Everything You Need to Know About Eyelid Bumps

By Dr. Roshini Raj

I have a weird bump on my eyelid. What is it?

Eyelid bumps are nothing to blink at! Fortunately, they often go away on their own. The most common type is a stye, a pimplelike bump on your lash line. The inside of your eyelids are lined with special oil glands that keep your eyes lubricated. Styes form when bacteria get into these glands, giving you a painful, sometimes pus-filled bump. They may also arise from an infection of a hair follicle. The best move is to wait it out, but you can speed up the draining process by doing warm compresses with a washcloth for 10 minutes four times a day. Styes that stick around for longer than several days may need to be drained by a doc. Just don’t try to squeeze it yourself, which could spread the infection.

If the bump is more like a hard lump under the skin, it’s probably a chalazion, which develops when the oil gland gets blocked with thicker than normal oil secretions or by a stye that wouldn’t heal. Chalazia are often painless but can persist for months. Warm compresses are a good remedy here, too, but if it doesn’t go away or if it becomes painful (a sign it’s infected), your ophthalmologist can drain it.

Another culprit: milia, or small white bumps caused by trapped keratin (a protein produced by the skin) under your eyelid. These can appear anywhere but often show up around your eyes. Milia typically clear up on their own, but your doctor can scrape them away if they’re bothersome.

A lump that bleeds or doesn’t go away with treatment could be a skin cancer. Removing eyelid skin cancers can be tricky, but your derm can refer you to a surgeon trained in Mohs micrographic […]

Why Your Boobs Hurt and What to Do About It

By Dr. Roshini Raj

My boobs hurt all the time. Could something be wrong?

Up to 70% of women have breast pain, called mastalgia, at some point in their lives, and there are many causes. The most common one is normal hormonal changes; if this were the root of your aches, though, they would most likely arrive only around your period. Consistent breast pain happens more often after 30 and can feel like swelling or tenderness in both breasts or a sharp burning sensation in one spot. Relieving it sometimes takes trial and error. Rarely, pain is a sign of breast cancer.

Allover pain could signify water retention, which can be diet-related. Some women find relief by taking vitamin B6 and vitamin E supplements with evening primrose oil (which is rich in a certain fat that seems to help). Others feel better when they limit caffeine or salt. But diet changes don’t always work on their own. In that case, try over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, or talk to your doc about topical meds. The pain should go away within a few months.

Stabbing pain suggests a cyst or fibroadenoma (a benign tumor) in the breast. Either one can feel like a lump, but it might be too deep to notice via touch. Though they’re mostly harmless, fibroadenomas can raise breast cancer risk. After diagnosis via ultrasound or mammogram, cysts can be drained with a fine needle, while fibroadenomas may require surgery.

Roshini Rajapaksa, MD is assistant professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and Health’s contributing medical editor.

Originally published on Health.com

Gluten-Free Beauty Products: Are They Worth the Hype?

A gluten-free diet might be the food plan du jour for anyone on a mission to trim their waistline, but if you truly suffer from gluten intolerance—one in 100 of us have celiac disease globally—you’ll know just how painful the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye can be to your body. But what about when those ingredients show up in your makeup, skin, and hair care products? We talked to the experts to find out whether your cosmetics can also be causing you trouble.

Scroll through to find out how gluten ingredients in your makeup can cause a reaction.

It’s absolutely possible, according to NYC dermatologist Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, but it may not necessarily be the case for every celiac. “The amount of gluten needed to illicit a reaction varies from person to person,” she says. However, gastroenterologist and founder of Tula Skincare, Dr. Roshini Raj, says though it is possible, the chances of it happening are rare. “Celiac patients do vary in terms of sensitivity and there is a small segment of people who are extremely sensitive to even minute amounts of gluten and can have a reaction from their cosmetics,” Raj explains.

The experts agree that the gluten molecule is too large to be absorbed topically through the skin—so we’re safe there—but the problem lies in the products we inadvertently ingest. “If you are using a cosmetic product that contains gluten and it’s near the lip area, there is potential that you can ingest some and therefore have a reaction,” Raj explains. Lipstick, lip balm, and foundation are the main culprits, adds Gmyrek, but she says your shampoo, lotion, and creams can be too. And although the chances of a reaction are low, both doctors agree […]

TULA Probiotic Skincare

A Girl’s Gotta Spa reviewed TULA skin care line. Check out the article here: TULA Probiotic Skin care 

 

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    The Gross Reason You Should Choose Your Exercise Undies Wisely

The Gross Reason You Should Choose Your Exercise Undies Wisely

By Dr. Roshini Raj

Is it a bad idea to wear thong underwear when I work out?
Honestly, it’s not great. Thongs can create a lot of friction and irritate the delicate skin in your nether regions as you‘re running, biking or doing any other repetitive movement. This can mean extra discomfort if you‘ve got hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins that can cause severe anal pain and itching (they’re common post-childbirth).

