Vaginal Atrophy
The walls of your vagina atrophy when they become thin, dry, and irritated. As your body produces less estrogen, such as during and after menopause, this may occur. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is the name for this disorder and its symptoms collectively (GSM). Both your vagina and urinary tract will show it to you. You might have:
- Dryness or burning in the vagina
- Your genitals are itching
- strange vaginal discharge
- more yeast infections
- Peeing with pain and having frequent urination
- a problem retaining urine in (incontinence)
- more infections (UTIs)
- bleeding or discomfort during or after intercourse
- Reduced natural lubrication during sexual contact
These symptoms can initially be symptoms of menopause. After menopause, these symptoms are common. But before that, during a period known as perimenopause, you might experience them. GSM is widespread After menopause, up to 40% of women will experience these symptoms.
Vaginal Atrophy Causes
A decrease in estrogen levels is the root cause of vaginal atrophy, as on average a woman’s oestrogen levels can drop by 85% throughout menopause.
With age vaginal tissues weaken when your body produces less oestrogen. Although menopause is the most frequent cause of GSM, oestrogen levels can also decline as a result of:
- Breastfeeding
- antibiotics that fight oestrogen
- a few contraceptive tablets
- removal of both ovaries via surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Therapy with pelvic radiation
- hormone therapy
How to Diagnose Vaginal Atrophy?
Three techniques could be used by your doctor to make the diagnosis:
- A urine test: Particularly if you have urinary problems, your doctor will want a sample of your urine for testing.
- Examination of the pelvis: Your doctor will examine your genitalia carefully and feel around inside of you to check your cervix.
- Test for acid balance: Your doctor may use a paper strip for this test to check the balance of acids in your vagina.
How to Treat Vaginal Atrophy?
Sex is one technique to alleviate these issues. Regular sexual activity, whether performed alone or with a partner, is associated with milder vaginal atrophy than inactivity because the vagina receives increased blood flow during sexual activity, which keeps it stretchy.
Vaginal moisturizers or water-based lubricants may be helpful if you experience GSM-related dryness and discomfort, particularly during intercourse. Every few days and right before sex are typically when you would use them. Ask your doctor about different treatment choices if you’ve tried them and are still in discomfort.
If you are given this diagnosis by your doctor, oestrogen therapy can be another option. Your vaginal walls may thicken, and it may also lessen many other GSM symptoms.
Psoriasis
Skin cells can multiply up to 10 times more quickly than usual when someone has a skin condition called psoriasis. As a result, the skin develops into red spots that are rough and coated with white scales. While they can grow everywhere, the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back are where they most frequently show up. Psoriasis is not contagious, so nobody can contract psoriasis from another individual. But it is hereditary, so members of the same family can experience it due to the genetic component. Often, psoriasis first manifests in early adulthood. It mostly impacts a few specific regions for most people. Psoriasis can spread to significant areas of the body in severe cases. Over the course of a person’s life, the patches may heal and then reappear.
Causes of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an unknown exact cause, however experts think there are several contributing factors. Inflammation results from a problem with the immune system, which prompts too many new skin cells to develop. Every 10 to 30 days, skin cells are typically replaced. Every three to four days, new skin cells appear in psoriasis. The silver scales are the result of an accumulation of old cells being replaced by new ones.
Even while psoriasis frequently runs in families, it can also skip generations. A grandfather and their grandchild, for instance, might be impacted, but not the child’s mother.
Factors that can cause a flare-up of psoriasis include:
- surgery, scratches, or cuts
- emotional tension
- infections with strep
- pharmaceuticals, such as NSAIDs, anti-malarials, lithium and other mood stabilisers, blood pressure meds, and mood stabilisers for malaria.
Symptoms of psoriasis:
- Red, scaly patches on the skin
- Itching, burning, or soreness
- Thickened nails or pitting of the nails
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
- Joint pain and stiffness
How to Diagnose Psoriasis?
This is generally done with an examination of the body. Psoriasis is typically easy for your doctor to identify, particularly if you have plaques on regions like your:
- Scalp
- Ears
- Knees
- Belly Button
- Nails
- Elbows
Your doctor will do a thorough check-up, reference clinical trials, and inquire about any family members who may have psoriasis. Additionally, samples may be taken for testing in the lab to be sure you don’t have a skin infection. For this, the doctor might do a biopsy, in which they take a little piece of skin and test it. There isn’t another test available to confirm or exclude psoriasis.
How to Treat Psoriasis?
