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Skiers Prone to Sore Calves

Canada is the pinnacle winter wonderland location, with so many incredible places to hit the slopes and go ski Canada. Shin bang and shin bite can turn an exciting day on the slopes into an uncomfortable experience. The rubbing caused by poorly fitted ski boots can make the skin on your calves, feet, and ankles raw from abrasion, which is exacerbated by the perspiration built up from intense activity. The skiers who are often most prone to sore calves are casual skiers, because they’ll likely be using poorly fitted rental boots instead of owning their own. Luckily, both boot issues are preventable.

Soreness Diagnosis

Identifying the type of soreness you’re prone to is the first step toward finding a solution. The most common types of soreness are known as shin bang and shin bite. Shin bang occurs when the tongue of the boot repeatedly hits the front of your calf and can manifest as a sharp pain in a small area in the lower part of your tibia. Shin bite is abrasion-related and is caused by the rubbing of a poorly fitted boot.

Painful Proposition

Sore calves are generally caused by abrasion or repeated impact during your descent. Skiing straight down the fall line quickly builds up an unreasonable amount of speed, so skiers traverse back and forth along the cliff face to control their rate of descent. Turning so frequently causes a lot of rubbing on your calves, because descending at an angle causes your calves to press up against the sides of your ski boot. The abrasion caused by the ski boot gets a lot worse if you’ve got moisture in your boot from perspiration or snow, or if you’re wearing a poorly fitted boot.

Preventative Medicine

The easiest way to address shin bang and shin bite is to prevent either from occurring in the first place. Properly fitted boots are the best solution, because they’ll allow less movement during your run. Have a professional in a ski shop measure your foot to determine the best size, and try on several pairs until you get the proper width and length. Ski boots are only manufactured in whole sizes; half sizes are compensated for with a liner. You’ll need to try on a few pairs to find one that gets closest to your actual size. Tucking a silicone or neoprene pad underneath the tongue of your boot before you lace up is the best way to address shin bang, although a well-fitted boot may be all you need.

Managing Moisture

Perspiration or snow in your ski boot can cause uncomfortably raw skin faster, because your skin naturally becomes slightly macerated when wet. A wool or synthetic ski sock instead of a cotton ski sock can go a long way, because these materials are hydrophobic and dry much faster. Wearing a thin liner sock underneath your thicker boot sock also gives you a defense against abrasion, because the socks can rub over each other instead of your skin.

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Too Old to Donate Blood?

Can you be too old to donate blood?

In general, you can never be too old to donate blood. Though you can be too young or too thin. Even small donations have an impact that’s the essence of donating to charity.

The American Association of Blood Banks used to bar people over 65 from donating blood, but it scrapped the rule in 1978 after studies found that older people who stored their own blood prior to surgery did well, said Dr. Steven Kleinman, the association’s senior medical adviser. Now most blood banks are happy to accept blood from older volunteers.

“We found over time that individuals who are older do just fine donating blood, as long as they don’t have certain medical conditions that make them ineligible,” said Dr. Ross Herron, the chief medical officer of the West division of the American Red Cross, which collects 40 percent of the blood supply in the United States.

Individual blood banks and states, though, can impose additional regulations. New York, for example, requires hospitals and blood centers to review the eligibility of would-be donors over the age of 75 on a case-by-case basis.

And all prospective blood donors are asked to fill out a detailed health history questionnaire to rule out medical problems that bar them from donating, such as dementia, a recent history of cancer or heart disease, viral hepatitis, H.I.V. infection and heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation. Taking certain medications, including anticoagulants, will also make you ineligible to donate.

Blood banks also require donors to weigh at least 110 pounds, and more in some cases. Minimum weight and height requirements are also typically imposed on younger adults and minors, who often require parental permission. Bloodworks Northwest, for example, requires first-time donors who are 16 and 17 to weigh at least 114 pounds. United Blood Services has both height and weight requirements for donors ages 16 to 22. Young people, especially those who are underweight, are more prone to fainting, the most common complication of giving blood, than older donors.

Blood donors may also be rejected for other reasons, including intravenous drug use or a history of certain infections or travel to areas where certain infections are common. The Food and Drug Administration also bars men who have had sex with men within the past year from donating blood.

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How to Get Rid of Old Scars: Top 10 Remedies

Overview

Best skin tightening procedure for face can reduce wrinkle and makes your skin healthy as well. While some people consider their scars to be marks of pride, many people just want them to go away. Since they can affect your appearance, they can make you feel self-conscious. Best treatment for acne scars and large pores are using Skinceuticals C E Ferulic. For a short period of time, to assist in the treatment of ailments and injuries cryotherapy Melbourne is being use.

If you want to get rid of an old scar, you need to understand what a scar is and what type you’re trying to get rid of.

A scar forms as part of the natural healing process following an injury. When the dermis — the second layer of skin — is damaged, your body forms collagen fibers to repair the damage, and that results in a scar.

