HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR BARBERS ITCH

Barber's itch is an inflammatory condition of hair follicles in the beard area of the face. It is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and becomes aggravated by shaving or rough fabrics. Barber's itch is a variation of Folliculitis, the general term used for infection of the hair follicles.

The infection is usually characterized by a small-white pus-filled pimples around the tiny pockets of one or more hair follicles. It is usually mild, however,  itching can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. On some occasions, it is painful too.

Mild folliculitis clears up on its own within a few days. However, severe infection may cause scarring and permanent loss of hair. Deep recurring infection might require medical treatment.

Causes- Usually, barber's itch is caused by a Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The bacterial invasion mostly occurs when you have damaged hair follicles.  Damaged hair follicles can be caused by the following 1.  Excessive shaving or tight clothing, 2.  Excessive sweating

Symptoms- Barber's itch is usually marked by an itchy, small white pus-filled pimples in the beard area of the face. It usually occurs when men begin shaving that causes scarring and makes the skin susceptible to bacterial invasion and infection. Small pustules appear at first on the upper lip, chin and jaw, then become more prevalent as shaving continues.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

For treating Barber’s itch homoeopathic remedies are found to be very effective. Some of the important remedies are given below.

SULPHUR IODIDE 3X—Sulphur iodide is an excellent remedy for barber’s itch. It is prescribed when popular eruptions are  face and the hair feels as if erect.

CALCAREA SULPH 30-Calcarea Sulph is one of the best   Homeopathic medicine for Barber’s itch where the indicating feature is pimples under the beard that discharge blood when scratched. These pimples are tender to the touch. Calcarea Sulph is also indicated in case of eruptions in the beard covered with yellowish or greenish scabs.  For pustular eruptions in beard discharging yellowish pus, Calcarea Sulph is one of the best Homeopathic medicines for Barber’s itch.

CICUTA VIROSA 30-Cicuta virosa is prescribed when Barber’s itch occurs due to shaving. The exudation forms in to a hard lemon coloured crust

GRAPHITES 30-Graphites is an effective Homeopathic medicine for Barber’s itch with pimples in the beard that ooze sticky discharge. This is followed by crust formation. Heat worsens the eruptions. Burning and stinging in the eruptions is observed. Falling of hair from the beard may also be noted.

LITHIUM CARBONICUM 200- Lithium carb is prescribed for Barber’s itch when scabby, tettery eruptions on cheeks preceded by red raw skin.

                            

PHYTOLACCA DEC. 30-Phytolacca dec.is an effective remedy for Barber’s itch with red or dark inflamed spots.Phytolacca dec. is prescribed when   pale or dark red inflamed spots in the beard is present.The spots are attended with itching. Washing worsens the inflammation. The skin in the beard area feels dry.

PETROLEUM 200-Petroleum is another effective remedy for Barber’s itch. It is prescribed when the skin is dry, sensitive, rough and cracked. The cracks bleed easily.

TELLURIUM 200- Tellurium is effective for Barber’s itch. It is prescribed when ring like eruptions occurs with offensive odour from the affected part. There is stinging pain on the affected part.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON 30-Rhus Tox is one of the most suitable Homeopathic medicines for Barber’s itch cases where the beard area is covered with moist eruptions with thick scabs. Suppuration in eruptions may be noted. It is attended with itching. Washing with hot water may bring relief. Sweating worsens the itching as also rubbing the eruptions.

For more details refer my book- Diseases of skin with Homoeopathic management.

WHY SCRATCHING MAKES YOU ITCH MORE

Turns out your mom was right: Scratching an itch only makes it worse. New research from scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that scratching causes the brain to release serotonin, which intensifies the itch sensation.

The findings, in mice, are reported online in the journalNeuron. The same vicious cycle of itching and scratching is thought to occur in humans, and the research provides new clues that may help break that cycle, particularly in people who experience chronic itching.

Scientists have known for decades that scratching creates a mild amount of pain in the skin, said senior investigator Zhou-Feng Chen, PhD, director of Washington University's Center for the Study of Itch. That pain can interfere with itching -- at least temporarily -- by getting nerve cells in the spinal cord to carry pain signals to the brain instead of itch signals.

"The problem is that when the brain gets those pain signals, it responds by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin to help control that pain," Chen explained. "But as serotonin spreads from the brain into the spinal cord, we found the chemical can 'jump the tracks,' moving from pain-sensing neurons to nerve cells that influence itch intensity."

Scientists uncovered serotonin's role in controlling pain decades ago, but this is the first time the release of the chemical messenger from the brain has been linked to itch, Chen said.

As part of the study, the researchers bred a strain of mice that lacked the genes to make serotonin. When those genetically engineered mice were injected with a substance that normally makes the skin itch, the mice didn't scratch as much as their normal littermates. But when the genetically altered mice were injected with serotonin, they scratched as mice would be expected to in response to compounds designed to induce itching.

"So this fits very well with the idea that itch and pain signals are transmitted through different but related pathways," said Chen, a professor of anesthesiology, of psychiatry and of developmental biology. "Scratching can relieve itch by creating minor pain. But when the body responds to pain signals, that response actually can make itching worse."

Although interfering with serotonin made mice less sensitive to itch, Chen said it's not practical to try to treat itching by trying to block the release of serotonin.

Serotonin is involved in growth, aging, bone metabolism and in regulating mood. Antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil increase serotonin levels to control depression. Blocking serotonin would have far-reaching consequences throughout the body, and people wouldn't have a natural way to control pain.

Instead, Chen explained, it might be possible to interfere with the communication between serotonin and nerve cells in the spinal cord that specifically transmit itch. Those cells, known as GRPR neurons, relay itch signals from the skin to the brain. To work toward that goal, Chen's team isolated the receptor used by serotonin to activate GRPR neurons.

To do this, Chen's team injected mice with a substance that causes itching. They also gave the mice compounds that activated various serotonin receptors on nerve cells. Ultimately, they learned that the receptor known as 5HT1A was the key to activating the itch-specific GRPR neurons in the spinal cord.

To prove they had the correct receptor, Chen's team also treated mice with a compound that blocked the 5HT1A receptor, and those mice scratched much less.

"We always have wondered why this vicious itch-pain cycle occurs," Chen said. "Our findings suggest that the events happen in this order. First, you scratch, and that causes a sensation of pain. Then you make more serotonin to control the pain. But serotonin does more than only inhibit pain. Our new finding shows that it also makes itch worse by activating GRPR neurons through 5HT1A receptors."

As his team works to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the cycle, Chen suggested that those who itch pay attention to mom's advice and try not to scratch.