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Q: Health ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Health
Category: Health > Fitness and Nutrition
Asked by: lostris-ga
List Price: $25.00
Posted: 10 Sep 2006 00:08 PDT
Expires: 10 Oct 2006 00:08 PDT
Question ID: 763846
I'm a 17-year old, 5 feet tall, Chinese girl living in Hong Kong.  I lead a
sedentary lifestyle and I weigh 95lbs.  How much water should I drink
each day?  On the same note, what should I do to be healthier?  I also
have skin allergies that results in atopic eczema and extremely dry
skin.

I want to be healthier and prettier.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Health
Answered By: crabcakes-ga on 11 Sep 2006 02:09 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hello Lostris,

  Like our friend Bryan stated below in the comments, you need to
consume 8 glasses of water a day. For some people, that is a hard
thing to do! Carry a water bottle with you at all times, to make it
easier - if you always have water with you, it will become a habit!
Eating fruit and vegetables will help hydrate your body too.

   I?ll post some of my previous answers at the end of this one, where
you will find studies showing that caffeinated drinks are dehydrating,
and other studies that claim caffeinated drinks like soda and tea can
be included in the daily amount of liquid you consume. If caffeinated
teas, coffees and sodas make you feel thirsty, then the caffeine is
drying out your body, and you?ll need to either refrain from those
drinks, or consume extra water.

  It will take a few days for your body to get accustomed to drinking
extra fluid, and drinking more water will not cause you to retain
fluids, as some people think. Because by the time you feel thirsty, 
you are already partially dehydrated, try to get in the habit of
drinking throughout the day, so you never feel thirsty.

  Additional water will also help to hydrate your skin, from the
inside out, and may help your eczema.

As far as your eczema, have you tried the usual recommended tips for
your skin? Have you had allergy tests to identify what is causing your
allergies? Chlorinated water and soaps are often at fault!


   Take warm baths/showers, not hot. Soak in a warm tub with a
colloidal oatmeal product like Aveeno. (I don?t know if it is
available in Hong Kong.
http://www.aveeno.com/

   If you can, get a chlorine neutralizer for your bath water.
Chlorine is known to aggravate eczema.  I?ve seen this help others.  
http://www.watershed.net/bathball-faq.htm

   Wash your linens (towels and sheets) in very hot water and use a
clothes dryer as opposed to line drying. Use an unscented detergent or
baby laundry detergent. Ivory Snow, if available in Hong Kong. Do not
use fabric softener sheets or liquid.

   Change your pillowcase each night.

   Keep your skin well lubricated with your prescribed creams and then
special creams like Eucerin on top of them. Always keep your skin
lubricated.

   Take notice of any foods that aggravate your skin and avoid them.

   Wear cotton clothing, not polyester or other synthetics.

   Wash your hair daily. 

   Keep your fingernails short and very clean.


Eczema
?Atopic dermatitis often occurs with allergies and frequently runs in
families in which other family members have asthma or hay fever. It
usually begins in infancy and may vary in severity during childhood
and adolescence. It tends to become less of a problem in adulthood,
unless you're exposed to allergens or irritants in the workplace. The
exact cause of this disorder is unknown, but is likely due to a
combination of dry, irritable skin together with a malfunction in the
body's immune system. Stress can exacerbate atopic dermatitis, but it
doesn't cause it.?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dermatitis-eczema/DS00339/DSECTION=3



These are the best prescription creams for eczema these days. ?Every
once in a while, however, something new comes along that represents a
genuine breakthrough. In 2001, the FDA approved tacrolimus
(brand-name: Protopic) for treating eczema, also known as atopic
dermatitis. Protopic is the first effective nonsteroid treatment for
this common, chronic, itchy condition. A related drug, pimecrolimus
(brand-name: Elidel), is now on the market.?
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=19380


?Generally, twice daily is the most that steroid creams should be
applied. For resistant hand (or foot) eczema, wearing polythene gloves
overnight after applying a steroid cream increases its absorption.
However, this technique should be confined to short-term use.?
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin_hair/eczema_managing_003750.htm


?Though much of atopic dermatitis is genetic and caused by the
?atopic? or reactive immune system, environmental factors are also
very important. Eczema may be set off by extreme temperatures, stress,
sweating, medication, clothing (especially wool or silk), grease,
oils, soap and detergents, and environmental allergens. Dryness is
perhaps the most important trigger. Drying soaps should be avoided,
and the skin should be moisturized frequently.
Patients with eczema are also very susceptible to severe infections
from certain viruses, for example, the herpes simplex virus that
produces fever blisters and sores.?
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/290/main.html


?Dermatologists generally recommend the following:
?Avoid rough, scratchy, tight clothing and woolens
?Avoid frequent use of soaps, hot water, and other cleansing
procedures that tend to remove natural oil from the skin. Use a
moisturizing soap such as Dove, Tone, Lever 2000, Eucerin, Aveeno,
Basis, Alpha Keri, or Purpose, and recommended cleansers include
Cetaphil and Aquanil.
?Bathe no more than once daily
?Washcloths and brushes should not be used while bathing
?After bathing, the skin should be patted dry (not rubbed) and then
immediately (before it dries completely) covered with a thin film of
moisturizer cream or ointment (not lotion) e.g. Aquaphor, Eucerin,
Vaseline).?
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/290/main.html


   As far as wanting to look healthy and pretty? I think all women
want that! The first step is to eat a healthy diet and drink water!
Many young people your age include a lot of junk food in their diet.
You don?t have to deny yourself snack food totally, but go easy on it.
Incorporate a lot of fruit and vegetables into a low fat diet.

