Health

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic ailment which affects millions worldwide. This ailment is characterized by itching and inflammation of the skin, which practically hinders everyday activities from sleeping, working, and mingling with people. To some, the management of eczema becomes a lifetime journey, especially when everything fails.Prescription drugs can effectively contain the flare-up; though lifestyle changes such as mild cleansing and constant moisturizing help toward managing it, nothing-from over-the-counter to home treatments has worked for many. There are so many treatments available that the question of which topical prescription creams will do the best relief to symptoms of eczema can be asked. New studies bring some answers to questions about what will now be the most useful topical medications for atopic dermatitis and a new way of looking at hopeful patients. Atopic dermatitis presents itself as a type of eczema, wherein the most superficial skin layers are affected. The facial areas, hands, feet, etc., and other areas, including skin folds such as the elbows and behind the knees, are the common manifestations of this condition. Indeed, the determining triggers for eczema are still unknown at this point; but some of the trigger factors may include genetics, environment, and, in most instances, an overactive immune system. In fact, it is the immune system response that leads to skin inflammation and to an uncontrollable itch.Finally, scratching may provide some short-term relief from itching, but over time, the condition is actually aggravated. The teeth of scratch continue to induce the development of productivity and inflammation pain. The rash is further induced by skin tearing and possible infection from ooze and crust.Recent Research Advancement?This year, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology released the results of more than 200 randomized controlled trials involving over 43,000 patients with atopic dermatitis. The experiments examined nearly 70 different topical agents, including corticosteroids, JAK inhibitors, phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors, calcineurin inhibitors, and other topical agents.. Considerations for determining the most efficacious therapy included:Good quality of lifeControl of eczema symptoms (eg, itch, flare, or inability to sleep)Serious side effectsRates of discontinuation due to adverse effectsWhat Treatments Proved to Be Most Effective?The study pointed out a handful of therapy options that were very efficacious. According to the research, the most effective cream and ointments are:Calcineurin Inhibitors: Drugs such as pimecrolimus (Elidel) and tacrolimus (Protopic) had been deemed among the more effective medicines in the study by the investigators. In particular, pimecrolimus did best, achieving six out of seven objectives, including amelioration of sleep disturbance and eczema flare-ups. Additionally, high-dose tacrolimus (0.1%) showed efficacy in reducing itch and inflammation while improving five out of the seven outcomes evaluated.Moderate-Potency Corticosteroids: Moderately potent topical corticosteroids are rated quite high, including fluocinolone acetonide (Synalar cream 0.025%) and triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog cream/ointment 0.1%). In particular, these steroids relieved itching and flares associated with eczema significantly less than stronger corticosteroids, but they were still effective. Such creams improved four to six of the seven outcomes evaluated in this study.So stated Dr. Connie Shi, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “What this essentially provides is in line with some of the therapies she prescribes.” According to her, the most potent topical steroid may be the most effective at lowering eczema severity. However, for long-term maintenance, she would also advise either moderate-potency steroids or non-steroid options to avoid any thinning of the skin due to the use of steroids.Surprising: Once or Twice DailyIndeed, the most surprising conclusion to draw from this study is the fact that topical creams applied once a day are as effective as ones applied twice. It is common practice to tell patients to apply their treatment twice a day; this study shows that applying it just once does not diminish its effectiveness. Most importantly, for many eczema patients, applying treatment just once a day may turn out to be a more practical and sustainable approach that will keep them compliant with their application habits.Which Treatment Remains to Be Less Effective?This study also mentioned treatments that are less effective in controlling atopic dermatitis. Among topical antibiotics, for instance, they were among the least effective treatments for reducing the symptoms of eczema. This is understandable, as eczema is not primarily caused by bacteria but rather by immunological malfunctions and skin barrier breakdown. Therefore, antibiotics may not actually provide the kind of relief needed for controlling eczema flare-ups.Should You Change Your Treatment Plan?Considering the many treatments available and the degree of individuality in eczema, it must be remembered that what may work for one patient does not necessarily work for another. Age of the patient, anatomical sites involved, severity of eczema, and possible adverse effects will all affect treatment choice.Continue maintaining whatever therapy regime works for you, should there arise a harmful side effect and should the therapy be irrelevant to the condition: “There is no point tampering with an effective kind of medication; however, if it does not prove satisfactory, then other alternatives should be discussed between you and your doctor or dermatologist for consideration.”If your treatment hasn’t brought results yet, or gives side effects, don’t hesitate to go to a health care provider who can help in going into the options, be it prescribing another cream, modifying the dosage or going for non-steroid treatments.Conclusion: Discovering What Is Right for YouEczema involves a battle, but there are weapons in that fight. Ideally, working with your health care provider should lead to the identification of an effective topical treatment that targets symptoms optimally while giving the best quality of life. Whether one discusses applicable treatments, some of the best in the business that research has recently gleaned or some other option, the goal is to break the itch-scratch cycle and to manage flare-ups with as little discomfort as possible.If you have not yet found the best eczema treatment for yourself, keep in mind that sticking it out really pays off as far as communication with your doctor is concerned. Keep trying different options until you find something that works.

