Taylor Swift receives 20 nominations for 2023 Billboard Music Awards - see the full list!
Taylor Swift has received 20 nominations for the 2023 Billboard Music Awards - see the full list of nominees!
2023-10-27 02:48
One Minute of Music: Remembering the HitClips Fad of the Early 2000s
The tiny chips held just 60 seconds of pop music, but kids still couldn’t get enough.
2023-10-27 01:25
TikTok influencers warn about ‘potent’ steroid cream risks among black women – dermatologist explains the risks
According to skin influencers on TikTok, topical steroid creams are being ‘illegally sold’ in some black Afro hair and beauty supply stores, affecting black women in particular. Angela Mavalla, a pharmacist and skincare educator, has been sharing TikTok videos garnering thousands of views, encouraging black women to stop purchasing topical steroid creams from these shops – as they are meant to be prescription-only treatments used with appropriate guidance from a doctor. When used incorrectly, the creams can make potentially make skin symptoms worse and harder to manage. “Though these creams tend to address issues like acne and eczema very quickly, because of their potent nature, the skin becomes addicted to it and will flare up badly once you stop using them,” said Mavalla. “A lot my clients – [who are black women] – that I consult privately, were coming to me with issues relating to topical steroid use, such as having terrible flare-ups because they had stopped using the cream, and needed help with tapering off them. “I began making content based on these creams, mainly to warn people of them, and found that these TikTok’s would go viral in a short space of time, with lots of people relating to it, and giving their own testimonials of how the creams damaged their skin,” Mavalla added. “I have seen instances of accidental skin bleaching, worsened eczema and hyperpigmentation, topical steroidal withdrawal and addiction, and worst of all, a crippling low self-esteem and self image. It’s awful. “The first point of call when it comes to steroidal creams should always be a pharmacy. Pharmacists are always willing to help, advise and where necessary, signpost to the most appropriate medical profession, such as a dermatologist.” Dr Unnati Desai, the national GP lead, as well as safeguarding lead for GP services and dermatology lead at Nuffield Health, acknowledged that it can take sometimes take time to correctly diagnose these conditions, and might require a biopsy. It might also take a longer period of time to get symptoms under control, as skin conditions may require trying multiple different treatment regimes to find the one that suits each individual person, as well as getting to grips with individual triggers. What are topical steroid creams and what should they be used for? Doctors prescribe topical steroid creams to treat a wide range of skin complaints – but it’s important to have proper assessments first. “They are topical medications (synthetic corticosteroids) that have an anti-inflammatory action on the skin, by suppressing the skin immune system and constricting the blood vessels of the skin where applied,” Desai told the PA news agency. “They are used for dermatological conditions that result in inflamed, itchy or irritated skin – e.g. eczema, psoriasis, lichen simplex, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus and other autoimmune dermatoses.” Why do people experience topical steroid withdrawal after using steroid creams? When used incorrectly, topical steroids may have potentially significant side-effects. And as Desai warned: “Stopping any steroid treatment suddenly can often result in a flare-up of the condition, which may be worse than the original presentation.” There are some obvious signs and symptoms to look out for to figure out if you are experiencing topical steroid withdrawal, such as red, burning skin and a lumpy, papulopustular rash. “When using a steroid cream to get a dermatitis flare-up under control, especially when a more potent steroid cream has been used for a prolonged period of time, it is necessary to slowly come off the steroid cream and wean your skin off treatment by either reducing the potency of the cream, or the frequency [of application],” said Desai. “This gives the skin time to adjust to coming off the steroid cream slowly, but also clarifies whether the skin condition is coming under control with treatment. “Sometimes, severe dermatoses require long-term use of a medication to be controlled, in which case your doctor will consider alternative treatment modalities.” What damage can it do to your skin?Desai added: “Long-term use of potent steroid creams is not recommended, as there may be some systemic absorption, which can result in suppression of your body’s natural cortisol hormone at the worst. “In most cases, it is the long-term impact on the skin itself that is the concern, as regular or long-term use of steroid creams can impact the skin integrity and thickness, resulting in thinning of the skin, stretch marks, increased hair at the site of use, enlarged skin blood vessels and bruising. “Using a steroid cream when there is an underlying infection present on the skin will make the infection worse, or using steroid creams on the face can result in other chronic skin conditions, such as perioral dermatitis or other acneiform eruptions. “Occasionally, an allergy can develop to components within the cream that can make the dermatitis worse.” How can people remain safe? Desai stressed the importance of only using topical steroid treatments under the appropriate supervision of a qualified clinician. “In addition, as most chronic inflammatory skin conditions tend to result in drier skin, self-care at home with soap substitutes and emollients is important,” she said. “This includes gently cleansing the skin one to two times daily maximum (over-washing will negatively impact the skin barrier function, as will long hot bubble baths), and using unscented emollients (medical grade skin creams designed to gently hydrate the skin), which will better protect the skin and may, depending on the skin condition, make a flare-up less frequent or less severe. “If a steroid cream is needed, a doctor will recommend the amount of cream to be used according to the size of the area affected. We use the ‘Finger Tip Unit’ (FTU) – one FTU is the amount of topical steroid that is squeezed out from a standard tube along an adult’s fingertip – as a method of advising each patient how much cream they need to use with each application.” Read More House of the Year 2023 shortlist revealed by Royal Institute of British Architects Fatima Whitbread supporting new fostering campaign, as research finds ‘misconceptions put people off’ 5 key coat trends to complete your autumn/winter wardrobe 12 ways to weave some woodland wonder into your home Hibernation mode: 5 small self-care adjustments to make before the clocks change 13 possible cancer symptoms you should get checked out
2023-10-26 19:47
Pfizer, BioNtech say flu-COVID shot generates immune response
Pfizer and German partner BioNTech said on Thursday that their vaccine to prevent flu and COVID-19 generated a
2023-10-26 19:26
Kylie Jenner to launch new clothing brand Khy
Kylie Jenner has announced her new clothing brand Khy, which she promises will make designer clothes more affordable.
2023-10-26 19:26
Cardi B, Niall Horan, Charlie Puth and more set for TikTok's first-ever festival
TikTok is bringing it's For You page into the real world, with its debut music festival in the US.
2023-10-26 19:21
Kim Kardashian's secret Met Gala plan foiled after being attacked by Karl Lagerfeld's cat
Kim Kardashian was viciously attacked by Karl Lagerfeld's cat and foiled her plans to take them with her to the Met Gala.
2023-10-26 19:21
Dolly Parton announces global cinema listening parties for ROCKSTAR album
Dolly Parton is donating money raised from the ticket sales to charity.
2023-10-26 19:20
Beam Solar Energy From Space? These Scientists Achieve a Breakthrough
Even by the standards of the Space Race, the idea seemed bold, maybe a bit crazy. In 1968,
2023-10-26 18:46
David Fincher reveals why he’s glad his ‘World War Z’ sequel never got made: ‘It was a little like The Last of Us’
Years after he was due to make a follow up to Marc Foster’s hit 2013 zombie movie, ‘Fight Club’ filmmaker David Fincher has revealed he is glad his ‘World War Z’ sequel never got off the ground as he thought it was too close to the plot of ‘The Last of Us’.
2023-10-26 18:17
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ director Emma Tammi confirms there will be no R-cut of the horror
Despite fans’ hopes, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ director Emma Tammi has confirmed an R-cut of the PG13-rated horror is not in the works.
2023-10-26 18:16
Lady Gaga surprises U2 Las Vegas crowd with Shallow duet
Lady Gaga was the special guest during U2's latest Las Vegas show.
2023-10-26 17:22