Scott & Rhonda, Author at Live Clean n Prosper

The Frontline Mental Health Conference.

Today’s post is about the 2024 National Frontline Mental Health Conference.

On Monday 4^th and Tuesday 5^th of March, I was privileged to attend this mental health conference. This annual conference is hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association.

About –

Frontline workers are heroes of our community with specific and special requirements when it comes to psychological safety, seeking help when it’s needed and challenging systemic stigma, harassment and bullying.

This conference was all about sharing research, innovations and treatment techniques from mental health experts. It was an opportunity to meet with fellow sector workers and hear from sector leaders about improving the mental health care and wellbeing of people on the frontline, the first responders – during training, whilst serving and in post-service.

Personal highlights –

There were many great speakers sharing the latest research, case studies and industry policies. For me, the two standout presenters were Dr Nikki Jamieson and Derrick McManus.

Listening to Dr Nikki was heart breaking. She told us about her son, who was in the military, took his own life out of frustration over his poor treatment in the Army. This experience led her to become a suicidologist for the Australian Defence Force. A suicidologist is someone who studies suicide, suicidal and life-threatening behaviours, as well as suicide prevention.

Dr Nikki spoke about her passion, which is “moral trauma/ injury”. This is when a person is forced, due to circumstances, to do something that breaches their internal moral code. These kinds of injuries happen every day, but for some, there are injuries that are longer lasting than others.

Moral injury is thought to be closely related to burnout and may even be the same condition. Neither of these conditions are yet recognised in this country. However, Nikki is very hopeful one or both will be added to the next versions of the ICD (international classification of diseases) and the DSM (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders). This will mean that organisations will have to recognise that these mental injuries are real and begin taking steps to reduce their incidence, as they do with any other W.H & S process.

Derrick McManus’s story was from the other side of the spectrum. He was a counter terrorist operator in the South Australian Special Tasks and Rescue Group. In 1994, he was shot 14 times in less than 10 seconds by an offender using an automatic rifle. An ambulance finally got to him after 3 hours and the bullets were still flying around. The paramedic thought he was dead, only stopping to check him just in case. Amazingly he survived against all odds and is now sharing his mental well-being methodology with others. He spoke very strongly about post traumatic growth and how his planning for the worst before it happened, helped him get through when the worst happened.

Derrick has since founded the Australian Center for Human Durability – The Ability to go Beyond Resilience to Sustainable Optimal Performance. He works with police, the Army and the RAAF, including fighter pilots, with great success. His methodologies apply equally to the general public too.

Overall, I found this conference to be inspirational. It was great to speak with like-minded people who are so invested in the mental well being of our society’s frontline, first responders.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Hyaluronic Acid – What is it?

Today’s post is about hyaluronic acid. That ingredient that every skin care company is sprucing about in the media.

In this post we will look at what it actually is and is it worthy of all the media hype.

What is hyaluronic acid or HA?

HA is a humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water. It is actually a substance that occurs naturally in the body where its primary function is to trap water inside tissue cells as well as lubricate the joints. The skin contains about half of the hyaluronic acid in the body. The HA binds to water molecules, which helps keep the skin hydrated and supple.

It also plays a crucial role in wound healing by controlling inflammation and redirecting blood flow to damaged tissue.

Hyaluronic acid levels in the body decrease as people age. This contributes to the physical signs of aging, such as the appearance of wrinkles, and to age-related conditions, including osteoarthritis.

Different uses and benefits

The most talked about use for HA is anti-aging and the skin. However, it is also used in some eye drops to help with dry eye symptoms. It has been found to assist with wound healing when used topically.

Hyaluronic acid injections are also used to treat osteoarthritis.

Research has also found that hyaluronic acid supplements may help reduce symptoms of acid reflux.

As a skin moisturiser, there are a variety of serums, creams and lotions which contain HA.

Studies have found that HA comes in different molecular sizes. The larger molecules, are the best at binding water and offering hydration, cannot penetrate into the skin. When applied topically (to the skin), these molecules sit on top of the skin. This will only Improve hydration at the very surface.

Much smaller molecules can penetrate deeper into the skin; however, these molecules bind less water. For a product to provide maximum surface hydration, it needs to contain HA molecules in a variety of sizes.

