Dermatological (Skin) and Opthalmology (Eyes) conditions

What are the symptoms and signs of dry eyes: Dry, scratch, gritty and sandy feeling in the eye. Foreign body sensation. Ocular irritation, itching and burning. Pain, soreness, redness, heaviness of eyelids. Blurred vision and intolerance to light. Increased blinking, watering and excessive mucous secretion. The symptoms tend to be worse towards the end of the day with prolonged use of eyes. As dry eyes syndrome progresses from mild stage to severe, there will be different symptoms and…

What leads to dry eyes: Prolonged use of contact lenses leads to dry eyes. Soft contact lenses actively deplete the rear layer to maintain their hydration level. One of the most important cause of dryness these days is extensive use of computer and mobile screens. Studies have shown that excessive use of screens enhances the evaporation of tears along with decreased blink rate. Dry eyes are also commonly seen in old age with more preponderance in women, particularly in peri and post-menopausal…

Dry skin affects a lot of people but it is needs more attention as a major feature of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), scleroderma. Sjögren’s India shares some tips on how to handle dry skin.  It can occur in the form of itching, redness, scaling and cracking of skin.  Dry skin occurs as a result of immune dysfunction and destruction of moisture producing structures such as hair, oil and sweat glands. Once destroyed these oil and sweat glands cannot be restored. Although dry skin occurs…

Does stress cause acne and eczema to flare up? Does it cause dark circles and pigmentation to appear? Yes, stress does all that and a lot more. Dermatologist Dr. Vinu Kripalani recognizes the mind-skin connection and recommends tips to reduce stress and make your skin glow skin naturally.    What is stress? Stress is caused when the pressure on the individual exceeds their coping mechanism. It is the mental/emotional response to adverse or demanding circumstances. Skin can react in…

When actors go through phases of rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss in preparation for film roles, many eyebrows are often raised among health professionals. Dr Shital Raval lists out reasons why it is medically dangerous and unhealthy of such yo-yoing. Imagine going from 68 kg to 93 kg in six months and then back again to original size. Well...That’s what actor Aamir Khan did recently oscillating from rapid weight gain to rapid weight loss. While Khan’s bulging - thinning programme…

Dental needs become increasingly specialized with age, making regular visits to the dentist even more important. Dr Shail Jaggi highlights some common gum and teeth problems that could become burdensome, if ignored. When we think of an elderly patient the first vision that generally tends to flash by is someone with greying hair, stooping and bent over with age, thick glasses and a denture to eat! But let’s take a quick look at my office! I am dentist and deal with geriatric patients all the…

Allergies are the most common cause of skin problems. They vary in symptoms and severity - from mild to life threatening. Dr. Shital Patel gives an overview of skin allergies to help you identify and treat common skin problems. 1.    What is an allergy? An allergy is a hypersensitive immune response by the body towards any substance that may have entered or come in contact with the body. Any such substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an Allergen. Common symptoms…

For 20 years Ravi Agarwal* battled with severe Psoriasis that changed his personality from an extrovert, confident person to a withdrawn, edgy individual. Read about his tormenting journey, his lifestyle modifications and his medicines that helped him control and, finally, clear those dreadful itchy, scaly, red patches in some parts of his body. I was first diagnosed with Psoriasis in 1996. It started with a small white, scaly patch on my thigh. Initially, I dismissed…

Did you know that what you eat affects how you look? Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju spells out the role of nutrients and a healthy and balanced diet in your skin looking healthy and radiant.  Healthy skin diet should be designed to supply your body with all the essential building materials to make your skin look soft and gorgeous. The skin becomes beautiful only if the body could digest the food, transport the nutrients to the whole body and detox naturally. With the right skin materials…

says Dermatologist Dr Subhro Bhattacharjee as he takes a look at chronic skin ailments, the treatment that should be extended in such cases and how to manage side effects of steroids  How high would you say is the percentage of people with skin ailments? Is it on the rise or not? According to data in 2013, skin ailments is about 10 per cent, but, it also depends on the environment, socio-economic conditions, the general health of the population, etc.. Awareness about skin ailments has…