Arbours Centre | UK Mental Health and Dementia Care

Vitiligo Treatent

What is vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a skin condition characterised by patches of the skin on an individual losing their pigment. The patches of skin which are affected become white and usually have quite sharp margins. Typically both sides of the body are affected and this skin condition does also come with some other symptoms such as the hair from the skin becoming white and even the inside of the mouth and nose may be involved.

What causes vitiligo?

There are so many theories that have been hypothesised throughout time to explain the cause of vitiligo. However, still to this day no-body knows the cause to this skin condition.

Some of the possibilities may include:

Immunity disorders
Skin pigment self-destruction
Skin nerve disorders

Also, all of the above together is also a possibility to what causes vitiligo.

Types of vitiligo

From our research, we understand that there are two different types of vitiligo. These include non-segmental and segmental vitiligo. Both of these types effect different types of your body. To find out more about each type, do some independent research. However, also in rare cases, it is possible for the skin condition to affect your whole body which is known as either complete or universal vitiligo.

Treating vitiligo

There are many vitiligo treatments, however, there are also ways to improve your skins appearance. These include:

Protecting yourself from the sun.
Avoiding sunbeds.
Ensuring your body has enough vitamin D.
Skin camouflage: this involves applying coloured creams to the white patches which are affected by vitiligo. These creams are specially made for individuals with the skin condition and may help to blend them, allowing them to be less noticeable.

Cosmetic procedures to treat vitiligo

If you are looking for a vitiligo treatment, we would suggest one of the following procedures:

The ExSys Excimer laser.
Topical corticosteroids.
Transfer of a non-cultured melanocyte suspension.

Pregnancy Scan

Are you pregnant and looking for somewhere other than the hospital to carry out a pregnancy scan? Many private clinics can do this for you.

A pregnancy scan is something special and to be cherished, so finding the right clinic is important, it is a special time for both you and your unborn baby.

What should you expect from a pregnancy scan? Well if it is your first pregnancy scan, the sonographer will be able to listen to your babies heartbeat and should be able to determine a more accurate due date, they will also be able to tell you if there are one or two babies or maybe even more!

Preparing for your pregnancy scan is simple, wear loose clothing and empty your bladder approximately 90 minutes before your appointment, then have an 8-ounce glass of fluid about an hour before your pregnancy scan.

Through the NHS you will probably have two pregnancy scans, the first will be within the first trimester, so about 11-13 weeks and the second is at about 18-22 weeks, some women choose to opt also for a private pregnancy scan, this allows them to have as many extra ones as they would like, a pregnancy scan should not harm you or your baby.

A sonographer or doctor will usually be able to tell you the sex of your baby at the second scan, they will ask you if you want to know as some people prefer to keep it as a surprise.

If you do opt to have a private pregnancy scan you will probably be looking at paying between £45-£75 and you should be able to take pictures of your scan home, some even do DVDs of the scan for you.

Emergency Contraception

Dispelling morning after pill myths

After an accident with a condom (twice in one cycle), I turned to emergency contraception to stop any chance of pregnancy. After telling my friends that I had to take the morning-after pill, I was bombarded with horror stories, claims of failure and disapproving glares. In a fit of worry and guilt, I researched all these statements and found that at least 90% of them were myths. Emergency contraception is surrounded by an unnecessary taboo that I will aim to debunk in this blog post.

Myth number 1: the morning-after pill is the same as an abortion

This first one came from my friends telling me I was getting an abortion. They aimed to make me feel guilty but, a quick web search told me exactly what I needed to know. Emergency Contraception does not cause an abortion because the goal is different. While an abortion terminates an unwanted pregnancy, emergency contraception stops an unwanted pregnancy. With emergency contraception, the sperm has not met an egg, so the goal is to stop that happening. Abortion happens when a fetus has already formed. The two things are completely different, so if you are against abortion, don’t worry, the morning after pill is not the same thing.

Myth number 2: you can’t take the morning after pill more than once

As quite an anxious person, just the idea of being pregnant sent me into a ferocious panic. To then be told by my friends that taking the pill more than three times a year could have serious repercussions on my fertility, you can imagine how stressed I became. There are no legitimate studies to show that emergency contraception harms fertility in future life. Health services tend to warn against using the morning after pill as the sole form of contraception simply because the effectiveness rate isn’t as high and the cost is significantly more.

I hope my blog post has dismissed some of the myths surrounding emergency contraception. The morning after pill was the best thing for me, all I needed was the reassurance that it was safe to use.

Uterus Scan

A uterus scan can be performed to check the size and condition of the uterus, ovaries and lining of the womb. This scan can also show up ovarian cancer.

Your doctor may refer you for a uterus scan if you are experiencing unusual bleeding from the vagina, it may start as a watery discharge and light bleeding. The bleeding may be periods that are heavier than usual or vaginal bleeding in between periods or if you are suffering from unusually heavy periods. Other symptoms may include pain in the lower abdomen and pain during sex.

A uterus scan is performed to identify the womb, ovaries and surrounding structures to help assess the cause of various problems as those above but also pelvic pain or other menstrual problems, it can also be used to follow up any previously diagnosed problems involving the womb or ovaries. It is a safe and generally painless procedure.

A Uterus scan can investigate these symptoms and diagnosis may include endometriosis (where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside of the womb) or fibroids (also known as Polyps: these are non-cancerous growths that can develop inside the womb.

