| Prasad is suffering from psoriasis, a common skin
disease caused by immunological disturbances in the body. Though not infectious,
it leads, more often than not, to sufferers being socially ostracized.
However, there's hope. For 15 years, Psolaren Ultra Violet A (PUVA) therapy
has been used in India to control skin diseases like Prasad's. Now, due
to the initiative and resolve of the Department of Skin and STD at the
BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, there's an improved and modified therapy
available known as the Ultra Violet B (UVB) Photo therapy. The unit is
only the second of its kind in India, and the first in a public hospital.
The department and the hospital's engineers, rather than importing the
UV machine, have designed and manufactured it indigenously (except for
the ultra violet tubes), bringing down the cost by 70 odd per cent.
The unit at Nair has been functional since January but the project took
well over two years for the department to put together. Bureaucratic hassles
and a lack of such units in India did not help matters. Besides the financial
viability, the treatment has proved to be less carcinogenic than PUVA
and also obliterates the need to take medication internally. PUVA therapy,
though beneficial in controlling the growth of the diseases, was riddled
with side effects like nausea, vomiting and headaches. UVB is free from
these, so it can easily be used by pregnant women, children and elderly
people. Another advantage is that with UVB, a patient has to spend only
a few seconds in the chamber receiving the ultra violet radiation - unlike
PUVA therapy where it can be as long as 30 minutes, which is frightening
for some patients. Also, with the cut-down in time, many more patients
can be attended to. UVB therapy is also effective for Leucoderma in certain
conditions.
A 70-year-old man who has psoriasis, comes from Kamathipura thrice a week
for his treatment. He was one of the first patients to be administered
UVB therapy. His wrinkled face breaks into a smile when asked how he feels.
Since the machine has been in operation only for the last two months,
doctors don't have an exact idea of how well the system will work. Finally,
both PUVA and UVB therapy cannot cure Psoriasis or Leucoderma completely.
However, they can successfully control them.
A new method to get rid of Scars and Pigmentation -
Painless, Inexpensive And Quick:
Micro-Epidermabrasion is what this method is called
and Dr. Dilip Shah is responsible for bringing this specific treatment
not only to Pune but to our country. Walk into Dr. Shah's office (Opp.
Residency Club) and you will realize that you are not in the hands of
a beginner. Meet him and you will further realize that you are now in
the hands of a professional who can cure you of practically any skin condition
which might need treatment.
Skin is the largest organ in our body and needs particular care and attention.
Everyone wants to look their best, thus having a pimple or a blemish affects
the way we look at ourselves. If it were in our control we would
like to be as perfect as we could. So what would you do if your skin could
be blemish free and a "peaches and cream" complexion would no longer be
a blessing?
Micro-Epidermabrasion brings the phrase "blemish free" to you. Just for
you to equip yourself with how this works, we asked Dr. Shah to explain
this procedure. "This is an Italian technique and involves aluminum hydroxide
micro crystals. These are in turn released with negative pressure which
lift the skin or micro abrade the upper layer of the skin. This takes
a maximum of 3-4 minutes. Sessions last 1-2 weeks and you are required
to go through 8-10 sittings before the procedure is complete," says Shah.
This treatment has replaced the older treatment of "Derm Abrasion". There
are marked differences between the two. During the procedure of Derm Abrasion,
the patient requires anesthesia and surgery at an operation theatre. Rest
of 3-4 weeks is prescribed and one has to take pre-medication. None of
this pertains to Micro Epidermabrasion. Infact one can apply make up immediately
and there are absolutely no side affects.
Dr. Shah, as mentioned earlier has brought "Exfoliance," a machine, to
India. He has been treating patients suffering from acne scars and pigmentation
problems for 13 months now and the response has been tremendous. 1300
patients have undergone this procedure and 90% are happy and say the results
have gone beyond their expectations. Dr. Shah charges Rs.400/- per sitting.
So the next time you have a problem with your skin, do not feel like it
cannot be helped. It can, and now you even know where. Dr Shah is on the
panel of doctors at aarogya and can answer to any queries that you may
have. So feel free to contact us and maybe we can help you. Till then
try and incorporate the saying :
"You are beautiful, you only have to look within yourself to find what
you so desire."
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