| Symptoms, causes, treatments for dry eyes
If you find yourself rubbing your achy eyes and reaching for the eyedrops more than once a day, it may be because your natural tears are failing to do their job, Phoenix optometrist Marc Bloomenstein says.
Here's information to help you prevent, identify and treat the problem of dry eye:
What is dry eye? .
Drug-company promotions under fire from consumer groups
WASHINGTON -- A free Viagra prescription or a no-cost trial of sleeping pills are examples of growing offers to US consumers, but regulators and critics worry about the side effects of pitching medicines as if they were soap. Drug makers say the coupons, rebates, and similar promotions reduce patient costs or provide a chance to try new medicines. Consumer groups, however, say the promotions may draw people to risky drugs they may not need, without long-term savings. Coupons ``can increase the patient's desire to take a drug that may or may not be the most suitable drug," said Susan Sherry, deputy director of Community Catalyst, a Massachusetts-based group that has joined 22 others seeking a Food and Drug Administration ban on the giveaways. The offers are appearing across the prescription drug business, trying to grab customers' attention in magazines and on websites.
Accutane: a powerful acne treatment
"I had big zits and bunch of little bumps. And redness. And a bunch of white heads right here. And then I had a pimple there that never went away for two years," Maune said.
After trying everything else, Tim went on the drug Accutane, a derivative of vitamin A. Accutane gets rid of acne because it dries up the sebaceous glands. This reduces the oiliness of the skin and doesn't allow for an environment where bacteria can thrive. Patients like Tim are on Accutane for five or six months, but the results last a lifetime. "It's been such a dramatic help for patients we would hate to see it off the market," dermatologist Dr. Stephen Xenias said.
That could happen. Everyone who goes on Accutane must first sign the "I pledge." It was started by the FDA.
Germany Approves Echinacea as Natural Skin Care Treatment
Although very common in both Europe and the U.S. for treatment and prevention of colds and flu, the topical uses of Echinacea are not yet widely known in the It has been approved by the German government for treatment of minor skin wounds, but studies and anecdotal evidence have shown it to be an effective treatment for a number of skin disorders and it is proving to be a versatile addition to your basic daily natural skin care routine. Echinacea is a flowering plant grown mainly in Europe and North America. There are several species, each of which has slightly different properties. Each type has been proven to be beneficial to the immune system, but the most commonly used are the root of the Echinacea pallida plant, and the leaf of Echinacea purpurea. has led the way in approving both types for treatment of colds, flu and chronic infections of the respiratory system and urinary tract.
Biomagnetic Pseudoscience and Nonsense Claims
The following is a short excerpt from an updated version of a paper titled "Magnetotherapy, the Latest Magic Touch" presented at the Ninth European Skeptics Conference, in La Coruna, Spain, September 4-7, 1997. Miguel A. Sabadell One of the main ways magnetotherapy is applied is through the use of permanent magnets. According to proponents, you can get their benefits as follows: Local application: Effects depend drastically on which pole you apply. North pole: against pain, inflammatory and infectious processes. South pole: provides strength and energy. Does your shoulder hurt? No problem. Put the north of one of the magnets on the front of your shoulder and the south of the other one on the back of it (like a sandwich). General application: The aim of this method is to provide a general magnetic flow inside the body.
Portrait plasma
The portrait plasma regeneration system is FDA approved and in addition to improving fine lines and wrinkles it can also help with acne scars and pre-cancerous lesions. It's not cheap, most people need at least a few treatments and that can run several thousand dollars. Long-term improvements of the collagen in your skin continue for up to one year. (Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) .
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