| How to Reduce Allergic Swelling Posted: 10 Jun 2018 01:00 AM PDT Allergic swelling, also called angioedema, is a common result of encountering the substances that trigger your allergic reactions. Usually, the swelling will happen around your eyes, lips, hands, feet, and/or throat.[1] Swelling can be uncomfortable and scary, but it will go down! If your swelling doesn't interfere with your ability to breathe, you can treat it at home. If your swelling persists, worsens, or interferes with your breathing, seek medical attention. Fortunately, it's also possible to prevent allergic swelling. EditTreating Your Swelling at Home - Take an antihistamine. This will lower your body's response to the allergen, which can reduce your swelling. You can find an antihistamine over-the-counter, but your doctor could also prescribe one that best fits your needs.[2]
- Some antihistamines cause drowsiness. For daytime use, choose one that is labeled as non-drowsy. For example, cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are all popular non-drowsy options that also give you 24-hr relief from allergy symptoms.
- Be sure to follow all of the instructions on the packaging.
- Don't take an antihistamine for longer than a week without talking to your doctor.
- Talk to your doctor before taking an antihistamine.
- Apply a cool compress to the area for up to 20 mins at a time. A cool compress, such as an ice pack, will reduce your body's inflammatory response.[3] This will reduce both your swelling and pain.[4]
- Don't put ice up against your skin without first wrapping fabric around it. Otherwise, you could damage your skin.
- Stop taking any medication, supplement, or herb not prescribed by a doctor. Unfortunately, these items can cause allergic reactions in some people. Even common over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can trigger some people.[5]
- Get your doctor's approval before you start taking it again.
- Use your inhaler if you have one and experience throat swelling. This will help open your airways. However, if you have trouble breathing, then it's important that you see the doctor immediately.
- Use an Epipen for emergency situations. The active ingredient in an Epipen is epinephrine, which is a type of adrenaline. It can help relieve the symptoms of your allergic reaction fast.[6]
- After you administer the medicine, visit your doctor immediately.
- If your doctor has not prescribed an Epipen for you, visit an emergency room, where they can administer the medication.
EditSeeking Medical Attention - Visit your doctor if your swelling persists or is severe. Swelling that doesn't impede your ability to breathe should respond to at-home treatment. If it doesn't get better after a few hours or starts to get worse, you should seek medical assistance. The doctor can prescribe a stronger treatment, such as corticosteroids.
- You should also see the doctor if you've never experienced swelling before.
- Seek emergency medical care if you're having trouble breathing, have abnormal breathing sounds, or feel faint.[7]
- Ask your doctor for an oral corticosteroid. These medications reduce inflammation in your body, which in turn reduces swelling. They're often used after antihistamines alone have been ineffective at reducing swelling.[8]
- For example, your doctor may prescribe prednisone.
- Corticosteroids can have side effects, including fluid retention that can cause swelling, high blood pressure, weight gain, glaucoma, mood issues, behavioral issues, and memory problems.[9]
- For a severe reaction, the doctor may administer corticosteroids via an IV.[10]
- Follow all of your doctor's instructions for taking your medication.
- Get allergy testing to discover your triggers, if necessary. Your doctor may order allergy testing.[11] If this occurs, you'll visit an allergy specialist. A nurse will scratch your skin with a small amount of various allergens. They'll then monitor your reaction to each substance to see if you are allergic.
- Your specialist will evaluate your test results. Based on this information, the specialist can recommend good treatment options for you, such as avoiding your triggers and possibly getting allergy shots.[12]
EditPreventing Allergic Swelling - Avoid your triggers. These are the things that you're allergic to, such as foods, substances, or plants. Staying away from them is the best way to prevent the swelling that comes along with an allergic reaction.[13] Here are some ways to do that:
- Check ingredients lists on foods you want to eat.
- Ask people about the contents of foods and drinks.
- Don't take medications, supplements, or herbs without talking to your doctor.
- Keep your home clean and as free of allergens as possible. For example, keep dust at bay by cleaning often with a duster that traps particles.
- Use a HEPA air filter.
- Don't go outside during peak pollen hours. Alternatively, wear a face mask.
- Don't interact with animals whose dander triggers you.
