The National Center for Information and Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues its annual program, “Hello, Healthy Ramadan”, in terms of hosting senior physicians and consultants during the holy month of Ramadan, via the MOH toll free number 8002494444. The Center hosted Dr. Nayel Hatata, a Dermatologist at King Salman Hospital, who outlined the most common types of skin diseases and treatment, namely: psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
He talked about ways to take care of skin during the fasting period when the body loses a lot of liquids, underlining the importance of drinking adequate amount of water and other fluids, and eating vegetables and fruits, as well as moisturizing the skin with creams and ointments.
Hatata said that skin allergies may be caused by skin contact allergy, having drugs or food by mouth, or being exposed to incense perfumes, fragrances or incense… etc. These allergies can be diagnosed based on the medical history and sensitivity tests, and treated with creams, lotions, and oral medications.
"The eczema is a chronic and frequent skin allergy, showing up in many types such as severe eczema, which makes the skin wet with formation of small water blisters, and dry or chronic eczema, in which the skin is very dry and cracked," he said
About the treatment of the eczema, he added, it depends on avoiding its causes (triggers), including contact materials or others, and using topical cortisone for a short period of time and under medical supervision.
Hatata believes that peel, whether chemical or laser, is one of the effective treatments especially for scars; as it removes the surface layers of skin to be replaced with young ones. The peel also stimulates the lower skin layers turnover to produce an additional amount of collagen and connectives tissues, in such a manner that improves the skin texture.
Within the same vein, Hatata shed light on ways to take care of the skin around the eye, which may become pale; due to frequent glaring on TV or computer screens, lack of sleep, or mental and physical exhaustion. For continuous caring for the skin around the eyes, he advised to use creams containing fruit acids and antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and E, and to use Botox injection and new types of filler injection to treat wrinkles, as they are fast and powerful.
Finally, Hatata warned against scabies infections, which may be transmitted through close contact, clothes and beddings, and highlighted the means of protection, which depend on personal hygiene at the first place, not using clothes and towels of others, ant not using beds and bed sheets only after making sure they are clean.