There are plenty of symptoms of gout that can occur and that you should be on the lookout for. Some people have many symptoms though and others have only a few. It is important though to document what you feel so that you can share that information with your doctor. They can take your information along with some samples from the affected area to see if you do indeed have gout or not.

The joints that have been affected by gout are going to be swollen and they may feel hot to the touch. This is due to the amount of inflammation that is in place and the amount of uric acid that has turned to crystals in that joint area. The swelling is typically going to be very noticeable and the joint area is going to be very red in color.

The area that has been affected will likely be very tender at the onset. This is one of the symptoms of gout that you don’t want to ignore. Before you know it, there can be severe pain in this part of the body due to the uric acid crystals. Taking early action to prevent the outbreak of gout from being full blown is very important.

The pain is usually going to start to develop overnight while you are sleeping. Over the next several days, the skin around the affected joints is going to turn whitish in color. It could start to peel and to pull away from its usual format as well. Itching is very common and it may be very painful to put any pressure on the affected join such as the feet or the toes. The skin may go from red to purplish and look like it is infected.

The amount of discomfort can vary from just a little bit to pain so severe you can’t work and you can’t sleep. The severe pain can last for a few hours here and there but the discomfort can last for several days on many levels. You may think you are just about through the worst of it when you experience a high level of pain again.

As you recognize the symptoms of gout, you will know what is going on. You can follow some of the gout diet home remedies including various herbs and foods that can help to increase the antioxidants in the body and to remove the uric acid that is in place. Don’t ignore these symptoms as gout will only continue to get worse over time. Your frequency of outbreaks as well as the severity of those symptoms will continue to get worse.

Keep in mind though that there are other health concerns that have the same symptoms of gout. Only your doctor will be able to do the right testing and assessing to make sure you get treatment for the right concern. Some people find that their own home remedies haven’t worked for gout – but it is due to the fact that they don’t really have gout but another health issue with similar symptoms of gout.

Did you notice tired eyes when you looked in the mirror this morning? If you’ve arrived at this site, it’s clear that you are sick and tired of standing in front of a mirror looking like you went several rounds with a professional boxer. How many times have you asked yourself:

• Why do I have tired looking eyes and dark circles?
• Is there something I can do to get rid of this look?
• Are there any treatments out there that actually work?

To be perfectly frank, a lot of products out there are expensive and they don’t work. They ineffectively disguise the problem, they don’t treat your tired eyes and actually eliminate the dark circles. Another concern is getting a product for tired eyes with ingredients that don’t have side effects like –

1. stinging
2. dryness
3. localized dermatitis
4. skin irritation
5. Who would want these, or any side effects visible on your face?

The Bad News About Puffy Eyes

Puffy eyes, under eye bags and dark circles tell everyone looking at you that there may be something wrong with you, that you may not be well, that you are not as attractive as you would like to be, or that you likely look much older than you really are.

Let’s face it, we really hate to walk around looking less than energetic and hardly healthy and it is for this reason, we spend a lot of time trying to cover up the look of tired eyes, or at least trying to.

Have people ever asked you the same questions…aren’t you feeling well? Did something happen? Were you out on a bender last night?

Seriously, many may be polite enough to notice and not actually ask but you can imagine that’s what they’re thinking? Those that do ask may be genuinely concerned while others may find it amusing…you, on the other hand, probably find it embarrassing or awkward.

I can personally attest to this because I am fair skinned with a very light complexion and spend little time out in the sun. Dark circles under my tired eyes are very noticeable. My first instinct, was to use an under eye concealer but the results are temporary and short lived.

It only lasts as long as you don’t touch your face, rub your eyes, perspire, or generate any tears. Also, if you’re blessed (or cursed) with fine lines around your eyes, which we all get as we age, the concealer only accentuates the tired eye appearance.

I knew there had to be a way, doing the right research, that I could find a solution to permanently rid myself of dark circles.

Why Do We Get That Tired Eyes Look and Dark Circles?

Dark circles can be caused by many conditions that should be treated or else the look of tired eyes will only get worse over time. According to the Mayo Clinic, dark circles are not a sign of exhaustion or serious illness. Some of the culprits for this look can be caused by:

1. skin pigment irregularities
2. allergies
3. heredity
4. sun exposure
5. thinning skin
6. eczema

Prominent dermatologists and plastic surgeons will tell you that whatever the underlying cause, capillaries leak blood close the skin’s surface. When this blood begins to oxidize, it turns a bluish red color, similar to a bruise you’ve experience elsewhere on your skin.

These tiny capillaries can also become engorged giving the same coloring and appearance so close to the skin’s surface.

Since the skin under our eyes is very thin, this leads to our appearance of puffiness, shadowing, embarrassing bags, and dark circles. The more transparent your skin the more your dark circles are visible.

Why the Eye Serum Option Works For Me?

In my quest to resolve my own under eye issues, and having been previously unsuccessful with a number of creams and home remedies, I opted to try the serum approach. This is a little more expensive than some of my home remedies but read on…

Why a serum? Because research has shown it’s absorbent properties to be better than that of a cream. Serums can give you added moisture AND nutrients.

