New Delhi (The Hawk): Dermatologists advised that skin creams containing steroids, which are available as over-the-counter medications and applied directly to the skin to alleviate inflammation and irritation, have a number of negative effects and occasionally may result in permanent stretch marks and discoloration.
"Steroids are immunosuppressive medications that lower immune levels in the body. If a patient has irritated skin or other conditions connected to skin inflammation, the medication will be prescribed by the doctor. Steroids are occasionally used to help patients' discomfort by reducing skin inflammation and irritation, but this is not a long-term solution "explained dermatologist Dr. Manish Jhangra of RML Hospital.
"But we must also gradually cease using steroids as soon as possible. There is a danger that inflammation could reappear if we abruptly cease taking the steroids. Because of this, the usage of steroids requires cautious consideration "explained he.
Steroids are applied topically and orally to treat skin conditions. Topical corticosteroids are a class of steroid medication used topically to soothe and calm irritated skin. The biggest issue, though, is that these steroids are easily marketed over the counter. Numerous creams that contain steroids typically combine a variety of ingredients, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and the steroids themselves.
According to RML doctor, using lotions that contain steroids won't help a fungal infection get better; instead, they'll make it worse and lower immunity levels, which will make the body unable to fight off the infection.
"The majority of patients who come to the outpatient department (OPD) are individuals who have been using creams containing steroids continually, which frequently results in other adverse effects, like serious skin infections, leaving the skin damaged for years even after extensive treatments," he stated.
The dermatology specialists at RML Hospital have also started a campaign against steroid-containing skin creams that are marketed as over-the-counter medications.
According to Dr. Jhangra, the availability of these steroids over-the-counter is the cause of the rise in adverse effects of these steroids, which include redness, hair growth on the face, thin skin, and a burning feeling.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Dermatologists advised that skin creams containing steroids, which are available as over-the-counter medications and applied directly to the skin to alleviate inflammation and irritation, have a number of negative effects and occasionally may result in permanent stretch marks and discoloration.

Experts are concerned about the increasing usage of steroid-containing skin products

Kabul: Taliban acting Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir in a meeting with the charge d'affaires of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul, Obaid Rahman Nizamani, said that Afghanistan wants "good relations based on good intentions" with all its neighbours, Afghanistan based TOLO News reported. The Taliban acting prime minister in the meeting said that there is a need for Kabul and Islamabad to expand their relations in regional transit and other economic areas. Nizamani said Pakistani officials have always expressed their positive views about the world's interaction with the Taliban, the release of the frozen assets of Afghanistan, and the expansion of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. "Transit and facilitating visas, solutions for challenges in commute between Pakistan and Afghanistan borders, the condition of Afghan refugees, and other issues were discussed," said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, press director for the office of the political deputy PM. This comes as the Taliban administrative deputy of the Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, in a meeting with the Islamic Emirate's consulate in Karachi said that Afghanistan's missions abroad should attempt to enhance relations with world countries. Meanwhile, the Khaama Press recently reported that as the Taliban's hardline administration continues to violate women's rights in Afghanistan under its regime, several international organisations and human rights bodies have frequently expressed concern about the country's gender-based policies. Amnesty International has branded the imposition of tight restrictions as a "war against women" in Afghanistan, emphasising the importance of prosecuting violators. Moreover, it has also recorded multiple incidences in Afghanistan under Taliban control, demonstrating gender-based and discriminatory tactics aimed at women in its most recent report. —ANI

Taliban acting Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir in a meeting with the charge d'affaires of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul

Afghanistan Wants Good Relations With All Its Neighbours: Taliban

Washington: The first gene mapping investigation on human scalp hair whorls demonstrates both the genetic foundation and the polygenic nature of hair whorl orientation. According to a publication in the Elsevier-distributed Journal of Investigative Dermatology, four related genetic variations that are probably to affect hair whorl orientation have been found. <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/new-blood-pressure-related-method-that-predict-health-outcomes-in-patients:-study" target="_blank">Health News: New Blood Pressure Related Method That Predict Health Outcomes In Patients: Study</a> 
 A patch of hair that grows in a circular manner around a point determined by the orientations of the hair follicles is known as a hair whorl. The whorl number (single or double whorl) and whorl direction serve as typical descriptors of the scalp hair whorl pattern, a plainly observable human feature. Understanding the genetic basis of whorl patterns may aid in unravelling significant biological processes since unusual whorl patterns have been seen in people with impaired brain development. A replication research was conducted in 1,950 Chinese participants from the Taizhou Longitudinal research cohort after the initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) on human scalp hair whorls was conducted in 2,149 Chinese participants from the National Survey of Physical Traits cohort. Lead investigator Sijia Wang, PhD, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, explained, "We know very little about why we look like we do. Our group has been looking for the genes underlying various interesting traits of physical appearance, including fingerprint patterns, eyebrow thickness, earlobe shape and hair curliness. Hair whorl is one of the traits that we were curious about. The prevailing opinion was that hair whorl direction is controlled by a single gene, exhibiting Mendelian inheritance. However, our results demonstrate that direction is influenced by the cumulative effects of multiple genes, suggesting a polygenic inheritance."
<a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/men's-odi-world-cup-2023-tickets-to-go-on-sale-on-august-25" target="_blank">Sports News: Men's ODI World Cup 2023 tickets to go on sale on August 25</a> Four related genetic variations are found in the research (at 7p21.3, 5q33.2, 7q33, and 14q32.13). By controlling the cell polarity of hair follicles, these genetic variations are expected to affect the orientation of the hair whorls. Closure and expansion of the cranial neural tube may also be affected. Professor Wang continued, "While previous work proposed the hypothesis of associations between hair whorl patterns and abnormal neurological development, no significant genetic associations were observed between hair whorl direction and behavioral, cognitive, or neurological phenotypes. Although we still know very little about why we look like we do, we are confident that curiosity will eventually drive us to the answers." (ANI)

