GOQii

Blog

By 2 Comments

Light and White Skin Patches? All You Need to Know About Vitiligo!

World Vitiligo Day Have you ever come across someone with lighter or white skin patches? Ever wondered what was wrong with them? Ever been curious enough to research? What these individuals suffer from is called Vitiligo. As today is World Vitiligo Day, let us understand this skin disorder.

Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) die or stop producing melanin — the pigment that gives your skin, hair and eyes color. The involved patches or affected area of the skin become lighter or white.

Common Symptoms of Vitiligo

  • Patchy loss of skin color
  • Premature whitening or graying of the hair on the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
  • Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose (mucous membranes)
  • Loss of or change in color of the inner layer of the eyeball (retina)

Onset: Vitiligo can start at any age, but often appears before the age of 20.

Different Types of Vitiligo

  1. Generalized Vitiligo: This is the most common type. The patches appear on most parts of the skin. The discolored patches often progress similarly on corresponding body parts (symmetrically).
  2. Segmental Vitiligo: In this type, only one side or part of the body gets affected. It tends to occur at a younger age and progresses for a year or two, and then it stops.
  3. Localized (Focal) Vitiligo: In this type, one or only a few areas of your body get affected.

It is difficult to predict how the disease will progress. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In most cases, pigment loss spreads and eventually involves most of your skin. In this condition, the skin rarely gets its color back.

What Causes Vitiligo?

The most common causes of vitiligo may be related to:

  • A disorder in which your immune system attacks and destroys the melanocytes in the skin
  • Family history (heredity)
  • A trigger event, such as sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals

Diagnosis

  1. Medical History and Examination: If your doctor suspects you have vitiligo, he or she will ask about your medical history, examine you and try to rule out other medical problems, such as dermatitis or psoriasis. He or she may use a special lamp to shine ultraviolet light onto the skin to determine whether you have vitiligo.
  2. Skin Biopsy & Blood Draw: Take a small sample (biopsy) of the affected skin, draw blood for lab tests to look for underlying autoimmune conditions, such as anemia or diabetes

Treatment

Many treatments are available to help restore skin color or even out skin tone. Results vary and are unpredictable. Some treatments have serious side effects. Your doctor may suggest that you first try improving the appearance of your skin by applying self-tanning products or makeup.

If you and your doctor decide to treat your condition with a drug, surgery or therapy, the process may take many months to judge its effectiveness. And you may have to try more than one approach or a combination of approaches before you find the treatment that works best for you.

Even if treatment is successful for a while, the results may not last or new patches may appear.

Medications

No drug can stop the process of Vitiligo — the loss of pigment cells (melanocytes). But some drugs, used alone or with light therapy, can help restore some skin tone.

  1. Creams That Control Inflammation: Applying a corticosteroid cream to affected skin may help return color, particularly if you start using it early in the disease. You may not see a change in your skin’s color for several months. This type of cream is effective and easy to use. But it can cause side effects, such as skin thinning or the appearance of streaks or lines on your skin. Milder forms of the drug may be prescribed for children and for people who have large areas of discolored skin.
  2. Medications That Affect The Immune System: Ointments containing tacrolimus or pimecrolimus (calcineurin inhibitors) may be effective for people with small areas of depigmentation, especially on the face and neck. This treatment may have fewer side effects than corticosteroids and can be used with ultraviolet B (UVB) light. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned about a possible link between these drugs and lymphoma as well as skin cancer.

Surgery

This may be an option if light therapy doesn’t work. Surgery can also be used with those therapies. The goal of the following techniques is to even out your skin tone by restoring color.

  1. Skin Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor removes very small sections of your normal, pigmented skin and attaches them to the areas that have lost pigment. This procedure is sometimes used if you have small patches of vitiligo. Possible risks include infection, scarring, a cobblestone appearance, spotty color and failure of the area to recolor.
  2. Blister Grafting: In this procedure, your doctor creates blisters on your pigmented skin, usually with suction. He or she then removes the tops of the blisters and transplants them to an area of discolored skin.
  3. Tattooing (micropigmentation): In this technique, your doctor uses a special surgical instrument to implant pigment into your skin. It’s most effective in and around the lips in people with darker complexions.

Lifestyle & Home Remedies

The following self-care tactics may help you care for your skin and improve its appearance:

  • Protect your skin from the sun and artificial sources of UV light. If you have vitiligo, particularly if you have light skin, use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
  • Seek shade and wear clothing that shields your skin from the sun. Don’t use tanning beds and sunlamps.

Protecting your skin from the sun helps prevent sunburn and long-term damage. A bad sunburn can make your condition worse. Sunscreen also minimizes tanning, which makes the contrast between normal and discolored skin less noticeable.

We hope this article helped you understand the symptoms, causes and treatment of Vitiligo. Do you have any doubts? Let us know in the comments below!

