Everthing you wanted to know about Actinic Keratoses but

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Actinic keratoses are areas of sun-damaged skin found predominantly on sun-exposed parts of the body, particularly the backs of the hands and forearms, the face and ears, the scalp in balding men and the lower legs in women. They may also occur on the lips. The term actinic means ‘sunlight-induced’, and the term keratosis refers to thickened skin. They are usually harmless but there is a very small risk of some actinic keratoses progressing to a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratoses are not contagious.They are caused by excessive sun exposure over many years

(from sunbathing, sunbed use, and outdoor work or recreational activities) and are therefore more common in older people. Fair-skinned, blue-eyed, red- or blonde-haired individuals, who burn easily in the sun but tan poorly, are at particular risk. Actinic keratoses often cause little trouble. Many affected individuals are not aware of

them at all. The affected skin feels rough and dry. However, if an actinic keratosis starts to grow into a lump, becomes itchy, tender or starts to bleed, medical advice should be sought as these changes could indicate the

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Kopluise (pediculus humanus capitis) is parasitiese, vlerklose insekte wat op mense se koppe leef en hulle gashere se bloed drink. Die volwassene word algemeen ’n “luis” genoem en is ongeveer so groot soos ’n sesamsaadjie. Die eiertjies, genaamd nete, is selfs kleiner – ongeveer die grootte van ’n skilfervlokkie. Kopluise is uiters aansteeklik. Hulle word feitlik uitsluitlik op die kopvel aangetref, veral om en agter die ore en naby die neklyn aan die agterkant van die kop, en soms op die ooghare en wenkbroue, hoewel dit nie dikwels voorkom nie. Die luise het ses pote met kloue wat hakies aan die punte het waarmee hulle styf aan die haar vasklou; die nete heg hulleself stewig aan die haarskag vas en dit kan moeilik wees om hulle te verwyder.

Simptome van ’n luisinfeksie: ’n “Kielierige” gevoel of ’n sensasie van iets

wat op die kopvel beweeg;

’n gejeuk wat veroorsaak word deur ’n allergiese reaksie op die byte van die kopluise;

prikkelbaarheid en probleme om te slaap omdat kopluise die aktiefste in die donker is;

sere op die kop as gevolg van ’n gekrap. Die sere kan soms geïnfekteer raak.

Direkte of indirekte blootstelling aan luise, of direkte kontak met iemand wat met luise besmet is, veroorsaak luisbesmetting. Besmetting met kopluise kom die algemeenste voor by voorskoolse en laerskoolkinders, wat die

luise na gesinslede en versorgers kan oordra. Hoewel kopluise nie siektes oordra nie,

kan kinders ’n sekondêre bakteriële infeksie van die vel ontwikkel as

gevolg ’n krappery omdat die luisbesmetting ’n gejeuk veroorsaak. Kopluise het niks te doen met die sindelikheid van ’n kind of sy of haar omgewing nie. Naby kontak of die deel van persoonlike besittings, soos hoede of haarborsels, is ’n risiko.

Ons apteker gee gewoonlik die volgende raad:

Was alle hoede, serpe, kussingslope, beddegoed, klere, en handdoeke wat die

besmette persoon gedra of gebruik het in twee dae voordat daar met die behandeling begin word. Hierdie items kan met warm water in ’n wasmasjien gewas word en op warm siklusse droog gemaak word – luise en eiers gaan dood as hulle vir vyf minute aan temperature van hoër as 54 °C blootgestel word. Moenie hoede, versorgingshulpmiddels en handdoeke deel wat met die hare van ’n besmette persoon in aanraking was nie. Stofsuig ook meubels en vloere om enige hare van die besmette persoon met lewensvatbare nete daarop, te verwyder.

Signs it could cause hearing loss Prolonged exposure to very loud noise can lead to hearing loss. But how do you know when the noise is too loud?Here are a few warning signs of excessive noise:• To be heard by someone standing next to you, you must speak much louder.• The noise is so loud that your ears hurt.• You hear ringing or buzzing.• It takes several hours of being away from the noise for your hearing to return to normal.

WaT iS kOPluiSE?

Health Tip: Is the Noise Too Loud?