- Take your medications. Your doctor may recommend taking a daily antihistamine. This could include a non-drowsy 24-hour option like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin). In some cases, your doctor may prescribe other medications as well, such as an inhaler or corticosteroid. Take your medications as prescribed by the doctor.[14]
- If you skip your medication, then your body will be more susceptible to your triggers.
- Avoid things that aggravate swelling. This often includes getting very hot, eating spicy food, or drinking alcohol. Although they may not be the direct cause of your allergic swelling, they can make it worse or make your body more prone to swelling.
- Ibuprofen and ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors can also worsen swelling. If the doctor has prescribed one of these, talk to your doctor before stopping, as they may decide that the benefits of taking them outweigh the risk of swelling.[15]
- Allergic swelling usually lasts 1-3 days.[16]
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| How to Get Rid of Acne Cysts Fast Posted: 09 Jun 2018 05:00 PM PDT Cystic acne may be frustrating and painful, but it is treatable. Most cystic acne won't disappear overnight, but you can take steps to reduce it in a matter of weeks. Your dermatologist can offer creams, pills, and procedures that may offer dramatic results. A good daily skincare routine and healthy practices might also help. Scars can result from cystic acne, but these can be reduced through proper treatment. Keep in mind that while some people may see results quickly, others may need more time to heal. EditTreating the Acne Medically - Make an appointment with your dermatologist. The fastest and most effective way to fight cystic acne is through medical treatment from a dermatologist. Your dermatologist can prescribe the medications or perform non-invasive procedures.[1]
- If you don't have a dermatologist, ask your primary care physician for a referral. You can also look up a dermatologist online.
- Tell your dermatologist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Ask the dermatologist to drain and extract the cyst. In this procedure, your dermatologist will drain the cyst with a sharp needle. This is the fastest way to remove a cyst. When done properly, it can reduce pain, swelling, and scarring as well.[2]
- Never try this at home or without the supervision of a licensed professional. Improper lancing may result in scarring or infection.
- In some cases, your dermatologist may also inject the cyst with medication.
- Get a prescription for an antibiotic. Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that causes acne. Your dermatologist may prescribe you a pill to swallow daily or a cream to apply directly to the acne itself. These require a prescription.[3]
- Side-effects of antibiotics include increased sensitivity to the sun, liver damage, and complications with pregnancy.
- Follow your dermatologist's instructions regarding the use and dosage of antibiotics.
- Get a topical retinoid to apply to your skin. Topical retinoids unplug clogged pores, allowing other medications to come in and fight the acne-causing bacteria. Apply the retinoid to your face once a day.[4]
- Most retinoids require a prescription. Weak doses are available over the counter, but these may not have as dramatic an effect.
- Retinoids are usually reserved for moderate to severe acne, when other methods of treatment have not worked.
- Types if topical retinoids include Adapalene, Tazarotene, and Tretinoin.
- Topical retinoids may initially make your acne worse before it gets better. It can take a few weeks to see results.
- Talk to your doctor about possible side-effects. Side effects include increased sensitivity to the sun, dryness, redness, and peeling of skin.
- Take a systemic (oral) retinoid for severe cystic acne. If other treatments haven't worked, a retinoid pill, such as isotretinoin (also called Accutane), may be your best option. Take the retinoid by mouth according to your dermatologist's instructions.[5]
- Isotretinoin may cause some very serious side effects. These include depression, birth defects, miscarriage, deafness, and bowel disease, among others.
- Only the worst cases of cystic acne may warrant prescription of this very strong drug.
- Undergo hormonal treatments for women. Acne is affected by our body's hormones. A birth control pill or anti-androgen medications may help stem outbreaks. Talk to your doctor about medications that may limit the severity of your cystic acne.[6]
- Understand the possible side-effects. Side-effects include irregular menstrual cycle, fatigue, dizziness, and breast tenderness.
- Women with a high risk or previous history of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, blood clots, or breast cancer should not go on hormonal medication.
- Zap off cysts with laser therapy. Traditionally used to remove scars, laser therapy may now be used to treat acne itself. Laser therapy burns away the follicle sac, by burning away the sebaceous gland (which produces oil), or by oxygenating the bacteria, and thereby killing them.[7]
- Moderate to severe cases of cystic acne may require multiple sessions in a 4 week spa, but you may see results after the first treatment.
