt intake is essential, as an increased amount of salt in the system can damage your kidneys, heart and may increase your blood pressure, and chances of stroke. On the other hand, decreasing it beyond a point can prove to be detrimental to your health in various ways as well.

However, when relating to blood pressure, an increased salt intake can prove harmful to you only if you already have high blood pressure. In the case of normal levels of blood pressure, excess salt consumption will not prove to be too dangerous. Here are the ways in which low salt intake can prove to be detrimental for your health:

• Increases chances of heart diseases: Having a lower amount of salt in your diet - i.e. less than 2000 mg per day increases the risk of heart-related disorders, which include, but may not be limited to, strokes or heart attacks, exponentially.
• Decreases the body's level of sodium: Decreased levels of sodium in the body, often a direct byproduct of a reduced salt intake, can lead to a number of complications. Sodium is essential for maintaining electrolyte and mineral balance in the body. A decrease in sodium levels in the system, in extreme cases, can lead to hyponatremia, which can prove detrimental for the kidneys or liver.

Salt, which mainly contains two radicals - sodium and chloride ions, are essential for life. However, they can be obtained only through food as it is not manufactured intrinsically. There are several essential reasons for why salt intake in the optimal amounts is absolutely crucial in maintaining healthy body functioning:

• It is an essential component of blood plasma, as well as several other crucial body fluids such as extracellular fluid, lymphatic fluid, and amniotic fluid.
• It is important for maintenance and regulation of a proper level of blood pressure.
• Sodium, in the context of body physiology, is critical in maintaining a proper acid-base level in your system and in controlling the levels of your body fluid.
• The exchange of sodium and potassium ions, both obtained from salts, is also essential for muscle movement and in sending signals from the brain to the muscles.

Related Tip: Why Sodium is So Bad? + How to Control it with Diet?

Pitted keratolysis is a skin condition that affects the soles of your feet. As a result of this disease, the skin on the forefoot or heel turns white with pitted clusters. This is often accompanied by an offensive odor and is worse when the skin is wet. This odor is the main reason patients seek treatment for this skin condition. If left untreated, this can last for many years.

People who suffer from excessive sweating and those who wear closed shoes for extended durations have a high risk of suffering from this condition. Pitted Keratolysis is a bacterial infection where the bacteria multiply in moist conditions and release enzymes that destroy the horny cells of the foot soles. 

With time, this turns into characteristic crater like pits on the skin. They also produce sulphur compounds simultaneously that lead to the odor.

Treatment for this skin condition can be categorized under medicinal treatments and home remedies.

Medicinal remedies:

1. One of the ways to treat this disease is to treat the hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating that triggers it.
2. Topical fusidic acid ointments or clotrimazole ointments can also provide some relief.
3. Your doctor may also prescribe oral antibiotics to clear stubborn lesions.
4. Other treatment options include anti-bacterial soap and injectable botulinum toxin. Using a strong antiperspirant with aluminum chloride can also resolve the issue.

Home remedies:

1. The first thing you must do if you suffer from this condition is keep your feet dry. Wearing socks with your shoes is a good idea as this keeps your feet dry and ventilated. Thus, keeping the bacteria from multiplying. After having a bath, pay special attention to drying your feet. You could even use a hair dryer on your feet.
2. Wash your feet with soap and water at least twice a day. You could also use an antiseptic cleanser or antibacterial soap.
3. Try and reduce the number of hours you wear closed shoes. Whenever possible, wear open toed sandals. Do not wear the same shoes for two days in a row without giving them time to dry out.
4. If possible, change your socks at least once in the day.
5. Do not share footwear or towels with anyone else.
6. Apply antiperspirants to the soles of your feet.
7. Soak your feet in half a bucket of water with 15-20 drops of tea tree oil.

In case you have a concern or query regarding skincare consult doctor online, you can always consult the best dermatologist online & get the answers to your questions.

