Shingles is a viral infection that shows up as a skin rash or blisters. These can be itchy and painful. This skin condition is caused by same the varicella zoster virus (VZU) that causes chickenpox. Even after the chickenpox is treated, VZU lies dormant in the nervous system. Under certain conditions, the virus is ‘reactivated’ in your blood stream, causing an outbreak of shingles. It is usually difficult to pinpoint the reason for an outbreak since the virus responds a variety of stimuli, including chronic illness, stress, and physical trauma such as cuts and abrasions. However, your risk factor increases if you are above 60 years old. VZU is highly contagious and once it is re-activated as shingles, it can also infect individuals without a history of chickenpox. Luckily, this is not a harmful condition and the breakout of shingles disappears within a month.

Perhaps the greatest complication associated with shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a form of nerve pain that can continue even after the shingles have reduced and disappeared. The pain is caused by irritation of the nerves by VZU and can be quite painful. However, it is not common, occurring in perhaps 10 percent of all shingles patients. Generally, people over 50 are more at risk from long-term, chronic pain. Some studies claim that steroids and antiviral drugs can prevent postherpetic neuralgia if the treatment begins immediately on appearance of shingles.

In response to your question, there is no scientific evidence that intense summer heat has any negative effect on shingles. In fact, some people believe that exposing the shingles to sunlight eases the discomfort. If you are worried about the heat, try applying a cold compress (some ice in a plastic bag will do) for peace of mind as well as relief from the itching and burning. Try not to leave the compress on for more than 20 minutes, since prolonged cold can damage cells. You could also try a hand towel soaked in cold milk. If you are suffering from pain, try and include some relaxation techniques such as meditation. Reducing stress will also help you to manage pain more naturally and avoid over-medicating. In your daily diet, try adding some cloves of raw garlic or get a garlic supplement. It has excellent antiviral properties that could speed up the healing process. Flaxseed oil is also believed to promote healing of the skin and nerve tissue. Most importantly, avoid touching or scratching the shingles and try to keep them clean and dry.

For rough and dry hair, you would need to pay special attention to conditioning. It is essential to understand that the reason your hair is rough and dry is that it lacks a sufficient amount of nutrition. If your hair roots and strands are not well nourished, then your hair will become dry and will break as well. One of the first positive steps you need to take is that you need to cut your hair short. Please understand that it is easier to work with short hair and see results than it is with long hair. Besides, short hair also has a natural tendency to look healthier. You should start following a weekly routine of deep conditioning your hair. This can be done by applying warm olive oil to your hair at least twice a week and leaving it in overnight. Olive oil is recommended because it is highly nourishing in nature and has the natural tendency to provide the essential nutrition via the oils that will help to maintain healthier and more beautiful hair. It is preferable to use extra virgin olive oil, but if you find that this is more expensive that you bargained for, you can also use coconut or almond oil as an alternative. Both are equally effective for your hair as well.

You can also apply a hair pack to your hair once a week or so. Make a very effective one with a tablespoon each of gram flour, fresh yogurt and honey. Add enough milk to this so that it becomes runny and easily applicable. This should be combed into your hair with the use of a conditioner comb and left in for about an hour before shampooing off. Please keep in mind that this may not always come off with one wash, and it may require two or sometimes, even three washes before it is out. Should this be the case, then you should make sure you are using a gentle and mild shampoo. Using harsh shampoos can rob the hair of its natural oils, not to mention that they could also damage your hair in the bargain. You could also get a Lawsonia inermis pack applied to your hair about once every three months or so. Try and get this done professionally, since it is not easy to do it yourself, particularly if you do not know how. Lawsonia inermis can be very messy and can leave behind unattractive stains.

You have not specified the exact nature of the pigmentation problem. In some cases, the problem occurs when the skin becomes too light, and in other cases, when it becomes too dark. If your skin has become too light, then you could be suffering from a skin pigmentation ailment such as vitilgo. You are advised to show this to a skin specialist for getting a more accurate and proper diagnosis. If your skin has become darker, then you are probably suffering from hyper pigmentation issues. If this is the case, then too you would need medical help. What your doctor has suggested would be true. You would need to work towards lightening the darkness of your skin, and may not always succeed is removing it altogether. Home remedies too may be useful in lightening any dark spots you may be suffering from. But please bear in mind that there are no guarantees that these will work. In some cases of inherited skin discoloration problems, there are patches that have an entirely different color from the rest of the skin. If you are suffering from such patches, which are grey or another color from your skin, then it may not be possible for you to help yourself without an invasive procedure such as surgery. Please look into your options before you make a decision about this.

