Hiv Effects On The Eyes
Some eye problems are mild, but others can be severe enough to cause blindness. Some of the most common are infections that can lead to bleeding in your retina and retinal detachment. About 7 in 10 people with untreated AIDS will have AIDS-related trouble with their eyes, usually because of cytomegalovirus.
You may not have any symptoms until the problems are far along, so if you have advanced HIV, it’s important to get regular eye exams. Call your doctor if your vision changes, including if:
- You get blurry or double vision.
- Colors don’t look right.
Can My Syphilis Hair Loss Be Treated
If an individual is diagnosed with secondary syphilis then treatment can be provided. And although hair loss may have occurred, it will grow back once your bodys immune system has returned to 100%. It is worth noting however, that in some cases hair will not begin to grow back until the patient has lost all of their previous hair.
Hiv Effects On The Immune System
Your immune system has many types of white blood cells that fight infection. HIV gets inside a kind called CD4 cells and makes copies of itself. The virus kills the cell, and the new viruses go off to find more.
Your body responds by making more CD4 cells, but after a while, it canât keep up with the virus. This makes your immune system weak. Youâre more likely to get sick, even from common germs. Infections last longer, are more severe, and might come back more often.
If you follow your doctorâs directions with ART, it knocks out HIV, stopping it from infecting more CD4 cells and from weakening your immune system.
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Do Antidepressants Cause Hair Loss
Many antidepressants have been linked to insomnia, nausea, and dizziness, but hair loss is usually a rare side effect.
A team of researchers in New Zealand conducted a study to better understand how a group of 180 long-term antidepressant users felt about the experience. The five most commonly selected adverse effects were withdrawal effects , sexual difficulties , weight gain , emotional numbness , and failure to orgasm . Hair loss didnt make the list .
A 2018 comparative retrospective cohort study examined a large U.S. health claims database from 2006 to 2014 to review the risk of hair loss among various antidepressants . Among one million people on ten different antidepressants, researchers found an increased risk of alopecia among those taking bupropion compared with SSRIs and SNRIs.
Compared with bupropion , all other antidepressants had a lower risk of hair loss, with fluoxetine and paroxetine showing the lowest risk. Conversely, fluvoxamine , had the highest risk compared with Wellbutrin .
How To Deal With Antiretroviral
Your healthcare provider will first need to rule out the main cause of your symptom. Note that HIV infection itself can cause some form of hair loss. Addressing the underlying cause of baldness should be the main goal of treatment. If the symptom is caused by an antiretroviral medication like Truvada, switching to a new regimen can reverse the problem. If drug-induced alopecia is left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage of your hair follicles and you may have to deal with irreversible hair loss. Ask your doctor about hair growth products, such as Rogaine, Propecia, and other vitamin supplements.
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Treat Your Scalp To Some Tlc
Set your tresses up for further success by incorporating regular scalp care into your self-care routine. First, identify what a healthy scalp looks like and then consider the benefits of a scalp massage. Use a scalp massager to boost circulation in and around the scalp and hair follicles.
Also, consider applying a product to minimize fungi and reduce sebum production, such as GRO Scalp Detoxifying Serum. This serum soothes irritation by gently removing buildup to restore balance to the scalp. You might also want to include CBD into your hair wellness routine. Studies have shown that CBD when applied topically, promotes scalp and hair health while soothing irritation. GRO+ Advanced Gummies include 10mg of CBD and 10 mg of CBG per gummy, plus hemp oil, biotin, folic acid, zinc and other vitamins and minerals for fuller, thicker hair.
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Symptoms Specific To Men
It’s important to note that these male-specific symptoms can also be signs of other conditions. If you have any of these, make sure to speak with your doctor.
Low sex drive. This is a sign of hypogonadism, which means your testicles donât make enough of the sex hormone testosterone. This condition is tied to HIV.Hypogonadism can also cause:
- Breast tissue growth
Sores on the penis. A common sign of HIV is painful open sores, or ulcers on your mouth or esophagus. They can also appear on your anus or penis. These sores often keep coming back.
Pain or burning while peeing. In most cases, this is a symptom of a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea or chlamydia. It may signal swelling of the prostate, a small gland beneath the bladder. This condition is called prostatitis. Itâs sometimes caused by a bacterial infection.
Other symptoms of prostatitis include:
- Pain during ejaculation
- Peeing more often than usual
- Cloudy or bloody pee
- Pain in the bladder, testicles, penis, or the area between the scrotum and rectum
- Lower back, abdomen, or groin pain
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, see a doctor right away. If itâs been 72 hours or less, you can take something called post-exposure prophylaxis . You take HIV medicine once or twice a day for 28 days that may keep you from getting HIV.
If you have been exposed to HIV, there are other symptoms that aren’t exclusive to men but are important to keep an eye on.
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What Is Androgenetic Or Androgenic Alopecia
This type of alopecia is often attributed to genetic predisposition and family history. Androgenic alopecia appears in both men and women. The hair loss in men is often faster, earlier onset, and is more extensive.
Doctors refer to common baldness as “androgenetic alopecia” or “androgenic alopecia,” which implies that a combination of hormones and heredity is necessary to develop the condition. The exact cause of this pattern is unknown.
Male-pattern baldness
Even men who never “go bald” thin out somewhat over the years. Unlike those with reversible telogen shedding, those with common male-pattern hair loss don’t notice much hair coming out they just see that it’s not there anymore. Adolescent boys notice some receding near the temples as their hairlines change from the straight-across boys’ pattern to the more “M-shaped” pattern of adult men. This normal development does not mean they are losing hair.
Some “myths” about male-pattern baldness
There are few scientifically proven and FDA-approved treatments for hair loss. There are thousands of unproven claims and products to help with hair regrowth.