Thongs also make it easier for bacteria to travel from your backside to your front, increasing your risk of urinary tract infections; this is especially a problem when you‘re sweating because the added moisture provides a perfect environment for bacterial growth. It doesn’t help that these undies are often made from nonbreathable fabrics like spandex, which can trap moisture and make other issues, such as yeast infections, more likely.
This is not to say you should go commando whenever you‘re at the gym in less than ideal underpants—it’s good to have some fabric between you and your running shorts. But the smartest advice is to pack a pair of full-back cotton underwear in your gym bag, or invest in shorts or workout pants with built-in moisture-absorbing panties.

Originally published on Health.com

Tula Skincare Review

Last year I made a pact with my skin to take the extra step and commit to a facial every 4 weeks. Its been a little over a year now and my skin feels hydrated and amazing through the dry Arizona summers and current transition into cooler weather.

Since then I have shyed away from being a personal sampler of every product available in the Sephora VIP club. I think I’m up to around 700 points right now… oh, the possibilities. Having great skin is so important to me. It gives you the extra confidence to walk out of your house completely naked (of makeup) and not feel the pressure of always covering up. We all want to run to the grocery store without having to glob foundation on our skin.  Make a point to invest in yourself.

I was approached to do a review for a new skincare line that launched in July 2014.  Although I was in love with the regimen I was currently using, I figured why not test a product that could be even better for my skin. Before agreeing to receive the Discovery Collection, I did my research on creator Dr. Roshini Raj.  Dr. Raj is a board certified gastroenterologist and internist who holds a special interest in women’s health. She believes we should take care of our insides to look good on the outside, which I too strongly agree with that statement. Dr. Raj co-founded Tula,  which is a little different than normal lines as it uses a patented probiotic technology.

Why use probiotics in skincare?

“The American Academy of Dermatoloy has called probiotics one of the new beauty breakthroughs as they’ve been shown to help with clearer skin, decreased skin sensitivity, redness, and inflammation,” Dr. Raj says. “You may also see a reduced appearance of fine lines […]

Lo Bosworth’s Beauty Upgrade – Life & Style

TULA skin care line is celebrity Lo Bosworth’s new beauty find. She personally swears by TULA Hydrating Day & Night Cream and the Illuminating Face Serum.

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    Protect and Revitalize this Winter with Skincare Products from TULA

Protect and Revitalize this Winter with Skincare Products from TULA

Written By: Stacy DeBroff

Influence Central received a complimentary sample of four TULA skincare products in order to facilitate this review. All of the opinions expressed are our own.

Despite its beauty, winter proves our largest enemy when it comes to keeping our faces happy, healthy, and moisturized. Even our most tried-and-true skincare regimens often fail the needs of seasonally dry skin. This holiday season, indulge in a new skincare line, or gift one to a loved one with TULA’s 4 Piece Deluxe Discovery Set. TULA skincare, launched this fall exclusively for QVC, provides four amazing products that massage, wash, and revitalize dry, winter skin to leave your face feeling clean, soft, and moisturized all day long.

A great face wash, TULA’s Purifying face cleanser removes both makeup and the impurities our skin collects throughout the day. The line’s Illuminating Face Serum evens skin tone and refines textures that can become scratchy and dry as temperatures grow colder. TULA’s Hydrating Day and Night Cream soothes as it reduces fine lines and just feels great when applied in the morning and night. And we know to treat the delicate skin around our eyes with care, and can do so using TULA’s Revitalizing Eye Cream that nurtures skin damaged by winter’s harsh conditions.

The skincare line does have a perfume smell as you apply, but the flowery scent fades as your skin absorbs the product and you are moisturized and feeling fresh-faced for the day and night. Find out more information on TULA skincare products and their pricing at the line’s website, where you can also buy the complete travel-sized line for $49.99.

Originally published on Mom Central

 

Is a Gluten-Free Diet for You?

A Consumer Reports article says that a gluten-free diet may not always be healthy and cites a study that found many gluten-free foods caused people to gain weight. Dr. Roshini Raj weighs in.

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Dr. Raj On Eating Clay

Celebrities like Shailene Woodley have been eating clay for its alleged health benefits. Dr. Roshini Raj was asked by Dr. Oz’s The Good Life Magazine to weigh in on whether eating clay is really good for you.