DARK UNDERARMS! CAUSES, TREATMENT AND HOME REMEDIES

Some of the causes of Dark underarms are unfavorable reactions to deodorant, excess use of  hair-removing creams, dead skin cells. Others are excess sweating, friction caused by clothing or shaving. Its medical causes include but not limited to:

·       Acanthosis nigricans- causes dark streaks along the armpits, neck, groin and other areas. Resultant effect o high insulin levels associated with obesity, pre-diabetes and type II diabetes.

·       Hyperpigmentation- excessive production of melanin.

Treatment can be achieved by prevention e.g preference of waxing over shaving/hair removal creams. And use of non alcoholic/ less irritant deodorants. Selected medical treatment are

·       Skin lightening - glycolic acid gel.

·       Medicinal deodorants using chemical peels { alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs)}. Peels off the outermost layer of the affected skin to reveal the brighter one underneath.

·       Of course Laser therapy and dermabrasion procedures; this process peels off the damaged outer layer of the skin. Which is only natural because ordinarily humans do shed their skin in a way, though it varies among individuals.

Along with medical treatment are extra home remedies that one can indulge in:

·       Potato – a natural bleaching agent, regular scrubbing is very effective.

·       Mashed apple – Apple contain high quantities of AHAs beneficial to kill the germs and lighten the underlaying skin color. Apply them to the affected underarm site.

·       Lemon – lighten and exfoliates dead underarm skin cells.

·       Cucumber slices – rub them and leave it on for sometimes for it to soak into the deeper layers of the skin.

·       Coconut oil - Contains Vitamin E, also helps in skin lightening.

·       Additional remedies ingredients are baking soda, vinegar, yoghurt etc.

I hope this short piece of mine has been of great help. And that is all around anatomy as it can get.

BREAST EXAMINATION IN FIVE STEPS

 Warning: The following are a few illustrations on Breast examination. These were not meant to offend anyone. I apologise or (not since this is an all around anatomy blog) if any offense is given/taken.

When is the last time you did a self-examination of your breasts? You know your body best, and you will be the first to notice a change. Don’t allow fear to stop you from regularly following these five steps in breast examination. A little tip for the men: many men are taking the initiative of learning to examine breasts too. You love them, so look after them- ladies and your own!

Photo credit: play.google.com

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Look out for; breasts that are usual size, shape, and color. Breast that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin. A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out) redness, soreness, rash or swelling.

Step 2: Now raise your arms and look for the similar changes previously mentioned

Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples ( this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood)

Step 4: Afterward, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be certain that you go through the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer limits of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows as if you were mowing a lawn. This up and down method seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from anterior to the posterior of your breast: for skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breast; use firm pressure for deep tissue in the back. When you access the deep tissue, you’ll be able to feel down your ribcage.

Step 5: Lastly, feel your breast while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breast is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Go through your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in  step 4.

In conclusion, learn to check your breast every month at the same time in your monthly cycle. If you spot any changes, while examining using these 5 steps. You will need to see your clinical anatomist as soon as possible.

PURPLE ALERT! BREAST CANCER

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as part of living right and healthy allaroundanatomy blog is committed to this project. Contrary to popular opinion that this has to do with women, anatomically speaking both the male and female sexes has got breast. It could only be said that the breast is more pronounced in the female folks. According to research, breast cancer is rare in men, accounting for less than 1%. On the other side, around 8 in 10 breast cancers are diagnosed in women approximately 12% which is a huge figure.

