Tinea or ringworm is basically a skin infection caused by fungus. Tinea can affect any part of the body. When the skin is affected it is tinea corporis, scalp (tinea capitis), feet (tinea pedis, this is also called as athlete's foot) and groin area (tinea curis, also known as the jock itch). This presents as several white patches on the skin.

Causes of Tinea
Tinea or the ringworm infection is not due to worms but caused by fungi dermatophytes. The fungus remains alive in the dead tissues of nails, hair and skin. Symptoms of Tinea are red circular patches on the skin along with itching.

As per the Ayurvedic philosophy, tinea is often diagnosed as dadru. The body type or the dosha involved is kapha and vata. Kapha, which is an Ayurvedic humor symbolizes mucus. It is usually dense, sticky and cold in nature. Vata, also an ayurvedic humor represents the wind. It is dry, mobile, subtle and cold. Both kapha and vata when present in the skin lead to accumulation of toxins. These toxins further collect in the deep tissues of the skin like rakta (Blood), rasa (nutrient plasma), lasika (lymphatic) and mansa (muscles).

The toxins lead to contamination of the deeper tissues thereby leading to the aggravation of the kapha-vata dosha, thus leading to ringworm. A third dosha which is involved is pitta. Pitta symbolizes heat or fire. It is often referred to as the tridosha disease, and the prime involved doshas are kapha and vata.

Diet and Lifestyle Modification
1. Spicy and hot food, excessive sweet and sour foods should be avoided. Pickled foods, chutneys, citrus fruits like lemon and oranges, vinegar and mustard should also be avoided.
2. Avoid foods made up of white flour such as bread, pastries, cakes, pizza
3. Artificial and processed foods, fast foods and aerated drinks should be avoided. Excessive salt and tomatoes should be restricted.
4. Since tea, coffee smoking and alcohol aggravate the pitta, these should be avoided
5. Milk and milk products like yogurt and cottage cheese should be given a miss
6. Foods which are sweet, blend and alkaline in nature should be added into the diet
6. Fresh vegetables and fruit should be taken
7. Foods like grains, rice, pasta, beans, breads, dairy products, sweet drinks and juices can be had

Home Remedies
1. In 3 cups of water boil 10 to 15 neem leaves, until half the water evaporates. Washing the tinea lesions with this water helps.
2. Rubbing papaya over the lesions is very effective
3. Make a paste of turmeric and milk and apply on the lesions. Wash this within half an hour of the application and repeat it 3 to 4 times a day.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Tinea ( Ringworm) Fungal Infection

Did you know that Chlamydia is one of the most frequently occurring sexually transmitted bacterial infections across the world? Also, this disease is likely to spread fast since it doesn t have severe symptoms which can easily pass on to others. The disease can be quite tricky as there are no initial signs or symptoms that a person experiences in the early stages. The chlamydia bacterium infects the cervix and leads symptoms as noted below.

Chlamydia Symptoms In Men:
In about 50 percent of men, chlamydia doesn t lead to any symptoms. But in some cases, it causes an abnormal penile discharge resembling yellow-white and milk-like. It causes pain while urinating, rectal pain along with bleeding and eye inflammation. The least common symptoms of chlamydia are itchiness and burning sensation around the opening of the penis, pain in the testicles and sore throat. Sometimes, chlamydia symptoms cause pain and discharge from the anal cavity.

Chlamydia Symptoms In Women:
In about 75 percent of women affected with the disease, chlamydia leads to no signs. However, in some cases, it may cause abnormal vaginal discharge which may also have an odour, pain while urinating, eye inflammation, rectal pain and unexplained bleeding. In some rare cases, it causes bleeding in between menstrual cycles, pain in the lower belly and back portion, sore throat and pain while having intercourse. Chlamydia can also infect the eyes in the case of both sexes leading to redness, itchiness, and inflammation. Regardless of which part of the body is affected by the disease, the symptoms usually show up in the morning.

For all these reasons, men and women who are sexually active should go for chlamydia testing once in every year. Also, it is advised to seek medical attention when you are affected by chlamydia infection to fend off risk and complications since it can cause different sorts of severe consequences including ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women. Untreated chlamydia can infect a man and cause an infection of the epididymitis, non-gonococcal urethritis and epididymis.

How to understand whether you are infected with the disease?
It is not possible to be precise about whether you have a chlamydia infection. This is because the signs and symptoms are not quite apparent. But the symptoms after a week become quite noticeable. There are several tests available to test whether you have been affected by the infection and in most cases, the pathologist takes a swab sample from the urethra in men and cervix in women to be eventually tested in the laboratory.

Your doctor may also recommend you undergoing a urine test to check for the presence of chlamydia bacteria. In case you or your partner has been affected by the disease, it is essential to talk to a doctor without any delay.

Chlamydia: Symptoms That Indicate You Are Infected!

It is important for you to know about inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, it is a group of intestinal disorders, which leads to prolonged inflammation of your digestive tract. The digestive tract is made of the mouth, stomach, oesophagus, small intestine and large intestine. It performs the task of breaking down food, removing unusable materials and waste products, and for breaking down nutrients from food. Inflammation along with the digestive tract causes disruption in this process. IBD is a fatal condition which can be life threatening in some cases.

Major types of inflammatory bowel disease
The term inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term under which many diseases are included. The two major and most common diseases under IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn s disease. Crohn s disease (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, especially the colon and ileum, associated with ulcers and fistulae) can lead to inflammation in any part of your digestive tract. It commonly affects the small intestine s tail end. In case of ulcerative colitis, inflammation takes place in the large intestine.

