chatwithketch

Q: Hello Dr, how are you doing, thanks for all the educative advice. Please I want to know if HAIR REMOVAL CREAM is advisable for removing hair on my chest.?

A: Hair removal cream also known as depilatory creams contain chemicals like thioglycolic acid (responsible for that strong and pungent odour associated with these creams) that break down the protein (Keratin) in hair. This leads to weakening and dissolution of the hair making it easy to be scraped away from the skin’s surface.

This product is usually used with great caution as keratin is also found in the top layer of the skin and if the cream is left on for too long, the chemical in it starts working on the skin leading to chemical burns and blisters. So be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, strictly and test the cream on a small patch of skin on the arm or leg before using it on a large area. If you have any sort of reaction like blisters, burning, redness etc, wipe off immediately and do not use that same brand again. If you’re still up for it, you could try a different brand.

​Depilatory creams are generally safe to use on the chest (though they were originally developed for the arm and legs). There are special products for people who have sensitive skin too.

Please do not use depilatory creams on the following areas:

• Groin – use only around the bikini line. How? Wear a pair of old panties and then apply the cream on the hair that is exposed. Do not apply on the area covered by the panties
• Around the anus or nipples
• Eyebrows or around the eye area
• Nose – not for nose hair
• Scalp
• Ear – not ideal for ear hair

Avoid using this cream:

• If you have broken or irritated skin
• If you have a sunburn
• If you have had any other form of hair removal within 24 hours
• If you are undergoing medical treatment for skin conditions, diabetes or circulatory disorders. In these cases, speak with your doctor first
• If you are allergic to any of the components of the cream

Where in doubt, always speak with your doctor!

To round off this discourse, here are some tips for avoiding razor bumps after hair removal:

Razor bumps are also known as ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs occur when hair curls back and brow back into the skin. This is particularly easy with hair that had been cut (as in shaving) as the hair that grows back usually has a sharp edge and finds it easy to ‘pierce’ into the skin.

For under arm bumps, a solution to this is to stop shaving and leave the hair well alone 😀 Another option is to use depilatory cream. This may, however, cause irritation and so should not be used more than once or twice a week.

Try to resist the urge to press these bumps but if the temptation proves too great, use a sterile needle to tease out the hair, if it appears to lie close to the surface. If it appears deep, please leave well alone…let’s not give you scars you’d rather not have 😀

Preventive measures you can practice include:
• Using a single blade shave stick
• Wet the area to be shaved with warm water and use a shave gel
• Try not to shave too close…you know how you like to pull the skin taut to achieve a better shave? Well, stop doing that as this encourages hair to curl back into the skin
• Shave in the direction of growth of the hair.
If infections occur, the bumps become filled with pus and you may be prescribed antibiotics for this. Your doctor may also prescribe some drugs to help calm down the inflammation.

For razor bumps in the groin….

In Africans, the hair in the groin area is very curly and so it is pretty easy for the hair to curl and grow down instead of growing up and out. These lead to red, raised spots/bumps which could get infected and become pus-filled.

More often than not, an ingrown hair does not require special treatment. They just leave quietly on their own…much like how they came. This of course, presupposes that there is no shaving done during this period to aggravate the situation. In the meantime, do not squeeze the bumps as this may push the bacteria further inside. You could use a soft bristled brush to loosen the hair before shaving or use a sterile needle or tweezers to tease out the ingrown hair(s) if it lies close to the surface.

How to prevent ingrown hairs? Simple! Stop shaving…at least for a while. That’s always an option. There’s always a huge debate about whether things should be kept natural down there! 😀 However, if you choose to shave, try using a scissors to trim, before using a single blade shave stick to shave. Make the hair as wet as possible using shave foam and then shave in the direction of the growth of the hair. And while you may think it’s fun to be completely clean shaven there, try not to shave too close to the skin and rinse the shaver after each stroke:D Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously. Remember that re-using razors you have used on the infected parts may lead to further re-infection with bacteria that are on the surface of the razor.

Your doctor will make a definitive diagnosis. He/she may prescribe some anti-biotic ointment or oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) and some other ointments to stop the inflammation. Remember that antibiotics should be taken for the full period prescribed by the doctor and not stopped as soon as you feel better.