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Positive lifestyle changes,

such as adopting a

healthy diet and moderate exercise, may reverse the aging process.Certain lifestyle changes may increase the length of our telomeres – these are DNA-protein complexes found at the end of chromosomes that control the aging process. They protect the chromosomes from becoming damaged. If the telomeres are shortened or damaged, the cells age and die quicker, triggering the aging process. Biological age can be predicted by the length of our telomeres. Shorter telomeres are linked to higher risk of premature death and age-related diseases, including many cancers (breast, prostate, colorectal and lung),

heart disease, vascular dementia and obesity. By making changes in our lifestyle, such as adopting a whole foods plant-based diet, it may be possible to increase our telomere length by 10%. lifestyle changes include: • Adopting a whole foods plant-based

diet • Carrying out moderate exercise • Adopting stress management

techniques, such as meditation and yoga

• Adopting greater intimacy and social support

“These comprehensive lifestyle changes may significantly reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases and premature mortality. Our genes, and our telomeres, are a predisposition, but they are not necessarily our fate."

aging PROCESS REVERSED WiTH liFESTYlE CHangES

High cholesterol increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Current guidelines recommend that adults 20 or older be screened every five years.But you may need more frequent cholesterol screenings if:• You are a woman 50 or older, or a man 45 or older.• Your total cholesterol is 5.18 mmol/ or higher.• Your HDL (good) cholesterol is below 40 mg/dL.• In addition to having high cholesterol, you have other risk

factors for heart disease or stroke, such as high blood pressure or being overweight.

Do You Need Frequent Cholesterol Screenings?Your age, weight are factors

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(Having someone else give you the ear drops may make this procedure easier.)1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap

and water. 2. Gently clean your ear with a damp

facecloth and then dry your ear.3. Warm the drops to near body

temperature by holding the container in the palm of your hand for a few minutes.

4. If the drops are a cloudy suspension, shake the bottle well for 10 seconds.

5. Check the dropper tip to make sure that it is not chipped or cracked.

6. Draw the medication into the dropper, or hold the dropper-top bottle with the dropper tip down.

7. Tilt the affected ear up or lie on your side. Pull the ear backward and upward (or if giving to a child younger than 3 years of age, pull backward and downward) to open the ear canal.

8. Place the correct number of drops in your ear. Gently press on the small skin flap over the ear to help the drops to run into the ear cana.l

9. Keep your ear tilted up for a few minutes or insert a soft cotton plug in your ear, whichever method has been recommended by your pharmacist.

10. Replace and tighten the cap or dropper right away.

11. Wash your hands to remove any medication.

Remember• Follow directions carefully • Do not miss doses • Store medications out of reach of

children.

Combining paracetamol with even a light consumption of alcohol may increase someone's risk of kidney disease.

"Most people take this medication without any input from pharmacists and that's where the public-health concern is. People buy paracetamol over the counter, and they also are casual alcohol user. They are unaware that there is a harmful interaction."

Chronic paracetamol use and chronic alcohol abuse both have been separately linked to kidney and liver disease, "What has not been well-studied until now is the link between some regular alcohol use and regular paracetamol use and increasing your risk of kidney disease above the risk of either of these drugs used separately.”

Neither normal use of paracetamol, nor light to moderate drinking posed a potential threat to kidneys. Research revealed that people who combined the two, however, reported health problems related to their kidneys and nearly half of those who took the combination, reported

kidney dysfunction.

Alcohol can interfere with the gene that regulates the way the body processes

paracetamol. Researchers said that that people need not stop using paracetamol, or stop consuming modest amounts of alcohol, but it's just not a good idea to take paracetamol continuously for a

number of days in a row whilst continuing to drink alcohol.

HOW TO uSE EaR DROPS PROPERlY

PaRaCETaMOl WiTH alCOHOl MaY CauSE PROBlEMS

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K I D Z F U N P A G E

JOKE OF THE MONTHA Honda mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the engine of a Honda when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop.The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage, “Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?” The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the Honda.The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, “So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out,repaired or replaced anything damaged, and then put everything back in, and when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is it that I make $24,000 a year and you make $1.7M when you and I are doing basically the same work?”The cardiologist paused, leaned over, and then whispered to the mechanic....“Try doing it with the engine running.”