EditDeveloping a Daily Skincare Routine - Wash your face twice a day with benzoyl peroxide cleanser. Benzoyl peroxide helps fight acne by reducing oil and bacteria. Wash your face in the morning and evening by dampening your face and applying the cleanser. Rinse off thoroughly and pat your face dry with a clean towel.[8]
- If you wear makeup, be sure to remove it completely before washing your face. Use makeup removing wipes or solution to help remove all of your makeup.
- You can buy cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide at grocery stores, beauty stores, and pharmacies.
- Apply a toner with salicylic acid after you wash your face. Your toner will help remove any last particles of dirt while fighting the acne. Dampen a cotton pad with the toner and gently wipe across your face to apply the toner.[9]
- Salicylic acid can help unplug pores and may prevent clogged hair follicles.
- If you're pregnant, you might try products that contain azelaic acid instead. These may be safer for pregnant women, though salicylic acid is unlikely to be a risk.[10]
- Apply a spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. Once your face is clean, dab some benzoyl peroxide cream or gel onto your acne. This can help reduce the acne more quickly. You can get spot treatments from your dermatologist or over the counter at pharmacies and grocery stores.[11]
- Moisturize after each wash with a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Your skin needs moisture after you strip it of oil and water. Use non-comedogenic moisturizers that won't block your pores. These should be marked as "non-comedogenic" on the label.[12]
- Common ingredients in non-comedogenic moisturizers include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera.
- Avoid touching or picking your acne. As hard as it is, try not to touch your face or feel your pimples. Cystic acne can get inflamed when touched, producing more redness and irritation. It may also increase scarring.[13]
- Try sitting on your hands if you feel the urge to touch your face. Distract yourself by chewing gum, taking a walk, or squeezing a stress ball.
- Cystic acne is much harder to pop than normal acne, and doing so will possibly make it worse. Trying to pop cystic acne will also be more painful and more likely to leave a scar.[14]
EditAdjusting Your Lifestyle - Eat a low-glycemic diet. What you eat may contribute to acne. A low-glycemic diet can help reduce the severity of your acne. Eat plenty of whole grains, beans, and veggies. Cut back on processed carbs, white bread, pasta, dairy, and refined sugar.[15]
- Instead of drinking soda or juice, drink water or herbal tea when you're thirsty.
- Watch out for dairy in particular. Dairy may worsen acne in some people.
- Quit smoking. Smoking can worsen or cause acne in adults. Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. They can prescribe you pills or patches to help make the process easier.[16]
- Cut down on alcohol. If you're a regular drinker with cystic acne, reduce how much you drink. In general, men should have no more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day. Women should limit themselves to 1 drink.[17]
- Reduce your stress. Stress can worsen acne, especially for men. While stress is notoriously difficult to control, you can try to incorporate some relaxation techniques to keep your stress more manageable. [18]
- Exercise can relieve stress. If nothing else, take a walk or stretch.
- Meditation can help bring a sense of peace back in your life. If you're busy, squeeze in 5 minute meditation sessions at work, school, or during a lunch break.
- If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, pause and breathe deeply for 10 seconds.
- Make sure to get between 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation can cause you to feel more stress, which can cause more acne.
EditReducing Acne Scars - Identify any scarring left over from the acne. Scarring is more common in cystic acne because of the collagen-damaging infection of deep tissue. The best treatment for scars depends on the type of scar. These types include:[19]
- Hypertrophic scars are raised up from the skin. These can be treated with creams.
- Atrophic scars are sunken but mostly shallow. These can be treated with peels, dermabrasion, or laser treatments.
- Boxcar-shaped scars are shallow and broad with jagged edges. These can be treated with lasers, dermabrasion, or excision (surgery).
- Ice pick-shaped scars are narrow and deep. Lasers, dermabrasion, and excision are effective treatments.
- Apply cortisone cream to reduce inflammation in hypertrophic scars. Once a day, pat the cream onto any scar that is red and swollen. The cream may reduce the appearance of the scar. It works best on red, swollen, and raised scars.[20]
- Rub fading creams onto the scar to help reduce their appearance. There are many creams that can help reduce the appearance of scars after acne. These usually contain ingredients like hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, or licorice extract.[21]
- These creams can be bought at pharmacies, beauty stores, and grocery stores.
