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Tag: SKIN

  • ‘Your skin mirrors the wonderful world within you’

    ‘Your skin mirrors the wonderful world within you’

    When I first heard about the “Tree Man” 20 years ago, I was curious to know who he was. Spiritually speaking, I already knew that one species cannot become another, as each living being has a unique creation code. This means that a human cannot transform into a chicken, even in different incarnations.

    The photograph of the Tree Man I saw looked like a small plant that had grown into shrubs. Later, I discovered that it was actually the skin of a man in Indonesia damaged by viruses. For the purpose of this column, I became interested in this man and his condition for two reasons. Firstly, warts, which his condition began with, are growing on the skin of many Nigerians, and they are unable to stop the spread. Secondly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observed World Skin Day last month to draw attention to several skin diseases that medicine has not effectively conquered.

    Let me introduce you to the Tree Man. According to Wikipedia:

    “Dede Koswara was healthy from birth until his early childhood. At the age of 10, he started developing warts around his injured knee, which then spread to his limbs and face. He was unable to afford treatment and tried to remove one of the larger warts, but it regrew. He attempted to live a normal life, working as a craftsman, and married at 18, having two children. However, the warts continued to grow uncontrollably, limiting his movements and making him dependent on others. Eventually, he lost his job, was divorced, and separated from his children. His parents took him in to provide support. He was later hired by a carnival owner as a part of a travelling freak show”.

    Read Also; Because we happened to Nigeria…

    There are numerous stories about Dede Koswara on the internet, and his experiences have made me pay closer attention to my skin health. It has also made me to pay more attention to cow skin, which we eat a lot in Nigeria despite warnings by veterinary doctors that it contains drug residues from antibiotic and antiviral injections as well as disease germs and parasites. A few years ago, I published an article on this page which was posted also on my Facebook page (John Olufemi Kusa), under the title: Lagos Abattoir cesspool of disease and death. That was when purveyors of cow skin for human consumption at the abattoir were curing it in used tyre burnfires which enveloped several kilometres around the scenes with suffocating smoke filled with Arsenic and other heavy metals every night. I don’t recall exactly when I stopped eating cow skin, but I remember it was a delicacy in my stepmother’s cooking during my teenage years. I persuaded her to remove it from the menu about 20 years ago.

    One of my dietary lifestyle influencers was Commodore Gbolahan Mudashiru (rtd), the former Military Governor of Lagos State. I learned humility from him, as he didn’t let his position dictate his personal relationships. Many of my fellow Igbobi College alumni share this trait, and I am proud to be among them.

    At a weekend seminar, Commodore Mudashiru and I attended together, earthly rankings held little significance. He arrived at our dormitory before me and went straight to the bottom bed of a double bunk assigned to him, with my name on the top bed. I knew better than to offer a voluntary swap, as the allocations followed rules. This experience taught me a subtle lesson: in paradise, do earthly positions matter?

    I summoned the courage to ask Commodore Mudashiru why he didn’t carry himself like a soldier or military governor. I later learned that he was a heavy consumer of poultry eggs and chicken until he attended an Air Force Officers’ training course abroad and discovered the dangers of elevated blood cholesterol levels. He took the nutrition and health training seriously, especially since he had begun experiencing liver discomfort, possibly due to fatty liver and later, liver cancer. Ironically, he and his wife owned a large poultry farm in Lagos, which might have contributed to his excessive consumption of chicken and eggs. I, too, was guilty of promoting poultry egg consumption as a distributor for many farmers.

    As for chicken, I couldn’t distinguish between healthy and diseased birds in those days. Moreover, I ate chicken with its skin, unlike Europeans and Americans who had become more aware of the risks. They removed chicken and fish skin, knowing that animal skin stores toxins eliminated through sweat. Chicken and fish skins are thinner and contain fewer toxins than cow skin, which stores more toxins in its palatable oil.

    I share this information for the benefit of readers who still consume animal skin without regard for their health. July 18 was World Skin Day, but it didn’t receive the attention it deserved in Nigeria. At a public lecture, I learned that there were only 200 dermatologists in Nigeria, serving a population of 220 million. This scarcity of skin specialists means that many diseases that could be detected early through skin or tongue evaluation often go unnoticed until they reach advanced stages.

    Skin Diseases and Detoxification

    Dermatologists worldwide treat numerous skin diseases annually, including: Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis), Rosacea, Vitiligo, Melasma, Dermatitis, Seborrheic Keratosis, Skin Cancer (Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma), Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores), Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Warts (HPV), Molluscum Contagiosum, Fungal Infections (Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot), Impetigo, Cellulitis, Folliculitis, Keratosis Pilaris, Pityriasis Rosea, and Scleroderma.

    London Experience

    In 1979, I was in London for newspaper training and indulged in cheap fish and chips and whole chicken, unaware of the potential health risks. London food stores considered animal tongue, cow skin, and calves unhealthy and discarded them, but we consume these items, unaware of the potential health consequences. I spent some time with my uncle. He packed them in from the store to give me a treat. I ate them as if there was no tomorrow, as we say in Nigeria when we are on top of ball. How ignorant and foolish I was.

