Flowcharting

 

Self Test 1

 

 

Impressionism

 

Mosaic

Actions for Health, p.336

Consider the following situations. Then, respond to the questions that follow:

 

Situation A: The father of your classmate recently had a heart attack. Your classmate tells you that her father began drinking again. She is concerned about how alcohol might be harmful to him.

1.       What suggestions would you give your classmate?
I would encourage her to convince her dad to stop drinking. Alcohol isn’t healthy, especially for someone who just recovered from a heart attack.

2.       Who do you think might be able to help your classmate?
Reinforcements. It may be her relatives or her dad’s friends.

 

Situation B: Your friend invited you to his birthday party held in his home. Punch is served during the party. The celebrant offers you a glass of punch. You have the opportunity to drink it without anyone else knowing.

1.       Would you accept his offer?
No, I would not accept his offer.

2.       What are the reasons for your actions?
I feel there is alcohol in the punch and I myself choose not to drink alcohol. I also choose to make this as a practice to resist peer pressure.

Actions for Health, p.319

Think about the following situations, then respond to the questions that follow.

Situation A: Your friend tells you that she has insomnia for the past few days. She thinks that she needs to take sleeping pills so that she can sleep well.

1.       What might be the cause of her insomnia?
Problems or even something as simple as sleeping habits might be the cause of insomnia.

2.       Why is taking sleeping pills a bad or risky idea?
Taking pills is a bad idea especially if it is not prescribed by your doctor. Drug abuse can lead to overdoes and then death. It is too risky and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

3.       What might you suggest your friend to do?
I suggest that she go to the doctor first before she takes anything.

4.       What are the reasons for your actions?
The main reason from my action is my intention to take care of my friend.

 

Situation B: You are at your sister’s home where she is celebrating her birthday with a party. At the dinner table, your brother mentions that he is taking barbiturates as prescribed by his doctor. You noticed that he had just poured wine into his glass.

1.       What should be your concerns be?
I’ll be concerned that he may be using alcohol as a form of “taking barbiturates.”

2.       To whom would you express your concern?
I’d express my concern to him and might even go to his doctor to inquire more about this subject.

3.       How would you feel if you did not say anything?
I would feel horrible if I didn’t say or do anything.

 

Situation C: Your classmate tells you that she has problems in school. She says that she feels she can escape these problems by using depressants. 

1.       What problems will your friend encounter if she does take depressants?
There are many bad effects of taking depressants. This include the dullness of her senses. It might be dangerous for her too.

2.       What would you say to your friend?
I would recommend her to a therapist or the school counsellor.

3.       What are the reasons for your answers?
I think recommending her to a therapist or the school counsellor would be a much safer way to help her deal with her depression.

Actions for Health, p.311

Consider the following situations then respond to the questions that follow:

1.       You are shy and somewhat poor in communicating in English.

2.       You have a classmate who is self-centered. He believes that he is the best in the class.

3.       Your cousin, a second year high school student, has no interest in his studies. He only loves to play basketball. His grades are failing.

4.       You have a classmate who is always scolded by your teacher. The more the teacher calls his attention, the more he becomes a problem in class.

a. What can you say about each situation?

Situation 1: I say that this situation is rather easy and not at all hard to be resolved.

Situation 2: This would be somehow difficult to resolve since self-centered people don’t normally listen to other people’s opinion other than their own.

Situation 3: This is also a hard situation for you cannot exactly force a person to do something they don’t want to do.

Situation 4: This situation have practical solutions that can be easily carried out.

b. What would you do in these situations?

Situation 1: I say I have to work hard to improve myself. I can take charge and try to take workshops that involve speaking in English. The more a language is practiced, the more it’ll be used. Thus, the more I will improve. Plus the more I got to workshops and meet people, the less I’ll become shy. This is because I’ll be forced to somehow talk and socialize.

Situation 2: I really can’t do anything about that self-centered classmate. I would just let him be. He doesn’t hurt me, he just annoys me. So it’ll be best if I left him alone and not cause any unwanted conflicts.

Situation 3: I would try to convince my cousin to study more. I would also point out the work his parents/guardians are doing to get him into a school. I’ll do whatever I can to make him see the importance of education.