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Glaucoma is a disease of the eye in which fluid pressure within the eye rises - if left untreated the patient may lose vision, and even become blind. The disease generally affects both eyes, although one may have more severe signs and symptoms than the other.There is a small space in the front of the eye called the "anterior chamber". Clear liquid flows in-and-out of the anterior chamber, this fluid nourishes and bathes nearby tissues. If a patient has glaucoma, the fluid does not drain properly - it drains too slowly - out of the eye. This leads to fluid build-up, and pressure inside the eye rises. Unless this pressure is brought down and controlled, the optic nerve and other parts of the eye may become damaged, leading to loss of vision.Treatments involve either improving the flow of fluid inside the eye, reducing its

production, and sometimes both. Damage caused by glaucoma is irreversible. Even the disease itself cannot be completely cured. However, regular check-ups and proper

treatment can considerably slow down the progression of the

disease, and even prevent further loss of eyesight.In the majority of cases, initial treatment includes eyedrops.

Compliance is vital for best results and to prevent undesirable

side effects - this means following the instructions carefully. Examples of eyedrops include: Prostaglandin analogues - these medications have prostaglandin-like compounds as their active ingredient. They increase the outflow of the fluid inside the eye. Some patients may experience reddening and stinging of the eyes, photophobia, some swelling around the rim of the eye, as well as darkening of the iris. The color of the eyelids may also change, and there may be blurred vision.

The thousands of runners who will take part in marathons most likely believe they are strengthening their cardiovascular system by participating. But new research suggests the strain of a 30 kilometer run can temporarily damage heart muscle.

It turns out strenuous exercise can harm heart tissue, causing inflammation and other problems, particularly among runners who had lower fitness levels and less training. But "there is no permanent damage.”

At the peak of their training, the men and women involved in this study put in about eight hours of running and logged about 50 kilometers a week, on average. After the race, half of the runners showed a decline in left and right ventricular function -- defined as the operation

of the pumping chambers of the heart that take blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. When a big area of the heart was affected, there was also swelling and reduced blood flow.

The heart changes were more common in those runners who had lower fitness levels and less training. But the damage was temporary. "Age was not a predictor of cardiac problems. Training was. The less the runners trained, the more changes in the heart.”

Coaches recommend slowly increasing distance by increments during training to

acclimate yourself to longer distances. Experts seem to agree that the findings [in this study] were mild and transient and there

is little risk.

WHaT CauSES glauCOMa?

Can MaRaTHOnS TEMPORaRilY HuRT THE HEaRT?

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Beweeglikheid is ’n belangrike aanwyser van gesonde veroudering. Navorsers het studies ontleed wat tussen 1985 en 2012 gepubliseer is en wat beweeglikheid en veroudering ondersoek het. Die ondersoek het bevestig dat toenemende fisieke aktiwiteit en oefening uiters belangrik vir gesonde veroudering is. Beweeglikheidsprobleme is dikwels ’n vroeë teken van naderende funksionele afname by seniors, wat hulle vermoë om onafhanklik te woon, kan beïnvloed. Alle senior pasiënte moet slegs twee vrae beantwoord: • Vir gesondheids- of fisiese redes, is dit vir jou moeilik om

10 trappe te klim of 400 meter te stap?• As gevolg van onderliggende gesondheids- of fisiese

redes, moes jy die manier waarop jy 10 trappe klim of 400 meter stap, aanpas?

Enige aanpassing van ’n taak, soos vir die klim van 10 trappe, is rede tot kommer. Deur die regte vrae te vra,

kan baie begryp word van die vlak van beweeglikheid by ouer pasiënte. Indien pasiënte se antwoorde aantoon dat hulle beweeglikheidsprobleme ervaar, moet hulle na ’n fisioterapeut verwys word om die geskikte hulp ten opsigte van beweeglikheid te ontvang.Beweeglikheid is een van die hoekstene van gesonde veroudering. Met ’n toenemend ouer bevolking is dit noodsaaklik om maniere te kry om senior burgers te help om voort te gaan om goed en onafhanklik te leef. Die grootste struikelblokke – gebrek aan fisieke aktiwiteit, vetsug en rook – is alles risikofaktore wat met die geskikte behandeling en hulp met welslae oorkom kan word.