  • In most cases, the faster a wound heals, the less collagen will be deposited and the less noticeable the scar will be.
  • Typically, the severity of the scar is based on the severity of the injury or damage.
  • Scars form differently on different parts of the body.
  • Scars form differently based on the age of the injured person.
  • There are different types of scars.

Different types of scars

There are different types of scars, each with defining characteristics.

Atrophic scars

Atrophic scars are characterized by the loss of tissue. They appear depressed, serrated, or flat against the upper layer of the skin. Often atrophic scars have darker skin pigmentation than other area of your skin. Examples of atrophic scars include acne scars and chickenpox scars.

Hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars are characterized by excess tissue that forms over the skin as it heals. Unlike a keloid scar, it does not grow outside the injured area. Hypertrophic scars are commonly darker than other skin in the area.

Keloid Scars

Keloid scars are the result of aggressive healing and an overproduction of tissue. They are characterized by a raised, thick, puffy appearance. They are typically darker than the surrounding skin. Unlike a hypertrophic scar, keloid scars can grow beyond the injured area.

Contracture scars

Contracture scars result from large areas of skin being lost or damaged, typically from burns. They are characterized by tight, shiny skin that can restrict movement.

The top 10 remedies for getting rid of scars

There’s no known way to make scars totally disappear, but many will become lighter over time on their own.

That being said, advocates of natural healing believe that there are remedies that can speed up the lightening process and make a scar less noticeable. Here are some of the remedies that have been effective for some people.

Aloe vera

  1. Remove the dark green “skin” from the flatter side of an aloe vera leaf.
  2. Scoop out the almost clear light green gel.
  3. Apply the gel directly to your scar using circular motions.
  4. After half an hour, wash the gel off with fresh, cool water.
  5. Repeat twice each day.

Vitamin E

  1. Cut open a vitamin E capsule over the scar and squeeze the oil onto the scar (you might need more than just one capsule to get enough liquid for full coverage).
  2. For about 10 minutes, massage the oil on and around the scar.
  3. After about 20 minutes wash off the oil with warm water.
  4. Repeat this process a minimum of 3 times per day.

Honey

  1. Before going to bed, cover your scar with a layer of honey.
  2. Wrap the honey-covered scar with a bandage.
  3. Leave it on for one full night.
  4. In the morning, remove the bandage and wash off the honey with warm water.
  5. Make this part of your routine every night.

Coconut oil

  1. Heat a few tablespoons of coconut oil, just enough to liquefy it.
  2. Massage the oil into the scar for about 10 minutes.
  3. Let the skin absorb the oil for a minimum of one hour.
  4. Repeat two to four times every day.

Apple cider vinegar

  1. Combine 4 tablespoons of distilled water with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
  2. Dip a cotton ball into the water-cider mixture and generously dab your scar.
  3. Let it dry.
  4. Do this every night before you go to bed, washing the area in the morning.

Lavender and olive oil

  1. Mix three drops of lavender essential oil into three tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil.
  2. Massage the mixture into the scarred area for about 5 minutes.
  3. Leave the oil in place for about 30 minutes.
  4. Rinse the area with warm water.
  5. Repeat this process a minimum of three times a day.

Lemon

  1. Cut a wedge from a fresh lemon.
  2. Gently rub the juicy side of the lemon on the scar while you squeeze the juice onto the scar.
  3. Relax for about 10 minutes before rinsing off the area with cool water.
  4. Do this every day at approximately the same time.

Potato

  1. Slice a potato into medium thick rounds.
  2. Using a circular motion, rub the potato slice on your scar.
  3. Once the potato slice starts to dry out, discard it and continue rubbing with another slice.
  4. Continue rubbing and replacing for about 20 minutes and then let the scar air-dry for about 10 minutes.
  5. Rinse the area with cool water.
  6. Repeat this process at least one time each day

Rosehip and frankincense

  1. Mix equal parts rosehip essential oil and frankincense essential oil.
  2. Massage the rosehip-frankincense mixture onto the scar.
  3. Wait for 45 minutes before gently rinsing the area with warm water.
  4. Follow this procedure three times a day.

Baking soda

  1. Mix distilled water — a little at time — into two tablespoons of baking soda until it forms a paste.
  2. Wet your scar with distilled water and then apply the paste to the wet scar.
  3. Hold the paste in place with a warm compress for 15 minutes.
  4. Rinse the area and repeat daily.

Before trying any of the remedies above, thoroughly wash and dry the scar and the area around it. Also, only use these remedies on scars — not open wounds. Should any of these remedies cause any irritation, stop use immediately.

The takeaway

If you want to make a scar look less noticeable, you may want to try a natural remedy. There are many people who believe that natural remedies can get the job done.

As with any home remedy, have a conversation with your doctor before starting. Your doctor can offer insights and recommendations about which remedies you should or should not try.