Have a fun-filled weekend 😀

Q: Hello Doctor. ..is it safer for a pregnant women to sleep on her tummy?

A: Congratulations on your pregnancy! In early pregnancy, there’s nothing really wrong with lying on your tummy….that’s if you feel comfortable. As your pregnancy progresses, you will definitely not be able to do so again. So, if this is your guilty pleasure, enjoy it while it lasts. Generally, in the first trimester, if you’re used to sleeping on your back or tummy, you can continue. However, as you get into your second trimester, it is fact that pregnant women should not sleep on their backs especially close to term. This is because the woman may feel dizzy as the growing uterus puts pressure on the vein that returns blood from the body making the woman feel dizzy on getting up and the baby may also not get enough nutrients from the placenta in that position.

As pregnancy proceeds, you may start to experience more backaches as the weight you have put on starts to take its toll. Be sure to sit up straight on chairs with proper back support to help with this. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs will also help. This may be the cause of your backaches but if they are very discomforting, please see your doctor. Better safe than sorry.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

How stressed are you? How do you handle stress? Does this have an impact on your health? You should read this!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/holding-on-to-stress-could-affect-health

For additional resources, please read this: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/02/daily-health-tips-i-am-stressed-out/

The thinking had always been that 140/90 mmHg was the starting point of hypertension. But that has changed. The new numbers that signify hypertension are 130/80 mmHg. This means that some people who used to be normo-tensive (normal blood pressure) are now hypertensive. What should you do to stay healthy and improve your blood pressure readings? Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/6-simple-tips-to-reduce-your-blood-pressure

Q: Thank you doctor. Please I really need your help. This is almost two months now I don’t know what cause noise ear in my ear. What medicine can I use? And I’m having serious headache and I have been drinking Amoxil still no result. Please, doctor I really need your help. Let me know what next to do. Thank you. God bless you more

A: Thanks for writing in. A lot to unpack. First, please do not take antibiotics without a prescription. What you are treating may not need an antibiotic, you may not take sufficient quantities to deal with the infection if there is one, leading to resistance (meaning when you have a real infection, the drug may not work) or you may take too much or for too long leading to a super infection (a situation where even the good germs in your body are killed opening one up to infections that would not have happened, all things being equal). You don’t want any of this to happen.

Now to noisy ears….

Noisy ears as you have described is, medically, called tinnitus. This is a sensation of hearing noise or ringing in the ears. The noise in the ears has also been described as whistling, humming, grinding, hissing, buzzing etc. This is, most times, not a sign of a serious medical condition and would just be a minor irritation as it comes and goes. In other instances, it is continuous, significantly impacting everyday life. It is worse when background noise is low (like at nights, as in your case) and worsens with age. Generally, it would get better over time or with treatment.

Other conditions associated with tinnitus include:

• Middle ear infection
• Ear wax build-up
• Inner ear damage
• Some medications like aspirin taken in very large doses and some antibiotics like Neomycin etc
• Medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes etc
• Perforated ear drums caused by violent events

Men, people who smoke, are exposed to loud noise on a prolonged basis, older people and those with cardiovascular problems are more likely to develop tinnitus.

There is really no treatment for tinnitus except there is a specific cause like ear wax build-up, high blood pressure, specific medication etc. In such situations, the cause is treated (e.g. removal of earwax changing medication etc.) and symptoms may get better.

In other instances where there is no cause, focus is on helping one live with it through counselling, therapy to change the way one thinks about the noise so that they are better able to deal with it, introducing one to neutral sounds, which help distract from the ear ‘noise’ etc. Some medications can also help reduce the severity of symptoms.

So, the first thing to do is to see an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. He/she will make a diagnosis and then advice on the next course of management.

And for headaches, I did a post on this a few weeks, which I repeat here.

Headaches refer to pain or ache anywhere on the head. They may be primary, in which case they are due to problems with the structures sensitive to pain in the head. Or they may be secondary in which case the pain is due to an underlying disease that causes the pain-sensitive structures in the head to be activated.