Situation 4: I would personally tell the teacher the situation. I will explain to him/her the causes of his/her sermons.

c. Using the scientific approach in problem solving with seven steps, how would you solve each of these problems stated above?

*Identify the problem
*Understand the problem. Analyze it carefully.
*Think of possible solutions to the problem.
*Analyze each of the solutions. Compare and contrast the benefits and disadvantages of each solution.
*Select the best solution.
*Use the solution to test its effectiveness.
*Monitor the outcome.

d. Why is it important to be aware of your good traits as well as your bad traits?

It’s important to be aware of your good traits as well as your bad traits so that you know how you can help a person in need. The more you know yourself, the more you have the capacity to help others. It is like a mechanic and his toolbox. He has to know his toolbox inside out so that he’ll know what he can use at a give situation or task he is supposed to carry out.

Cup Song Royals

 

Click at this link: http://youtu.be/9Y4EXQWmIOw

Two New Sports

Underwater Hockey

Underwater Hockey—also called Octopush—is a globally played limited-contact sport where two teams compete to maneuver a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing team's goal by propelling it with a pusher.  It’s like regular hockey only it’s done underwater.

It originated in England in 1954 when Alan Blake, the founder of the newly formed South sea Sub-Aqua Club, invented the game he called Octopush as a means of keeping the club's members interested and active over the cold winter months when open-water diving lost its appeal. Underwater Hockey is now played worldwide, with CMAS as the world governing body. The first Underwater Hockey World Championship was held in Canada in 1980 after a false start in 1979 brought about by international politics and apartheid.

Knowing the Game

Two teams of up to ten players compete, with six players in each team in play at any one time. The remaining four players are continually substituted into play from a substitution area, which may be on deck or in the water outside the playing area, depending on tournament rules.

Before the start of play the puck is placed in the middle of the pool, and the players wait in the water while touching the wall above the goal they are defending. At the start-of-play signal (usually a buzzer or a gong) in-play members of both teams are free to swim anywhere in the play area and try to score by moving the puck into the opponents' goal. Players hold their breath as they dive to the bottom of the pool. Play continues until either a goal is scored, when players return to their wall to start a new point, or a break in play is signaled by a referee (whether due to a foul, a time-out, or the end of the period of play).

Game-play

Games consist of two halves of typically ten to fifteen minutes (depending on tournament rules; 15 minutes at World Championship tournaments) and a short half-time interval of usually three minutes. At half time the two teams switch ends.

A typical playing formation is 3-3 (three offensive players or forwards, and three defensive players or backs) of which 3-2-1 (three forwards, two mid-fielders and a back) is a variation. Other options include 2-3-1 (i.e., two forwards, three mid-fielders, and a back), 1-3-2, or 2-2-2. Formations are generally very fluid and are constantly evolving with different national teams being proponents of particular tweaks in formations, such as New Zealand with their 'box' (2-1-2-1) formation. As important to tournament teams' formation strategy is the substitution strategy - substitution errors might result in a foul (too many players in the play area) that can result in a player from the offending team being sent out, or a tactical blunder (with too few defenders in on a play).

There are a number of penalties described in the official Underwater Hockey rules, ranging from the use of the stick against something (or someone) other than the puck, playing or stopping the puck with something other than the stick, and "blocking" (interposing one's self between a team-mate who possesses the puck and an opponent; one is allowed to play the puck, but not merely block opponents with one's body). If the penalty is minor, referees award an advantage puck - the team that committed the foul is pushed back 3 meters from the puck, while the other team gets free possession. For major penalties, such as a dangerous pass (e.g. striking an opponent's head) or intentional or repeated fouls, the referees may eject players for a specified period of time or the remainder of the game. A defender committing a serious foul sufficiently close to his own goal may be penalized by the award of a penalty shot, or a penalty goal to the fouled player's team. Since this is an underwater sport, surface spectators may be unaware of just how physical Underwater Hockey is.

Often players who are most successful in this game are strong swimmers, have a great ability to hold and recover their breath, and are able to produce great speed underwater whilst demonstrating learned skills in puck control. It is also important that they are able to work well with their team members and take full advantage of their individual skills.