You can try to adopt a few regular habits at home and see if they are of any use or help. One such is to make it a rule to protect your skin from the direct rays of the sun at all times. This is the first step towards reducing the darkness of your skin. Make sure you always have a generous layer of sunscreen on during the day. Contrary to popular belief, even shaded sunlight can end up damaging your skin to some extent. Each night, make a paste with two soaked and crushed almonds, a single strand of saffron and a teaspoon of fresh cream. You would need to soak the almond for at least 24 hours beforehand. Apply on your patches before bedtime and allow it to work all night. If you have excessively oily skin, simply skip the use of fresh cream and use fresh yogurt instead. This should be very effective in considerably lightening your dark spots. But keep in mind that this is the kind of remedial measure you would have to keep using continuously.

There are many skin conditions whose symptoms can be similar to your particular case. However, from the location and nature of the bumps, there is a good chance you may be suffering from keratosis pilaris. Even if it sounds impressive, this is actually a harmless condition that affects nearly 40% of all individuals, and close to 80% of all adolescents. It is caused due to a disorder that produces excess keratin in your body. Under normal conditions, keratin is an essential protein that forms all your hair. When there is an excess of keratin, it accumulates near the hair follicles (roots) and hardens to form a number of bumps. These usually appear on the upper arms, thighs, and sometimes the buttocks. The condition may appear worse when the skin is drier, such as in winter. Most dermatologists agree that keratosis pilaris is a genetic disease and hence has no medically-accepted cure.

In many cases, patients use prescription medicine that is usually used for acne or eczema. The reason is that some of the benefits seen in these medicines can have positive effect on a case of keratosis pilaris. For example, certain corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the density of keratin at the root follicles. However, the benefits of such treatments disappear when the medication is stopped. You also have the choice of following a natural health regime that could provide you with holistic benefits. Such remedies usually concentrate on keeping the skin healthy, clean, and well-nourished to reduce outbreaks of keratosis pilaris.

The first step is to ensure that your skin stays well-hydrated. Drink lots of water and avoid diuretics or dehydrating liquids like alcohol. You can adopt a new, milder soap with moisturizer since harsher soaps usually dry the skin. If you use moisturizer, find one with urea or salicylic acid. These compounds help to clean dead skin cells and reduce blockage at pores. You can even use a salicylic acid-based cleanser. Gentle exfoliation using a wash cloth or pumice stone can also help in reducing concentrations of keratin on the skin. It is also believed that milk baths may help due to the lactic acid in milk, which alpha hydroxyl acid. Please try not to pick or scratch the affected area; you will only feel sore and may even cause a skin infection due to minor cuts. If you have an extreme case, you can consult a cosmetic surgeon for options such as laser treatment and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.

It is always advised that you should avoid touching, scratching, or otherwise ‘forcing’ a pimple to burst. The reason is simple – pimples are a bacterial infection and popping them before they heal can spread the infection to other parts of your skin. In addition, you may suffer from ‘pimple scars’ when tissue is gouged out along with the pimple. To try and treat your pimples, you need to understand how they are caused, and how to avoid them. Pimples are actually caused by the normal functioning of your skin. Every day, your skin sheds out thousands of dead skin cells that are replaced by new, healthy cells. However, some dead skill cells can be trapped by sebum, an oil-like substance produced by sebaceous glands (oil glands) inside our pores. The dead skin cells block the pore, which leads to a build-up of sebum. This is ideal ground for bacteria and soon a pimple comes out as small bumps that soon fill with pus.

There is no real ‘cure’ for pimples. The best you can do is help speed up the recovery period, avoid spreading the infection to fresh skin, and take some preventative measures. Your dermatologist may prescribe over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide as the main ingredient. This chemical is keratolytic and helps to dissolve dead skin cells plugging the pores. It is also antibacterial and may reduce the risk of spreading the infection. In nature, a 5% solution of tea tree oil can show similar benefits. Another extremely popular ingredient is aloe vera, which is believed to help stimulate cell growth, increase blood circulation, soothe cuts and burns, reduce swelling, and function as an antiseptic. It can be especially useful after a pimple has popped to heal the skin and prevent scarring.

Aloe vera can also help to soften up and dead skin cells, thus reducing the chances of blocked pores. To get relief from any itchiness or pain, try a cold pack of ice wrapped with a towel; this should get you instant relief. You are also advised to use a gentle face wash with salicylic acid. Try and bathe regularly (especially after any intensive exercise) to prevent collection of excessive sebum on the pore. Avoid deodorized bathing products and sprays since the harsh chemicals used may irritate your skin further. Try and wear loose, comfortable clothes that let you skin breathe. Drinking plenty of water and maintaining a healthy diet may also help your skin stay healthy and clear.