Common causes of primary headaches include:
Tension headaches: This is the more common type of headache seen as the everyday sort of headache. It affects both sides of the head as a constant ache. Its causes are not very clear but they can be triggered by stress, hunger, dehydration, etc they can last a couple of minutes to several hours but are not severe enough to stop regular activities. Resting and sleeping well, eating properly and staying hydrated can help prevent this.

Migraines: These are felt as severe throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people may experience other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and being sensitive to light. The pain lasts from a couple of hours or can stretch on for days. Thus, it is more severe than the tension headaches and can stop an individual from carrying out their daily tasks. Some find that they need strong medication prescribed by doctors to get relief but others are relieved by using over the counter medications.

Cluster headaches: These cause severe pain around one eye and are associated with red or watery eyes and a blocked nose or runny one. They tend to occur for one or two months at a time at about the same time of the year. Most times medications do not work for these headaches. Your doctor will prescribe specific treatment courses.

Chronic daily headaches may be due to medication overuse. This would occur in people who use pain medications too often and then end up with rebound headaches…the exact condition they were trying to avoid. Moral of the story: Never abuse your medications J Use only as directed by your doctor.

Sex headaches: Yes, this can occur. It’s also known as post-coital headache, orgasmic headache etc. It could occur during sexual intercourse, during orgasm or after sexual intercourse. And it can also occur at any time of the day and during any type of sexual activity. It is felt at the back of the skull just above the neck and is usually described as throbbing. Or it could build up gradually during sexual intercourse and intensifies as the sexual excitement before an orgasm increases. They can last anything from a few minutes to a few hours; may never recur or may happen a couple more times before gradually fading away.
It is thought to be due to the release of adrenaline and rapid rise in blood pressure which occurs as one approaches orgasm. And so in these cases, the headaches may not be a cause for concern. However, it is also a possibility that these headaches are a sign of a more serious condition like bleeding onto the surface of the brain.
People who usually have migraines, who use recreational drugs like marijuana, use birth control pills etc are more likely to have sex headaches.
Should you swear off sex? Yes, if you’re unmarried And no, if you’re married;) If you have just experienced this, try lying quietly for about an hour or two after taking an analgesic (like paracetamol) to handle the pain. However, it is very important to see your doctor as soon as possible to let him/her know what happened. This is important because, while there may very well not be any underlying issue, you want to be sure to rule out any serious medical condition causing these headaches. Your doctor will also prescribe some drugs on a regular or intermittent basis to deal with your symptoms.
Primary headaches may be triggered by stress, skipped meals and dehydration as noted above. However, they may also be associated with alcohol, foods that contain nitrates like spinach and bad posture.

Secondary headaches may be due to dental problems, hangovers ear infections, blood clot in the brain, wearing tight gear on the head like hats or even wigs (yes, I see you ladies :D) or even eating cold stuff like ice creams etc.

So, what should you do? If you find that tight headgear or eating ice cream is the problem, see if stopping helps.

If you find that these headaches are now more frequent than usual, more severe than usual, stops you from going about your daily activities, is no longer responding to the over the counter medications you used to take etc, please see your doctor. If you have been seeing the same doctor, as it appears to be in this case, with no relief, please seek another opinion or request a review by a neurologist.

All the best.

Q: Hello, doctor my baby is 7weeks old and she is experiencing hiccups which last for about, 1-2minutes and crying which leads to sleepless night, any medicine or remedy for this.

A: Hiccups refer to involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. This is followed by sudden closure of the vocal chords with the resulting hiccup sound at the top of the windpipe.

Hiccups are quite common in babies under one year of age but can affect any age group. They usually occur without provocation and last for a few minutes before disappearing. These episodes in older age groups may be linked to:

• Eating or drinking too quickly (in which case a lot of gas/air is taken in)
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Drinking fizzy or hot drinks
• Sucking on candy

In babies, hiccups are usually due to feeding (breast feeding, formula or any other foods) and usually more of a nuisance to you, the parent than the baby. If the hiccups are uncontrollable though, especially if they occur with vomiting, please see your baby’s doctor as it could be due to a more serious problem.