    Beautiful Skin

    We all desire beautiful skin, but few of us realise that its foundation lies in what we feed our bodies and how efficiently we remove toxins. The skin is overworked due to detoxification, leading to wrinkles, acne, blackheads, dryness, fungi, freckles, pimples, and psoriasis.

    Detoxification

    The skin is the largest excretory organ, removing waste and toxins from the body, along with the lungs, intestines, liver, and kidneys. However, many people underuse their lungs, and their livers may be weak or accumulating toxins. The intestine may be sick, constipated, or diseased, leading to toxins entering the bloodstream, kidneys, and skin.

    Liver Health

    The liver breaks down toxins in a four-stage process but requires bitter principles to function optimally. Many people despise the bitter taste and do not protect their livers with hepaprotectives like Silymarin in Milk Thistle. Flatworms like Faciolopsis Hepatica may silently damage the liver, leading to toxin accumulation.

    Intestinal Health

    The intestine is one of the most toxic organs, with the immune system devoting 70 to 75 per cent of its presence and energy to defend it. Any poison not eliminated with feaces may end up in the bloodstream, kidneys, and skin. Many people have intestinal ulcers, growths, bleeding, inflammation, and fungal infections, which may affect the kidneys and skin.

    The Royal College of Surgeons in the United Kingdom noted decades ago that “death begins slowly but surely in the intestine.” This is because many individuals have various intestinal issues, including: Ulcers in deficient parts of the intestine, growths called polyps, occult blood bleeding detectable only through special laboratory tests, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), inflammation, particularly in the colon (colitis), which can degenerate into Ulcerative Mucoid Colitis (bleeding and mucus-producing inflamed colon), a potential precursor to cancer, fungal infections, and overgrown populations of unfriendly bacteria.

    Fungal infections may manifest as oral thrush on the tongue, with roots buried beneath the surface. This can produce toxins affecting various body parts, including the brain. Resolving heavy systemic fungal inflammation may take around six months using effective anti-fungals like Olive Leaf Extract and Amazon A-F, a proprietary blend designed to combat candida and bacteria, as well as support cancer therapies.

    When explaining detoxification, I often use a network system model, where each body segment performs a special task. Here’s how it works:

    – The liver pushes toxins into the intestine, signaling to the body’s 100 trillion cells that its had a vacancy to Wish they may send their toxins in the detoficatuon process.The blood then carries more toxins to fill this vacancy.If the liver functions well, cells quickly reduce their toxic loads.However, if the liver is jammed, toxins harm cells, requiring hepaprotectives like Milk Thistle and evacuation agents like Carqueja.If toxins aren’t fully inactivated, they overwhelm the kidneys and skin, causing harm.The skin may exhibit rashes, like in HIV, indicating its receiving more toxins than it can handle. Attempting to suppress these rashes with antibiotics or antifungal creams may not be the best approach.In cases where the body increases sweat production to expel toxins, using antiperspirants or deodorants can counteract this natural process. Many Nigerians like a quick fix when it’s comes to skin eruptions, itches or diseases. This means they suppress what the skin is telling them is going on inside their bodies, namely that the liver, intestine and the kidneys may need attention and help. One of the commonest mistakes often made in this regards, especially by women, is to suppress sweating in the armpits with anti-perspirants. For not only does this send back the sweat and the toxins back into the body, this substances contain aluminum which is dangerous to health.

    Incidentally, many anti-perspirant preparations contain aluminum, which can be dangerous, especially for women in the armpit area. This is because the breast is connected to the armpit, and aluminum can be absorbed and potentially cause cancer-promoting effects. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I only used ALOE SHIELD, an aloe vera-based product free from aluminum.

    Forcing back skin symptoms can be dangerous. I recall a personal experience in the early 1980s when I had a small infected wound on my forehead that left a patch of black growth. Despite pharmacy treatments and injections prescribed by a doctor, the mark persisted. A dermatologist prescribed DERMOVATE cream, which I later discovered was harmful and stopped using. Fortunately, over time, the growth disappeared, likely due to herbal remedies I took. The injure was inflicted by a friend who knew no better way to say good bye. Mywife tease me for several years that this was my friend’s “FORGET ME NOT SIGNS.

    When skin troubles are suppressed, toxins can be forced back into the body, similar to blocked rainwater finding an alternative path. In the body, this alternative path may be the weak lungs or breathing tubes, potentially leading to asthma.

    First Steps in Treating Skin Challenges

    In my view, the initial steps in addressing skin issues should be detoxifying the eliminative organs, including: Digestive system, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver, Urinary system, Skin.

    The intestine is easier to deal with than many people think, as long as the tissues haven’t become cancerous. There are many detox agents available, including orange peel, which is an excellent anti-asthma remedy with anti-histamine properties. Support for the intestines may also include digestive enzymes, fiber blends of all sorts and proprietary formulas such as Amazon digestion support, cleanse, Mila, detox Plus, Parasite shield, activated charcoal, Diatom and Golden seal.

    Orange Peel Therapy

    Chewing or eating orange peel with food, combined with drinking water throughout the day (as recommended by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj), can help regulate skin clarity, lightness, and suppleness. Orange peel therapy also aids digestion and reduces blood sugar levels. Enhance the effects by solarizing the orange peel water or adding water from a quantum energy bottle.