- Apply these creams once or twice a day to your acne scars. This is most effective with raised or red scars.
- Get a chemical peel at a dermatologist's office or spa. Chemical peels use potent acid formulas to lift off the top layer or layers of skin, minimizing the appearance of scars. These offer dramatic effects in a short time. The doctor will apply an acidic solution to your face.[22]
- Types of peels include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA).
- Always wear sunscreen after getting a peel, as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun.
- You may feel burning or irritation during the peel. If it is too much to handle, tell your dermatologist. Stronger peels may cause peeling, redness, or swelling after the procedure. Your dermatologist will give you lotion to help reduce the discomfort.[23]
- Weaker peels can be done at home, but be careful. Ask your dermatologist for advice before trying a home peel.
- Go to a spa or dermatologist for dermabrasion. Dermabrasion sloughs off top layers of skin with a wire brush. Blemishes on the surface of the skin are usually removed, and deeper scars are minimized.[24]
- Dermabrasion can cause changes in skin pigmentation for patients with darker skin
- For a less intense procedure, try microdermabrasion. Your dermatologist will apply small crystals onto the top layer of skin and vacuum them up, along with dead skin cells. Results are generally less pronounced than dermabrasion.
- Undergo laser treatments to remove deep scars. Lasers blast the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heat the layer of skin just beneath it. As the skin heals, so do the scars. Sometimes, multiple laser treatments are needed to lessen the visibility of scars.[25]
- Get surgery to fix large scars and lesions. These surgeries are usually non-invasive. Your doctor might cut out the scar with a punch excision and replace it with stitching or a skin graft. Alternatively, they may use a needle to relax the muscle fibers under the skin.[26]
- Try to stay optimistic about your prospects. Cystic acne responds well to strong medical treatments, giving you an excellent chance to put acne behind you for good.
- Even fast acne treatments may take a few weeks to take full effect. While some people may see results right away, other people may need more time.
- Try not to pop, squeeze, pick at, or lance cystic pimples. This could delay the healing process and create scars.
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| How to Identify Gold in Quartz Posted: 09 Jun 2018 09:00 AM PDT Real gold is a very rare and valuable metal. Because it's so rare, finding large pieces of gold in nature is unusual. However, you might be able to find smaller pieces of gold inside of rocks like quartz! If you have a piece of quartz and want to tell if there is real gold inside it, there are few home tests you can try before taking your rock to an assayer, who will tell you for sure what's inside your quartz and how much it's worth. EditConducting Home Gold Tests - Compare weights between pieces of quartz. Real gold is very heavy. If you have a piece of quartz with pieces of what you think is gold inside it, try weighing it and compare the weight with a similarly sized piece of quartz. If the quartz with gold pieces in it weighs several grams more than a similarly sized piece of quartz, it's possible that your quartz contains real gold.[1]
- Real gold weighs about 1.5 times more than fool's gold, or iron pyrite.
- Fool's gold and other minerals that look like gold will not produce a weight difference between the pieces of quartz. In fact, the piece with gold-colored particles inside may even be lighter than your other piece of quartz if the gold is not real.
- Do a magnet test. Iron pyrite, most commonly referred to as "fool's gold," is magnetic, whereas real gold is not. Hold a strong magnet up to the gold-colored material in your piece of quartz. If your rock sticks to the magnet, it is iron pyrite and not real gold.[2]
- Refrigerator magnets may not be strong enough for the gold test. Purchase a stronger magnet, or earth magnet, at a home improvement store.
- Try scratching a piece of glass with the gold. Real gold will not scratch a piece of glass, but other minerals that look like gold often do. If your piece of quartz has a corner or edge that looks like gold on it, try scratching this against a piece of glass. If it leaves a scratch, it is not real gold.[3]
- You can use any piece of broken glass or mirror for this test. Just be sure to use something that you don't mind scratching.
- Scratch a piece of unglazed ceramic with the gold. Real gold will leave a gold-colored streak when scratched against unglazed ceramic, such as the back of a bathroom tile. Iron pyrite leaves a greenish-black colored streak when scratched on ceramic.[4]
- Try the back of a loose bathroom or kitchen tile for this test. Most ceramic dishes are glazed, so they won't work for testing the gold.