Homeopathic medications that cure hair problems:

1. Arnica Montana: Homeopathic oils can prove to be effective in treating hair problems. They need to be used regularly and over a long period of time. The Arnica Montana oil is widely used to accelerate hair regeneration. This oil contains jaborandi, arnica mont, cantharis and lycopodium. Applying this oil on a daily basis can rid you of scalp infections, dandruff, rough hair, premature graying and hair breakage.
2. Kali Sulphuricum: You need to be extremely careful regarding the dosage of this particular medicine.  Kali Sulphuricum should not be taken routinely for more than two weeks at a stretch. You should take this medicine twice a day to achieve desired results. Researches show sulphur is good for the general health of your hair. It is known to treat hair damage successfully. It also fights dandruff.
3.  Natrum Muriaticum: Hormonal imbalances are prevalent in human beings of all age groups. It might affect you during puberty, teenage, pregnancy, mid life or during late adulthood. While on one hand it leads to dermatological problems on the other hand it can hamper the overall health of your hair. If you are losing hair due to malfunctioning hormones, your homeopathic doctor may administer this medicine to help your case. Natrum Muriaticum can remedy conditions like dry crusts on your scalp, and hair thinning arising from menstrual or skin problems. This medicine contains sodium chloride in great amounts.
4. Phosphorus: The scalp gets dirty very easily. This can lead to increased hair loss. Phosphorus triggers hair growth and is prescribed if you are losing hair in patches. People who have frizzy hair tend to develop split ends very easily. Phosphorus can help in treating such split ends.
5. Kalium Carbonicum: People who are reticent and have a conformist mindset are advised to take this medication to cure hair problems. Kali Carbonicum has the same compounds Egyptians used to make glass. It is valuable in the treatment of brittle hair. It can promote hair growth in regions that are balding.

There are many food items which would become stale after a few hours, but there are certain foods which may last forever without the need to can them or freeze or dehydrate. If an individual is new to the field of food storage, these staples can be an excellent way to begin.

1. White rice: There are numerous researchers who have found that polished or white rice keeps up their nutrient content and flavour for almost 30 years if it can be stored in oxygen-free containers in temperatures that range below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Brown rice, on the other hand, doesn’t last more than six months owing to the availability of natural oils in the bran layer.
2. Honey: Honey is preferably the only food that would last forever due to the perfect chemistry and the handiwork of the bees. The nectar extracted from the flower gets mixed with the enzymes present in the bees’ bodies which alter the composition of the nectar. The nectar is further broken down into simple sugars and is accumulated in the honeycombs. The processing, as well as sealing of the honey, is primarily responsible for the incredible shelf life.
3. Salt: Since sodium chloride is a mineral which is taken from the natural components of the earth, its shelf-life should come as a natural consequence. It is used for centuries as a means of preserving other food products as it can extract out all the moisture. But this doesn’t indicate that the table salt would last forever. Dietitians say that the addition of the iodine to the table salt reduces the shelf life of the salt which means that if the label says that it is an iodized salt, it will not last over five years.
4. Soy sauce: When left unopened, a container filled with soya sauce would last for a significantly long period. But it is also dependent on the type of soy sauce and the additives used. Even if the soy sauce has been opened, this salty condiment will last for many years if stored in the refrigerator.
5. Sugar: Quite similar to many items, the storage process of the sugar determines whether the sugar is going to last for long or not. Granulated and powdered sugar must be kept under an airtight condition to steer clear of moisture. Although retailers are needed to provide the manufacturing dates of the sugar, manufacturers say that the sugar remains edible even if it has hardened and become brown.
6. Pure maple syrup: Pure maple syrup, as well as commercial sugars such as granular sugars and honey, has an irresistible life owing to its shield against any kinds of microbial growth. Unopened maple syrup shall last forever, and in case there is the formation of mould, boiling it to a certain degree and skimming the surface and ultimately pouring it to a clean and air-tight container would eliminate all the problems.
7. Clarified butter: This kind of butter is boiled unless the total moisture is extracted, which is the reason that it doesn’t go bad. As long as the clarified butter or ghee is stored in sealed container under cool temperature, it would last for about 100 years. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dietitian-nutritionist.

Loss of hair from the scalp, one of the most common problems plaguing the world today, can be caused by a variety of factors such as genetics, disorders and environmental factors. There are a number of homeopathic treatments that are used to treat hair loss. These treatments focus on the cause of the disease rather than just treating the symptoms. 

Hair loss can be classified as: 

1. Telogen effluvium: This is a disorder of the hair growth cycle where the telogen phase (where the hair falls out) becomes dominant. 
2. Alopecia aorta: This is an autoimmune disorder where the immune cells of the body destroy the hair. Hair loss tends to occur in patches.
3. Androgenic alopecia: This type of disorder is caused by hormonal and genetic factors resulting in a receding hairline. 