Equipment

Players wear a diving mask, snorkel and fins, and carry in one (either) hand a short stick for playing the puck. A full list of equipment is given below:

 

Swimwear

There are usually no restrictions on swimwear, however, baggy style trunks or shorts are not recommended as they reduce speed and increase drag in the water. Typical swimwear is swim briefs for male players and one-piece swimsuits for female players.

 

Mask

A diving mask is used for several reasons:

• Players can equalize their ears as the nose is covered
• Unlike swim goggles a mask sits outside the eye's orbit, reducing the effects of any impact on the mask
• Improved underwater visibility

A low-volume mask with minimal protrusion from the face reduces the likelihood of the mask being knocked, causing it to leak or flood and temporarily blind the player. In line with the rules any masks must have two lenses since a single lens mask poses a significant safety hazard in the event that an unfortunately placed puck should hit (and possibly pass through) the lens. A variety of webbing strap designs are available to replace the original head strap with a non-elastic strap that further reduces the chances of the player being de-masked.

Snorkel

A snorkel enables players to watch the progress of the game without having to remove their head from the water to breathe. This allows them to keep their correct position on the surface, ready to resume play once they have recovered. In order to maximize the efficiency of breathing and reduce drag underwater they are often short and wide bore, with or without a drain valve. They must not be rigid or have any unnecessarily acute edges or points.

Fins

Fins allow the player to swim faster through the water. A wide range of fins are used in the sport but large plastic/rubber composite fins or smaller, stiffer fiber glass or carbon fiber fins are commonplace at competitions. Once again they must have no unnecessarily acute or sharp edges, nor buckles.

Stick

The stick (also referred to as a 'bat' or 'pusher') is relatively short (according to recent rules, not more than 350mm including the handle) and is colored white or black to indicate the player's team. The stick may only be held in one hand, which is usually determined by the player's handedness, although players may swap hands during play. The shape of the stick may affect playing style and is often a very personal choice. A wide variety of stick designs are allowed within the constraints of the rules of the game, the principal rules being that the stick must fit into a box of 100x50x350mm and that the stick must not be capable of surrounding the puck or any part of the hand.

A rule concerning the minimum radius of edges tries to address the risk that the stick might become more of a weapon than a playing tool. Sticks may be made of wood or plastics; rules that previously required sticks to be homogeneous have been superseded, although they usually are. Many players of UWH manufacture their own sticks to their preferred shape and style, although there are increasingly more mass-produced designs to suit the majority (such as Bentfish, Britbat, CanAm, Dorsal, Stingray etc.).

Puck

The puck is approximately the size of an ice hockey puck but is made of lead or similar material (Adult size weighs 3 lb (1.3-1.5 kg), Junior 1¾ lb (800-850 g)) and is surrounded by a plastic covering, which is usually matched to the pool bottom to facilitate good grip on the stick face while preventing excessive friction on the pool bottom. The puck's weight brings it to rest on the pool bottom, though can be lofted during passes.

Hat

Safety gear includes ear protection, usually in the form of a water polo cap to protect the eardrums and as a secondary indicator of the player's team (colored black/blue/dark or white/pale as appropriate). Water referees should wear red hats.

Glove

A glove should be worn on the playing hand to protect against pool-bottom abrasion and, in some designs, for protection against puck impact on knuckles and other vulnerable areas - no rigid protection is permitted though. Players may choose to wear a protective glove on both hands, either as additional protection from the pool bottom or, for ambidextrous players, to switch the stick between hands mid-play. A glove used in competition must be a contrasting color to the wearer's stick, but not orange which is reserved for referees' gloves.

 

Referee

Refereeing the game are two (or three) water referees (i.e. in the pool with full snorkeling gear, and preferably wearing a distinctive red cap, orange gloves and golden yellow shirt) to observe and referee play at the pool bottom, and one or more poolside deck referees to track time (both in the period and for each ejected player), maintain the score, and call fouls (such as excessive number of players in play, failure to start a point from the end of the playing area, or another foul capable of being committed at or noticed at the surface).