Pimples are a very common occurrence due to the nature of our skin. Normal, healthy skin keeps itself refreshed by continuously shedding dead skin cells. Sometimes these dead cells are trapped by sebum, an oil-like substance produced by sebaceous glands (oil glands) inside our pores. These trapped cells block the pore, leading to a build-up of sebum, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Pimples are more common during adolescence, since our skin becomes thicker during puberty. As each contains bacteria, it is infectious and you should never forcibly squeeze a pimple. This will only lead to the formation of additional pimples in the nearby skin. When your pimples burst, they most often leave you with dark spots on the face. This happens because the pimples reach deep into your skin tissue, and when they burst they can take some tissue with them. This leads to small scars that have appeared as ‘spots’ on your skin.

Some studies have been conducted on using Vitamin E and onion extracts to treat such spots. However, the results were inconclusive. The sort of pimple spots that you have are best treated with cosmetic procedures, such as dermabrasion. Here, the top layer of the scarred skin is removed by sanding it. This removes damaged skin cells and encourages the body’s natural healing process. However, this procedure can be extremely painful and the skin requires months to heal. A less painful procedure called chemical peeling blisters the surface of the skin in small areas, removing the outmost layer and leaving behind visibly smoother skin. Perhaps the most popular choice involves laser treatment.  Small bursts of light energy are used to burn away the pimples posts. Then your body naturally heals the micro-burns, helping it return to its natural color.

You can also try some biological skin treatments after consulting your dermatologist. Topical creams and ointments are available that contain a substance extracted from sea snails called ‘mucin’. This natural substance uses enzymes and biological processes to replace the damaged skin and speed up your body’s natural healing process. You can also find over-the-counter products that contain an acid form of vitamin A and work by promoting the growth of collagen. Some products normally used for wrinkles may also help you in filling up the tiny pimple spots on your face. In the earlier stages of scarring, aloe vera gel has proved to be effective in speeding up healing and providing a smooth skin.

Pimples are a very common skin condition that are usually seen around adolescence and disappears in the early twenties. They are caused when a skin’s oil gland (sebaceous gland) is infected. This reason is due to the natural function of our skin. Each day, healthy skin sheds dead skin cells to make way for newer cells. Unfortunately, some of these dead cells can block an oil gland, which causes a buildup of sebum (oil) and leads to an infection inside the gland. This situation becomes worse during puberty, when the skin cells get thicker. When the infection is pushed out onto the skin’s surface, you see a pimple. In your case, you appear to have a naturally oily skin. This means you have excess sebum, which can only make matters worse.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of developing additional pimples. The simplest thing to do is cleanse your face at least twice a day with a mild solution of salicylic acid. This helps to remove the dead skin cells and the excess oil being secreted by your skin. Please avoid harsh cleansing agents as they can irritate the skin and cause additional pimples. You can also try over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide, which has antibacterial properties that can help prevent an infection from occurring. If you prefer natural treatments, try a 5% solution of tea tree oil, which can show you similar results. Some people have also reported benefits from aloe vera gel. This is best applied only after a pimple has burst, since it helps to speed up the healing process. Aloe vera can also help you avoid small scars and dark spots that sometimes appear after pimples burst.

Finally, make some changes to your day-to-day lifestyle to reduce the risk of pimples. Take a shower as soon as possible after any exercise or strenuous activity. This will help prevent any built up of excessive oil on the skin’s surface. Also avoid using oily cosmetics or applying make-up that blocks your pores. Stress is also an important factor in causing pimples in some people. Keep some time during the day to simply rest and relax. Many people believe that certain foods, such as chocolate or fried and fatty foods, lead to acne. Try and keep a diary to see if this may be true in your case. Finally, drink lots of water to keep yourself cool and hydrated.

First, you need to make sure that you actually had a fever blister and not some other skin condition. The term ‘fever blister’ usually refers to a cold sore caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV Type 2 is generally responsible for the sexually transmitted disease (STD) genital herpes, where the sores appear on the patient’s genital region. HSV Type 1 is the more common type and almost 85% people have been infected by this virus at some point. There are no medications available that can destroy HPV, so it continues to lay dormant in our bodies. Under certain conditions, the virus is ‘reactivated’ in your blood stream, causing an outbreak of fever blisters, which appear as sores on and around the mouth. However, it is difficult to predict an outbreak since the virus responds a variety of stimuli, including sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), illness (reduced immunity), stress, and physical trauma (cuts and abrasions).