The various homeopathic treatments for hair loss are: 

1. Silica: Silica is used to treat a number of diseases in homeopathy. Besides being an effective remedy for hair loss, it also treats symptoms of vitiligo, nail problems and eczema.
2. Phosphorus: Phosphorus is another homeopathic treatment that is used to treat hair loss. It promotes hair growth in spots where hair loss has occurred.
3. Kaliumcarbonicum: This treatment is used for brittle and thinning of hair, as it enhances hair growth. It is usually recommended for people with various forms of alopecia.
4. Lycopodium: This treatment is prescribed for people who suffer from premature balding. It is also recommended for pregnant women if they suffer from hair loss.
5. Natrummuriaticum: This homeopathic remedy is made from sodium chloride and is used to treat hair problems resulting from skin complications. It is also recommended for women who face hair loss from menstrual problems. It treats dandruff and hair disorders due to hormonal imbalances.
6. Sulfur: Sulfur is an excellent homeopathic remedy to treat hair loss as it promotes hair growth. It also eliminates dandruff from the scalp.

Pickles are considered divisive foods and different people are always at varying ends of their pickle-enjoyment spectrum. While most people love them, some do not love them at all. But regardless of whether you like them or not, you should include them in your daily diet to receive a wide range of health benefits. Most people are intimidated by the thought of having pickle shots, but they will not just zing up your taste buds, but also offer a host of benefits for your health.

Why should you have pickle shots?

1. Have quite a few nutrients: There are tons of benefits of drinking pickle shots which includes relieving muscle cramps and help you stay hydrated during workout sessions. Pickle shots can inhibit electrically induced muscle cramps and the sodium and potassium content work as the electrolytes that you lose while sweating. The calcium chloride and potassium present in pickle shots is readily absorbed by the body which makes it an absolute necessity for athletes and fitness freaks. Moreover, it is free of fats which makes it an essential replacement of sugar-loaded sports drinks. If you are a regular sufferer of PMS, it will help you in easing salt carvings. But since pickle shots contain vinegar, it is quite acidic, and thus you should avoid taking them on empty stomach.
2. Rich in antioxidants: Pickle shots are rich in antioxidants which can combat cancer-causing free radicals. This is especially true in case of cucumber pickle shots which is rich in Vitamin A and E. The antioxidants not just help in preventing free-radical damage, but the nutrients are better absorbed by the body owing to the acidic nature of the pickle shots.
3. Improves gut health: Moreover, pickle is a form of fermented food which proves to be effective for the digestive system and improves gut health. Vinegar helps in relieving bad breath, and thus, you can have pickle shots to freshen up breath.
4. Controls blood sugar: Last but not the least, pickle shots can help in controlling blood sugar. If you have type 2 diabetes, then pickle shots can regulate blood sugar levels after a meal.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Blood plasma enriched with platelets is known as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Being a rich source of similar platelets, PRP can perform healing of tissues and bone by using various cytokines and growth factors. Plasma therapy using platelets is a renowned procedure and is extensively used in other methods such as orthopaedics, dentistry and dermatology. Indications in dermatology that require PRP are wound healing, androgenetic alopecia,face rejuvenation etc. Various protocols are used for the preparation of PRP and although no fixed procedure exists, the principle methods include gathering of platelets in groups, which are 3 to 5 times greater than the physiological quality. This is followed by infusing this concentrated plasma in the tissue where recuperation is needed.

Constituents:
PRP is used in tissue repair due to the growth factors present and their efficiency to heal various injuries. Calcium chloride and thrombin are used to activate the platelets that are gathered in the PRP. PRP contains cytokines and growth factors that include:

1. Keratinocyte growth factor
2. Fibroblast growth factor
3. Insulin-like growth factor 1
4. Insulin-like growth factor 2
5. Platelet-derived growth factor
6. Epidermal growth factor
7. Transforming growth factor

Conditions:

The effectiveness of PRP is being evaluated through research. The effectiveness is influenced by factors such as

1. Area of the body that is treated
2. Whether the illness is chronic or acute
3. Health of the patient

Preparation:
There are two standard methods of preparation of PRP. In both the processes, the patient's blood (anticoagulated using citrate dextrose) is collected and passed through two centrifugation processes, which are designed to separate the concentrated PRP from the red blood cells and plasma deficient platelets. Production of PRPs vary according to different techniques and equipment.

Clinical Applications:
In humans, PRP has been used to treat different kinds of ailments such as androgenic alopecia, osteoarthritis, nerve injury, plantar fasciitis and chronic tendinitis. It is also used in plastic and oral surgery as well as for bone repair. Following 6 weeks of therapy, the patients are advised to rest. 6-12 weeks later, they are re-checked for improvement. In some cases, there might be a requirement of more than one injection. Most of the patients report that they are able to return to normal activities within 3 months.