The deck (chief) referee responds to hand signals given by the water referees to start and stop play, including after an interruption such as a foul or time-out, or indeed to stop play if he himself sees a rule infringement.

 

Fistball

Fistball is a sport of European origin. It is similar to volleyball in that players try to hit a ball over a net. The current men's fistball World Champion is Germany, winners of both the 2011 World Championships and the fistball category at the 2013 World Games.

 

Game-play

Fistball is a team sport in which two teams compete against each other on two half-fields, similar to volleyball. They are separated by a center line and a net stretched between two posts up to two meters in height. If the net or posts are touched by either a player or the ball during play, this is considered an error.

 

Each team consists of five players, with players trying to play the ball across the net from one half of the field of play to the opponents' half – using only their arm or closed fist (unlike in volleyball where open hands are allowed) – in a way in which the opponents cannot return it. After clearing the net, the ball may be contacted up to three times by the five players on each team – with a bounce being permissible before each contact (also unlike in volleyball where no bounce is allowed), but no repeat hits by any individual player within the three attempts. Similar to volleyball, the three hits are ideally used to save, set and spike the ball back into the opponents half, in that order.

 

Scoring

The game is played for points and sets. If a team cannot return the ball or makes an error, the other team gets a point. The team that lost the last point or committed the last error makes the next service. A set ends when one team has scored 11 points and is at least 2 points in the lead (i.e. at least 11:9). If the score reaches 10:10, play will be extended automatically until one of the teams takes the lead by 2, or is the first to win 15 points (scores may therefore end 15-14). The number of winning sets varies depending on the game class, but is generally played to best of five or three.

In some cases, set results are limited by time, and this can be common in large tournaments for organizational purposes.

 

 

Errors

The most important errors (i.e. points to the opposing team) are as follows:

• The ball or a player touches the net or post.
• The ball touches the ground outside the court.
• The ball touches the ground twice in a row without any contact by a player in between.
• The ball is played on the side of the post past or below the net into the opponent's box.
• More than three players on a team to touch the ball during a game turn.
• A player touches the ball a second time within a turn.
• The ball touches a part of the body other than the upper or lower arm or fist. For example, the ball cannot touch the head, foot, or open palm of the hand.
• A player's first grounding foot lands over the service line on a serve.

 

Field

Dimensions of an outdoor fistball field

Fistball is not a seasonal sport. In summer (field season), it is played outside on a grass or turf sports field (field size 50 x 20 m). In winter (indoor season) is played in an indoor sports hall, and generally an already existing handball court is used as a playing field (field size 40 x 20 m). In the hall, the ball has a more controlled bounce than on grass, which has an effect on the game tactics. In addition, in the hall, any wall contact by the ball is an error.

In outdoor fistball, the field size is 50 m long x (25 x 20 m per half-field) by 20 m wide. In indoor fistball, the field size is 40 m long (20 x 20 m per half-field) by 20 m wide. Since the indoor field size corresponds with the regular size of a handball field, the existing external lines are usually used. The service line is 3 m away from the center line. The server's stationery foot (for standing serves) or first landing foot (for jumping serves) must be completely behind this line when serving. The boundary lines belong to the field, i.e. when the ball touches the line, this is not an error and play will continue.

The playing field is divided in half by a 5 cm wide ribbon-like red and white net. It is held above the center line between two posts, its upper edge is located at 2 m height (men) and 1.90 m (women).

For the D-Youth (under 12), the height is 1.60 m, the C-youth (under 14 years) 1.80 m. The field also includes a run-off area, which when playing outdoors is 8 m to the rear and 6 m on the sides. For indoor play, run-off areas are limited by the wall or stands, but are generally a minimum of 1 m to the rear and 0.5 m at the sides.

The field dimensions given are for adult players, as youth fields are generally smaller.

Ball

A standard fistball is hollow, filled with air and is made of leather. It must be inflated evenly until it is round and taut. For indoor fistball games, and for different weather conditions in outdoor fistball games, players can use trade association-approved balls with different surfaces (for example, natural leather, plastic coating, rubberized surface).

