Heathy 365 News -4 Steps to Eliminate Infected Hair Follicles

 

Healthy 365 News  Issue # 28 - Dec. 13, 2011 Receive daily tips from Dr. W                             For Appointments Call 281 395-7770  Update From Dr. Weaver Hello again, Readers, From time to time, I see extreme versions of common conditions that is a reminder that despite all of the advances that have taken place in the field of medicine, some basic conditions and basic treatments can be very important. Take for example, the medical condition "bacterial folliculitis" which is associated with infected hair follicles.  It is a straight forward condition to diagnose and treat, but at times can cause someone like you to experience extreme discomfort. For example, I recently saw a school aged individual who had a bacterial infection of the scalp that involved her entire scalp and had been going on for at least a year.  Due to the pain and discomfort experienced, combing the hair was next to impossible and a significant amount of time was missed from school. After performing a bacterial culture of the scalp and prescribing effective antibiotic treatment, the condition improved significantly. I would not have predicted that this straight forward condition could progress to cause so much discomfort and impact on a person's quality of life. Today's health tip is on what to do to eliminate this type of problem.    Dr. W Health Tip of the Week Folliculitis- 4 Steps to Eliminate Infected Hair Follicles or Folliculitis What is folliculitis? Folliculitis is a very common skin rash often found on the scalp, chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, and cheeks that is caused by a bacterial infection involving the hair follicles. The condition can be barely noticeable without any symptoms or excruciatingly painful depending upon the severity of the condition. At times, the follicles become so infected that they advance to the abscess or carbuncle stage creating a boil like lesion on the skin that can cause it to be difficult to sit or tolerate clothing touching the area. What causes folliculitis? There are several common causes. Bacterial infection. This often is the case with people who live in hot humid climates with excessive sweating and occlusion leading to infection on the pressure areas of the body.  Workers who wear hard hats and helmets and perspire a lot will frequently find themselves bothered by this condition.  A special type of folliculitis occurs when you use hot tubs and pools that may harbor various bacteria that can infect the hair follicles causing folliculitis.  Dry itchy scalp or skin on the body areas when scratched, can create open areas that can become secondarily infected with bacteria causing folliculitis. If your skin is very dry you may not slough off the dead skin cells properly. This build up of dead skin may block the pores causing the little red bumps or pustules.  Individuals with a hereditary condition causing goose pimple like changes on the arms, or thighs can be especially prone to this condition. Improper shaving techniques. If you shave too closely or in the wrong direction it can cause ingrown hairs and infected follicles.  Many individuals think that when these bumps occur after haircuts or shaving that the clippers or shaver is dirty, but it is really due to the fact that the shaving devices or clippers are very short and cause nicks that make it easier for the skin to get infected. Hygiene. If the body is not kept clean it can aid the growth of bacteria causing folliculitis. This can be a problem for individuals who participate in sports or workout and experience a delay between the time they finish working out and they are able to get to a shower or bathing facility. How to treat folliculitis. Many times, the infected hair follicles will clear up on their own and no treatment is necessary.  The regular use of antibacterial body scrubs, bar soap, and shampoos can make this condition less likely.  If the bumps or tenderness does not go away within a few days, some over the counter antibacterial washes or topical antibiotic creams may be helpful in clearing it up.  Benzyl peroxide washes are particularly good for treating persistent folliculitis. However, if the skin becomes red, swollen, painful or hot to the touch you should seek medical attention as the infection has spread into the surrounding tissues or advanced to the point where you will need oral antibiotics to treat the infection. 4 Steps to eliminate infected hair follicles. If your folliculitis is a result of hot tubs, try using an antibacterial wash after getting out of the tub. This will kill the bacteria before it has a chance to cause problems for you. Also, make sure that the hot tub has proper chlorination. Use proper shaving techniques. You should always shave in the direction the hair grows and never against the grain of your hair. For ladies, this means shaving your legs downward instead of upward. Replace your razor blade often and do not shave too closely. If you are prone to folliculitis, you should shower rather than bathe. If soaking in a hot tub is one of life's pleasures to you, you should shower first to remove the bacteria from your body and then soak in the tub. If the problem persists and continues to be bothersome see your dermatologist. Sometimes the folliculitis will only go away with appropriate internal antibiotic therapy. Following these steps will help you to eliminate this bothersome problem should you ever experience it. Read Dr. Weaver's Latest Blog Posts Rosacea Laser Treatment- Stop the Redness, Bumps and Irritation Happiness and Your Health- The Number One Key to A Quality Life and Longevity Diabetes and Your Skin- 5 Tips You Should Know to Take Care of Diabetic Skin Problems Skin Rejuvenation Tips- 7 Ways to Improve Your Skin After the Summer Sun