    I recommend using: Aloe Gelly (an Aloe vera proprietary product), Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil and Shea butter

    Natural Remedies for Common Skin Diseases

    Experts suggest the following recipes for common skin issues:

    • Acne: Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera, Neem, Turmeric

    • Eczema and Dermatitis: Aloe Vera, Calendula, Chamomile, Licorice Root

    • Psoriasis: Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon Grape, Sarsaparilla, Neem

    • Skin Infections: Tea Tree Oil, Echinacea, Goldenseal, Andrographis

    • Skin Allergies and Itching: Aloe Vera, Calendula, Chamomile, Quercetin

    • Wounds and Skin Ulcers: Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, Gotu Kola, Comfrey and

    • Skin Aging and Wrinkles: Green Tea, Ginkgo Biloba, Rosehip, Pomegrana

  • Caring tips for all skin types

    Caring tips for all skin types

    Giving your skin proper care is serious business. Taking care of your skin is essential, regardless of the skin tone. However, individuals with deeper skin tones may have specific needs and challenges when it comes to skin care. Deeper skin tones are naturally rich in melanin, which provides protection against the sun’s harmful rays. Here are some skin care tips tailored to all skin tones.

    •Stay hydrated

    When the skin is dry, it can become irritated or damaged, which can make acne worse. Staying hydrated also ensures new skin cells develop correctly as sores heal.

    The golden rule of drinking eight glasses of water every day is crucial for all. When your body is hydrated, your skin remains plump and healthy. Water also helps drain the toxins out.

    • Using oil-free skin care

    Oil-based or greasy products can block pores, increasing the risk of clogged and growing acne sores.

    Look for skin care products and cosmetics labeled as “oil-free” or “noncomedogenic,” which contain ingredients that allow pores to breathe.

    • Cleanse and moisturize daily: To keep skin bright and supple, it is best to cleanse and moisturize it daily, ideally right after showering. Massage the cleanser into the skin with clean fingertips, then rinse it off with warm (not hot) water and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

    • Reduce stress: Stress causes levels of the hormone androgen to increase. Tips for managing stress include: talking with family, friends, a doctor, or other supportive people, getting enough sleep, eating a healthful, balanced diet, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption, and practicing deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness, or meditation

    • Eat a balanced diet

    Good skin care starts on the inside. To give skin the nutrients it needs to form and repair itself, eat a healthful diet rich in: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, such as fish, eggs, legumes, and tofu, and healthful fats, including nuts, avocado, and olive oil

  • Tribal marks, stretch marks, blemishes and scars on the skin

    As I was writing this series on skin care, a reader kept calling me to ask about how to remove tribal marks.  I did not have an answer but he kept pestering for help for his brother.  Finally, I gathered that the tribal marks were disturbing his brother’s life.  He was being taunted everywhere even in Church.  He wanted to go and study abroad but the scaring was a hindrance to his every move.  He was at a standstill in life and had to get the marks removed.

    Tribal marks and tattoos can be done as a matter of choice and pride.  My father, who wanted us his children, to be identified with the Oyo Royal Family, brought home a traditional medicine man who was  an expert in doing tribal marks.  We rebelled and the man left with his blade and powder.  As an adult living in California, I submitted myself for a tattoo which I like very much.  Tattoos can be beautiful artwork done for cosmetic or sentimental reasons.  Many people get tattoos but they may face a situation where they need to remove the tattoo.  Some work environments forbid tattoos, therefore if one wants to get a job in such an environment one may opt to get any visible tattoo removed.  Many people who now wear tribal marks actually had no say in it when the scarification was being done.  The choice was made in their childhood by some adults, usually parents or Ifa priests.  For some, tribal  marks are beautifully done and become an identity stamp worn with pride.  For others, tribal marks are other than beauty or pride.  My reader who called for help actually claimed that the tribal marks he wants to get removed were done out of malice to make sure the person will not make progress in life.  That is some curse was sealed in those marks and the curse will be broken if the marks are removed.  Some tattoos are done out of fetish beliefs or to identify with occult groups.  Therefore tribal marks and tattoos are done, it seems, for every reason under the sun.

    Marks, scars, and blemishes can make one stand out.  One can become as insecure as a person of interest that is always surrounded by unwanted attention or curiosity.  One can be discriminated against, excluded, persecuted, and even continuously be inadvertently punished by ignorant persons and busybodies. One might continually curse his or her parents or whoever did the scaring.

    Scars can be formed on the skin from accidents or diseases.  Such scars on the face or on visible parts of the body may be embarrassing and one may wish to have them removed.   Another reader has called me asking about stretch marks.  Some women are left with stretch marks after pregnancy or scars after a cesarean session. People are left with stretch marks after a weight loss session.  Many people are bothered about ugly stretch marks.  Perhaps, only one’s spouse gets to see them but still this can be embarrassing and a source of insecurity.  Some refrain from going to swim in public places or doing sports because they do not want to expose their stretch marks.  Many are looking for ways to get stretch marks removed.