The main reason you’d want to use an eye serum is to get these added nutrients into deeper layers of your skin that a regular moisturizer is not able to reach.

A moisturizer has larger molecules than a serum. This means that a moisturizer will not penetrate your skin as far as a serum will. Simply put, serums deposit nutrients, creams are meant to deposit moisture and hydration your skin.

The good news is that serums as an under eye treatment are available at any beauty retailer, big box store or online. Start with the actual user comments to see which serum might be the one for you.

So Aside From The Physical Benefits

There’s clearly an upside to eliminating an unhealthy look and it goes beyond minimizing dark circles, hydrating your skin and preventing fine lines. It’s what this does for your head…

• Obviously, you look healthier
• Your self-esteem is lifted because you no longer worry about this part of your appearance
• When you look better you feel better
• That spark in your eyes that went unnoticed with the presence of dark circles is back
• Your appearance is fresh, rested and younger
• You never again have to address a comment about diminishing looks
• Once again, you like what you see in the mirror

Before making the decision to treat your hair loss, it is important to understand what you may be undertaking by selecting a product that contains minoxidil as an ingredient.

The following information will help you make an informed decision so you can determine your own personal risk before buying a hair loss product.

Many of us familiar with the term “minoxidil” know that it’s the key ingredient in a lot of hair regrowth products, but what exactly does it do? It’s classified as a “vasodialator” medication which means that it opens (dilates) our blood vessels.

Minoxidil – Where It All Started

By working directly on the muscles in the walls of your arteries, minoxidil (used as a medication) prevents the artery muscles from tightening and the walls from narrowing.

Used initially to treat high blood pressure, minoxidil was found to have the side effect of hair growth. Fast forwarding to today, minoxidil is no longer a patented medication and is used in a number of over-the-counter products to regrow hair.

But before you think that minoxidil will be your answer for losing your hair or male pattern baldness, there is much you need to know about who it will work for and the potential side effects for some users.

No One Likes To Read The Fine Print

When our hair starts to fall out, it’s only natural to panic a little because after all, it’s our appearance, how we feel about ourselves and how we feel we are perceived by others.

Product manufacturers are very good at trying to convince us, spending millions of dollars in advertising, that their product is the one… that it is going to change our lives. But, what we often miss in the fine print is that the product won’t work for everybody.

As an example, let’s take the most widely recognized hair regrowth brand on the market. They advertise to “Regrow Hair in 4 Months” and that they’re the “#1 Dermotologist Recommended Brand”. This in itself, because we want our hair back, is enough to send a lot of us to the store to buy. The big, bold advertising has to be the truth, right? Otherwise, why would they advertise it? Read on.

The website states in small print it helps reverse the progression of “hereditary hair loss”. It also states in another area of their website that the product “is not indicated for other causes of hair loss”.

This means that this brand will likely not work for any other hair loss condition than the hereditary hair loss it states. This easy-to-miss qualification can result in a lot of unhappy customers who have experienced other forms of hair loss and found the product not to work for them.

Here’s What You Must Know About Minoxidil’s Effects

1) There is no research trial evidence that ANY (hair loss) treatments provide long‐term benefit to patients with alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. If you suffer from these hair loss conditions, minoxidil will not work for you.

2) Minoxidil will not cure male pattern baldness. Within 60 to 90 days of stopping treatment, your hair will fall out if minoxidil use is discontinued. Making the commitment to using minoxidil is long term and costly.

3) You will need to use minoxidil for anywhere from 4 months to 1 year to see any results. This is also a long term financial commitment with no guarantee it will work for your type of hair loss.

4) This ingredient may grow unwanted hair, for some people, in other areas where this topical treatment was not applied.

5) While the FDA has approved minoxidil for the treatment of hereditary hair loss, some people may experience serious side effects such as:

• unwanted facial or body hair
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• fainting or dizziness
• scalp irritation or itching
• swelling of hands/feet
• unusual weight gain
• tiredness or difficulty breathing when laying down

6) If you have high blood pressure and are currently taking medication for it, minoxidil may interact with your medication. If you make the decision to use this product, consult with your doctor first regarding the potential for interaction.

7) Minoxidil may also interact with other products you may use on your scalp or with medications that interact with alcohol. It is important to be informed before you make the decision to move forward.

8) Women should use no more than the 2% solution. The 5% solution offered on the market should be used by men only in the US. The 5% solution is not approved for use by women in the US. Any women using a stronger solution do so at their own risk.

If you make the decision to use minoxidil, your best treatment results are likely to be realized when you consult first with your doctor about your hair loss.

Your doctor will be able to help you determine the true cause of your hair loss and whether minoxidil will work for your type of hair loss. Your doctor can also make recommendations for a treatment solution based on your overall health and taking into consideration any medications you are currently taking.

Remember, with any hair loss product you use, it’s best to do your own research and understand the root cause of your hair loss problem. Your own personal health, genetic makeup as well as your ability to commit to a prescribed hair loss regimen will determine your level of success.