What is centella asiatica?
Centella asiatica, cica, Brahmi, Indian pennywort, gotu kola, tiger grass this antioxidant-rich, medicinal herb goes by many names and has long been used to treat illnesses and heal wounds. (Legend has it that after being injured, tigers would roll in the plants in order to heal themselves that’s where the name “tiger grass” comes from.) And it’s still being used today, as a skin saver. “High concentrations of amino acids, beta-carotene, and fatty acids are what make the herb so beneficial,” says Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.
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Applying hand sanitizer after touching a greasy menu or using a public restroom has long been the norm, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone began to practically bathe in it. The problem: Our important but increased reliance on alkaline sanitizing formulas may be leading to several skin conditions, like eczema, as well as dryness and itchiness,” says dermatologist Sarina Elmariah, M.D., Ph.D.
You probably went from occasionally soaping up to applying hand sanitizer throughout the day, along with wiping down your home, your belongings, and your kids and then touching your face. Yes, you need to kill potentially lurking viruses, but the side effect is that you’re also wiping out a lot of good germs, including normal bacteria you need to keep your skin strong, says Dr. Elmariah. “Your skin is the physical barrier that protects your body from assault,” says dermatolo
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“I am seeing tons of hair loss,” Mona Gohara says.
Patients come to Gohara, a dermatologist and professor at the Yale School of Medicine, for all kinds of reasons from skin cancer screenings to cosmetic procedures. But this year more than ever, they’re worried about their hair.
It’s not a coincidence. Stress like, say, that brought on by living through a deadly pandemic is known to cause hair loss. Ordinarily, “90 percent of the hairs on our head are in the growing cycle; 10 percent are in the shedding cycle,” Gohara explained. “But when we’re subject to some type of physiologic or emotional stress, that cycle shifts to where the shed outweighs the grow.” The result: “people notice a massive, massive shed.”
Bikramjit Bose
The number of ways in which âstressâ can affect you physically and mentally is an endless scrollâif only that would reduce the number of things we stress about. And if that wasnât enough, it can also be the reason you sometimes wake up to a tiny, half-formed but thriving pimple waiting to pop. You pass it off as one of those recurring curve balls thrown at you by your beloved hormones. You forget that the previous night you stayed up late, because you had to meet a swooshing deadline but mostly because of the anxiety of whether youâd be able to meet it at the finishing line in time. And that could be why you woke up like this (read: with a zit).Â
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Psoriasis is a common and commonly misunderstood disorder. It’s not simply itchy, dry skin; according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), it’s caused by an immune-system dysfunction that brings on inflammation. Normally, a person’s skin cells grow and shed in about a month, but for a person with psoriasis, that process is sped up, taking only about 3 or 4 days, and the result is a build-up of skin cells causing scales and plaque. About 8 million Americans deal with its discomfort every day, says the NPF. Related Story
“Psoriasis is not curable, but thankfully it’s very treatable,” says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. “There’s no need to endure the psychological or physical discomfort that may come along with this condition seek treatment for it.” There are a range of possible treatments, from topical creams and lotions to prescription oral medications. “If you