- Conduct an acid test with vinegar. If you don't mind destroying the quartz, you can find out if you have gold in your quartz by doing an acid test. Place your quartz in a glass jar and cover it completely with white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar will dissolve the quartz crystals in several hours, leaving only bits of quartz attached to the gold.[5]
- Real gold will not be affected by the acid, but other gold-look alike materials will dissolve or become damaged.
- You can use more potent acids which may work faster, but these would require extra caution and safety measures. Vinegar is a safe acid to use at home.
EditCrushing and Panning - Obtain a steel or cast-iron mortar and pestle. The best way to crush rocks at home without professional equipment is with a mortar and pestle. You want to be sure it is made of material that will be harder than the quartz and gold you're crushing, such as steel or cast-iron.[6]
- The crushing and panning method will destroy your piece of quartz. Make sure you're okay with destroying your quartz before starting crushing and panning.
- Crush your quartz until it is a fine powder. Place your piece of quartz in the mortar, or bowl of your mortar and pestle set. Press hard on it with the pestle until pieces start to break off. Crush these smaller pieces up until you have a dust of quartz and gold mixed together.[7]
- If you end up breaking off larger pieces that are only quartz, you can separate these out and focus only on the areas that have gold-colored particles.
- Obtain a gold pan and submerge your powders in water. Commercially produced gold pans can be found for about $10 or less online. Take your crushed powders and mix them with water in a large tub. Then dip your gold pan into the water, trying to get as much powder into it as you can.[8]
- Swirl the powdery water around in your pan until the gold separates. Use a circular motion to swirl the water around in your gold pan. Real gold, because it is heaviest, will settle down to the bottom of the pan. Other lighter particles of quartz will rise to the top.[9]
- Empty the water with lighter quartz powders into a different container by tipping the gold pan slightly and set this aside to dispose of later.
- You may have to repeat this step multiple times to get the gold to settle at the bottom. Have patience!
- If the gold-colored dust never settles to the bottom, and instead rises to the top of the gold pan with the other quartz powder, unfortunately it was not real gold to begin with.
- Remove the gold pieces with tweezers into a glass vial. After spending time sifting the powders, you may begin to see gold particles and flakes at the bottom of your pan. Remove these pieces with tweezers and place them in a glass vial to take them to an assayer to determine how much they are worth.[10]
- If you have other pieces of black sand in the bottom of your pan mixed with your gold dust, use a strong magnet to separate those out from the gold before putting the gold into a vial.
EditFinding Gold in Quartz in Nature - Look in places where gold and quartz occur naturally. Gold usually originates upstream from where it is panned or has been panned in the past. These regions include areas where volcanic hydrothermal activity has happened in the past, near old gold mines. Quartz veins are often formed in areas where the bedrock is fractured by tectonic and volcanic activity.[11]
- Gold has been historically mined in certain areas of the U.S. west coast and Rocky Mountains, Australia, South America, and central Europe.
- Check the natural cracks and lines of the quartz rock. Gold often occurs along the natural linear structures of quartz rock, or its natural cracks and lines. It is easiest to spot in white quartz, though quartz can come in a range of colors including yellow, pink, purple, grey, or black.
- If you find gold in quartz in nature, use a geology hammer and sledge to break open the quartz and potential gold bearing rocks.[12]
- Be sure you have permission from the land owner to remove rocks from the property before doing this. Don't trespass on land without written permission by the owner.
- Use a metal detector if you have one. Larger gold pieces will give off a strong signal on a metal detector. However, getting a positive metal detector signal could indicate other metals being present besides gold. However, when there is metal found in quartz, gold is often among those that are found.[13]
- Some metal detectors have a specific gold setting, so if you're looking to buy a metal detector specifically for gold, try to find one that has this setting built in.
EditThings You'll Need EditConducting Home Gold Tests - Scale
- Piece of glass
- Piece of unglazed ceramic
- Magnet
- Vinegar and a glass jar
EditCrushing and Panning - Steel or cast-iron mortar and pestle
- Gold pan
- Tub of water
EditFinding Gold in Quartz in Nature - Regional maps
- Metal detector
- Written permission from the land owner
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