In adults too, hiccups may last for prolonged periods and in these cases are associated with underlying medical conditions:

• Meningitis
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Stroke
• Neck tumours

I am sure most of you may have tried many home remedies like

• Putting a thread on your head! This one is laughable and I do not know anyone it has helped.
• Sipping on cold water. Well, if it helps, why not?!
• Holding your breath for a bit. Again, if it helps, go for it.

Specifically in babies, to prevent hiccups, keep your baby in an upright position for about 20 to 30 minutes after a feed, do not bounce them around after a meal and try not to let your baby cry and fuss before a meal (this may lead the baby to suck in a lot of air while feeding). These may help.

For adults, I suggest that you note the triggers noted here (generally, things that make you gassy), stay away from them and see if that helps. The triggers for belching and hiccups are basically same…factors that cause you to swallow a lot of air. Don’t stay away from food completely….we need you alive 😀 I believe this will help. Be sure to also check in with your doctor for a proper diagnosis to be made, if this continues.

Most cases of hiccups do not require treatment. However, some may persist requiring treatments depending on the underlying condition.

Have a good night, people 😀

Q: Good evening Dr. I am an 18 year-old girl and I have been having this problem for two years now, in my abdominal part off my stomach. I usually feel something moving. This happens during the course of the month and when I am about to menstruate, it becomes so painful and the movements get worse. I have never been pregnant and I have been to doctors but at first I was put on medication for urinary infections. After the course, the movements and the pain was still the same. The second time, I was told to go for a scan, which led to the doctors thinking I was pregnant but all the pregnancy tests came out negative. I am tired of this movements and extreme pain. Please I need your help.

A: Hi dear, sorry to hear about the pain you are going through. The first suggestion I want to make is to ensure that you are seeing a specialist – a gynecologist who will review you properly and do the needful, whatever that might be.

Extreme pain during menstruation may also be due to a condition known as endometriosis. In endometriosis, the tissues of the uterus (womb) are found outside of the uterus. They are then found in different areas of the body including:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Tissue lining the pelvis
• Bladder
• Bowel

The ovaries and fallopian tubes are the more common areas for endometriosis. This tissues of the uterus found outside the womb continue to act like what they are: uterine tissues. And so they thicken, break down and bleed with every menstrual cycle. Trouble is, the broken down tissues and blood now, does not have an outlet to flow out from. So, if this happens in the ovaries, cysts form. Cysts are sac-like collection of fluids, semi-solid or gaseous materials.

The symptoms of endometriosis vary from person to person, ranging from no symptoms in some people to excruciating pelvic pain, usually associated with menstrual periods.

Symptoms, generally include:

• Painful periods
• Heavy periods
• Pain during or after sex
• Bleeding in between periods
• Lower abdominal, pelvic and/or lower back pain

Other symptoms include:

• Tiredness and fatigue
• Constipation
• Blood in stool

People with endometriosis may also present with infertility or ovarian cancer.

People at risk of endometriosis include:

• Those who start having their periods at an early age
• Those who start menopause at a late age
• Those who have never had children
• Those with family history of endometriosis
• Those who have low body mass index
• Those who consume alcohol

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment typically depends on severity of symptoms and whether woman still desires to have children.

Pain relief focuses on reducing the pain associated with this condition.

Hormonal therapy works on slowing down the growth of the endometrial tissue and prevent new implants. However, once therapy is stopped, symptoms could return.

Surgery which may be to remove endometrial tissues wherever they are found (through laparoscopic or open surgery) or removing the uterus, cervix and ovaries to ensure that the primary source of estrogen which stokes the thickening of endometrial tissue is eliminated. This latter surgery is better suited for women who have completed their families.

I hope this helps you understand some more what options are available to you. Please speak with a gynecologist for a clearer picture.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night y’all 😀

“If you’ve ever found yourself in front of the TV after a bad day, mindlessly digging ice cream out of the container with a spoon, you know that mood and food are sometimes linked. Can the things you eat influence your risk for depression — and can dietary changes potentially improve your mental health? ” Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/food-and-mood-is-there-a-connection