With every trip to your local salon, you may be picking up several infections.

All of us like to get a little pampered every now and again. Sprucing up your looks, however, should not come at a price. You don’t want your beauty treatment to leave you with an infection. Thousands of women and even men visit beauty parlours every year, and though it may seem like a clean and safe environment, countless people end up with skin and hair related problems. In fact, studies say that other health issues, like respiratory conditions from breathing in the fumes of polishes, hair chemicals and disinfectants can also be a cause for concern. Just because your salon boasts of a swanky ambience and high-priced services, it doesn’t mean you are safe. Viral infections including HIV, hepatitis B and C, warts, bacterial and fungal infections, hair loss, skin burns etc are some things to look out for.

Dr Rohini Wadhwani, dermatologist says to be careful when doing some of the following beauty procedures. “When it comes to waxing, infection is most often spread by the hands of the therapist. Whenever there is injury to the skin, it is compromised and can allow bacteria, fungus or viruses to multiple and create an infection. If the wax applied is too hot, burns can result or you can get an allergic reaction to certain ingredients applied,” she says adding that the hair should be pulled out in one go and skin irritation must be immediately treated with topical antibiotics. Another point of concern, is dirty shampoo sinks and combs. “Many of the tools at spas are non-disposable and if not sanitised properly, can spread germs. The risk is especially high for equipment that comes into direct contact with bodily fluids. Looking into the salon’s bathroom is a good barometer for the rest of the salon,” she says.

While one can easily pick up infection from any beauty treatment, manicures and pedicures come with the most risks. “A previous client could have had a wart or fungal infection and if the tools are not washed properly, the infection can get transferred,” says Dr Nina Madnani, dermatologist adding that an aggressive pedicurist can cause nicks in the skin. She feels as a client one needs to be very alert and stop the beautician if it gets painful or if the instruments appear to be dirty. If possible, carry your own pedicure set. “When it comes to facials, poor recognition of the skin type can aggravate pimples or rashes. A full blown acne can take months to settle. Also warts are commonly seen when using an unclean blackhead remover. Further, contaminated creams when massaged into the skin could result in bacterial infections,” says Dr Madnani who suggests avoiding very cheap salons.

Certain health regulations should be followed at parlours feels Dr Raj Parikh, dermatologist. He says wax should not be left open as it can invite bacteria and the waxing strips used should be of good quality. “When going for hair treatments remember scalp infections or dandruff can be caused due to dirty combs. For men, disposable razor blades should be used to trim their hair so as to avoid hepatitis B and HIV,” he says. Further, getting piercings at salons are a cause for worry. “The instruments should be thoroughly sterilised and kept in spirit.” Keep the skin clean prior to the piercing and keep it dry for a few days after to prevent infection.

Source: TOI

Kids can take charge of their teeth by taking these steps:

Brush at least twice a day – after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.

Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.
Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they’re soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it’s time to change them.
Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you’ll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that’s hidden where your toothbrush can’t get it, no matter how well you brush.
It’s also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and he or she can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

It’s not just brushing and flossing that keep your teeth healthy – you also need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Remember, the plaque on your teeth is just waiting for that sugar to arrive. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. And don’t forget to smile!

Two glasses of champagne a day do a lot of good to the heart as well as the blood circulation, reveal the findings of a new study.

A recent study by a University of Reading’s team suggested that two glasses of champagne a day improves blood vessels function and is thereby good for heart and blood circulation, journal Science Daily reported. “Our research has shown that drinking around two glasses of champagne can have beneficial effects on the way blood vessels function, in a similar way to that observed with red wine,” said lead author Jeremy Spencer.

“We always encourage a responsible approach to alcohol consumption, but the fact that drinking champagne has the potential to reduce the risks of suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, is very exciting news,” he added.

Champagne does this by increasing the availability of nitric oxide, a vascular active molecule which controls blood pressure, the study said. “It is able to induce these effects because it contains polyphenols, plant chemicals from the red grapes and white grapes used in champagne production,” it showed. When you drink champagne, these polyphenols get absorbed into the circulation where they are able to act on the vascular system, the research found

So many women today strive to alter their appearance through cosmetic surgery and alteration. It seems so fake to me and I was just wondering why people do it. Shouldn’t people accept themselves as they are? There is no need for botox, collagen, or silicone. It seems kinda disgusting.

I am about of pain pills so any suggestions thanks sue

As an example I list David Bowie who had really ugly teeth in the 70s, but if you look at him now like many others they seem so much better. Just how do these people fix the damage, from say perhaps drink, drugs, smoking etc etc? I’ve took care of my teeth but even sometimes I find myself a little envious lol!! ^_^.
Cheers again guys.

So I have to spend at least 2-3 hours at a seniors home for my volunteering position with a woman who’s 92 yrs old.
She probably has alzhimers because she forgets very easily..my q is: what activities should we do BESIDE talking and looking at pictures???
most board games require memory..should I try Guess Who? can anyone suggest some other stuff??
PLEASE HELP!

So far I’ve spent a couple thousand (braces, cavities) and have a couple more thousand to go (bone graft, root canal, tooth implant). I went to a dentist a few weeks ago who said I needed a root canal on one tooth…didn’t mention any other teeth. He was way too expensive though so we went to another place. They found 2 cavities on BOTH sides of my left AND right upper molars. One of them has a large filling already so the lady said I’ll need a crown ($700). I’m not sure if these are really cavities since the first dentist didn’t talk about them at all. But as of a few weeks ago, I take really good care of my teeth and I’m hoping I can put those off until I turn 18 in Janurary and will be able to take care of it myself and not get tortured by my parents who are paying for my root canal and implant and all that… what do you think?

I had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled and and i got my period the day before the surgery but now i have been having symptoms of pregnancy. Also i didnt quite get my period this month i spotted for 3 days so i am a little nervious. So i want to know what is the risk of the baby NOT only because of the XX-Rays but also cuz of the novicane and after care pills. Any input would help until i test myself tomorrow! Thanks

I was looking at my sons teeth the other day and noticed between his 2 front teeth it seems brittle. I do brush his teeth as much as I can cause he hates when I brush them, so i try to get him to brush them himself but its hard, he just likes the play with his tooth brush and eat the tooth paste. They dont look like cavities but I am very concerned. My 7 year old , her tteth were fine and I cared for them the same way I did as with my 2 year old. He doesnt go to bed with milk or milk in a bottle, yet sometimes he likes to have water in the middle of the night but with a bottle. I soemtimes think he could have celiacs but not sure yet, i ‘ d need to see first with a doctor. Can anyone furnish me with some information, advice?