People who suffer from migraines are twice as likely to be depressed as others without the debilitating headaches, according to a new study. And those who experience migraines, particularly people younger than 30, are also more likely to consider suicide, researchers said.Routine screenings and interventions are needed for those migraine sufferers at greatest risk for both depression and suicidal thoughts. "It may be that younger people with migraines have not yet managed to find adequate treatment or develop coping mechanisms to minimize pain and the impact of this chronic illness on the rest of their lives." As in previous studies, migraines were much more common among women, with one in every seven women reporting having migraines, compared with one in every 16 men. Of study participants, more than 8 percent of men and 12 percent

of women who experienced migraines also suffered from depression, compared to just above 3 percent of men and about 6 percent of women who did not have migraines.Younger people with migraines were much more likely than older patients to develop symptoms of depression. Women younger than 30 who suffered from migraines had six times the odds of being depressed than adults aged 65 and older. Migraine sufferers

who were single or had trouble with daily activities were also at increased

risk for depression.Men and women with migraines were also much more likely than those without the headaches to have seriously considered committing suicide. Although nearly 16 percent of men and 18 percent of women with migraines said they thought

about taking their own life, about 8 percent of men and 9 percent of

women who didn't have migraines said the same.

TWEE VRaE kan DEMEnSiE iDEnTiFiSEER

MigRainES TiED TO RaiSED RiSk OF DEPRESSiOn

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In order to have better self-control, all you have to do is gargle sugar water. The finding came from a study at the University of Georgia, USA.Fifty-one students were involved in the study and were asked to perform two assignments so that the team could test self-control. In the first assignment, the subjects were asked to cross out the Es on a page from a statistics book, which has been known to diminish self-control.In the second task, they were asked to identify the color of different words, which actually spell out the names of other colors, that were flashed on a monitor – (the Stroop test) the aim is to turn off a person's inclination to read the word instead of see the color.The participants were divided into two groups - half rinsed their mouths with lemonade sweetened with sugar while they completed the Stroop test and the other group with artificially-sweetened lemonade.

According to the results, students who rinsed with sugar responded to the color rather than the word significantly faster than those in the artificial sweetener group.

"Researchers used to think you had to drink the glucose and get it into your

body to give you the energy to (have) self control. After this trial, it seems that glucose stimulates the simple carbohydrate sensors on the tongue. This, in turn, signals the motivational centers of the brain where our self-related goals are

represented. These signals tell your body to pay attention."

The Stroop test was completed in about three to five minutes. A

measure of self-control was seen in the results. Researchers said a glucose mouthwash might not be sufficient to fix certain self-control hurdles such as quitting smoking or losing weight. "So, if you are trying to quit smoking, a swish of lemonade may not be the total cure, but it certainly could help you in the short run."

Older adults who took music lessons during childhood seem to have a faster brain response to speech than those who never played an instrument.Musical training early in life has a long-term, beneficial effect on how the brain processes sound. The importance of music education for children today will have an important influence for healthy aging many years from now.As people age, they often undergo brain changes that affect hearing. For example, the brains of older adults have a slower response to fast-changing sounds, which

is important for interpreting speech. Adults with 4 to 14 years of music training had the fastest response to the speech sound, about a millisecond faster than those without music training.“Being a millisecond faster may not seem like much, but the brain is very sensitive to timing and a millisecond compounded over millions of

neurons can make a real difference in the lives of older adults.

These findings confirm that the investments that we make in our brains early in life continue to pay dividends

years later.”

gaRgling SugaR WaTER Can BOOST YOuR SElF-COnTROl!

ChilDhooD MuSiC leSSoNS MaY oFFeR liFeloNg BeNeFitS

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Recommended daily calorie intakes vary across the world. According to the U.K. National Health Service (NHS), the average male adult needs approximately 2,500 calories per day to keep his weight constant, while the average adult female needs 2,000. US authorities recommend 2,700 calories per day for men and 2,200 for women. It is interesting that in the UK, where people on average are taller than Americans, the recommended daily intake of calories is lower. Rates of overweight and obesity among both adults and children in the USA are considerably higher than in the United Kingdom.The NHS stresses that rather than precisely counting numbers (calories), people should focus more on eating a healthy and well balanced diet, being physically active, and roughly balancing how many calories are consumed with the numbers burnt off each day. If you eat your five portions of fruit and vegetable per day you will probably live longer.