To know more about skincare, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

By 71 Comments

Dos and Don’ts of Yoga: Rules to Practicing Yoga Safely

When we asked some of our new players what their interpretation of Yoga is, their response was on the lines of ‘People twisting and turning their bodies like pretzels while chanting and sitting like a statue’. Is that what it really is? We took this question as an opportunity to explain what yoga is and what are its basic dos and don’ts.

What is Yoga?

It is a system- a holistic system of refining the body, the mind and the spirit in unison. Ultimately, it is well-being, peace and bliss. Yogic postures help strengthen the endocrine system and also bring the emotions under control through concentration and relaxation.

The ability to remain in relaxed equilibrium has an important psychological effect. For the basics on yoga and what it is, you can check out this article: Yoga for the beginners: some myths and benefits

Yogis, through their physical training, gradually learn to keep their psychological equilibrium unaltered to preserve a perfect psychological calmness in whatever environment they happen to find themselves in.

Yoga is the only way by which the highest objective in life can be attained. To decipher the great science and the benefits which it claims, it is essential to understand few basic dos and don’ts which we often tend to neglect.

What You Should Do

  • “Early to bed and early to rise makes man healthy, wealthy and wise,” is an universal adage. Yoga practitioners should go to bed early, sleep well and get up early in the morning. Next, attend to their morning routine of freshening up and begin yoga in fasting mode. It can also be practiced 1 hour after a liquid diet, 3 hours after refreshments or 5 hours after full meals.
  • One could practice it before bath but after practice one should wait for some time and then take a bath.
  • It should be practiced on a leveled floor in a room where doors and windows are kept open for air and light.
  • It is helpful in many ways to practice yoga in a place where you can receive the rays of the early morning sun.
  • One should not practice it directly on the ground, on cement or mortar floor. Instead, spread a carpet, a blanket or a clean cloth, sit on it and practice by facing east or north in the morning, west or south in the evening.
  • One should practice yoga calmly without any haste or exhaustion. If one is tired he or she should rest for a while in a comfortable posture.
  • One should try to practice it everyday, preferably at the same time.
  • While practicing yoga, one should concentrate on the practice alone and try to keep away from other thoughts.
  • During the practice of asanas, the dirt in the internal organs of the body is directed towards the urinary bladder. Soon after completion, one should pass out urine.
  • If you feel like attending nature’s call while practicing, go ahead and do it immediately. One should not hold it back forcefully for a long time. One should also not try to suppress sneezing, coughing, etc. If one feels thirsty one can drink a little water as well.
  • If one sweats during practice, he or she should slowly wipe it out either by a cloth or with the palms. It is better if it dries up automatically.
  • Pranayama should follow the asanas and meditation should follow Pranayama.
  • Always lay on your back after finishing postures. 2 to 5 minutes with relaxed breathing.
  • Movements should be slow in every case. Sudden movements should be avoided.

What You Should Avoid

  • Women should refrain from regular practice during their menses or pregnancy. However, for them there are specific set of asanas that can be performed.
  • Don’t have a full tummy while doing yoga, wait until 2 to 3 hours after large meals.
  • Don’t touch (shower) or drink water for 30 minutes after practice.
  • During illness, after operations, when there is a bandage either for sprains or fractures, one should refrain from practice. They can resume after consulting experts.
  • Don’t perform strenuous exercises after yoga.
  • One should avoid practice in unclean/smoky places and in areas with foul smell
  • Yoga should not be practiced in stormy winds either

Just knowing the asanas in its correct form along with the basic knowledge of Dos and Don’ts would add much more value to your yoga practice! To read more about yoga, check out Healthy Reads.

To practice yoga the right way and get proper guidance from a certified expert, join a live GOQii PRO class within the GOQii App.

Did you find this article helpful? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

By 4 Comments

At Your Desk for 6 Hours? Try These Office Workout Options

office workoutMost individuals who work desk jobs are stuck in front of their computers for 6 hours or more on a daily basis. If you don’t believe us, ask yourself some simple questions:

  • Out of 24 hours in a day, how many hours do I sit?
  • Do I feel any back or muscle pain during or at the end of the day?
  • Do I feel a strain in my eyes or around my forehead area?

If your answer is yes to any of the above questions, it’s time to start with some basic office workout options which will help you remain active throughout the day. It doesn’t matter if you hit the gym in the morning for an hour, when you sit in front of a computer or TV, in a car or in a meeting, you’re not moving! This will increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, etc. Continuously sitting is bad for your health!

Workouts You Can Do At Work 

1. Walk: Keep an alarm for every 45 min and get up from your seat to take a 3-4 min break. You can walk till the dispenser to drink water or go to printer to get a print. Take a bio-break or just take a round in the lobby. The idea is to walk!

2. Neck Stretch: Tilt you head to the right so you feel the stretch on the left. Hold for 5 seconds. Similarly, do it on left side, front and back. Repeat this 2 times.

3. Head Rotation: Slowly rotate your head in clock wise and anti-clock wise 5 times.

4. Shoulder Shrug: Raise your shoulder to the max, take them back, squeeze gradually and relax.

5. Arms:

  1. Sit or stand straight and place one arm across your body. Keep your arm parallel to the ground and pull your elbow towards your body.
  2. Stand with one hand behind your neck and elbow pointing upwards, then use your other hand to pull your elbow behind.