The first gene mapping investigation on human scalp hair whorls demonstrates both the genetic foundation and the polygenic 

Study uncovers genes that dictate direction of hair whorls

Los Angeles: <span style="color: rgb(33,37,41);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 14px;font-family: Muli, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Masterson starred on 'That 70's Show', a TV series that was airing at the time of his crimes in the early 2000s, The BBC reported on Thursday. Prosecutors argued Masterson, 47, had relied on his status as a prominent Scientologist to avoid accountability. Judge Charlaine Olmedo allowed the victims of his crimes to read impact statements in court ahead of his sentencing. Prominent former Scientologist and actress Leah Remini attended Thursday's sentencing hearing and comforted the women before and after they delivered their statements. "I wished I had reported him earlier to the police," one of the women said, according to US media. Another woman told Masterson: "I forgive you. Your sickness is no longer mine to bear," according to Reuters. Masterson remained silent throughout the hearing, The BBC reported. As the judge read his sentence -- the maximum penalty allowed -- his wife, Bijou Phillips, was seen in court breaking down in tears. Masterson was found guilty in May at a re-trial after the first jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2022. After his conviction, Masterson was deemed a flight risk and was taken into prison custody. The actor was convicted after three women testified that he had sexually assaulted them at his Hollywood home from 2001-03 -- during the height of his television fame. The jury heard testimony that he had given them drugs before he assaulted them. He was found guilty of rape against two of his three accusers. The charges brought by the third accuser were declared a mistrial and prosecutors said they do not plan to retry the case. Alison Anderson, a lawyer representing two of the victims, said in a statement sent to BBC News that the women "have displayed tremendous strength and bravery, by coming forward to law enforcement and participating directly in two gruelling criminal trials". "Despite persistent harassment, obstruction and intimidation, these courageous women helped hold a ruthless sexual predator accountable today," she said, adding that the women will continue to speak out about the role the church allegedly played during their abuse, The BBC reported. In court on Thursday, one woman described being shunned by her mother, who is still a practicing Scientologist. "She texted me and told me to never contact her again," she said, reported the LA Times. "She had warned me ahead of time she wanted to see Danny Masterson locked away for what he'd done to me, but not at the expense of her religion." Another woman said she had been victimised by the church ever since she first spoke out. "Since the week I came forward to police I have been terrorised, harassed and had my privacy invaded daily by the cult of Scientology for almost seven years now," she said, adding: "But I don't regret it." Masterson was first accused of rape in 2017 during the height of the #MeToo movement. He denied the accusations and said each of the encounters was consensual. Charges came after a three-year investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Prosecutors did not file charges in two other cases because of insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations expiring. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology had helped cover up the assaults -- an allegation the organisation has categorically denied. At the time of the assaults, Masterson and all three of his accusers were Scientologists. Several of the women said it took them years to come forward because Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rape to police. Scientology officials told one survivor she would be kicked out of the Church of Scientology unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement and accepted a payment of $400,000 (£320,000), according to prosecutors. During the trial, Judge Olmedo allowed both sides to discuss the dogma and practices of Scientology, angering the organisation. In its statement after the verdict in May, the Church of Scientology said there was "not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers". Thursday's sentencing was also attended by Jessica Barth, who founded "Voices in Action" in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Barth was one of the women to publicly accuse disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of abuse. Her non-profit works to encourage others to come forward and report abuse. Before the hearing, a motion for a new trial by Masterson's defence team was denied by the judge, according to an Los Angeles court official. —IANS

Masterson starred on 'That 70's Show', a TV series that was airing at the time of his crimes in the early 2000s, The BBC reported on Thursday.

Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes

Doiwala (Uttarakhand): On Tuesday, the patients coming to the OPD and registration counter of the Dermatology Department were given questions and their answers related to leprosy. On this occasion, MBBS students conveyed to the general public information related to leprosy and its prevention through poster exhibition and street drama. Head of the Department of Dermatology, Dr. Rashmi Jindal, while addressing the people present, gave information about the symptoms and treatment of leprosy. It is said that leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium. Its initial symptoms are formation of white and red spots on the skin, feeling of weakness along with numbness in hands and legs. He said that the department organizes such events every year to make patients aware about the social misconceptions related to skin diseases. Dr. YS Bisht said that if leprosy is treated on time, this disease can be completely cured. Dr. Samarjit Roy told the patients that it is a misconception that leprosy spreads through contact; this disease is not a disease of contact. Leprosy can be treated, depending on its type. Antibiotics are used to cure the infection, and treatment usually lasts for 6 months to a year. However, if the patient has problem of nerve damage then other treatments are used for this. On this occasion, Dr. Dikshita, Dr. Ritu, Dr. Anuj, Dr. Arnav, Dr. Jagriti, Dr. Darshana, Dr. Vrinda, Dr. Sakshi, Dr. Shobhit, Dr. Tabir were present amongst others.

Dermatology Department enlightens on leprosy symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Join our initiative for a healthier, informed community.

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Experts are concerned about the increasing usage of steroid-containing skin products

Pankaj Sharma

The Hawk

Tag : TOLO

Experts are concerned about the increasing usage of steroid-containing skin products

Pankaj Sharma

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