The weight of a ball can vary between 320-350 g (females) and 350-380 g (males). Its scope must be 65–68 cm, and its air pressure from 0.55 to 0.75 bar. It is thus as hard as a soccer ball (0.6-0.7 bar) and harder than a volleyball (0.29 to 0.32 bar). In physical size, it is similar to a soccer ball or a volleyball.

The right to select the game ball is determined by lot before the game and replaced after each set. Increasingly, uniform balls are outlined and provided by the organizers to ensure equal opportunity for all teams participating at international championships.

The ball can often be spiked at speeds of up to 100–120 km / h.

 

Formation

 Formations used for outdoor (A) and indoor (B)

In contrast to volleyball, where the players rotate and assume a different position after each change of service, in fistball each player has a fixed position. While players can rotate into different positions during a game, this is rather unusual, as each player is a specialist in his or her position. Another difference from volleyball is that a fistball playing field is much larger, and fistball teams have less players on the field at one time than volleyball teams, and therefore fistball players are required to cover much more space during play. The main reason for these differences is due to the fact that the ball can bounce once between each player's hit, resulting in differing strategies to volleyball.

Depending on playing conditions (hardwood or grass, wet ground etc.), formations can change.

Team A shows the typical formation for outdoor play on grass ( W-shape ). The setter covers the front middle to be ready for short balls (e.g. drop shots) played by the opposition. However, as he or she is in the middle, they also need to be prepared for hard attacking shots played through the middle by the opposition, and quick reflexes are required to be able to defend these.

Team B shows the typical formation for indoor play on hardwood ( U-shape ). As the bounce of the ball indoors is more predictable, short balls are not as effective. Therefore, the setter moves to the rear foul line to assist on defense. However, he or she will be required to constantly run, as they will need to consistently run to the front after each defense in order to set the ball for the attackers.

At international levels, outdoor fistball is also played in the U-shape, mainly due to the better defenses that it can provide against fast and powerful attacking shots. The players playing at this level are required to have significant speed and fitness in order to cover the ground for both defending and attacking hits.

Another formation option, although rare, is the V-shape. This is generally used when playing on wet grass. In this case the setter stands behind the baseline and the two defensive players move diagonally inwards to form a V shape. As an attacking shot hit on wet grass tends to slip more and bounce less, this formation gives teams more chance to get underneath the bounce of the ball to hit it upward in return.

Substitutions may be anywhere at any position field, but only before that team is about to serve, during a time out, between sets, or whenever the referee has stopped play.

 

Referees

A fistball game is controlled by a referee, who is assisted by two linesmen.

The referee has sole decision-making power. He or she makes the final decision on all points or errors. Since the linesmen are relatively far away from the referee, he or she is also responsible for observing the sidelines on his side of the field.

The linesmen are stationed in the opposite corners of the field from the referee, and use flags to signal their calls. Their task is to make judgment on line calls, similar to a soccer linesman. The observation area of the two linesmen is dependent on which of the two teams is currently attacking and which is defending. The linesman on the attacking side is responsible for the entire sideline to the end, and therefore he or she turns to face the side line. The linesman on the defending side is level with the base line and is therefore solely responsible for observing that line. The linesmen change their observation areas as the play changes between attack and defense.

In addition to displaying off balls (flag held upwards) or good balls (flag held downwards) the referee is used to rule violations or other important game situations, such as substitutions, injuries, unsportsmanlike conduct etc.

 

Filipino Sanaysay #2

Ang Gusto Kong Gawin Sa Buhay

Sa katotohanan, dati ko pa alam kung ano ang gusto kong gawin sa buhay.

Buhay. Ano nga ba ang buhay? Ang buhay ay isang regalo madalas tanggihan ng marami.

Sa katunayan, plano ko ay gamitin ang aking buhay sa anyong serbisyong makakatulong sa iba. Hindi para saakin ang aking buhay na ito, para ito sa aking magulang na nagpalaki saakin. Para ito sa mga kaibigang kailangan ko tulungan, sa mga taong nangangailangan saakin. At higit sa lahat, ang buhay ko ay para kay Hesus na namatay para saakin.