Photocredit: popsugar.com

Delving a little bit into breast anatomy reveals that the breast is made up of 15–20 lobules of glandular tissue embedded in fat; the latter accounts for its smooth contour and most of its bulk. These lobules are separated by fibrous septa running from the subcutaneous tissues to the fascia of the chest wall (the ligaments of Cooper). Each lobule drains by its lactiferous duct on to the nipple, which is surrounded by the pigmented areola. This area is lubricated by the areolar glands of Montgomery; these are large, modified sebaceous glands which may form sebaceous cysts which may, in turn, become infected. The male breast is rudimentary, comprising small ducts without alveoli and supported by fibrous tissue and fat. Insignificant it may be, but it is still prone to the major diseases that affect the female organ (Ellis, 2006)

Consequently raising awareness for this type of cancer starts from you and I we tell a friend, to tell a friend until the whole world is filled with the right information. Early detection matters a lot and it starts with self-examination, meaning to examine yourself for breast cancer. You can also reduce the risk, if you’ve done self-examination that is but one step. First you examine your family history; your risk is increased if a family member has had breast cancer especially if it is a first degree relative. For instance, probably your mother, or your sister is diagnosed before the age of fifty, speak with your doctor or a medical provider about your breast cancer risk and additional step you can take to reduce your chances of contacting it.

Following the journey of a company in Reno, which is committed to addressing early detection of breast cancer. Director of operations for the company, Matt Bernardis on TED talk had this to say about their research on breast cancer: “we are pushing for a paradigm shift, in a way we address the identification and management of disease specifically in breast cancer. Now I’m not a scientist, I’m not a physician, I’m not an engineer but I can say that I’ve always have a very strong interest at a social level in breast. But it is through my involvement with this technology and the clinical studies which we have undertaken and the results we have seen and that interest has evolved to a much more benevolent and scientific nature. So I’m now passionate about solving problem that a great many wonderful people are subjected to. The prevalence of breast cancer is profound, 1 in 8 women is affected by the disease one way or another. Today the best methodology we have is to identify the disease with a static two-dimensional image which must be interpreted by a human being. That interpretation is of a subjective nature based on the training and capabilities of that human. Impacted by how many mammo-films they studied that day and possibly what side of bed they got up from that morning. We are only humans and finite in our capabilities no matter how brilliant. So we are not at this level of detection but we are well on our way. So change in focus is now wanted from that of subjective interpretation to that of objective analysis. We got it right to a degree where in a recent article we called for the replacement of physicians with artificial intelligence in clinical decision making process. It is a bit extreme but it does have a point; what if we can allow these brilliant physicians the possibility of doing their jobs with the greatest degree of confidence. What if we can offer them data that allow for clinical decisions that are clear, concise, definitive and actionable. I’m here to let you know that we can.”

Now there are simple steps that you can take by yourself to check for the signs of breast cancer, usually you’re advised to check a week after your monthly period. So it is important for women to examine their breast often and often because the sooner breast cancer is detected the better the chances of beating it. and it is the world goal to find a permanent cure to breast cancer.

I have a couple of early detection and breast health tips here which are all over the internet anyways.  Firstly, if you are a woman  above age 40, you need to have a mammogram every year. For women in their twenties and thirties, you should have a clinical breast exam as part of periodic health exam every three years. Do-it-yourself by standing in front of the mirror with your shoulders straight(no slouching, no bending) do a quick visual examination to see the breast are roughly the same size, and if you notice any discoloration. If you see any changes bring it to your doctors attention. For example if you see a bulge, especially if one is bigger than the other, or a dimple in one of the breast. Or if the nipple has changed position or color (nipple misdirection), probably if it is red (inflammation), if it is sore and itchy or swollen. Check for fluids coming out from one or both nipples that maybe watery, milky, yellowish or in some cases blood-stained. Yes! You should see a medical doctor/ clinical anatomist.

Next step is raise your arms and look for these same changes while lying on the bed, preferably remove the pillow so you can feel for lumps around your breast. So you should go in a cyclical motion. Take it one step at a time, gradually. While still lying down use you right hand to feel your left breast, then you left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm smooth touch with the first few fingerpads of your hand. Keeping the fingers flat and together, use a circular motion about the size of a quarter. Don’t forget, for better results it is easier to do this after your monthly period. If you do it a week before your period because of the physiological changes in the body at the time you might not get accurate results. This is not only for women, men out there reading this, it can assist their wives, girlfriends, daughters, and mothers. You never can tell where good information can come in handy and the idea is to help and be kind to one another.