HA is also used in dermal fillers, many of which are composed of HA in an injectable gel form. HA fillers add volume by physically filling the area where they are placed, as well as by drawing water to enhance the filling effect. Hyaluronic fillers, can last anywhere from six months to 2 years before being gradually metabolised by the body, depending on their specific chemical makeup.

So, Hyaluronic acid is a really versatile substance and may be the solution you are looking for. As always, it is recommended to seek advice from your chosen health professional.

We hope you found this information interesting,

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

Sources: Harvard Health Publishing – Nation Library of Medicine – Web MD

Psoriasis and Dermatitis

Today’s post is about two common skin conditions Psoriasis and Dermatitis.

Quite often these two conditions get mixed up and it is easy to do so. While the two are sometimes looked at in a similar light they are quite different.

First – Psoriasis, what is it?

The Mayo Clinic states – “Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp.”

There are several different types of Psoriasis – Plaques psoriasis, Guttate psoriasis, Pustular psoriasis, Inverse psoriasis and Erythrodermic psoriasis.

The Clinicians Handbook of Natural Medicine advises that Psoriasis is predominately an immune system issue. It is a condition that causes the skin cells to grow faster than they should resulting in scaley patches. Normal skin cells completely grow and shed (fall off) in a month. With psoriasis, skin cells do this in only three or four days. Instead of shedding, the skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin. These patches occur most often on the scalp, elbows, or knees, but other parts of the body can be affected as well.

What causes it?

Scientists do not fully understand what causes psoriasis, they know that it has a large genetic influence but the environment also plays a role. It can be influenced by smoking, alcohol consumption, even the weather.

Psoriasis has also been linked to other things like Chron’s disease and celiac disease and therefore is thought to have a link to bowel function. Incomplete digestion or poor absorption of protein in the bowel can lead to toxins forming in the bowel leading to increased cell formation.

This can be mediated by some natural compounds that will inhibit the formation of toxins, but are not to be confused with a cure.

Another avenue of investigation is liver function. Because the liver filters blood from the bowel it can become overwhelmed increasing systemic levels of toxins and the result can be Psoriasis.

Interestingly when bone marrow is transplanted from someone without the condition into someone who does suffer from it the Psoriasis has been shown to clear and the opposite is also true.

Treatment

There are many ways to treat psoriasis, and the treatment plan will depend on the type and severity of disease. Treatments include creams or ointments, as well as pills, injections, or light treatments. Managing common triggers, such as stress and skin injuries, can also help keep the symptoms under control.

Now Dermatitis, what is it?

The Mayo Clinic states – “Dermatitis is a common condition that causes swelling and irritation of the skin that may cause the skin to blister. Ooze, crust or flake.”

There are also several different types of Dermatitis –Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Contact dermatitis(allergy) and Cradle cap or Seborrheic dermatitis.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a condition that is related to celiac disease. It is sometimes called “celiac disease of the skin.” Generally caused by a reaction to gluten which triggers an auto immune response through things called IgA antibodies. Not all people who have celiac disease have Dermatitis, only around 15-20%, but it is also linked to intestinal health. However, there are other allergens, like milk, that can cause dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is another dermatitis condition that has been linked with diet. People with atopic dermatitis are at risk of developing food allergies, hay fever and asthma.

Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. The rash isn’t contagious, but it can be very uncomfortable. Many substances can cause this reaction, the most common are cosmetics, fragrances, jewellery and plants. The rash often shows up within days of exposure.

Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects the scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest. This condition can be irritating but it’s not contagious.

Seborrheic dermatitis, also called dandruff, seborrheic eczema and seborrheic psoriasis. When it occurs in infants, it’s called cradle cap.

Treatment

The treatment for dermatitis varies, depending on the cause and symptoms.

So, while both of these conditions are a part of the immune response and can tend to look similar, the causes are quite different therefore so are the treatments.

As always with most illnesses beginning in the gut, a review of the diet is a good start and can produce some good results. Further treatments include things like corticosteroids that block the immune system.

As always, seek help through your chosen health professional if you think you are suffering from any of these conditions.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sources – the Mayo Clinic – US National Institute of Health – The Clinicians Handbook of Natural Medicine