Causes of IBD
Although the exact cause of IBD is not known, several factors may lead to this condition. They are as follows:

Genetics: You are more likely to develop IBD if someone in your family has the disease. This is because of the genetic component of IBD.
The immune system: The body s immune system plays a role in IBD. Usually, your immune system defends your body from pathogens. A bacterial or viral infection in the digestive tract may lead to an immune response. The digestive tract becomes inflamed as the body fights against the bacteria or viruses. The inflammation goes away when the infection is gone.
However, in the case of IBD, the digestive tract inflammation may occur without any infection. Your immune system attacks your body s cells. This is called an autoimmune response. IBD can also occur when the infection is cured, but the inflammation remains.

Symptoms
The various symptoms of IBD depend on the severity and location of the inflammation. They are as follows:

Diarrhoea which occurs when the bowel cannot reabsorb water.
Bleeding ulcers which cause blood to show up in your stool.
Stomach pain, bloating and cramping because of bowel obstruction.
Weight loss and anaemia, which leads to delayed development and growth in children.
In patients with Crohn s disease, canker sores may develop in the mouth.
Ulcers and fissures may appear on the anus or genital area.
IBD may also be associated with problems such as eye inflammation, arthritis and skin disorders.
The major complications which may arise from IBD include colon cancer, malnutrition with weight loss, fistulas, intestinal rapture and bowel obstruction. It is important for you to consult a doctor on noticing any of the IBD symptoms.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Know the Types!

6 Dangerous Effects of Alcohol on Your Sexual Well-Being

While small amounts of alcohol do not have any effect on your sexual health, moderate amounts of drinking are known to cause problems in both men and women.

Let's take a look at the effect alcohol may have on your body and sex life:

1. It acts as a depressant - Acting as a depressant (a drug that reduces stimulation or arousal in various parts of the brain), alcohol inhibits certain areas of the central nervous system that are important for orgasm and arousal, more specifically - the circulation, respiration, and feeling of nerve endings.

2. It dehydrates your body - Sexual arousal requires an adequate supply of oxygen and flow of blood to the private areas so as enable you to experience the different sensations that accompany a sexual act. Adequate blood flow in the case of women is important for lubrication and in the case of men for developing and sustaining an erection. Less fluid in the body and a depressed nervous system can affect your sexual performance.

3. It's not an aphrodisiac if you go overboard - Several studies show that alcohol can help certain people to overcome feelings of deficiency or sexual reserve. This can only happen if you limit your consumption to only 1-2 drinks. If you go overboard, the depressant action of the drink begins to take effect preventing your body's ability to react sexually.

4. It causes fewer erections - Drinking large amounts of alcohol or even long-term drinking can cause erection problems to develop. Erectile dysfunction is said to occur when too much drinking causes dehydration leading to a decrease in blood volume and an increase in the angiotensin hormone, which is associated with ED. The likelihood of this occurring gets further increased if the body's central nervous system is unable to act in a natural way.

5. It leads to delayed ejaculation and orgasm - A 2004 study reveals that about 11% of alcohol users face difficulty in having an orgasm. While the men faced difficulty in ejaculating, women participants required more stimulation to reach an orgasm, compared to men and women who did not drink or drank little.

6. It causes vaginal dryness - The dehydrating effect that normally occurs if you drink a lot can also cause vaginal dryness. It causes a decrease in your sensations and hampers the production of vaginal secretions for sexual penetration, leading to painful sex.



6 Dangerous Effects of Alcohol on Your Sexual Well Being

Why Papaya is the God of Perfect Skin

Use a particular face wash and your face is free of all dead cells. it's not so simple. To dissolve the dead cells, the protein in the cells must be broken down. The only effective ingredients to do the job are AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. This is why many skin exfoliating products contain AHAs. 


Papain, which is found in Papaya has similar properties. Papaya is a safe and natural, plant-based alternative to chemical exfoliants. To remove dead cells, gently massage papaya pulp on your face for about 5-7 minutes. Rinse your face alternatively with warm and cold water.  Remember not to overdo it though! Papaya is an acidic fruit, so don’t let the mask sit on your face for too long as it might cause dryness and skin irritation.




Do You Know: Why Papaya is the God of Perfect Skin?

5 Ways to protect your skin this summer

Staying out in the sun too long can cause you to suffer from a host of skin problems such as age spots, wrinkles and even increase your risk of developing skin cancer. During the summer months, you need to take extra care of yourself as the sun is at its peak at that time. Here's what you can do in this summer to ensure that your skin remains protected:

1. Avoid the rays of the sun between 10 am and 2 pm

The strength of the UV rays depends on a number of factors such as reflective surfaces, height, and time of day. The sun's UV rays are at their strongest between 10 am and 2 pm. If you're outdoors, seek a cool area to protect yourself from the damaging rays of the sun. You could stand under a tree or use an umbrella to shield yourself from its ultraviolet rays.

2. Don't use tanning beds

Several studies reveal that tanning beds can cause skin cancer. According to these studies, individuals under 30 who use tanning beds increase their risk of melanoma (the most deadly of all skin cancers) by about 75%.

3. Increase your fluid intake

One of the ways in which you can beat the sun and protect your skin is by increasing your fluid intake during this time. On an average, one should have about 3 liters of fluids every day, which is about 1.5-2 liters of water and 1 liter of fluid from solid foods. From summer foods like watermelon and berries to beverages like fruit juice, milk, etc and liquid-based meals - all these avenues should be considered.

4. Have a proper cleansing regimen

To help your skin look fresh even during the summer months, you should exfoliate regularly. When you do this, all the dead skin cells are removed, giving your face a youthful and fresh appeal.

5. Use a sunscreen all the time

To protect yourself from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun, you should never forget to apply sunscreen when going out. Ideally, a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 should be applied thoroughly to your skin 30 minutes before leaving your house. More importantly, it should be applied again every 2 hours.



5 Ways to protect your skin this summer

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