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Scabies Pictures: How Do I Know If My Rash Is Scabies

  • Posted on July 2, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Scabies pictures can still leave someone confused when they are trying to identify their own rash. This is because scabies rashes can also resemble eczema, viral rashes as well as allergic responses to a chemical or food allergy.

Because the scabies mite can’t be seen by the naked eye you can’t see it like chiggers. Also rashes can be due to a reaction to an antibiotic, virus, contact dermatitis to a chemical or food allergy reaction. Many rashes appear to look similar having little red pimples, welts, patches and being extremely itchy.

If you hear that others in your family, class or work place have an itchy rash, then you know that there is a contagious rash going around. Scabies rashes may not appear right away and can take a few weeks to manifest. You may have been in contact with someone who was contagious and they also weren’t aware of this issue.

Scabies pictures vary because not everyone will get little pimples in the webs of their fingers or on wrist areas. Also the elderly can get Norwegian scabies which are not common for younger people. Sometimes a dermatologist can see a thin line which indicates the burrow of the female scabies mite where she lays the eggs. Extreme itchiness at night is a hallmark sign of the scabies rash but it can also be a common problem for atopic eczema and nummular eczema.

Because scabies is a parasite it is important to treat it with a cream prescribed by your dermatologist or doctor so that it will stop the reproduction on your own body as well as no longer be contagious to other people.

If you live with other people, they suggest everyone also use the cream in the household so that the mites won’t just jump from person to person and keep the cycle going.

A lot of the anxiety of rashes involves not knowing what the rash is. Scabies pictures on the internet can be helpful but look also at the description and see if you may be having an allergic reaction to something else in your environment. Some dermatologist will do a skin scraping to check for the mites or have a biopsy done to rule it out.

The most common treatment used for killing scabies in the United States is to prescribe the elimite cream which is applied before bed and left on over night. Some dermatologists will recommend a second application a week later to get anything residual left. In India, neem oil is used which is actually a contraceptive and said to stop the eggs from hatching. Linens and bed blankets should be washed in very hot water and placed in hot dryer. Clothing recently worn should be bagged and washed days later after the mites have suffocated.

Despite the stressfulness of a scabies rash, remember that you may be itching also for psychological reasons and that the rash won’t stop the minute you apply the cream. It can take a few weeks to resolve.

Are you trying to figure out if your rash is scabies? Stop by Pictures of Scabies to study the symptoms of scabies at http://www.itchyskinrash.net/pictures-of-scabies.html

Article Source: Scabies Pictures: How Do I Know If My Rash Is Scabies

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The Main Causes of Dandruff and Existing Cures

  • Posted on July 1, 2009 at 7:57 pm

Dandruff can be best described as excessive shedding of dead cells from the scalp. Shedding of dead cells from the scalp is normal as long as it is not excessive. It is part of the regular process of cell renewal. The cells form in lower skin levels and are gradually pushed upwards by the new, growing cells that form underneath. By the time the cells reach the skin surface, they have died and become flat and they overlap each other like roof tiles and are ready to depart the scalp. In a normal, healthy scalp, the dead cells leave the surface unnoticeably. With dandruff, the whole process is accelerated and a larger number of dead cells are shed, forming big clumps that are visible to the naked eye. Dandruff is a common condition and some estimates say that it affects up to 50% of the population at some point in their lives.

There are three known causes and types of dandruff and each one of them has to be treated differently. Some people mistake dandruff for dry scalp and start shampooing their hair less frequently, which, in the case of dandruff, leads to a worsening of their condition. The most common cause of dandruff is the overgrowth of a fungus that normally lives in our scalp called malassezia. This fungus feeds on the natural grease in the scalp, converting it into oleic acid. The reasons for the sudden proliferation of this fungus remain unknown.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis leads to a more severe form of dandruff than malassezia, causing greasy bran-like scales. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is often accompanied by skin inflammation that, besides the scalp, also affects the eyebrows, ears, the skin around your nose and the lines on your cheeks, forehead and armpits. In moderate climates this condition typically improves in summer as direct sunlight relieves its symptoms. Cradle cap, however frightening it may appear, is a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis affecting only infants and it clears itself by the time the baby turns one year old.

Psoriasis is the third known cause of dandruff, leading to its most serious form. It causes itchiness and inflammation of the skin and produces thick, silvery scales which occur most often in the scalp, knees and lower back. Psoriasis results in rapid shedding of the skin and, if this shedding occurs from the scalp, it is called dandruff. This condition affects about 2% of the population and like the two aforementioned forms of dandruff, it is not contagious. An excessively oily scalp, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disorders, elevated scalp sensitivity, extreme stress, heart problems, etc. are often associated with an increased occurrence of all forms of dandruff. It has also been observed that some cases of dandruff are triggered by chemical substances contained in hair care products. However, the exact cause of any of the aforementioned dandruff-triggering conditions is not known.

When it comes to available treatment options, for a start it sometimes helps to wash your hair more often and use a mild shampoo. In more severe conditions it is advisable to try some of the special anti-dandruff shampoos freely available in pharmacies. For yet more severe cases you will need to see your doctor to prescribe you a prescription strength shampoo, which typically contains the same active ingredients as OTC products but in a higher concentration. The active substances used in anti-dandruff shampoos can include any of the following: salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc pyrithione, sulphur, selenium sulphide, ketoconazole, corticosteroids and caffeine. Each one of them addresses the problem from a different angle. For the most serious conditions, corticosteroid and anthralin treatments will typically be prescribed by your doctor.

You can learn more about treatments for dandruff by visiting GreyHairLoss.com, a platform dedicated to exploring and evaluating treatments for various hair conditions, such as male pattern baldness, premature gray hair as well as alopecia areata and dandruff. You can help to build up this platform by sharing your own experiences of hair care products you have used.

Article Source: The Main Causes of Dandruff and Existing Cures

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