When Teenagers Experience Male-Pattern Baldness
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 17, 2012
While male-pattern baldness primarily occurs in adult men, there are instances when teenage boys can experience the disorder. It can be highly traumatic for a teenager to begin losing his hair. They can be obsessively focused on their appearance to begin with and going bald can add to this already stressful situation. They will want to seek immediate medical assistance to stop the condition from worsening.
When to be Concerned
Hair loss is not uncommon. In fact, everyone loses up to 100 head hairs every day. This is a natural process that involves old hair falling out to make room for new hair. It is not a cause for alarm. But if you are losing more than that or your hair seems to be coming out in clumps, you need to see a doctor to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong. Underlying medical conditions can cause hair loss in teenage boys.
Causes of Hair Loss in Teenagers
Teenage boys can experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. A common culprit is scalp ringworm which is a contagious infection that can cause permanent hair loss. Certain hairstyles or styling routines such as braiding or dyeing the hair can also result in hair loss in teenagers. The most challenging to treat is male-pattern baldness which has been known to develop in teenage boys by age 15.
Types of Hair Loss Treatment
The cause of the hair loss determines the appropriate treatment regimen. The most popular treatment for male-pattern baldness is with oral medications known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These drugs effectively stop the production of a particular hormone that interferes with hair growth. Results range from stopping hair loss to actual hair regrowth. There are many factors that determine the effectiveness of a treatment on a particular patient.
Seeking Treatment
Looks are important to all teenagers. Because of the impact on their self-esteem, teenagers are more likely to seek medical attention for hair loss sooner than their adult counterparts. Unfortunately, teens must be at least 18 years old to be treated with propecia. Hair loss concealers that cover the balding area may be a temporary option until teenagers are old enough for medical treatment.
This article looks at how male-pattern baldness can impact teenagers who seek medical assistance but cannot be prescribed propecia until they are eighteen. Fortunately, there are steps they can take to address their balding disorder.
Accutane – Acne Myths
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 16, 2012
A powerful drug that treats acne, Accutane is quite popular among those who suffer from a severe acne condition. Accutane is usually used for the treatment of cystic acne but is never really given to individuals who have mild acne breakouts. Before you decide on what to do with those pimples though, it is best to learn more about the skin condition. Often, we base our conclusions on things we see on commercials or unreliable data we read online and this usually involves believing in what one would call a myth. Here are the most popular myths about acne:
Acne Myth #1 Washing your face often enough will get rid of acne
Your pimples aren’t caused by dirt. In fact, frequent washing of the face may even irritate the skin but the question is, what causes pimples? The pores sticking together is one of the major reasons why you get pimples.
Acne Myth #2 Too much stress can cause acne
It is true that being under too much stress affects one’s hormones but did you know that certain psychiatric drugs can cause acne? If you are stressed out and taking antidepressants, the stress you are going through isn’t what’s causing your acne breakouts.
Acne Myth #3 The sun cures acne
Sun exposure is beneficial for us to get that much needed Vitamin D. However, sun exposure after 9 in the morning will only cause skin damage. Aside from causing wrinkles and sunburn, too much sun exposure may lead to skin cancer.
Acne Myth #4 What you eat can either stop breakouts or cause them
Although diet is connected to a number of health conditions or disappearance of such conditions, experts say that there is still a need for hard evidence to prove this theory. It doesn’t hurt to eat healthy though but do not count on it to get rid of your acne.
Acne Myth #5 Sex causes acne
This myth is an age-old one when people from the 17th century wanted to discourage pre-marital sex.
If you think your acne could no longer be treated with topical treatments, asking your dermatologist if you are eligible to use Accutane is a good idea. Make sure however that you read more about Accutane before you start using it – some people are more sensitive to drugs than others and getting an allergic reaction won’t help you at all.
Prednisone and Migraine Headaches
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 16, 2012
The systemic steroid Prednisone is used as a rescue drug for asthma attacks. However, it is also used for a range of other ailments making prednisone a very important innovation in medical technology. Also known to treat migraines, the steroid provides instant relief. Migraine headaches are painful but apart from the pain, those who suffer from it are also sensitive to light. If you are suffering from migraine right now, you might be in a dark and relatively quiet room – a refuge for those who experience migraine headaches often.
Although the corticosteroid is an effective drug for migraines, it is only advised for those who suffer from extended migraines. This is where your physician comes in – he or she will determine whether you should use the prodrug or not.
The first step of course is to determine what kind of migraine you are suffering from. An intractable migraine for example can make you suffer from painful headaches for days. What’s worse is that it can even cause aneurysms. A migraine that doesn’t last very long on the other hand can be easily treated with OTC medication. Pain relievers such as paracetamol would already be enough for this kind of migraine.
It is best to talk to your physician if you think that your migraine is already getting worse. Your doctor will know what kind of drug you should take based on your medical history. Once you have that drug, whether or not it is the corticosteroid, you should make sure that you drink your medication as directed by your doctor.
Deviating from your prescription can cause certain medical problems so be sure that you follow what your doctor says.
There are also dietary considerations you have to keep in mind. Taking potassium and calcium may be advised by your doctor to prevent the drug from affecting other parts of your system.
The drug Prednisone come in dose packs and is usually used by patients with migraine in higher doses until it is finally time to lower the dosage. The frequent use of prednisone in high dosages usually last a week and not one day more.