    Facial scars are especially bothersome as people may be paying attention to the scars rather than listening to the bearer.  Oily skin sometimes develops pimples and over time, the skin becomes scarred from pimples. Some drugs may cause this side effect.  Many young people wanting to date or marry are troubled by such skin problems.  Everyone wants to have good facial looks and be attractive.  Some have sunken into depression or other psychotic states because of skin problems and insecurity with their looks.

    We shall discuss scars and the possibility of reversing certain types of scars.  Some blemishes, marks, or scars may be easily reversed or improved.  Others may be impossible to remove altogether without damaging effects.  We can try home remedies or buy scientifically tested products or even go for surgery, depending on what we can afford and the type of skin problem we want to erase. To be continued.

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.  For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

     

  • Caring for skin types

    Skin types is not a straight forward topic.  In this article, we will consider the extremes of dry skin and oily skin as well as sensitive skin.

    The skin is a homeostatic organ that helps to control the heat, fluid balance, and immune status of the body.  As the cover of the body, exposed to the environment and rubbing against the environment, it is itself an adaptive organ. In particular, the skin of the face and the neck, so frequently exposed to sunlight, heat or cold, and wind, becomes adapted for such exposure.

    Black people would sometimes be surprised by the difference in colour between the skin of the abdomen and upper thighs compared to the much darker tone of the face, neck, and arms.  The skin adjusts the quantity of melanin in the epidermis according to its sensitivity to the elements, especially sunlight and heat. Another adaptive process is the thickening of the skin in response to frequent touch, abrasion, or assault. The soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, the elbows, the knees, and the buttocks are parts of the body where adaptive changes reinforce the skin’s protective properties.  The longer or greater the contact with the environment, the thicker the skin becomes.  Muslims and other people who pray by touching their foreheads on the ground develop a thick spot on the fore head.  Many monks develop thick skin on their knees for praying kneeling.

    One can observe oneself sweating instantly and profusely on entering a very hot room.  The skin is in this case performing a homeostatic role – to maintain the body temperature and prevent it from rising because body enzymes and functions need normal temperature to work well.

    The skin demonstrates various other adaptive and homeostatic processes which may be structural or functional, molecular or overt.

    Thus for any person, there may be differences between the appearance of the skin in various parts of the body, some parts looking soft and smooth and some parts looking dry and callous.

    The oil glands (sebaceous glands) in the skin produce a protective fatty substance, sebum.  People with dry skin do not produce enough sebum and people with oily skin produce excess sebum.  The sweat glands too can produce little or no sweat or excess sweat. Some people have sensitive skin which is easily challenged by environmental factors. They may keep developing, itch, rash, or redness.  We tend to use the skin of the face to determine our skin type as oily, dry, or sensitive.

    We should care for our skin according to the skin type and skin area of the body.  For young people, the concern may be to avoid build-up of callous.  For mid-lifers, the concern may be to reduce the lines and wrinkles and to slow aging.  We should know that our genetic makeup, age, geographical environment, as well as what we eat and how much we drink all affect the look of our skin.  Whatever the skin type, it is important to exfoliate and moisturize regularly.

    Bathing with soap alone is not enough. Soap should be applied with a bath sponge to exfoliate dead skin. Natural bath sponges are commercially produced from harvested Spongia officinalis, an animal that lives in the Mediterranean Sea. Synthetic mesh bath poufs for better scrub or wash cloths for milder scrub may be used in place of the sponge, depending on how sensitive one’s skin is. In West Africa raffia sponge derived from palm trees has been used from time immemorial.  Newer commercial versions prevent clogging of drainages with sponge fibres.  The loofah (luffa) is another good scrubber derived from a cucumber-like plant.  The fruit is left to dry leaving the fibrous skeleton that is used as a bathing sponge.  Some of these materials are attached to a handle or stick for effective scrubbing of the back or hard to reach areas.  These materials used to bath help to exfoliate and also dislodge bacteria and dirt in the pores of the skin.  How often we use a sponge or exfoliator depends on our exposure to environmental factors and sensitivity of our skin.  Many Africans routinely (daily) use a scrub while Caucasians may occasionally use a scrub and routinely use a wash cloth.  The sponge or scrubbing material should be properly rinsed out after use because retained minute debris can promote microbial growth of bacteria, fungi, or viruses.  In fact, synthetic bath poufs, because they are durable, should be rinsed with mild disinfectant frequently to keep them sterile.  To be continued

     

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.  For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

     

  • Healthy skin

    The skin is an organ. It covers the body from the head to the toes.   It is the largest organ of our body.  The main function of the skin is to act as a barrier between the outside and the inside of the body.  It keeps the elements out.  The sun – heat, light; the wind; pressure – all the elements and the weather are kept from harming the delicate balance of the inside of our bodies.  The skin controls entrance of exogenous substances into the body and exit of endogenous substances out of the body. Air, water, other gases and liquids, and solid chemicals are limited in contacting the body from the environment or leaving the body.  The skin acts as a barrier to microbes. Many of them bounce off the skin; many try to penetrate and are stopped by various features of the skin; many are destroyed by the skin and some manage to assault or damage the skin but cannot penetrate the body. Once in a while a bullet or other powerful structure may overcome the skin barrier and damage the body.

