www.womanthismonth.com 51 February 2015 you might want to lose weight the correct way. Evelyn also believes in drinking plenty of water and unsweetened tea to help flush out toxins from the body, keeping the skin supple. “Swimming, cycling, walking, rope jumping and dancing are cellulite killers,” she says. So there you go ladies – take your pick! THE RUDE SHOCK – HAIR LOSS A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. When you see more of your hair on your pillowcase, in your hairbrush or in the bathroom drain, it’s bound to send anxiety levels skyrocketing. Remember that there are certain times during which women typically lose more hair than usual – childbirth, menopause, illness (especially if there is fever), nervous shock, extreme dieting and with certain medications. But hair loss is temporary. “Hair loss resulting in thinning is known as alopecia. Male pattern alopecia is characterised by a receding hairline and/ or hair loss on the top and front of the head. Female pattern hair loss results in thinning hair on the vertex (top) of the scalp and is generally less severe than it occurs in males,” explains Dr Mehta, dermatologist at AMH, Bahrain. Iron deficiency, thyroid disorders and certain drugs are common causes of excessive hair fall. But how much is too much? Dr Mehta states that losing more than 100 strands a day signals a problem, and warrants a visit to the neighbourhood dermatologist. Once the underlying cause is identified, appropriate medical care can be administered to save your mane. Bahrain’s desalinated water can damage the hair shaft, leading to breakage and lacklustre hair. Some of Dr Mehta’s patients claim to have benefited by Contrary to popular belief, cellulite strikes not only behind the thighs and buttocks but also around the abdomen and upper arms using ‘sweet water’ to wash their hair. NOT SO VEIN – VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS “Varicose veins are large, raised, swollen blood vessels that twist and turn. They usually develop in the legs and can be seen through the skin. Spider veins are smaller, red, purple, and blue vessels that also twist and turn and are typically visible on the legs and face as well,” explains Dr Bashar Saleh, consultant general surgeon at the Bahrain Specialist Hospital. These unsightly veins target those who stand for long hours in the day. Think of your teacher, hair stylist, nurse and the factory worker. And yes, they do tend to surface in women more so than men. Of course, this condition also depends on heredity, obesity, use of birth control pills, hormonal changes of the body and a history of blood clots. Other factors such as conditions causing increased pressure in the abdomen or trauma or injury to the skin and exposure to ultraviolet rays can also contribute to this issue. “The most conservative approach is simply to wear properly fitting support hose, especially when the veins cause painful or uncomfortable symptoms,” says Dr Bashar. These stockings are available at surgical supply stores and at some pharmacies. They come in below-the-knee, above-the-knee, and pantyhose styles. Other simple solutions are good skin hygiene, weight loss (if needed) and walking. Not everybody with varicose or spider veins has pain or other symptoms. They might want the veins removed, however, for cosmetic reasons. A medical procedure called sclerotherapy is simple, relatively inexpensive, and can be performed in an outpatient setting. It involves a highly concentrated saline (salt) solution or a specially made detergent that is injected directly into the vein, causing the vein to disappear gradually over three to six weeks. Endovenous laser treatment and radiofrequency occlusion are other ways to get rid of your spider or varicose veins. They require some form of anaesthesia. Surgery is an option to treat very large varicose veins. Surface laser or intense pulsed light treatments involve devices that use heat energy to selectively damage or destroy abnormal veins. An advantage of these treatments is that no needles or sclerosing solutions are required; however, there may be some minor discomfort. “Side effects do occur, including discoloration or staining and blister formation. The results are often disappointing,” warns Dr Bashar.
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