44 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • FEBRUARY 15, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
6 tips that may help manage your eczema
Your eczema (atopic dermatitis) may
be a part of you, but it doesn’t have to
defi ne you. Living with eczema might
take some eff ort, like changing your lifestyle
and working with your physician
to develop a treatment plan that’s right
for you.
1. Avoid dry skin. Sometimes this is
easier said than done, but dry skin is a
common eczema symptom. Try to avoid
cold, dry air and situations where you
might overheat. Limiting bathing time to
5-10 minutes with warm, not hot, water
may also help.
2. Be mindful of your diet. For some
people, eczema may fl are when they’re
exposed to diff erent triggers. Certain
foods, or a food allergy, could trigger
a fl are. If you suspect a certain food is
aff ecting you, share your experiences with
your doctor and talk about your treatment
plan. One option to manage symptoms
may include avoiding a certain food
group.
3. Recognize your triggers. Food, as
discussed above, may be a trigger, but a
change in the environment, certain soaps/
detergents, sweat or stress may also trigger
symptoms. Pay attention to when
your eczema fl are is most noticeable and
record possible triggers. Jotting down a
few quick “notes-to-self” in the moment
could help identify triggers. Th e better
you recognize what is causing your eczema
to react the way it is, the easier it may
be to avoid any situations that may cause
a fl are.
4. Make moisturizers a priority in your
daily routine. If you have eczema, moisturizers
can help keep your skin hydrated.
Th ere are so many kinds of moisturizers
who doesn’t love options!-including
ointments, creams, lotions, gels, and oils.
No matter which moisturizer your doctor
recommends, following a routine and
applying it soon aft er bathing will help
keep your skin hydrated.
5. Be mindful of your wardrobe.
Clothing is oft en an important part of
your identity, but when it comes to your
eczema, the clothing you wear can make
a diff erence. Wool or rough fabrics can
be irritating on the skin and could trigger
your eczema. Also try cutting the tags off
your clothes and covering any irritating
inner seams. Th ese easy tricks can help
reduce irritation without sacrifi cing your
unique style.
6. Speak with your doctor about your
options. One of the ways to treat eczema
is to use a topical therapy. If you’re looking
for a topical prescription therapy, take
a moment to talk with your doctor about
your options. EUCRISA® (crisaborole)
ointment, 2% is a steroid-free ointment
for people with mild-to-moderate eczema
(atopic dermatitis) and can be used
on all skin tones from face to feet, for
adults and kids as young as 2 years old.
It can be applied to the skin, including
the face. Do not use in the eyes, mouth
or vagina. EUCRISA is a topical treatment
that works both above and below
the skin to treat eczema. Th e specifi c way
EUCRISA works is not well defi ned. For
more information about EUCRISA, visit
www.EUCRISA.com.
Th e strategies above, along with the
treatment regimen that you and your
doctor decide upon, may help give you a
better understanding of your eczema. If
you have additional questions, be sure to
speak with your doctor.
Courtesy BPT
Why online eye apps may do more harm than good
Online vision apps can be a great
resource for health-related information,
but if you rely on them to preserve your
eye health and detect potential problems,
you could be doing more harm
than good, the American Optometric
Association warns.
“Eye health is critical to overall good
health,” says Dr. Christopher Quinn,
president of the AOA. “If someone chooses
to forego an annual eye exam with a
doctor of optometry because they think
an online test or mobile app screening
is enough, they’re making a mistake that
could put their vision and health at risk.”
Th e AOA, which represents more than
44,000 doctors of optometry, optometric
professionals and optometry students,
supports state and federal policies that
protect patients from the potential dangers
of online vision test apps. Here are
four of the many reasons why patients
should not rely on online eye screenings
or mobile apps:
1. Vision test apps or online
tests can’t diagnose or treat
serious eye problems.
Th ese tools simply use measurements to
gauge what is known as visual acuity, or
sensitivity. However, many vision and eye
health conditions don’t have obvious signs
or symptoms in their earliest stages. Online
tests can miss serious conditions that a
comprehensive eye exam would catch.
Th ey may be designed to test for
near-sightedness or far-sightedness, but
can’t adequately evaluate overall eye
health. For example, an online screening
might be able to detect symptoms of
near-sightedness, but isn’t designed to
catch signs of glaucoma.
2. Vision test apps aren’t
held to the same standards
as doctors of optometry.
People put their eye health at risk when
they choose convenience over care and
today, 17 states have regulations in place
to safeguard patients from unproven
technologies and practices that can compromise
the established and proven standard
of care. And there is good reason.
Right now, online vision screening services
and mobile apps aren’t required
to meet the defi nition of a comprehensive
eye exam, or clinically prove their
technologies provide the same level of
care you would get from a qualifi ed eye
care doctor. In addition, they are not
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
3. Patients may not get
the care they need.
Even if an app accurately indicates
a problem with vision acuity, patients
might not follow up as recommended
with a doctor of optometry, who can diagnose
issues and work with you to develop
solutions to eye health and vision care
needs.
Additionally, a comprehensive eye
exam conducted by an optometrist can
be an important step in identifying health
conditions that might not have been
detected otherwise, such as diabetes and
high blood pressure. An optometrist can
help you understand the seriousness of
the condition and suggest and implement
appropriate treatment.
4. You could be risking your
eye or overall health.
Online vision screening apps might not
catch signs of a serious problem. Missing
the signs of an eye health or overall health
issue can put you at risk.
“People may think they’re doing something
good by using a mobile vision
app,” Quinn says. “Unfortunately, an
online eye test does not completely cover
any one of the 12 components of a regular
in-person, comprehensive eye exam,
something everyone needs to ensure
they’re protecting and preserving their
vision.”
To learn more about vision health, visit
www.aoa.org.
Courtesy BPT