    The skin is made up of three layers.  The outer layer is the epidermis and gives the skin its colour.  Colour cells called melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin which is abundant in black people.  When white people first reached remote places in Africa, the natives thought the white men were skinless.  In some African languages, the retained native word for Caucasian is translated to “skinless one” or “peeled one” in English.  All races however do have an epidermis but different levels of pigmentation.

    Under the epidermis is the dermis layer which contains connective tissue, some sweat glands and hair follicles which may be sparse or abundant depending on the part of the body.

    The innermost layer of the skin is the hypodermis which contains fatty and connective tissue. When we get fat, we have a lot of fat stored here.

    The skin is not a passive barrier.  It is an active one with numerous activities. The continual replacement and scaling off of surface epithelial cells which are not visible to the eye help to remove dirt and microbes that settle on the skin.  The oil secreted by the skin traps dirt and microbes and keeps the texture of the surface.  The surface blood vessels in the skin are reactive to stimuli and constrict or dilate to reduce or increase blood supply to the body surface. Natural soldier cells and chemical armoury are present and are part of the defence mechanisms of the skin.

    Apart from the skin being a protective organ, it is also a social tool of attraction or repulsion.  A man can fall in love with a woman just from attraction to the woman’s skin.  A person can suffer discrimination and be ostracized because of ugly skin or simply because of different skin.  Within civilizations, skin is a definer of relationships, especially within races and between races.

    The skin is a major sensory organ and can detect touch, temperature, differentiate textures and elicit emotional responses.  It is a major player in love making.  In the olden days, religious people punished themselves or tried to cleanse themselves from carnality by wearing sack cloth and hair shirts.  Some religious communities still retain such traditions.  This is derived from the biblical records of repentant people dressing in sackcloth and sitting in ashes. Many “holy” people possibly died young from assaults to their bodies with severe and risky habits.

    Thus skin is surprisingly connected with our physical health, our mental health, our emotional health, and our spiritual health. We shall discuss skin from these various aspects.

    There are many common skin conditions.  Some are inherited and some are environmentally induced  can be avoided.

    Skin products make big business.  There are medications and cosmetics that we need or play with. Herbal products for skin care abound.  We shall examine various products and discuss some that are really worth our attention.

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.  For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

     

  • Healthy skin

    The skin is an organ.  It covers the body from the head to the toes.  It is the largest organ of our body.  The main function of the skin is to act as a barrier between the outside and the inside of the body.  It keeps the elements out.  The sun – heat, light; the wind; pressure – all the elements and the weather are kept from harming the delicate balance of the inside of our bodies.  The skin controls entrance of exogenous substances into the body and exit of endogenous substances out of the body. Air, water, other gases and liquids, and solid chemicals are limited in contacting the body from the environment or leaving the body.  The skin acts as a barrier to microbes. Many of them bounce off the skin; many try to penetrate and are stopped by various features of the skin; many are destroyed by the skin and some manage to assault or damage the skin but cannot penetrate the body. Once in a while a bullet or other powerful structure may overcome the skin barrier and damage the body.

    The skin is made up of three layers.  The outer layer is the epidermis and gives the skin its colour.  Colour cells called melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin which is abundant in black people.  When white people first reached remote places in Africa, the natives thought the white men were skinless.  In some African languages, the retained native word for Caucasian is translated to “skinless one” or “peeled one” in English.  All races however do have an epidermis but different levels of pigmentation.

    Under the epidermis is the dermis layer which contains connective tissue, some sweat glands and hair follicles which may be sparse or abundant depending on the part of the body.

    The innermost layer of the skin is the hypodermis which contains fatty and connective tissue. When we get fat, we have a lot of fat stored here.

    The skin is not a passive barrier.  It is an active one with numerous activities. The continual replacement and scaling off of surface epithelial cells which are not visible to the eye help to remove dirt and microbes that settle on the skin.  The oil secreted by the skin traps dirt and microbes and keeps the texture of the surface.  The surface blood vessels in the skin are reactive to stimuli and constrict or dilate to reduce or increase blood supply to the body surface. Natural soldier cells and chemical armoury are present and are part of the defence mechanisms of the skin.

    Apart from the skin being a protective organ, it is also a social tool of attraction or repulsion.  A man can fall in love with a woman just from attraction to the woman’s skin.  A person can suffer discrimination and be ostracized because of ugly skin or simply because of different skin.  Within civilizations, skin is a definer of relationships, especially within races and between races.

    The skin is a major sensory organ and can detect touch, temperature, differentiate textures and elicit emotional responses.  It is a major player in love making.  In the olden days, religious people punished themselves or tried to cleanse themselves from carnality by wearing sack cloth and hair shirts.  Some religious communities still retain such traditions.  This is derived from the biblical records of repentant people dressing in sackcloth and sitting in ashes. Many “holy” people possibly died young from assaults to their bodies with severe and risky habits.

    Thus skin is surprisingly connected with our physical health, our mental health, our emotional health, and our spiritual health. We shall discuss skin from these various aspects.

    There are many common skin conditions.  Some are inherited and some are environmentally induced  can be avoided.

