Kosmo Care Skin,Hair & Body Care Clinic

Facial aging is an issue which shows its first signs around the late twenties and early thirties. It is manifested in the form of fine lines, dark circles, wrinkles and rough skin, especially near the eyes and lips. This process cannot be reversed. It is a part of human body and the way the skin matures with age. But, it can be treated through surgical and non-surgical or natural means to make sure that the process of aging is slowed down.

Factors Affecting Facial Aging:

There are several factors which affect the facial aging and aggravate the process faster. Some of these factors are:

1. If you smoke excessively, your face would sooner or later start showing signs of aging prematurely.
2. At times, this process gains speed due to genetic issues.
3. Stress and anxiety are the most important reasons for a person to start showing signs of aging at an early stage of life.
4. If you lead a hectic lifestyle which involves excessive travelling throughout different climates, the exhaustion may be manifested through facial aging.

What are Dermal Fillers?

Dermal fillers help to diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face.

As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat. The facial muscles are then working closer to the skin surface, so smile lines and crow's feet become more apparent.

The facial skin also stretches a bit, adding to this loss of facial volume. Other factors that affect the facial skin include sun exposure, heredity, and lifestyle.

Dermal fillers can be used to:

• Plump thin lips
• Enhance shallow contours
• Soften facial creases and wrinkles
• Improve the appearance of recessed scars

Dermal fillers can be very helpful in those with early signs of aging, or as a value-added part of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Administration:

You must make a note of the fact that dermal filling is not considered to be a type of surgical treatment. However, it does use anaesthesia while being administered. In fact, the patient is first given a dose of anaesthesia and left to rest for about half an hour. Some fillers have anesthesia in the syringe itself otherwise, we apply numbing cream or topical anesthesia. Thereafter, dermal fillings are applied with the help of fine needles. You need to realise that the use of fine needles with precision can be done only by those who have been specially trained for it. Thus, if your dermatologist recommends you for a treatment of dermal filling, then he/she ought to be a trained expert in carrying out the procedure. If you, on your own prefer to get this treatment done, then you should also find an expert who is well trained in administering this procedure.

Thus, dermal fillers are quite famous in the world of facial dermatology to reverse the aging process. It helps in reducing fine lines, wrinkles and adds volume and smoothness to the skin.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder. Although it is non-contagious, the disease is quite complex. Erythematous plaques with silvery scales appear on skin layers, which basically characterise the disease. This excessive increase of cell division in the basal layer of the skin, results in increased proliferation on skin layers.

Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriasis vary from person to person. Some of the common symptoms of psoriasis are the following:

1. Raised, red patches of skin topped with loose, silvery scales, usually on the knees or elbows
2. Thick, red patches known as plaques, and dry, silvery scales appearing on the scalp, face, elbows, knees, palms, and soles of the feet.
3. Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
4. Joint swelling, tenderness, and pain
5. Thickened, pitted or ridged nails

Causes of Psoriasis According To Ayurveda

Acharya Charak has described the involvement of vata and kapha in ekkushtha or psoriasis. Accumulation of toxins or ama could also lead to this condition.

1. Viruddha Aahar (Opposite diet or contradictory foods) and Mithya Ahara (Improper Diet)
2. Excessive intake of yogurt, seafoods, salty foods, black gram and sour foods, spicy foods, fermented foods, maida (fine flour), and bakery products, junk foods and fast foods, refrigerated and cold foods may contribute to psoriasis.
3. Mithya Vihara (Improper Lifestyle)
4. An irregular lifestyle disrupts the digestive process and creates imbalance in the doshas.
5. Adrista Hetu (Unknown Cause)
6. Excessive Physical and Mental stress
7. Leading a stressful life or too much consumption of alcohol and tobacco can also trigger psoriasis.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis

Ayurvedic treatment of psoriasis includes counseling, lifestyle management, diet management and ayurvedic external and internal treatment. In the case of scalp psoriasis, shirodhara with proper oils is also a very effective treatment. Treatment may also include stress management, oral Ayurvedic medicines, immunomodulators for immunity, topical treatments, regular follow up appointments and yoga and meditation to relieve mental stress. The blend of natural herbs and elements, which are extremely beneficial for the health and skin. The panchakarma therapy in Ayurveda is strong enough to cure psoriasis effectively. The therapy includes a thorough detoxification of the whole body system and removal of all harmful toxins from body fluids. Thus the main aim is to purify the blood system and restore the digestive system in order to prevent the disease.

It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to adapt to this condition. Regular exercise is also very important. Yogic asanas and pranayam can help to keep the mind and body fit and healthy.