Fortunately, there are numerous remedies. Some reduce the production of new skin cells, while others treat dry skin and irritation. Based on factors including the extent of your rash, where it is on your body, your age, your general health, and others, your doctor will choose the best course of therapy for you. Commonly used therapies include:
- steroids creams
- Skin moisturising products
- Carbon tar (a common treatment for scalp psoriasis available in lotions, creams, foams, shampoos, and bath solutions)
- A powerful brand of vitamin D-based lotion or ointment that your doctor has prescribed. (Both dietary and supplement vitamin D has no impact.)
- Cosmetic retinoids
Rhinophyma
A big, red, bumpy, or bulbous nose is a defining feature of the skin condition rhinophyma. It might be present in phymatous rosacea. Although rhinophyma’s precise aetiology is uncertain, it is thought to be a severe rosacea subtype. Men are substantially more likely to have this illness than women, particularly between the ages of 50 and 70.
Generally speaking, rosacea is a prevalent, inflammatory, chronic skin disorder. Your face becomes irregularly flushed or red, especially around the cheekbones and nose. Pustules, which are tiny, red bumps packed with pus, may develop on your face as a result of this disorder.
Rhinophyma is categorised as a component of rosacea subtype 3. It is thought to be the outcome of poorly managed or unmanaged rosacea and develops progressively over a number of years.
Causes of Rhinophyma
Increased sebaceous, or oil, glands and underlying connective tissues in the face are characteristics of rhinophyma. Many factors could be at play, yet the precise explanation is still unknown. They cover a range of illnesses that have an impact on the immune system, nerves, and blood vessels.
Acne rosacea, a chronic skin disorder that is more common in women, is the prelude to rhinophyma. Some acne rosacea sufferers can go on to develop rhinophyma.
Studies do not support the theory that drinking alcohol may cause the disease, which is held by some people. Yet, momentarily dilated blood vessels can be caused by both alcohol and caffeine, which seems to make rhinophyma worse.
Symptoms of Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma typically develops in rosacea situations that are more severe. In the less severe stages of rosacea, you might observe some of the following symptoms or other subcategories, such as:
- random flushing of the face
- across your face, there are blotchy, red spots.
- acne-like lumps and pimples that return frequently
- on your nose and cheeks, you may have telangiectasia, which is an enlargement of microscopic blood vessels.
- sensitive skin
- progressive development into an enlarged, bulbous form
- multiple oil glands
- increased skin pore size
- ruddy skin colour
- thickening of the skin’s outer layers
- seeming waxy, harsh, and yellowish
How to Diagnose Rhinophyma?
Rosacea in its early stages can be mistaken for acne and other skin problems. Rhinophyma, however, typically develops after rosacea is diagnosed.
Rhinophyma possesses distinctive qualities. Usually, a diagnosis can be made by your doctor without any testing. By merely getting your medical history and completing a physical exam, they might be able to diagnose you. Occasionally, a skin biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, particularly in rare circumstances where the illness doesn’t improve with treatment.
How to Treat Rhinophyma?
Surgery or medication are both options for treating rhinophyma. Your doctor and you can decide together which course of treatment is best for you.
Medication
Once rhinophyma has formed, it typically doesn’t respond well to treatment. Some rosacea subtypes and less severe cases may respond well to medication. They consist of:
- Topical and oral antibiotics include metronidazole, sulfacetamide, tetracycline, erythromycin (Erythrocin Stearate), and minocycline are used to treat inflammation and redness (Minocin)
- Topical anti-inflammatory drugs, such as azelaic acid and tretinoin (Retin-A) (Azelex)
- oral capsules, such as oral isotretinoin, that stop skin glands from generating oil
Surgery
The most popular form of treatment for rhinophyma is surgery. Disfigurement can result from tissue overgrowth and enlarged blood vessels. If the damaged region is not removed, this can become permanent. In most circumstances, surgery is the preferred course of action. It is regarded as the choice with the greatest chance of long-term success.
The following surgical procedures and techniques are frequently used to restore your nose’s appearance:
- surgery utilising a scalpel and carbon dioxide laser resurfacing
- cryosurgery, which freezes aberrant tissue at very low temperatures and removes it,
- dermabrasion removes the top layers of skin by spinning a tiny instrument.
A surgical procedure can:
- reconstruct a deformed nose
- lop off any extra tissue
- cut back on expanded blood vessels
- enhancing the external appearance
Conclusion
Knowing the warning signs of common conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis can help you better understand your own body. It is also important to be aware of these other conditions so that you can hopefully catch them early on and prevent any further complications down the line. By staying informed about your health, making lifestyle changes that are beneficial for your well-being, and having regular check-ups with your healthcare provider, you can take control of your health before it takes control of you.