Ito ang gusto ko gawin sa buhay. Gusto kong gamitin ang buhay ko para sa kapakanan ng iba. Gusto kong tumulong sa maraming tao. Gusto kong maibahagi ko ang buhay ko sa kanila. Dahil, hindi ba ito ang misyon nating lahat? Ang mapasaya ang kapwa?

Ito ay ang aking pangarap, ang magamit ang buhay ko upang mapasaya ang maraming tao. Alam ko ito ang gusto kong gawin at alam ko nandito ako sa mundo para gawin ito.

Ang gusto ko, ay mapasaya ang mga tao. Ito ang gagawin ko sa buhay kong ito.

 

 

 

Filipino Sanaysay #1

Ang Pangarap Kong Pamilya 

Ano nga ba ang ibig-sabihin ng isang pamilya?

Para saakin, ang pamilya ay ang lugar kung saan ako umuuwi. Ang pamilya ay kung saan ako nararapat, at kung saan ako nababahagi.

 

Sa katunayan, ang pangarap kong pamilya ay nasa aking mga kamay na. Wala na ako mang kailangan hingin pa. Hindi man perpekto ang bawat myembro, pero alam ko mahal ko sila. Kung ako man ay magkakaroon ng sarili kong pamilya balang araw, gugustuhin ko tulad nito ng pamilya ko ngayon.

 

Ang pamilya na nagkakasama-sama ara-araw. Ang pamilya na minamahal at binibigyang halaga ang oras magkasama ang sa isa’t-isa. Ito ang tipong pamilya na kahit ano man ang mangyari, hinding-hindi magkakahiwalay. Kahit gaano ka tindi ang magiging away, ang totoong pamilya ay marunong mag-adjust at mabigyang solusyon ang problema.

 

Ang pamilya ko ay ang tipong pamilya na hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa o pagmamahal. Ito’y dahil, ang sentro ng aming pamilya ay ang Diyos. Alam naming kung sino ang Panginoon sa aming buhay. Alam rin naming ang kagustuhan Niya saamin.

 

Upang magmahal, kailangan matutong magmahal. Kaya kapag ang Diyos mismo ang guro, wala nang iba pang makaka-talo o makaka sira sa isang pamilya. Ito’y dahil kapag ang Diyos ang may hawak sa puso ng pamilya, siguradong hindi ito mapapahamak.

 

Ang pangarap kong pamilya ay ang pamilya mayroon na ako. Dahil ito ang pamilyang mayroon pagmamahal. Ang Diyos ang sentro ng pagmamahal. Kapag matatag ang tiwala ng pamilya sa Diyos, wala nang makakahadlang dito.

 

Gawing sentro ng pamilya ang Diyos, at wala ka nang ibang ipapangarap pa. Ang Diyos ang mismong puso ng pamilya. Ito dapat ang maging pangarap ng lahat.

TLE Report

Hair and Scalp Problems

Common problems affecting the hair and scalp include hair loss, infections, and disorders causing itching and scaling.

 

Scalp Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis a common skin ailment that makes thick, reddish, often scaly patches on your scalp that can pop up as a single patch or several. Severe scalp psoriasis happens if it affects your entire scalp, your forehead, the back of your neck, or behind even your ears.

 

Scalp psoriasis is not contagious. As with other types, we don’t know what causes it. Doctors believe it comes from having a deficient immune system that causes skin cells to grow too quickly and build up into patches. It can be hereditary. You may be more likely to get scalp psoriasis if it runs in your family.

About half of the estimated 7.5 million people with psoriasis – which can affect any skin surface – have it on their scalp.

Sometimes the scalp is the only place they have it, but that’s uncommon. Scalp psoriasis can be mild and almost unnoticeable. Those with severe cases have it last for a long time, and have it cause thick, crusted sores. Although it’s technically harmless, scalp psoriasis is definitely a bother. Intense itching can affect your sleep and everyday life, and scratching a lot can lead to skin infections and even hair loss.

 

Symptoms

Symptoms of mild scalp psoriasis may include only slight, fine scaling. Symptoms of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis include: scaly, red, bumpy patches, silvery-white scales, dandruff-like flaking, dry scalp, itching, burning or soreness, or hair loss.