And that is as all around anatomy as it can get. Cheers!

REVEALED! HISTORY OF EMBALMING

Embalming has been practiced in many cultures and is one of the earliest surgical procedures humanity undertook. In classical antiquity, perhaps the Old World culture that had developed embalming to the greatest extent was that of ancient Egypt, who developed the process of mummification. They believed that preservation of the mummy empowered the soul after death, which would return to the preserved corpse.

Other cultures that had developed embalming processes include the Incas and other cultures of Peru, whose climate also favoured a form of mummification.

However the best preserved bodies in the world are from Han dynasty China, which preservation process isn't still completely understood. It seems a special liquid, in which the bodies were embedded, was of major influence.

Embalming in Europe had a much more sporadic existence. It was attempted from time to time, especially during the Crusades, when crusading noblemen wished to have their bodies preserved for burial closer to home. Embalming began to come back into practice in parallel with the anatomists of the Renaissance who needed to be able to preserve their specimens.

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Contemporary embalming methods advanced markedly during the American Civil War, which once again involved many servicemen dying far from home, and their family wishing them returned for local burial. Dr. Thomas Holmes received a commission from the Army Medical Corps to embalm the corpses of dead Union officers to return to their families. Military authorities also permitted private embalmers to work in military-controlled areas. In the 19th and early 20th centuries arsenic was frequently used as an embalming fluid but has since been supplanted by other more effective and less toxic chemicals. There were questions about the possibility of arsenic from embalmed bodies later contaminating ground water supplies. There were also legal concerns as people suspected of murder by arsenic poisoning could claim that the levels of poison in the deceased's body were a result of embalming post mortem rather than evidence of homicide.

Embalming is distinct from taxidermy. Embalming preserves the human body intact, whereas taxidermy is the recreation of an animal's form using only the creature's skin. 

EXPLAINED! ANATOMICAL ART OF EMBALMING

The preparation of the body is called embalming. Although the body can be viewed without embalming, the best results are when the body is embalmed. Embalming is a chemical process that temporarily preserves the body and is the most successful way of

removing the signs of disease and trauma. Embalming is done for several reasons; to allow families enough time to arrange the type of funeral services they want, to transport the deceased to another location for services and to restore the deceased to an appearance

that is peaceful and soothing to the family. Individual state laws regulate embalming and with rare exceptions embalming is not required to be performed. The Federal Trade Commission requires that you must give your permission for embalming to be performed

by the funeral home. Embalming is only performed by those who have had the required education and passed licensing requirements (in most states) to practice. The remains are always treated with respect and dignity.

The embalming process requires that the practitioner understand many different disciplines of knowledge. These disciplines include anatomy, microbiology, pathology, chemistry, and specialized areas such as restorative art and cosmetology. The procedure requires time and skill. What is described here is a description in a laypersons terminology and should not be confused with the more complex process that is practiced by the embalmer.

Embalming takes place in a room that resembles a surgical operating room. The procedure itself can vary according to the condition of the deceased but will follow a set of standard guidelines. It maybe more extensive if an autopsy has been performed or trauma is present. The procedure begins with the deceased being placed on a table, bathed and then cleaned with a disinfectant solution. The arterial system is used for the injection

of preservative chemicals and the venous system is used for removal of some of the blood. The distribution of chemicals is done through a tube that is inserted into the (femoral or radial) artery and is connected to a machine that will send the fluid to the tube. Once sufficient fluid has been injected into the body, the vessels are tied off and the incision or incisions will be sutured closed. The internal body cavities are treated by inserting a long tube and removing any gas or liquids and adding a preservative chemical.

The body is thoroughly washed again, dressed and cosmetics are applied as needed. The use of cosmetics helps to even out the facial color changes that take place when the heart stops at death. It can also conceal bruises and trauma. Regardless of who will be viewing

the deceased, the funeral home will ask the family to come to see them first. In many cases even if the family had thought they wanted the casket closed they will leave the casket open because of the work of the embalmer.

Original write-up: Patti Applegate (2005)