Hand Doctor: The 9 Questions to Ask

A hand doctor is a physician who has undergone highly specialized training in order to care for hands, fingers, wrists and forearms. These body parts are very complex and must be treated by professionals with extensive knowledge and expertise. A medical doctor that is certified by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand is one that has gone on for an additional year of study beyond the practice of orthopedics. Here are nine questions that people have for these experts:

1) How does movement occur in one's hands and fingers? They are actually moved around puppet-like with tendons instead of strings. There aren't muscles in the human finger but rather controlled by those that are located in palms and arms.

2) How many muscles does it take in the arms and palms to manipulate the tendons in a person's fingers? It takes a total of thirty-four muscles to perform the diverse functions of these digits.

3) Can carpal tunnel syndrome be prevented? Yes, many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome could indeed be prevented with stretching exercises and the curtailing of repetitive movements. Even a person who is employed in a field where repetitive motions are inherent, can take breaks and perform stretching techniques. Alternating tasks in fifteen minute incremental blocks can help, too.

4) What are some of the best ways to protects one's hands from injuries? Wearing gloves, paying attention when handling sharp tools, performing stretching exercises and utilizing tools with ergonomically correct handles can all help. Gloves protect from an array of injuries during gardening, carpentry and even inclement weather. Focusing on one task at a time rather than multi-tasking can prevent injuries when using knives, saws and scissors.

5) What portion of the body suffers from the most common athletic injuries? One out of four athletic injuries occurs on the upper extremities.

6) How is the skin on one's palm different than on other body regions? The tissue of the palm is highly unique. Not only are the surface patterns unique like fingerprints, this skin also differs in that it cannot grow hair, it doesn't tan and if a nerve is severed, the region will no longer sweat.

7) What are the most common treatments for maladies and conditions of the upper extremities, wrists and hands? It depends on the problem and individual but some normal courses of treatment include the use of anti-inflammatory medication, exercise, physical therapy, splints that support the region and surgery.

8) What is the more common type of arthritis in one's hands? Osteo-arthritis is the most common type arthritis. It affects more women than men. Arthritis is a condition caused by inflammation in the joints. This turns into stiffening, pain and limited movement ability. Exercise is considered extremely important for keeping mobility.

9) What are common birth defects in hands? Webbed fingers occur more often in Caucasian children and being born with an extra digit is more common in African American children.

When problems occur in a person's wrists, fingers, forearms or hands, they should consult an expert. The expert to call on is the local hand doctor.

By Abigail Aaronson

Vitamins' Contribution for Skin Care - The ABC vitals of the Ultimate Skin Care

Beauty is only skin-deep, but the skin reflects the beauty within and as the mirror of a healthy body, skin care is all about radiance, reflective of youth and well being; A reason vital enough to go in depth about the essential nutrients or vitamins contributions for skin care.

The vitals for skin care go beyond the traditional concepts and practices(which have only touched the surface of skin functions) as this protective sheath/layer of the human body is rooted in defense mechanisms that fight microbes, warding them off on the surface(like a knight's armor).

Which is why, it is important that the skin is nourished with all the necessary vitamins through proper dietary intake. Apart from dietary inputs, there is also a wide range of skin-nourishing products enriched with such vitamins, which contribute immensely to skin care.

How do vitamins supplement your skin requirements? What are the constituents of these vitamins, which serve the different layers of the skin-tissues?

Primarily, all vitamins are fortified with antioxidants, which trap the free radicals in the body and prevent them from causing slow-time disastrous effects(tumors, cancer). These radicals apart from causing internal damage also reduce the elasticity of the skin, causes dryness, premature wrinkling and interferes with the collagen levels. Vitamins are therefore the indispensable vitals whose "energy cleanses the skin to radiate the glow of youth".

Let us deal with skin-care and vitamins layer by layer, understanding the A,B, C of skin nourishment.

Vitamin A, whose chief constituent is retinol, is associated with anti-aging and anti-wrinkling properties. Skin care products containing retinoids work from the roots to fight the signs of aging and render the skin more elastic. Vitamin A derivatives in a milder form also contribute to skin care with lesser side effects on sensitive skin.

Moving over to the B Vitamins, there are the B3 (niacin) and B5 panthenoic acid, which play a key role in maintaining the moisture levels of the skin. Keeping the skin hydrated is important, as this ensures that your body's "natural garment" doesn't wear a shriveled look. The moisture in the skin helps to flush out toxins from its surface, to keep it healthy and glowing; for which Vitamin B5 steps in(along with Vitamin E), as an important moisturizer. Niacin is used for its ex-foliating properties and as a new comer in the skin care market niche, it is preferred to the conventional acidic exfoliators (glycolic and salicyclic acid).