Scalp psoriasis itself doesn’t cause hair loss, but scratching a lot, picking at the scaly spots, harsh treatments, and even the stress and frustration that a person acquires because of the condition can lead to temporary hair loss. But the bright side is, hair eventually grows back after your skin clears.

If a person is said to have these symptoms, encourage them to see a doctor or dermatologist. The earlier scalp psoriasis  is treated the better.

 

Remedies

Technically, there is no cure for scalp psoriasis, but many treatments can help symptoms, control flare-ups, and prevent it from coming back. People who follow their treatment plan rarely have to endure severe scalp psoriasis for long.

Psoriasis support groups can also offer valuable tips to help medical treatments work better and ease the stress and sadness that this common condition can cause.

Topical Treatments:

The first line of defense is treatment you use directly on your skin: medicated shampoos, creams, gels, oils, ointments, and soaps. You can get some of these products over the counter, but stronger ones require a prescription.

Over-the-counter products often contain one of two medications approved by the FDA for psoriasis are salicylic acid and coal tar.

Office Treatments:

If you have mild scalp psoriasis on a few areas, your doctor or dermatologist may consider injecting steroids directly into those areas.

If your symptoms don’t respond to topical treatments, phototherapy with a laser or non-laser light source may help. For example, the excimer laser focuses high-intensity light on affected areas and avoids the surrounding healthy skin. Ultraviolet (UV) light -- sometimes delivered with a hand-held device called a UV comb -- can be used to treat the entire scalp. If you have very thin hair, or a shaved head, your doctor may recommend that you go out in natural sunlight for brief periods.

Severe Scalp Psoriasis

If you have moderate to severe scalp psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a drug you take by mouth or one that's injected or pumped through a needle into a vein. Oral medications include: corticosteroids, cyclosporine, methotrexate, a strong form of vitamin A called a derivative, and vitamin D derivative.

Since these medications can cause serious side effects, including liver damage, they require a doctor’s close eye. It's also important to know that oral vitamin derivatives are different from -- and more powerful than – vitamin supplements bought over the counter. Ordinary vitamin A and D supplements do not help.

The latest class of FDA-approved medications are called biologics. These drugs, which you get by injection or IV, may keep your skin from making too many cells. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, five biologics may work:

•             alefacept (Amevive)

•             efalizumab (Raptiva)

•             etanercept (Enbrel)

•             inflicimab (Remicade)

•             ustekinumab (Stelara)

 

Alopecia

Hair loss (alopecia) is a frequent concern for both men and women. Although it is normal to shed some hair each day, people who experience more than normal hair loss may have the inherited tendency to "common baldness." Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men, with a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head. Women may develop female pattern baldness in which the hair becomes thin over the entire scalp. Sudden and temporary loss of a large amount of hair may be related to the stress of an illness or recent delivery of a baby (telogen effluvium).

 

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition resulting in hair loss. The immune system of the body mistakenly stops hair growth for unknown reasons. Hair loss may be patchy or sparse and may involve the rest of the body in addition to the scalp. Hair in most people spontaneously regrows, though recurrences of the condition are also typical. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in hair loss; the condition may be seasonal as well.

Hair loss can occur in people of all ages. The most frequent association is with thyroid disease, although hair loss can be found in those with the following conditions:

•             Lupus

•             Lichen planus

•             Vitiligo

•             Down syndrome

 

Symptoms

Hair loss most commonly occurs on the scalp, but it can also affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and other body sites. Symptoms may include the following:

•             Round, patchy areas of non-scarring hair loss, ranging from mild to severe

•             Mild: 1–5 scattered areas of hair loss on the scalp and beard

•             Moderate: More than 5 scattered areas of hair loss on the scalp and beard

•             Severe: loss of all of the hair on the scalp and body

•             Scalp burning (without redness), accompanying lesions

•             Pitting and ridging of the fingernails

 

Hairs that do grow back often lack color, or may be either temporarily or permanently white.

 

Treatment

Those experiencing areas of patchy hair loss are encourage to get evaluation from a primary a doctor or dermatologist.