    Skin products make big business.  There are medications and cosmetics that we need or play with. Herbal products for skin care abound.  We shall examine various products and discuss some that are really worth our attention.

     

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.  For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

     

  • Time to skin the cats ensemble

    Reggae group, UB40 pushed out a sensational hit, about fixing the rat in the kitchen.  On the surface, it sounded ludicrous, if not outright senseless.  But on deep reflection, it made a lot of sense — the rat as metaphor for shifty characters, gnawing away and troubling the pantry!

    The mercurial Prof. Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) , has echoed such rats, located as fat cats, in the public space, burying their heads in the public barn.

    The other day, at a public lecture in Lagos, Prof. Sagay railed at some bank cats, colluding with looters to hide stolen funds.  Those greedy and sleazy bank chiefs, he assured, would be brought to justice.

    Before he was done with the lecture, however, he had identified an ensemble of fat cats, across Nigeria’s crucial sectors of Banking, the Bar and the Bench — the B raised to power three and evil trinity for graft, determined to thwart any effort to stamp out corruption in Nigerian public life.

    That is a pity.  But it is such of a tragic hue, for this evil trinity shows an unflattering face of the Nigerian contemporary elite, so used to sleaze it would pull all stops to maintain its ruinous ways.

    Sagay charged: senior lawyers and some hostile and powerful judges are proudly enlisted in this anti-social army, such that “there is a gang-up of the powerful political, business and banking elite that is determined to frustrate the anti-corruption struggle.”

    Pray, if the political and business and banking and judicial elites’ jaw are tightly set against fighting corruption, who then is left?

    Yet, that is the grim reality — an elite too far gone, in its old rapacious ways, to realize its true enlightened self-interest.  It is the open sore of a country indeed, where the commanding heights do not seem to see that winning the corruption war as the ultimate liberating force, to set the country on the road to development and ultimate prosperity, en route to fulfilling its manifest destiny.

    Still, it’s no time to fold arms and moan.  Rather, it is time to seize the season, pick the gauntlet and wrestle — to the death, if necessary — this parasitic minority, strongly determined to ensure the majority perishes, just for this few to indulge themselves.

    That is why Hardball fully backs Prof. Sagay’s campaign.  The government should not tarry to dock such colluding bank chiefs.  To start with, banking is the very epitome of trust.  Allowing somebody to keep your hard earned trove, with little fear that it would vanish, is nothing but near-absolute trust.  That modern banking procedures have been so routinized, that it now appears common place, doesn’t  take anything away from that pristine trust.

    Yet, it is this same trust these bank cats are abusing by colluding with looters to salt away public funds for a fee.  That must be condemned by every right-thinking Nigerian.

    As for corrupt lawyers, judges and politicians, the system cannot be harsh enough.  As they plot their path of perdition, that would put the innocent majority in jeopardy, we should also plot our own counter-plot of redemption, that would put these greedy character in the can where they belong.

    Folks, let’s go skin these fat cats!

  • Common skin disorders: Ulcers and other illnesses

    In today’s article, we will conclude this series on common skin disorders. We will exploit diseases that are peculiar children and some that are common to adults and children alike.

    Ringworm (Tinea): Ringworm often wrongly called “ezcema” is common to all: women, men, adult and children, but most especially seen in children. Unlike its name, ringworm is not a worm and it’s neither a ring. The disease is caused by fungus that takes opportunity into its hand to grow. Ringworm can be found often in the head and may become very obvious as a pale circular rash on dark skin. It may also appear in the body often on the chest, back, abdomen, groin, hands and feet.  Ringworm is infectious, meaning the infection can spread from one person to another.  Ringworm, except those affecting the nails that require a more prolonged and sustained treatment, ringwork can be easily treated once recognised by the doctor.

    Boils (Furunculosis). Boils occur where we can find hairs in any part of the body. Therefore, boil can occur on the head, eyes, ears, chest, neck, hands, groin and legs. For this reason, boils do not occur on our soles and palms. When the root of the hairs are infected by germs, boils can result. If the boil recurs more than three times in a year, it’s called recurrent furunculosis and if a big boil occurs it’s called carbunculosis. In both cases, germs such as bacteria is the cause.

    The treatment for both may be by use of antibiotics. For carbunculosis, the doctor may have to open the boil up so as to drain pus that is contained in the boil.

    Cellulitis: Infection of the skin in parts of the body such as hands, legs, chest, abdomen and face may give rise to a crawling and infection that spread to nearby skin. It may gradually spread to cover a large parts of the affected areas. The skin becomes warm, swollen, and painful and the person may become very ill with fever. This may become an emergency due to the ill feelings. This skin disorder may affect anyone including children. Boils may lead to cellulitits. Any small wound in affected parts may also lead to cellulitis.  The treatment is urgent as delay may worsen the illness. Complications such as septicemia (blood poisoning) may also develop if care is not taken.  Antibiotics is the main form of treatment.

    There are some conditions where frequent occurrence of boils, ringworm and cellulitis may indicate an underlying illness such as diabetes and depressed immunity (the body having low ability to defend itself against infection) such a HIV and cancers. What appears as a simple boil that refused to go away in spite of the best efforts of the sufferer be it a child or adult, may indeed not be so simple after all. That is to say, that you should take recurrent boils and cellulitis very seriously.