6. Wrist/Hands:

  1. Roll your wrist 10 times clockwise and anti-clockwise. If possible every hour or while taking on phone.
  2. Extend fingers as far as possible and hold for 5 sec, then make a fist as tight as possible and hold for 5 sec. Repeat 5 times.

7. Back:

  1. Place your hands on the edge of your desk and slowly push your chair back until your head is between your arms and you are looking at the floor. Feel the stretch and slowly return to normal. (Repeat 5 times)
  2. Stand straight, raise your arms up to the ceiling, alternately extend 1 arm up to the ceiling.
  3. Stand straight, lock your hands and extend them towards the ceiling by turning your palms upward. Slowly pull yourself back. (Repeat 5 times)

8. Legs:

  1. While sitting on the chair, straighten each leg one at a time, gradually lower it, stop halfway and hold for a few seconds. Repeat with the other leg (Do this 5 times with each leg).
  2. Stretch the front of your thigh by standing straight. Place one hand on the chair or desk for support, grab one of your ankles and bring it upwards to your buttocks. Remember to be in an upright position, keeping your back straight and knees parallel to each other. Hold for 10 seconds and relax. Repeat with other leg. (Repeat 5 times for each leg).
  3. Place one feet on another chair or desk and bend forward until you feel the stretch in the back of your leg. If possible try to touch your feet. Flex your foot and then point it. Hold it for a few seconds and repeat with the other leg. (Repeat 5 times each leg).

More Office Workout Tips To Keep You Active! 

  • Take stairs instead of the elevator – 2 at a time to maximize the burn!
  • Have a good posture as you work at your desk.
  • Sitting on an exercise ball will help your posture more.
  • Park away from your workplace so you have to walk farther.
  • When you can – stand rather than sit and walk rather than stand.

The above stretching guide is to reduce muscular stress and aches. Try doing as much as possible to get healthier. If you feel any unbearable pain while exercising, stop and seek professional help.

If you really want to get active, you can read about these Lunchtime Workouts. You can also opt to workout with an expert on GOQii PRO within the GOQii App. For a customized solution tailored to your health goals, you can speak to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

We hope this article on Office Workouts helps you. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below.

#BeTheForce 

By 1 Comment

Why Maintaining Gut Health is Important

Maintaining Gut health
Ever heard of the phrase, “You are what you eat?” What if we were to tell you that you are not what you eat but what you digest?” It’s no surprise that almost all diseases begin in the gut. The maintenance of ‘Microflora’ (balance of good bacteria) in the gut is crucial for good health, immunity and even the prevention, healing and recovery from serious diseases like cancer.

Your intestines (gut) contain pounds of good bacteria whose job is to help with the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat. The good bacteria determines the strength of your immunity, regulates weight loss, recovery, healing, colon health, toxicity in the body and several other functions.

As per our India Fit Report, we found that ‘gut health’ is an area of key concern among users. Issues such as acidity, indigestion, constipation, and bloating have seen a steep incline since last year.

Some of the key finds include:

  • 29.6% of India has acidity issues
  • 30.10% women suffered from acidity & indigestion compared to 29.40% men
  • People from Bhubaneshwar (40.2%) and Indore (35%) suffer the most from acidity and indigestion issues
  • More doctors are actively prescribing lifestyle improvements (nutrition, exercise and sleep)

This raises many concerns about India’s health and nutrition. For a healthy lifestyle and to achieve health goals, you need to take care of your gut health first!

Here are a few tips that will help you maintain a strong and healthy gut

  • Include good fiber in your everyday routine which should include raw and cooked vegetables with 2-3 fruits
  • Add a natural probiotic like curd in your diet
  • Walk and get moving, reduce the sitting time through the day
  • Maintain good water intake to flush out toxins and even aid passage of stools to reduce constipation
  • Learn to chew your food thoroughly and not eat on the run

We hope this article gives you a better insight into gut health and how to maintain it. Do check our IndiaFit Report for more insights.

For more articles on gut health, check out Healthy Reads. For tips on how to improve your gut health, speak to a GOQii Coach now by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

How Ruta Pandya Managed Ulcerous Colitis & Arthritis With Lifestyle Changes

We’ve always spoken about how you can manage lifestyle diseases with minor tweaks to your habits. But sometimes, it isn’t enough. Especially when one condition leads to another. Our player Ruta Pandya suffered from a condition called Ulcerous Colitis and a series of other medical issues which she battled for years. After fighting an uphill […]

Suneeta Mane Goes From Stagnant To Unstoppable!

Health conditions arising out of lifestyle or hormonal imbalances can seem like a death sentence. These health conditions not only affect your wellbeing but also your mental health and it can seem like a bottomless hole you can’t crawl out of. But that’s not true. If you are determined, you can not only crawl out […]