Sugar alcohols are becoming more and more popular sugar substitutes in many “sugar-free” or “low-sugar” products such as cookies, candies, ice cream, beverages, and even chewing gum. But what actually are sugar alcohols? Are they a healthier choice than regular sugar or calorically appealing sweeteners?These are worthwhile things to look for if you are trying to cut back on added sugars for good reason-to help fend off obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In fact, while reading nutrition labels, you might find some entries for sugar alcohols. But first, you should understand what sugar alcohols are and if they can really be good for you. Sugar Alcohols:Sugar alcohols are often thought to be sugar or alcohol but are neither. They are a type of carbohydrate that occurs naturally in certain fruits and vegetables. Most of the industrially used sugar alcohols, in contrast, are obtained by chemical processes. They are often used to sweeten foods and drinks without providing many calories or elevating blood sugar levels like conventional sugar.That makes it easy to spot sugar alcohols in the ingredient listings because many of them end with the suffix “-ol”. For example: sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, mannitol. These names may not be as familiar to you, but they are commonly used in various sugar-free and reduced-calorie products.Is Sugar Alcohol Actually Healthier Than Sugar/Other Sweeteners?People often consider sugar alcohols to cut down their calories or in order to avoid blood sugar spikes that happen due to the consumption of ordinary sugar. But are they a better option? Let’s get into it and assess the positive and negative sides.The Benefit of Sugar AlcoholAmong other things, the biggest plus for sugar alcohols is that they are not as sweet as artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, yet they impart some sweetness quite satisfying to the palate minus the wdZ in calorie. Basically, sugar alcohol puts about 25-75% fewer calories as compared to sugar, meaning sugar alcohols are about 40% to 80% as sweet as regular sugar, whereas artificial sweeteners can range from hundreds to thousands of times sweeter.More sugar-alcohol benefits include 2 which means they are absorbed slowly in the intestine than the sugar, and due to this, sugar alcohol has a negligible effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. Therefore, sugar alcohol may be a better option for the diabetic population who want to maintain or stabilize their blood sugar levels because they do not give such high peaks in blood glucose like regular sugar does.Some harmful ways in which sugar alcohols function are studied as remedies. The biggest minus is that excess sugar alcohols may cause GI distress or discomfort such as bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.Sugar alcohols, being slowly absorbed, give more time for gut bacteria to ferment them, therefore releasing gas. These sugar alcohols also tend to osmotically pull fluids into the colon, giving rise to their laxative effect. These effects can pose a challenge for a person with a sensitive digestive system.The intensity of these GI problems also depends on certain personal factors: weight, health; different types of sugar alcohols could create different symptoms. For example, sorbitol is so notorious for causing GI distress, while erythritol is often well tolerated.Since each sugar alcohol has its own tolerance level, you should introduce it gradually to your diet and ascertain how your body responds. If you ever feel GI discomfort, you may want to cut down on your intake of sugar alcohols or choose products with alternative sugar alcohols to ease your symptoms.Possible Long-Term Health RisksEven though sugar alcohols are definitely a better bet than sugar-calorie-wise and glycemically speaking, a lot about their long-term health impacts is anybody’s guess. One sugar alcohol that has found some concern in the 2023 study was erythritol, described as probably one of the more popularly used sugar alcohols. The investigators got a link of erythritol consumption with an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks, particularly in cases with pre-existing heart disease or risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure.But they were not infallible, and much remains to be done before any definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the possible long-term health risks posed by erythritol and possibly by other sugar alcohols. As of the moment, moderation, as understood by many, for instance by Frank Hu, an expert in nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, should rule the day.” Sugar alcohols can be said to be a sugar substitute with some advantages, but disadvantages can work against you as well, especially when you are dealing with those with sensitive gastrointestinal tracts,” he says.Sugar Alcohols: Are They Right for You?Sugar alcohols are a practical solution to those trying to cut back on added sugar or control for blood sugar levels. Lower in calories than sugar and having a smaller impact on blood glucose, they are indeed an attractive choice for those with diabetes or for all those trying to watch their weight.But like everything else, sugar alcohols must be taken with caution. A sugar alcohol is better than a normal sugar, but it is still sugar in calories and glycemic index scores, so it may prove uncomfortable for some people when taken in excess. Gradually replace traditional sugars with sugar alcohols and observe for how your body reacts. Keep an eye for signs indicating distress in digestive health.Hoping you noticed this for yourself, but if anything, sugar alcohols might appear paradoxical or indeed very vicious with their long-term effects, it might be better to consult a personal physician or nutritionist who will help make the better decision.Bottom LineSugar alcohols are alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners that cut calories and glycemic response in many cases. But they also have their downside: in large amounts they cause gastrointestinal problems. Like any other change in the food habits, doubts should be cleared by practicing moderation.A healthy diet is balanced and makes smart food choices. Whether you opt for sugar alcohols, other sweeteners, or natural sugar in