    Skin Ulcers (Open Wound of the Skin): A skin ulcer or “boil” that fails to heal in a normal well-nourished person calls for urgent attention. An ulcer that is recurrent or multiple recurrent skin ulcer is also an indication to see the doctor for attention without delay. Skin ulcer that fails to heal may be due to underlying infection such as STD (see last week’s article) such as syphilis and HIV. Skin ulcer may also indicate tuberculosis (TB) of the skin as well guineaworm. Still, skin ulcer may be an indication of cancer of the skin (melanoma and basal cell carcinoma), or cancer from other parts of the body that has spread to the skin. Yet, skin ulcer, like boils, cellulitis and ringworm may be telling us of other serious illnesses such as diabetes or depressed immunity, anaemia, heart failure brought upon the sufferers.  Strange skin ulcer in children or mentally unwell adults or dementia in and elderly or any vulnerable person is a form of abuse until proven otherwise.  Skin ulcer in a person that is physically or mentally disabled who stays too long on any part of the body may be pressure sores. In all these, vigilance and urgency are called for.  So skin ulcer may be a pointer to a killer disease that is lurking underneath.

    A Word on Skin Colour, Bleaching and Wrinkles: Our skin is primarily for protection and each skin of every one of us has been so programmed for the purpose of defense depending on the genes that we inherited from our parents and the environment that we live in. That is why we have different shades of human colour. Along with the genes influencing, the less the sunshine the paler and the more the sunshine the darker or brownish the person. This darkness/brown-ishness protects against the ultraviolent rays of the Sun, preventing cancer from forming. Bleaching the skin thus expose the skin to the violent effect of the Sun and likelihood of cancer forming. Wrinkles also develop due to bleaching which would have occurred as we age but is hastened by steroid use and bleaching. Wrinkles can be caused by prolonged illness of any form or malnutrition and anxiety.

    In concluding, I will advise and strongly too that, though skin illnesses are very frequently encountered by every one of us, our skin can also tell us a lot of stories about the state of our health. I have only covered a small part of skin illnesses in the last few weeks. Skin is not just an object meant for beauty and decoration but a vital organ that protects and defends our body against attack. In doing its job, our skin encounters various insults and assaults to its integrity.  It’s our job as skin owners to also take care of the skin that is so much dedicated to taking care of us. Any strange occurrence or feeling in our skin should be taken seriously by visiting our medical practitioner as soon as possible. A stich in time, the sage says, saves nine.

  • Common skin disorders. Body odour, excess sweating, STD

    Body Odour (Bromhidrosis)

    Every living thing is made of chemicals. Human beings are the same. We are made up of complex compounds of chemicals whose foundation were laid when we were conceived. These chemicals are building block of our lives. They remain active every second of our lives: they undergo regeneration and shedding. The product of such recycling are constantly being removed from our body as any factory product and wastes are removed in the world.

    Body odour becomes noticeable after puberty at a time when our hormones are increasingly active and we are more productive and energetic. In most people, body odour passes without significant concern. Please be aware that every one of us smell in different ways to different degrees.

    When body odour becomes a worry, becomes overpowering or interferes with the lives of the individuals, steps should be taken to address the problem. At the time of our birth, our bodies were invaded by bacteria present in the air. As we live on, depending on what we engage in and how we look after ourselves, these bacteria will remain or change as we all change with time.

    What causes body odour? We all sweat, for a fact. Anyone who sweats is subject to some kind of body odour. How we individually deal with our body or keep the smell to a minimum is what differentiates us all. When we are anxious or we excise or there is a lot of heat around us, we sweat more in such areas as face, armpit and chest areas. Our hands may be sweating as other parts of our body. This situation creates massive opportunity for the resident bacteria, mentioned above to become active and feed on our waste products of sweat with all the chemicals that is contained in it.  This interaction of human sweat and bacteria fundamentally creates our body odour. There is however more to it. Ingestion of some foods such as garlic, onion, curry, alcohol, certain medications (like penicillin, bromides), and toxins may also body odour. Lastly, body odour may result from underlying diseases such as diabetes, kidney diseases and liver failure. Also, in some individuals, there is a strong genetic link to their excess body odour. Such individuals also have excess ear wax. Perhaps, this genetic link may explain why some cultures such as Yoruba claims that a poor child’s first bath and eventual body odour are interrelated.

    How to deal with body odour:  Beyond issue of puberty and smell, body odour in otherwise health person will be investigated by the doctor and appropriate treatment should be offered accordingly.  Personal hygiene is a very important measure. Shaving of armpit hairs and washing of armpit as well as prompt removal or washing of sweats are useful steps to take. Regular, once daily showering or bath may help as well. Use of antiseptic soap may be beneficial too. Deodorant may help reduce the perception and intensity of the body smell.  In rare occasions, surgery may be required to deal with body odour (and excess sweating).