Restore Your Health and Energy In Spite of Your Age 

There is a saying that youth is wasted upon the young.  Ongoing research into the areas of health, wellness, and anti-aging might one day lead to a change in this statement so that perpetual youthful energy and vibrancy is still a possibility at any age.

While this might sound a little bit far fetched, it is becoming more and more of a possibility as each day goes by.  But, to tap into this realm of existence requires discipline, focused activity, with a specific purpose and target in mind.  So, I would like to ask you a question.

Is age starting to catch up with you?  Do you have less energy or vitality than you had when you were 5, 10, or 20 years younger?  Well if so, you don't have to feel like the Lone Ranger. 

As we age our body starts to not operate as well as it once did.  There are a lot of reasons for this.  Research into the aging process shows that metabolic changes take place within all of the cells of the body and a particular decrease is noticed in structures called "mitochondria" which are the energy reservoirs.  Muscle cells contain the highest concentration of mitochondria, especially cardiac muscle which is found in the heart.  While it is inevitable that these changes will take place, there are two things in particular you can do to make things better: follow a healthy diet or eating plan and exercise.

We'll start with exercise.  I know that most of us don't really always enjoy exercise; however there are fun ways that you can do it.  You can always grab an MP3 player and load up your favorite music or even an audio book and go for a walk.  It doesn't have to be a long walk in the beginning.  Just a walk around the block might be all you can do.  That's better than nothing though.

Perhaps for exercise you can find something that you like to do for fun.  For example, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise out there, working almost all parts of your body.  Simply getting out and playing a game can start you out with some exercise that is more enjoyable.  Get out and shoot some hoops with your kids or nephews or nieces.  Whatever you choose to do, try to get out and do it frequently and build a habit of doing some form of exercise.  Thirty minutes of exercise three days per week can have a big impact on your energy level as well as improve sleep habits, and how your body processes the food you eat.

When it comes to diet and eating healthy, there are lots of things to consider there as well.  Allergies are one of the biggest such as gluten sensitivity and lactose intolerance; the other consideration is whether or not you have a disease of some sort such as diabetes or high blood pressure.  If either of these is true, you need a little consultation before you make too many radical decisions in your eating habits.  This can be in the form of some good research online, or from your physician or a registered dietitian.

There are many foods out there which promote health and wellness.  For example, garlic has been known for centuries to have healing qualities.  Seek out vitamins that are high in fiber, vitamins and protein.  Beans, beans the musical fruit should be redone to read "beans, beans, the magical fruit."  Of course they're not really magical, but they offer great benefits nutritionally in the form of vitamins, protein and fiber.  Beans are definitely a food that you should add to your diet if you're not already.

Stay away from fried food and foods with a lot of fat.  These will clog up your arteries as well as excessive calories that can increase weight.  This, in turn, makes your body work harder to pump blood and will affect your stamina and cardiovascular health in general.  Sure you can eat these things, but like most things, do so in moderation or just occasionally.  Make sure to mix in some fresh fruits like a banana or blueberries with your breakfast.

The two areas of healthy diet and exercise are always a good place to start when it comes to health and wellness.  Used in combination with natural supplements, meditation, healthy relationships, and activities that fulfill your life purpose, diet and exercise will do almost everything you want.   

Do this regularly for at least 30 days and you will be sure to notice an increase in energy as your body becomes healthier. When so inspired, continue this as part of your plan for lifelong health and abundant energy.

If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below:
 Unsubscribe

Weaver P O Box 300322 Houston, Texas 77230-0322 United States