Does Hiv Cause Hair Loss
HIV is a viral infection that attacks the immune system, hindering its ability to function, which causes many complications and side effects. Hair loss can be a symptom, though its not a common one from HIV itself. Early HIV medications such as AZT, Crixivan, and Atripla, were more prone to cause hair loss. Modern antiretroviral treatments are less inclined to cause hair thinning.
Patients who are HIV positive are more prone to anemia, which can also trigger hair loss. Thyroid issues are also more common in people with HIV and can lead to hair loss.
HIV can also affect the Telogen phase of the hair cycle. Anagen is the active phase of hair growth, with about one centimeter of growth every 28 days. The anagen phase lasts two to six years. The catagen phase follows and lasts for about two to three weeks. During this phase, growth ends and the outer root sheath shrinks to form whats called a club hair. The telogen phase is the resting period which lasts about 100 days until the anagen phase begins again. Once this begins, a new hair is formed that starts growing in the follicle. This process pushes out club hair or old hair.
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What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Loss Are There Home Remedies For Hair Loss
A good daily multivitamin containing zinc, vitamin B, folate, iron, and calcium is a reasonable choice, although there is no good evidence that vitamins have any meaningful benefit in alopecia.
- Newer studies suggest that vitamin D may be somewhat helpful and worth considering.
- Specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies like iron or vitamin B12 may be diagnosed by blood tests and treated.
Multiple vitamins, including
- biotin has been promoted for hair growth, but solid scientific studies for many of these claims are lacking. While taking biotin and other supplements marketed for hair, skin, and nails probably won’t worsen anything, it may also not necessarily help the situation. Therefore, advertised hair-regrowth supplements should be approached with mild caution.
- There is only anecdotal evidence that oral or topical application of garlic, onion juice, saw palmetto, coconut oil, evening primrose oil, apple cider vinegar, creatine, and pumpkin seed oil are of benefit for hair loss.
What Is Hair Loss
Also called baldness or alopecia, it refers to the loss of hair in the head or body. Generally, at least the head is more involved. The seriousness of hair loss can range from just a part of the head to the entire body.
Though scarring and inflammation are rarely available, excessive hair loss can cause serious psychological distress in some people. Apart from health causes, some common causes of hair loss include:
- Alopecia areata.
- Male-female pattern hair loss.
- Hair thinning is known as telogen effluvium.
The causes of hair loss in males are a combination of male hormones and genetics, while the cause of hair loss in females is unclear. However, telogen effluvium is common in women who have just given birth or after undergoing a physically stressful activity.
Though new hair always replaces the lost hair, it happens rarely. A person can develop hair loss abruptly or gradually over time and can be temporary or permanent.
Since it is not possible to know the exact number of hair loss in a day, you can only know you are losing a significant amount of hair if you notice clumps of hair in your comb or after washing your hair in running water.
It is imperative to discuss the condition with a professional health provider if you realize you are losing more hair than usual. Doctors will determine the causes and prescribe effective treatment and management of the underlying causes.
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What Is Generalized Hair Loss
This is an overall hair thinning without specific bald spots or patterns. While this type of hair loss may not be noticeable to others, often the individual will feel their hair is not as thick or full as it previously was. Common conditions in this category are
Under normal conditions, scalp hairs live for about three years they then enter the telogen or resting phase. During the three-month telogen period, the hair root shrivels up into a small “club,” then the hair falls out. It is therefore normal to lose about 100 hairs every day, more of them on days when shampooing loosens the hairs that are ready to fall out. The body then replaces the hairs.
Sometimes people who worry about losing their hair start noticing hairs on their pillow or in the sink, not realizing that they’ve always been there. A close look at these will usually reveal the club at the end, showing that these hairs are shed normally.
- Normally, about 10% of scalp hairs are in the telogen phase.
Several circumstances produce a “shock to the system” that alters the hair growth rhythm. As a result, as much as 30%-40% of the hairs can cycle into telogen. Three months later, hairs come out in a massive shedding , especially near the front of the scalp. These include
- severe illness,
- severe emotional stress or loss.
Where Can I Get More Information
For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network at:
Office of Communications and Public LiaisonNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthDepartment of Health and Human ServicesBethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.
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Can Neurological Complications Develop In Individuals Treated With Antiretroviral Therapy
Even when HIV is well controlled with ART, many infected individuals still develop HIV-associated neurological and cognitive difficulties. This is because many drugs used to combat HIV cannot cross the protective layer called the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, and even those that can may not completely control the virus in the brain. Antiretroviral drugs can also become toxic after long-term use and cause neurological side effects.
How Are These Disorders Treated
No single treatment can cure the neurological complications of HIV/AIDS. Some disorders require aggressive therapy while others are treated as symptoms arise.
Neuropathic painchronic pain caused by damage to the nervous systemis often difficult to control. Medicines range from over-the-counter pain killers to anticonvulsant drugs, opiates, and some classes of antidepressants. Inflamed tissue caused by autoimmune or other conditions can press on nerves, causing pain. Such illnesses may be treated with corticosteroids or procedures such as plasma exchange, formally known as plasmapheresis, that clear the blood of harmful substances that cause inflammation.
Treatment options for AIDS- and HIV-related neuropsychiatric or psychotic disorders include antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Psychostimulants may also improve depression and reduce fatigue. Drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors, which can temporarily improve or stabilize memory and thinking skills in people with dementia, may relieve confusion and slow mental decline. Benzodiazepines may be prescribed to treat anxiety. Psychotherapy may also help some individuals.
Other treatments may include physical therapy and rehabilitation, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to shrink cancerous brain tumors that may be related to HIV, antifungal or antimalarial drugs to combat certain bacterial infections associated with the disorder, and penicillin to treat neurosyphilis.
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