Both topical and systemic medications may be prescribed, as well as injections. Treatments include:

•             Localized steroid injections (to help speed regrowth)

•             Clobetasol propionate gel or solution, a potent topical steroid

•             Anthralin cream, a topical irritant

•             Light therapy

•             Topical steroids plus minoxidil (Rogaine®)

•             Systemic steroids, such as prednisone, though they have no long-term benefit and are not recommended for use beyond the short-term

 

 

Cradle cap

Cradle cap (also known as crusta lactea, milk crust, honeycomb disease) is a yellowish, patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash that occurs on the scalp of recently born babies.

 

Cradle cap most commonly begins sometime in the first 3 months. Similar symptoms in older children are more likely to be dandruff than cradle cap. The rash is often prominent around the ear, the eyebrows or the eyelids. It may appear in other locations as well, where it is called seborrhoeic dermatitis rather than cradle cap. Some countries use the term pityriasis capitis for cradle cap. It is extremely common, with about half of all babies affected. Most of them have a mild version of the disorder. Severe cradle cap is rare.

 

Symptoms

Cradle cap is seborrheic dermatitis that affects infants. It presents on the scalp as greasy patches of scaling, which appear thick, crusty, yellow, white or brown. The affected regions are not usually itchy and do not bother the child. Other affected areas can include the eyelids, ear, around the nose, and in the groin.

Cradle cap is not caused by a bacterial infection, allergy, nor from poor hygiene. Cradle cap is also not contagious. Doctors do not agree on what causes cradle cap, but the two most common hypotheses include fungal infection and overactive sebaceous glands. Cradle cap is an inflammatory condition.

In many cases, what is commonly called cradle cap is actually a fungal infection. This infection may be related to antibiotics given to the mother just before the infant's birth, or the infection could be related to antibiotics routinely given to infants during the first week of life.

Antibiotics kill both harmful bacteria as well as the helpful bacteria that prevent the growth of yeast, which is why people who are prone to fungal infections will often discover a fungal infection after taking a round of antibiotics. In infants, the fungus is mostly likely to appear on the scalp (cradle cap), diaper area (fungal diaper rash, jock itch), ear (fungal ear infection, or an ear infection that does not respond to antibiotics), or in the mouth (thrush).

 

Severity

If the condition thickens, turns red and irritated, starts spreading, appears on other body parts, or if the baby develops thrush (fungal mouth infection), fungal ear infection (an ear infection that does not respond to antibiotics) or a persistent diaper rash, medical intervention is recommended.

Severe cases of cradle cap, especially with cracked or bleeding skin, can provide a place for bacteria to grow. If the cradle cap is caused by a fungal infection which has worsened significantly over days or weeks to allow bacterial growth (impetigo, most commonly), a combination treatment of antibiotics and antifungals may be necessary. Since it is difficult for a layperson to distinguish the difference between sebaceous gland cradle cap, fungal cradle cap, or either of these combined with a bacterial infection, medical advice should be sought if the condition appears to worsen.

Cradle cap is occasionally linked to immune disorders. If the baby is not thriving and has other health problems, a doctor should be consulted.

 

Treatment

Treatment other than gentle washing is frequently not necessary in most mild cases (flaking, with or without small patches of yellow crusting), as the problem often resolves itself whether the cause is sebaceous-gland-related or fungal, but since many patients (or parents) are concerned about cosmetic issues, other options are often considered. There is little adequate or controlled research to support or negate the usefulness of most common home remedies at any age.

For infants: in cases that are related to fungal infection, such as Tinea capitis, doctors may recommend a treatment application of clotrimazole (commonly prescribed for jock itch or athlete's foot) or miconazole (commonly prescribed for vaginal yeast infection).

For toddlers: doctors may recommend a treatment with a mild dandruff shampoo such as Selsun Blue or Neutrogena T-gel, even though the treatment may cause initial additional scalp irritation. A doctor may instead prescribe an antifungal soap such as ketoconazole (2%) shampoo, which can work in a single treatment and shows significantly less irritation than over-the-counter shampoos such as selenium disulfide shampoos, but no adequate and controlled study has been conducted for pediatric use as of 2010.

 

References:

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/scalp-psoriasis?page=3

http://www.skinsight.com/adult/alopeciaAreata.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_cap