    Excessive Sweating (hyperhidrosis). As I mentioned earlier, excess sweating may be due to anxiety, heat in the environment, eating of hot food, and exertion. But it may also be due to overactive sweat glands in the armpit, face, chest and back. In some persons, over sweating may be due to genetic inheritance. It may also be caused by diseases such as overacting thyroid and other diseases. All these may make body odour worse. The Solution include use of antiperspirants. In some situations, medications may be used to reduce over sweating but you may need to see a physician for this. In extreme cases, surgical operation may be called for to deal with excessive sweating.

    Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD): Sexually transmitted diseases is a common human affliction. Skin is often a part of the human body that STD may manifest itself in the victim. Common STD that shows up in the skin include viral diseases such as human papilloma virus(HPV) showing as small cauliflower-like growth, human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) showing up as rashes in different parts or all over the body, herpes simplex showing up as ulcers (see next week’s article for skin ulcers). Bacteria such as Chancroid, and syphilis also shows up as ulcers as well as swelling around the groin, penis in men and vagina in women. Gonorrhea may cause little swelling in groin and discharge in penis. In women, infection with gonorrheoa may not be so obvious until much damage had been done.

    The solution to STD is primarily prevention: for you to exercise discretion on whom you interact with. On the other hand, use of condom may help. Where oral sex has been practiced, these infections may affect the lips and throat. If infection is discovered, do go to your medical practitioner as soon as possible for thorough investigations and treatment. Prompt attendance at the doctor may save you from more body damage and death from sexually transmitted diseases.

    Next week, we shall conclude skin disorders and when we shall take a more look at common illnesses as pertaining to our environment.

  • Common skin diseases: Pimples

    Pimples (which is otherwise called acne vulgaris) are in general, results of increased hormone activities that begins or are seen in teen years. The main hormone in the development of male person is called testosterone (androgens) which is present in both male and female but several times more in quantity and action in the male than in the female gender. Because of the needs of puberty (changes that occur between 13-18 years) when the hormone becomes very active, large amount of the hormone is produced.  The increasing activity of this hormone in both genders results in fatty matter (sebum) being formed in the skin where there is sebaceous glands (hair bearing areas) of the body. However, production of sebum is highest on the face, central chest and back. As you reader can now see, these areas that I have mentioned are regions of the body where we have the highest concentration of pimples. These areas are the oily or greasy parts of the body especially so in teenage years.

    Nonetheless, androgen effect as mentioned is not the only cause of pimples.  Clinicians and scientists have observed that some individuals may also suffer from pimples as a result of what they have inherited from their parents. Pimples may thus be genetic and in such persons, pimples can be very severe.  Obviously, pimples affect both girls and boys but men not surprisingly are more affected. Ironically, its girls who seem to be more concerned with their appearance and tend to purse the care for pimples more vigorously.

    Whilst there is no concrete evidence that pimples can be associated with foods, some persons do say that the consumption of say chocolate/cocoa or coffee based foods and pig fat increase their pimples. Please note that by itself, acne is not infectious and is not dependent on the food that you eat!  As I mentioned under environment last week, environment do have impact on skin diseases. Therefore excessive heat and humidity make pimples worse while exposure to wind and sun may diminish the darkening and formation of pimples. Stress, tension, fatigue may make pimples worse.

    Appearance of Pimples: It may be sudden as the person reaches teenage years and beyond.

    Treatment for Acne: In general, as the person with acne matures and the hormone settles down in both girls and boys, pimples will generally disappear. In women, once they start to have children at a time when their own hormone called oestrogen, is produced in considerable amount, the pimples also tend to disappear.  The presence and disappearance of pimples in our faces is therefore a matter of time. The following measures may help us to deal with our pimples:  A) You may simply ignore it. It will go away in a matter of time. B) Avoid picking and squeezing the acne heads. C) If you are a girl and you suffer from Polycystic ovarian syndrome, you may need anti-testosterone amongst other treatments that the medical doctor may so recommend, to help you control it. See your doctor.  D) Avoid moisturisers on the acne. It may become worse. E) If a girl, be careful with type of contraceptive pills that you use. F)Wash the acne area twice daily with gentle soap and keep it clean. Wash gently. You may apply some anti-acne creams (see below). G) If the acne is troublesome and or infected, you may need medications and antibiotics to control the infection and growth of the acne: Examples of medications that are available over the counter such as Clearasil.

    There are others that your doctor may need to prescribe: antibiotics such as tetracycline (must not be used in pregnant women or children) that may also help you. There are many other medications such as Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane), Azelaic acid, Retinoids in creams and or tablet forms. These medications are to be used strictly under the directions of a competent medical doctor because of the danger that is associated with their side effects. H) Avoid steroids. I) Ask your doctor for some oral contraceptive pills. It may help you, if you are a girl. J) In case you are taking some medications for something else, such medications may cause acne. Ask your medical doctor to help you to check for the side effects of your medications.  While you should not stop such medication unless the doctor ask you to do so, but talk to your doctor about it. J) In some women, being pregnant may help growth of acne, but plan your family or pregnancy accordingly!  Finally, in the main, have confidence in your look. Acne will ultimately get resolved but if it’s becoming troublesome, don’t despair as there may be an underlying disease or conditions that is impacting on your acne.  Talk to a medical doctor.