According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the average person's minimum calorie requirement per day globally is approximately 1,800 kilocalories.Over the last twenty years, sugar has been added to a growing number of foods we consume. Unfortunately, food labels do not include details on how much added sugar there is - it has become almost impossible for consumers to determine the amount of added sugars in foods and beverages.Timing as important as how many calories you should eat. A big breakfast helps bring your weight down or keep it down - researchers from Tel Aviv University explained - a large breakfast, one containing approximately 700 calories - is ideal for losing weight and reducing your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol.

Mumps is a contagious disease that can cause serious complications. You can protect your child from mumps by vaccinating on time. Mumps typically starts with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then, most people will have swelling of their salivary glands. This is what causes the puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw.Complications from mumps can occur, such as:• orchitis (swelling of the testicles in males who have

reached puberty);• meningitis (swelling of the tissue covering the brain

and spinal cord);• encephalitis (swelling of the brain);• oophoritis (swelling of the ovaries) and/or• mastitis (swelling of breasts) in females who have

reached puberty, and• loss of hearing.

Mumps is caused by a virus. Infected people can spread mumps when they breathe, cough, and sneeze. They can also spread it by sharing items, such as eating utensils and cups, and touching surfaces that are then touched by others. Anyone who has not had mumps or has not been vaccinated can get the disease.Mumps vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps. It is usually given as part of a combination vaccine that protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The MMR vaccine is strongly endorsed by medical and public health experts as safe and effective. Children should get two doses of MMR vaccine: the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.

HOW ManY CalORiES SHOulD i EaT?

MuMPS: BE SuRE YOuR CHilD iS FullY iMMunizED

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“Hersirkuleer” is die beste keuse om die rookmis te vermy, sê navorsers. Die stellings van jou motor se ventilasiestelsel het ’n groot invloed op die vlakke van blootstelling aan partikelbesoedeling wanneer jy in jou motor is. Partikelbesoedeling is die swart, roeterige rook wat dieselenjins en steenkoolkragaanlegte produseer. Buiten om minder te bestuur, is die beste manier om blootstelling aan alle tipes voertuigverwante partikelbesoedeling te verminder, om jou motor se ventilasie op “hersirkuleer” te stel. Anders kan ’n uur lange rit werk of skool toe jou daaglikse blootstelling aan verkeersverwante partikel-lugbesoedelstowwe verdubbel.

Vergeleke met ventilasiestellings wat lug van buite af inbring, verminder die hersirkuleerstelling besoedeling binne die motor van 80 persent op padvlak na 20 persent vir kleinpartikelbesoedeling, en van 70 persent na 30 persent vir groter partikels.

Die vensters van motors is vir die duur van die studie die hele tyd toegehou. As jy die vensters oop hou wanneer jy vinnig bestuur, styg die besoedelingkonsentrasies tot op dieselfde vlak as wat dit op die vlak van die pad is. Die navorsers het ook bevind dat partikelbesoedelingsvlakke laer is in nuwer motors, teen lae spoed, en wanneer daar op ander paaie as die snelweë gery word. Besoedelingsvlakke is vyf tot tien keer hoër op snelweë as op ander paaie.

As jy die vensters vir 30 minute of langer toe los met verskeie passasiers binne, styg die koolstofdioksiedvlakke in die motors . Sommige mense is gevoelig vir hoë koolstofdioksiedkonsentrasies. Om dit te voorkom, moet lug elke 10 of 15 minute vir ’n minuut of twee van buite af ingelaat word, veral as daar twee of meer mense in die voertuig is.

Deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep within the legs. The clot ultimately can break away and travel to the lungs.only about half of people with DVt have symptoms. if warning signs do occur, they may include:• Swelling of the leg or a leg vein.• Tenderness or pain in the leg, especially

while standing or walking.• Warmth in part of the leg.

• Discolouration or redness.• Coughing blood, shortness of breath or

pain when breathing deeply.If you have any of these symptoms, seek medical attention at once.