Few precautions for psoriasis patients:

• Psoriasis patients should say no to acidic food products like urad dal, radish, sesame, jaggery etc.
• Patients with psoriasis should practice yoga on a regular basis to prevent the disease.
• Psoriasis patients should not use chemical skin products. Instead, they should use natural cleansers like besan.
• Picking, scratching or peeling of skin should strongly be avoided.
• Usage of cotton clothes is recommended.

Here are some natural Ayurvedic home remedies, which are helpful for psoriasis patients:

• Cover the affected part with a banana leaf to fade the reddish patches.
• Soak 15 sesame seeds overnight in a glass of water and drink it early morning on an empty stomach.
• Consume half a glass of bitter gourd juice in the morning for 5-6 months.

For more information, you can consult a professional Ayurvedic practitioner.

Melasma is a common skin problem where the skin becomes patchy brown, tan, or there is blue grey facial skin discoloration. It is also known as chloasma or mask of pregnancy. It occurs in women during the reproductive years and occurs rarely in men. It is primarily related to external sun exposure, external hormones like birth control pills and internal hormonal changes seen during pregnancy. Women with Melasma have a history of daily or intermittent sun exposure.

• Symptoms of Melasma: Melasma causes patches of discoloration, which are darker than typical skin colour. It occurs symmetrically with matching marks on both sides of face. It normally appears on the upper cheeks, upper lip, forehead and chin. It can also occur on the other areas of one's body which are often exposed to sun. Skin discoloration is not physically harmful, but it can affect the self-confidence of a person. Darker skinned individuals are more at risk as compared to fair skinned individuals. Melasma is associated with oestrogen and progesterone sensitivity, thus it can be triggered by birth control pills, pregnancy and hormone therapy. In few cases, stress and thyroid disease can also cause Melasma. Women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause are also at high risk of getting Melasma
• Diagnosis of Melasma: A visual exam of the affected area is sufficient to diagnose Melasma. The doctor will perform the wood's lamp examination that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to look at the skin closely. However, the doctor may perform a biopsy to check for any serious skin conditions.
• Treatment of Melasma: When Melasma is caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, it disappears on its own. One can use creams containing hydroquinone or prescribed topical steroids, which can lighten the tone of the affected areas. Other options include chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion which will remove the upper layers of skin and help lighten dark patches. In cases of severe Melasma, doctor may suggest lasertreatments to remove the dark pigment.

It is quite possible that Melasma will clear up with treatment, there are things one must do to not to aggravate the condition and minimize appearance of the discoloration. These include usage of makeup to cover areas of discoloration, wearing sunscreen daily or wearing a hat with wide brim to provide shade to the face. The patients with Melasma are known to be at a lesser risk for Melanoma. Even if Melasma disappears, it can strike back especially if preventive measures regarding exposure to sun are not followed. Resolution with strict sun avoidance and topical bleaching creams can take sufficient time and patients should expect slow, but gradual lightening.

There are a plethora of skin problems which include itchy skin, skin bumps, rash, skin fungus or infection, etc. These issues can create a lot of problems in the daily life of any person. Proper treatment with the help of a specialist is must to treat and prevent such problems.

Dryness is one of the reason for itching. Make sure you keep your skin moisturized at all times specifically during winters.

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a futuristic, natural and non – surgical concept of regenerative medicine. It adopts a modern approach of revitalizing the skin. PRP therapy helps to reduce the signs of aging, lessen acne and decrease fine lines & wrinkles without any surgery, Botox or fillers.

Here are the five benefits of a PRP therapy for Anti-Aging

1. Absolutely Natural Procedure
   Because the plasma used in this procedure is derived from your own body, it is a completely natural procedure. No artificial chemicals or substances are used to process.
2. No Surgery
   No invasion is involved in this procedure. The doctor would only give you a topical or local anaesthetic to numb the area. Then your own processed blood, which is now platelet rich plasma, is injected into your affected areas of your face using an insulin syringe.
3. Completely Safe
   Since the plasma that is injected in skin is taken from your body only; therefore there are no risks or side effects of this procedure. Nor there are any non-compatibility allergies. Some patients have mild swelling, bruises or redness that goes away within 24 hours. So this is a completely safe procedure.
4. No Recovery Time
   PRP therapy for anti-aging is a simple and non complicated procedure. The treatment takes around 30 minutes. After the treatment, you can leave the clinic & continue with your daily routine for the rest of the day.
5. Long Lasting Results
   The results of PRP are long lasting. A patient needs to undergo 3 to 4 PRP sessions. After you undergo one session, the other session is scheduled after 3 to 4 weeks although some patient might need a maintenance session once a year. But the results are visible and last for years.

So if you are suffering from wrinkles, fine lines, acne or signs of aging, PRP is the perfect solution for you.