Health Tips & Advice

Eczema is a general term that encompasses a wide range of skin inflammation or dermatitis. It is a particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin that may result in redness, swelling, cracking and crusting of the skin, with severe itching. Unlike eczema on any other part of the body, eczema on the face can be seen clearly and sufferers may feel self-conscious about it. Dermatologists acknowledge that though the condition is inherited, there are things that trigger it. To prevent outbreaks of eczema, you should avoid pollen, mould, dust, dry air or dry skin, harsh soaps and detergents; fabrics like wool and perfume; cigarette and tobacco smoke; extreme heat and certain foods like tomatoes.

There are several different types of facial eczema:

Atopic Eczema/ Dermatitis
This is the most common type, both in adults and children. “Atopic” refers to diseases that are hereditary. The exact cause of atopic eczema isn’t clearly understood, but both genetic factors and the influence of the environment are said to play a role.

Seborrhoeic Eczema/Dermatitis
This is another common type of facial eczema. The result of excess sebum, it causes dandruff and other oily parts of the face such as the sides of the nose to be affected.

Irritant Contact Eczema/Dermatitis
As the name suggests, this type is one where the skin reacts in contact with an irritant. This is a common type of eczema and not limited to those with sensitive skin.

Allergic Contact Eczema/Dermatitis
This type of eczema occurs in people whose immune system reacts to a specific item in the environment, producing a specific allergic reaction. The item can range from cosmetics and hair dyes to nail vanish and metal (not silver or gold) jewellery.

Light Sensitive Eczema/Dermatitis
This type of eczema affects people vulnerable to the effects of sunlight. Sunlight can also make atopic eczema worse while in others it can help improve the eczema.

As there are so many types of eczema, it is best to consult a pharmacist or dermatologist for personalised advice.

We often hear that cholesterol is bad for our health, but that’s not entirely true! Essential for the body to function, cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that helps in the building of cell membranes.

Cholesterol plays a role in the production of bile acids, a substance that aids in the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins, steroid hormones and vitamin D.

Bad cholesterol VS Good cholesterol

As cholesterol is not soluble in the blood, it has to be transported by some special carriers known as lipoprotein.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transports cholesterol from the liver to the cells and causes cholesterol to build up on the walls of the arteries. This leads to health complications, hence LDL is also termed ‘bad cholesterol’.

On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as ‘good cholesterol’ as it carries excess cholesterol from the cells to the liver. This prevents the deposition of cholesterol on arterial walls.

Causes of high cholesterol

Though cholesterol is important for most body functions, high levels of it can lead to serious health issues.

High cholesterol in the body usually stems from various factors including age, gender, heredity and unhealthy lifestyles.

Age & Gender

As the body ages, the level of cholesterol in the body will rise. Usually, women will have lower cholesterol levels than men before menopause, and this trend is reversed once women reach menopausal age.

Heredity

Certain ethnic groups, such as South Asians, are more prone to high cholesterol.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is also an hereditary form of high cholesterol that can be passed within the family.

Lifestyle

Unhealthy lifestyles that can lead to high cholesterol include indulging in a diet high in saturated or trans fats and not exercising enough.

Being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of having high cholesterol in the body. A body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above is likely to elevate LDL levels and reduce HDL levels.

Smoking can also affect the cholesterol levels by reducing the HDL levels in the body. Health conditions such as diabetes and kidney diseases can also increase cholesterol levels in the body.

Cholesterol & heart health

High cholesterol leads to health problems as the cholesterol is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, narrowing or even blocking blood flow.

Arteries that are narrowed or blocked will reduce the blood supply to cells or organs, ultimately depriving them from oxygen and nutrients. This condition is known as atherosclerosis.

When atherosclerosis occurs in the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart, heart functions will be compromised. Coronary arteries that are partially blocked can result in angina, or chest pain.

If the coronary arteries are completely blocked and cause damage to parts of the heart muscles, a heart attack is very likely to occur.

Cholesterol & other health problems

Cholesterol is circulated throughout the body via blood vessels, so high cholesterol levels affect the part of the body where cholesterol build-up occurs.

Apart from the heart, the blockage of arteries in the brain will deprive brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, causing a stroke.

If cholesterol is deposited in blood vessels other than in the heart and brain, it can lead to peripheral vascular disease (PVD). PVD leads to pain or numbness, and if left untreated, it can cause open sores or the death of tissues.

How to improve cholesterol levels

If you’re looking to improve your cholesterol levels, the first thing you’ll have to do is make changes to your lifestyle.

Exercising regularly has shown to increase HDL and reduce LDL in the body. Individuals who are overweight or obese should watch their diet and do physical activities for at least 30 minutes a day.

Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible as tobacco smoking can affect cholesterol levels and harm the body in many other ways.

For a complete, healthy diet, swop saturated fats with unsaturated fats, and avoid trans fat when you dine. Find out where you’ll find the respective fats and what foods you should avoid.

Saturated fats

Harmful to the body, saturated fats increase the total cholesterol and LDL levels.

Saturated fats are usually found in animal products (e.g. lard, butter) and dairy products (e.g. full cream milk, cheese). They are also found in some plant oils such as palm oil and coconut oil.

Unsaturated fats

Unsaturated fats are usually found in plant oils (e.g. olive oil, corn oil), seeds, nuts and fatty fishes (e.g. salmon). They increase the HDL levels and reduce the LDL levels, making them beneficial to the body.

Trans fat

Trans fat can be obtained from animal sources, but are mainly produced during food processing. They have proven to increase LDL levels and reduce HDL levels, which can lead to health problems.