VeNtilaSie iN Die MotoR eN BeSoeDeliNg

HEalTH TiP: WHEn DEEP VEin THROMBOSiS CauSES SYMPTOMSSee YouR DoCtoR iMMeDiatelY

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DiSClaiMER: Please note that kk Publishers, it’s contributors and/or associates cannot be held liable in any way for errors that may occur in any of the articles printed in this newsletter. information and articles published in this newsletter do not constitute medical advice or a medical claim for any product of any nature whatsoever on behalf of the publisher, the pharmacy or the distributor. Consult a qualified health care practitioner for diagnosis or treatment of any diseases or medical condition. Designed and published by kk PuBliSHERS - THE nEWSlETTER FaCTORY CC, Cape Town Tel.: (021) 418 6708; Fax: (021) 418 6707 E-Mail: info@mypharmacy.co.za; Website: www.newsletterfac-tory.co.zaCOPYRigHT OF all aRTiClES anD EDiTORial aPPEaRing in THiS nEWSlETTER iS OWnED BY kk PuBliSHERS. all RigHTS RESERVED.

A recipe with many advantages. It can be prepared in advance - even the day before, but best of all, it brings all those wonderful old-fashioned flavours of honey, butter and cinnamon back to the modern dinner table.1 medium (800-900 g) butternut, peeled and cubed¼ cup (60 ml) honey2 T (30 ml) butter, melted1 t (5 ml) cinnamon1 t (5 ml) Ina Paarman's Meat Spice1 lemon¾ cup (180 ml) hot water2 t (10 ml) Ina Paarman's Vegetable Stock Powder½ cup (125 ml) pecan nuts, finely choppedToss the butternut with the honey, butter, cinnamon, Meat Spice and two teaspoons lemon rind, grated from the lemon. Dish into a medium small buttered ovenproof dish. Dissolve the Vegetable Stock in the hot water and add one tablespoon of lemon juice. Carefully pour it in on the side of the dish so as not to wash off the coating on the butternut. Cover with cling film and refrigerate if pre-preparing.Preheat oven to 190°C. Sprinkle nuts over and bake for 35-40 minutes until the butternut is soft and nuts are crisp.

Butternut and Pecan Bake

Serves 6

Many people don't know how to brush their teeth properly. Improper brushing can cause as much damage to the teeth and gums as not brushing at all. Lots of people don’t brush for long enough, don’t floss and don’t see a dentist regularly. Hold your toothbrush in the same way that would hold a pencil, and brush for at least two minutes. This includes brushing the teeth, the junction of the teeth and gums, the tongue and the

roof of the mouth. And you don't need a fancy, angled toothbrush – just a sturdy, soft-bristled one that you replace each month.

lOOk aFTER YOuR TEETH

Taffy & Staff

Continued from front page ....

Seasons GreetingsBest wishes for a happy holiday season and our heartfelt

thanks and appreciation for your loyalty and support throughout the year. May you

enjoy good health, peace and joy in 2014.

development of skin cancer (a squamous cell carcinoma).Actinic keratoses can be variable in appearance, even differing from one another within a single individual. At first they can be hard to see, and are more easily felt, being rough, like sandpaper. They may grow to a centimetre or two in diameter. Some are skin coloured, others are pink, red or brown. They can become raised, hard and warty, and may even develop a small horny outgrowth. The surrounding skin often looks sun-damaged - blotchy, freckled and wrinkled. Treatments used for actinic keratoses include the following: Freezing with liquid nitrogen (Cryotherapy). This

is an effective treatment which does not normally leave a scar, but it can be painful.

Surgical removal. This requires local

injection into the affected skin with anaesthetic, after which the actinic keratosis can be scraped off with a sharp spoon-like instrument (a curette), or it can be cut out and the wound closed with stitches.

Creams. Courses of creams containing drugs which may include 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod or Ingenol mebutate gel are useful treatments for actinic keratoses, especially if there are many of them. These preparations appear to selectively destroy the abnormal cells in sun-damaged skin. # Laser treatment may be useful particularly for actinic keratosis on the lips.

Protecting your skin from the sun will reduce the number of new actinic keratoses you get, and also reduce the risk of getting a sun-induced skin cancer. You should be extra cautious in the sun.Avoiding all sunlight exposure if you suffer from light sensitivity, or to reduce the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, may be associated with Vitamin D deficiency. If levels are reduced or deficient you may wish to consider taking supplementary vitamin D3 and increasing your intake of foods high in Vitamin D such as oily fish, eggs, meat, fortified margarines and cereals.