This site has lots of diet advice for young women your age:
?- You should also include foods containing folic acid in your diet
such as green vegetables and brown rice as well as fortified bread and
breakfast cereals.

-- Citrus fruit (such as oranges and lemons), tomatoes and potatoes
are all good sources of vitamin C, which is essential for health.
Vitamin C may help the absorption of iron, so have fruit juice with an
iron-rich meal.

-- Milk, margarine, butter, green vegetables, carrots and apricots are
all good sources of vitamin A, which is important for good vision and
healthy skin.?
Please check the site for all the diet helps offered.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12466


I found some beauty tips for Asian women for you:
http://www.free-beauty-tips.com/asianbeauty.html

http://goldsea.com/Poll/Eye/eye.html

http://asiams.net/Skin/skin.html

http://www.shoppinglifestyle.com.sg/beauty/landing.asp?id=9

   At 17, you may not agree with me now, but the best beauty tip is to
realize that beauty really does come from within. Do all you need to
do to make yourself healthy: eat well, sleep 8 hours a night, exercise
4-5 times a week, avoid fatty foods. Maintain good hygiene. Then, work
on being happy and developing yourself from the inside! If you are
happy and content, you will be beautiful from the inside out! Get a
good education, have a few enjoyable hobbies, read and expand your
mind. If you have a particular faith, learn all you can about your
faith. Try and think positively. Grow a circle of friends!

   This website has great tips on thinking positively and more:

?Step 4: Replace Cola with Water
The healthiest beverage you can drink is water. And by replacing
chemical and sugar-filled drinks with water, you will make massive
improvements to your health. First of all, you are eliminating the
sugar and caffeine that are so addicting, yet bad for overall health.
Second, you are increasing your water intake. Chemical-free natural
water will help improve your energy, eliminate toxins from your body,
make your skin more healthy looking, and improve your mental
performance. How can you not help but become more positive with such
changes to your life?! Drink lots of water - it is the true "miracle
vitamin".?

Step 6: Learn to Meditate
Meditating allows you to clear your mind, lower stress, become more
focused, and stay positive. It's a very positive and powerful medium.
By taking just 15 minutes a day to meditate, you'll find yourself
handling time and stress much better. You'll also gain a more positive
outlook on life.

Step 7: Spread Your Positiveness to Others
Put your new positive thinking lifestyle into action. Take time out to
write down the top 10 things you love about your partner and give that
list to him/her. When you experience good customer service, take time
to write a note or email expressing your gratitude. Practice spreading
your positiveness to others and it will grow.
http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/self-improvement/beingpositive.html

   
   Remember, your good looks may fade as you age? develop your
?insides?; your mind and your health ? these will be with you forever.
I want to share a little story that happened when I was about your
age. When I was 12, I broke out with a bad case of acne. Nothing
helped, but I kept trying. One day, several years later, I asked my
best friend to walk to the drugstore with me. She said she would, but
asked what I planned to buy. ?I?m out of Clearasil (an acne product),
and want to buy some more?. In all seriousness, she asked me why I was
buying Clearasil. I told her it was for my acne! She said ?What acne?
You don?t have acne? I told her to take a good look at me, which she
did. ?Wow, I never noticed that before?. She was not tricking me, she
was very serious. She was such a good friend of mine, she never
noticed I had a face full of pimples!  That exchange was a turning
point in my life. I realized that my best friend thought so much of
me, she never noticed my superficial shortcomings!


    So Lostris, start drinking plenty of water, eat well, exercise and
sleep enough! If you have not seen a doctor for your eczema, please do
so. The newer skin creams can manage your eczema very well, and there
is a chance you will outgrow it in a few years.

Water and caffeine:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=759663

Soda vs. Water:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=591586

Water Intake:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=549283

Allergy:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=594792

Eczema
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=304198

  I wish you all the best, Lostris! If anything is unclear, please ask
for an Answer Clarification, and allow me to respond, before you rate
this answer.
Regards, Crabcakes

Search Terms
============
Diet for teen girls
Beauty tips + Asian women
Eczema treatment
Chlorine neutralizer ball
lostris-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $2.50
Thank-you very much, Crabcakes.  I'll take your advice seriously and
get on it right away!  You have given me a lot to think about.  Xie
Xie.

Lostris

Comments  
Subject: Re: Health
From: probonopublico-ga on 10 Sep 2006 00:36 PDT
 
Drink 8 glasses of water a day; but don't overdo it ... you can overdose on water!

Best Wishes

Bryan
Subject: Re: Health
From: steph53-ga on 10 Sep 2006 14:09 PDT
 
Yup...overdosing on water has happended...

Steph53
Subject: Re: Health
From: crabcakes-ga on 18 Sep 2006 18:30 PDT
 
Thank you for the 5 stars and the nice tip! Xie Xie! Crabcakes

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