If you have been referred for a uterus scan you may be asked to prepare for the scan by wearing loose clothing, a full bladder is required so you may be asked to drink 3-4 pints of water 1 hour prior to the scan. You will be asked to lie on your back and expose your abdomen and pelvic areas. Tissue paper will be used to protect your clothes from the gel which will be applied to your abdomen. The ultrasound probe will be placed on your abdomen and moved in different directions to help locate the pelvic organs; a little pressure may need to be applied to your abdomen with the probe in order to obtain clear images. This may feel a little uncomfortable but shouldn’t be painful.

You may also be offered a transvaginal scan with your consent if further investigation is required. This may be required if access to the lining of the womb is needed, this will give a more accurate examination. If you do have to have an internal uterus scan, a specially designed ultrasound probe will be covered with a protective gel, and then gently inserted into your vagina. The probe will need to be moved in different positions in order to visualise the uterus and ovaries clearly.

A uterus scan will be performed by a male or female doctor that specialises in ultrasound techniques. If you have any concerns on this you would need to speak to someone before your appointment.

A full report of a uterus scan will be compiled and sent to your GP who will follow up with a scheduled appointment.

Alcohol Recovery

Although alcohol is considered a legal substance, it is the primary drug of choice in our society because of its wide spread availability.

Nearly 10% of adults in the UK abuse alcohol and 3 out of every 10 adults live in a home that has some way been negatively affected by the use of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks account for 11% of the UK population’s daily intake of added sugar.

Alcoholism is the most serious form of problem drinking and describes a strong, often uncontrollable desire to drink; alcoholics will often place drinking above all other obligations including work and family. The rehabilitation for alcohol could be needed.

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism include appearing intoxicated more regularly, needing to drink more in order to achieve the same effects , an inability to say no to alcohol , becoming secretive or dishonest ,tired, unwell or irritable, anxiety, insomnia, depression, tremors, suffering with withdrawal symptoms : sweating, shaking and nausea. If you recognise these symptoms or can identify with the signs rehabilitation for alcohol maybe needed.

Physically alcohol addiction can also lead to liver damage, high blood pressure, inflammation of the digestive system, impotence and malnutrition. It can also increase the risk of cancer of the larynx, liver, oesophagus and colon. Users can also experience loss of balance, numbness of hands and feet.

Alcohol abuse also causes reduced cognitive ability, although alcohol is initially used as a stimulant, alcohol can depress the activity of the control centre of the brain. The brains chemistry can be disrupted so that the persons cognitive abilities are impaired, resulting in loss of judgement, unpredictable or erratic behaviour slower reaction time. Alcohol can also cause blackouts these are called Anterograde amnesia – it is the inability to recall recent events.

There are varying degrees of alcohol dependence, you could becoming dependant on alcohol if you find it very difficult to enjoy yourself or relax without having a drink, if you feel the “need” to share a bottle of wine with a friend or partner most nights of the week or always have to go for a few pints after work, you’re likely to be drinking at a level that could seriously affect your long term health.

Anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings can all develop when you are alcohol dependent. Regular, heavy drinking interferes with neuro transmitters in our brains that are needed for good mental health. Rehabilitation for alcohol may be required.

Alcoholism is usually predicted by a pattern of drinking in excess to the point of intoxication. Compulsive drinking on a regular basis eventually creates a chemical dependency, causing the body to crave alcohol. The individual then becomes unable to control the desire or need to drink despite the consequences.

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins, poisons or other impurities. With alcohol, detox refers to the process through which a person rids their body of alcohol. This process should always occur in a safe environment such as an alcohol rehabilitation centre where qualified professionals can continuously monitor the comfort and safety and continued health of the patient.

Alcohol recovery should provide an individual with the opportunity to free themselves from their addiction. By combining specialised programs with dedicated professional staff an alcoholic rehabilitation centre can provide all the treatment and support needed to rehabilitate an individual.

If after reading all this information you are concerned for yourself, a friend or family member please contact your GP or local rehabilitation for alcohol centre, there will be qualified health professionals to help and guide you into long term recovery.

How to Select the Best Home Care London

There are many benefits that you will enjoy after you decide to make use of Home Care London. First, in case you have someone who is disabled and you are too busy for you to get time to spend with the person, the care will be very necessary because you will easily take your loved one there for him or her to get someone who will attend to him or her. The cares are attended by people who know how to handle the old and disabled. They will treat your loved one with the care that he or she deserves. This will make him or her feel loved once more. Not all London Respite Care will be the best for your loved one, here are tips for you to select the best:

Try to read reviews before you decide to make use of a given Home Care London

Through reading reviews that other people have offered online you will easily know whether you are about to hire the best care centre or not. This is because when reading the reviews you will be in a better position of knowing the benefits and disadvantages of making use of a given care centre. In case there are many complaints about a given care centre, then you should be careful about such a centre.

Check on the facilities available in Home Care London

In order to ensure your loved one is taken to a London Respite Care where he will access necessary facilities that will make him enjoy life, you should take your time and check on the facilities available in a given home care London centre before you decide to seek services there. Depending on the type of disability of the person you will easily know the best care centre. You should also consider a care centre that has highly qualified experts who will attend to your loved one.