The vitamins and nutrients supplied to the skin should be absorbed for the healthy changes to take effect, for which a base to carry all these water-soluble vitamins is required. - That's where vitamin C comes into the picture. Not only for absorption but also to carry out repair and regeneration work Vitamin C or absorbic acid contributes to skin care. The skin's core protein collagen which maintains, builds and repairs skin -tissues and cells, gets a booster from this Vitamin . The damage caused by pollution, UV(ultraviolet) exposure or free radicals in the body system is controlled and prevented by the C Vitamin- a fort of anti-oxidants. Vitamin C is therefore a veteran skin care 'official'.

As mentioned, Vitamins are a powerhouse of antioxidants and Vitamin E epitomizes this property. Skin, dryness, repair, moisture retention, Vitamin E or alpha tocopherol encapsulates the essence of skin care, and is considered more as 'heirloom' vitamin as it has been popularized since ancient lore.

Strong roots bound to surface with the fruit of health. And since the skin essentially brings out the inner health, you have the Vitamin K, which repairs damaged blood capillaries causing discoloration especially dark circles under the eyes. The Vitamin with its clotting and penetrating property gets down into the blood capillaries and seals the 'seepage' areas of the blood-vessels. Vitamin K supplements are also used to treat spider veins.

The wide spectrum of Vitamins contributing to skin - care and maintaining the inner health as well, signify a health potential mustering the energy of medical sciences, to go deeper for a richer, wider understanding. As an offshoot of this realm of science is Kosher-certified Raw Deal Inc, which operates in layers, strengthening the roots of many an industry from nutrition botanical, Nutraceuticals to the beverage and the baking industries. This multi-functional ingredient supplier, in team-up with Columbia-based B.Altman & Co, fortifies human health with "root-products" such as fruit powders enzymes, amino acids supplements, baking industries, herbal benefits, international flavors, glandular raw materials, oil powders, vitamins and minerals. Raw Deal Inc., goes deep below the skin of health-care to the roots, where optimal nourishment can bring out the truest radiance of health!

By Hentry

Cause And Treatments Of Acne

Teenage may be the worst period in a person's life. At the time when you will want to be the prettiest among all, these may be quite embarrassing. Often teenagers are prone to acne, commonly called pimples than adults. It is best to keep your head cool and stop worrying as these are just a welcoming sign of your adulthood.
Most people make the mistake of treating themselves without knowing what are the causes and treatments of acne. Worst, they will start scratching or bursting them out with their fingers. The best step one should take is to know the root causes and treatments of acne. After knowing the causes and which types of acne you have then only you get the green signal to go for the treatments. But if your pimples grow worst, then visiting a qualified dermatologist is recommended.
Girls and boys during puberty in the early stages are prone to pimples due to the hormonal changes and imbalance. It is at this time the skin tries to adjust with the hormonal changes taking place in the body. The thousand oil glands mostly between the nose and cheek areas function to lubricate the skin by producing natural oil and sebum and make the skin soft and moisturized. The oil cells die and shed off during the skin's renewal process which is called sloughing. During this process of renewal, some people slough unevenly which results in the dead cells to be sticky and later clog together and form a plug. These plugs formed during this uneven shedding process traps oil and bacteria inside the follicles which then start to form a lump as the skin continues to its process of producing oils. The body's defense system then sends white blood corpuscles which attacks the bacteria resulting into a pimple breakout.
Acne in medical term is 'zits' of which the most common is acne vulgaris which are in different shapes and sizes. Acne vulgaris can also be called as global skin problem. They leave the skin on the face, back, neck and upper portion of the chest red and swollen and irritating which become worst when left untreated properly. The skin gets protruded and the puss oozes out.
Acne can be classified into physiological and clinical acne. The first one is harmless and can be treated overtime with simple medicines and care, while the latter one needs compulsory medical attention.
The mild acne or physiological acne should be treated first by washing the area at least three to four times a day with warm water and an oil free soap or acne clearing face wash. However, do not over wash, as frequent washing can harm the skin's natural oil production and leave your skin dry and scaly. Then, splash with cold water or pat the skin dry and dab with cotton soaked in astringent to close the open pores. In addition to cleansing, you can choose some over the counter medicines or creams. But be sure to buy a product that is always oil free and with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid which kills the bacteria on the epidermis.
Diet is one of the most important skin care regime one should follow to prevent further outbreak of pimples. Avoid spicy and oily foods. Aerated drinks also cause pimples to grow more. Drink as much water as possible to flush out the toxins in the body. Lime juice mixed with rosemary show visible results if applied regularly at least twice a week. Applying garlic juice is also a good remedy. Applying sandalwood not only heals the acne but also further prevents them from occurring.
Assuming these, we can say that understanding the causes and treatments of acne available, there is nothing to worry about. These skin problems if cared properly will fade overtime. But if you think the situation to be growing worst, do visit a qualified dermatologist who will provide you with the right treatment and further tips.

By Javies Phaltual