So far, there are no medications to destroy the herpes virus. The fever blisters usually last for less than a week before crusting over. At this point, they dry up and fall out. You can take some prescription antiviral medication to speed up the healing process, but doctors advise against popping sores since they are very contagious. You could easily have infected other parts of your skin, making the situation worse. However, antiviral medications can help to reduce the severity of an outbreak and reduce the duration of the disease you are also suffering from fever, take some mild over-the-counter antipyretic. You can also avoid the temptation to touch or scratch at the sore by following a few simple remedies. Maintain good hygiene and keep the sores clean and dry. Applying some petroleum jelly can help to prevent excess moisture on the sore. You could also dust some  baking soda or cornstarch to isolate the sore and provide some relief from any itchiness. Cold packs work just as well; placing some ice in a plastic bag over the sores can be soothing.

You also need to treat the area where you removed the skin around the fever blister. Try applying some aloe vera gel on the area. Aloe vera has compounds such as bradykinase, salicylic acid, and magnesium lactate that reduce inflammation. Aloe vera is believed to speed up the natural healing process of the skin cells and reduce any scarring. Tea tree oil (5% volume) can also be beneficial to help you heal faster.

Stretch marks are perfectly harmless marks that in no way affect your health. By some estimates, almost 80% of pregnant women get this form of mild scarring. They are caused by the rapid weight gain and loss during pregnancy. This causes the dermis, the flexible and supportive layer of your skin, to stretch beyond its natural elasticity. The damaged dermis tissue then appears as the typical striated scars. Stretch marks initially appear darker and then gradually fade away to off-white.

In most women, stretch marks begin to appear during the third trimester. This is because the skin undergoes the most stretching pressure during the sixth and seventh months. In addition, the high hormone levels seen in pregnancy can play a role in causing stretch marks. Hence, if you want to prevent stretch marks, you should start some treatment at this point. Many believe that moisturizing the skin can help the dermis maintain its elasticity and prevent the marks. One popular home remedy involves rubbing cocoa butter over the region. Another is to use mildly warmed extra virgin olive oil. Other women have reported positive results with aloe vera gel. This natural substance is well known for its healing properties and anti-inflammatory effect. It helps to sooth, moisturize, and heal the skin as it stretches. Finally, aloe vera promotes the re-growth of cells and boosts your natural immunity. Your skin also needs its quota of vitamins and nutrients that allow it to stay healthy and elastic. Try a multivitamin containing vitamins A and E, both of which are powerful antioxidants. They can stimulate the skin and encourage growth of new cells, replacing the scar tissue. Some women have tried grapefruit extract, which is believed to encourage the production of collagen. This helps to reduce the paleness of the stretch marks, and matches them with your natural skin tone.

If you find that you were unable to avoid and reduce stretch marks, you can always opt for a cosmetic surgery after your pregnancy comes to term. A surgical option is the ‘tummy tuck’, which is especially useful to remove stretch marks below the navel. Another traditional procedure is called dermabrasion, which removes the damaged skin cells from the surface. This can encourage the skin cells to re-grow in their natural color. Perhaps the most effective cosmetic option is laser surgery. Here, UV light is used to encourage collagen in the dead cells, thus reducing the pale scarring.

Your situation is not uncommon. Many people (especially men) suffer from hair fall, which is medically called alopecia. Based on your description, it sounds like you may be suffering from androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness. This is a very common form of hair loss that usually starts with hair loss at the top or front of the head, and can occur in both men and women. However, you need to understand that alopecia can be caused by several other factors, including hormonal changes, physical damage, and mental stress. In some cases, hair loss may also be the symptom of certain fungal infections, immune system disorders, or systematic diseases. In addition, the texture of your hair is also important. Alopecia itself can be classified into several types; some other common types of hair loss include Alopecia areata and alopecia circumscripta. The course of treatment for each type of hair fall is different, since the causes are different. Hence, you first need to understand what the root cause of hair fall is in your particular case. Before starting on a treatment, it is advisable to get a professional diagnosis from a dermatologist

In most cases of general hair fall, you can experiment with several home remedies. Some studies have shown that caffeine can help stimulate hair growth. It is recommended that addition of caffeine to shampoo formulations is the most effective method of reaching the hair follicles (hair roots) in the scalp. You can also try a head massage using slightly warmed natural oils like mustard, coconut, or extra virgin olive oil to increase the blood circulation in the scalp and stimulate the hair follicles. Other people have reported benefits from massages with the essential oils of rosemary, lavender, sage, and thyme. These natural herbs are believed to boost blood circulation to the affected region. Some patients have reported good results with evening primrose and flaxseed oils. These contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are believed to promote healthy hair by nourishing the hair follicles. It is also advised to take certain minerals, including zinc, magnesium, and iron, along with vitamins like A, B-complex, C, and E.

Stress is an important cause of hair fall in otherwise healthy individuals. If you suffer from stress, please adopt a stress management option such as meditation or yoga. In addition, a healthy diet and regular exercise regime can go a long way to correcting any nutritional imbalances in your body, reducing stress levels, and promoting hair growth and strength.