The NHS service issued a warning yesterday that people “with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food” should not be vaccinated with the recently approved vaccine. Both medical workers experienced anaphylactoid reactions but had a “long history of allergic reactions” for certain medications.

The two health workers were given treatment for their allergy and are now showing signs of recovery.

The UK regulatory agency says the drug should only be administered “in facilities where resuscitation measures are available” and should not be given to people with allergy history.

Britain has become the first country to start mass-vaccination against Covid-19. Health care workers and elders were the two groups being prioritised in receiving the vaccine.

Source: The Thaiger

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He said his first months in office would not end the outbreak and gave few details on rollout strategy but he said he would change the course of Covid-19.

Introducing his health team for when he takes office on 20 January, he urged Americans to “mask up for 100 days”.

On Tuesday, a report paved the way for a Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be approved and rolled out for Americans.

The US has recorded more than 15 million cases of infection in the pandemic so far and 285,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University research, both global highs.

Mr Biden said: “My first 100 days won’t end the Covid-19 virus. I can’t promise that. But we did not get into this mess quickly. We’re not going to get out of it quickly.”

He said in the first “100 days we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better”.

Source: BBC News

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90-year-old Margaret Keenan received the first of two doses of Covid-19 vaccine at 6:31am local time on Tuesday at University Hospital in Coventry; just a few days after the UK became the first country to approve it.

Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said she felt “privileged” to be first to get the shot.

“It’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year,” she said, according to a statement released by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine offers 95% protection against Covid-19. According to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), more than one in 10 recipients may suffer side effects including pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. A handful of other, less common, side effects are also listed.

The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to follow the UK’s MHRA and authorize the emergency use for the Pfizer vaccine as soon as this week — its vaccine advisory committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency will conclude its decision on the vaccine on December 29, according to the European Commission.

Full story: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/08/europe/uk-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccination-intl/index.html

Original writer: Ivanna Kottasova | CNN News
Photo: CNN News

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The campaign’s objective is to help detect tuberculosis and other lung diseases for people with diabetes, the elderly, malnutrition and those who are vulnerable of the infection.

Original writer: Thitichaya Saeng
Source: huahinsarn.com

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The women who recently crossed the Thai-Myanmar border illegally without being screened or undergoing the required 14-day quarantine is likely to face serious charges. As they’re already being prosecuted for illegally entry, they could also be charged for endangering public’s health, breaking the Emergency Decree and the Communicable Disease Control Act.

Nevertheless, minister Anutin says “Thais are all welcome to return home but they have to go through the required safety health procedures issued by the health ministry.” Any violations could lead to severe penalties including imprisonment.

Report says that the 3 women who crossed the border were also working illegally at an entertainment venue in Myanmar near the Thai border.

Sources: The Thaiger | Pattaya News
Photo: Chiang Mai ONE

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This means Thailand can access the vaccine once it goes into production as well as the transfer of vaccine technology that will enable it to be manufactured locally.

Earlier this week, the research team announced a 70-90% efficacy of the vaccine, depending on the dosage being administered. This inconsistency begs the question of whether the vaccine is more effective when first given half-a-dose, followed by a full dose, rather than 2 full doses administered in one time.

The team says it will probably carry out another global test to determine why the vaccine is more effective when first given in a lower dose.

The PM says the vaccine is likely to be approved and go into production by mid 2021, adding that the quicker it’s available, the faster the tourism and economy will recover.

According to Thai PBS World, the PM says many other countries have also signed similar deals with other pharmaceutical companies, in order to secure effective vaccines for their people.

Sources: Thai PBS World | The Thaiger

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Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the budget would come from its emergency funds reserved for the purchase of the vaccine which is currently being tested by the British biopharmaceutical laboratory.

Aside from Pfizer and Moderna, AstraZenaca is among the few companies to have reportedly achieved highly effective results from their Covid-19 vaccine tests.

The budget will be allocated into two departments:

• 2.379 billion baht for the National Vaccine Institute for vaccine development
• 3.59 billion baht to the Disease Control Department for the purchase and management of the vaccine.

The spokesman said the government would acquire the vaccine from AstraZeneca since the Public Health Ministry had an agreement with the company and had granted permission to produce the vaccine in collaboration with Siam Bioscience.

The National Vaccine Institute was instructed by the ministry to reserve the Covid-19 vaccine for at least 13 million people (20% of the population).

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the made-to order reservation ensured that Thailand would have access to the vaccine as soon as it received safety approval in the UK.

“We got the best price at US $5 (about 150 baht) per dose. If we had waited for the vaccine to be 100% complete, the price would’ve gone up to $20 a shot. The company says the efficacy is more than 90%, making us confident of its success,” Mr Anutin added.

Original writers: Aprinya Wipattayotin and Chatrudee Theparat
Source: Bangkok Post

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FOR THE RECORD:
The Covid-19 death toll of 240,782 people in the US is astoundingly high since the outbreak compared to the total number of deaths of the 2004 Tsunami in South and Southeast Asia (227,798 deaths);

compared to the number of deaths from the 2010 devastating earthquake in Haiti which was nearly 250,000;

and the number of deaths in Somalia during the 2011-2012 famine which was almost 260,000.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease (NIAID), expected that a vaccine will be available in the US by December, saying that the Covid-19 epidemic will subside, but will definitely not go away.

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With a multilingual staff, the Expatriate Liaison Center will focus on the various needs of expatriate patients and guests, while helping them navigate their way through the hospital.

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It was the first encouraging result for any stage-3 vaccine trial ever conducted which has brought the medical team and the public a glimpse of hope for the fight against the virus. But it’s fairly important to know that the result is still preliminary, and there are still a lot more we need to know how well the vaccine works.

One thing’s for sure: The vaccine will not come in time to rescue the world in the next several months, whilst the virus will claim more lives unless the public takes tougher public health measures.

What we know so far

• Vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first interim efficacy analysis
• Analysis evaluated 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in trial participants
• Study enrolled 43,538 participants, with 42% having diverse backgrounds, and no serious safety concerns have been observed; Safety and additional efficacy data continue to be collected
• Submission for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) planned for soon after the required safety milestone is achieved, which is currently expected to occur in the third week of November
• Clinical trial to continue through to final analysis at 164 confirmed cases in order to collect further data and characterize the vaccine candidate’s performance against other study endpoints

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201109005539/en/

Is the Pfizer vaccine safe?
So far Pfizer and BioNTech have reported no serious safety concerns from their vaccine. Before running the current large-scale study, the companies ran smaller clinical trials starting in May that were specifically designed to detect warning signs about the vaccine’s safety. They tried out four versions of their vaccine and selected the one that produced the fewest cases of mild and moderate side effects, such as fever and fatigue.

If their vaccine receives an emergency authorisation from the FDA and gets distributed to millions of people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA will monitor them to make sure there’s no evidence of even rarer safety issues. Participants in the trial will also be monitored for two years.

Who will get the new vaccine first?
Pfizer’s chief executive has said that it could have 30 million to 40 million doses of the vaccine before the end of the year, enough for 15 million to 20 million people to get an initial shot and a booster three weeks later.

Exactly who will qualify for the initial doses has not been decided, but groups that are at higher risk for infection, or are more vulnerable to the virus, are likely to get priority. That could include health care workers as well as older adults and those who have risk factors like obesity or diabetes.

Pfizer and BioNTech say they could ramp up to 1.3 billion doses a year. That’s still far from enough to satisfy the world’s need for vaccines. If other vaccines also prove effective, companies will be able to manufacture them as well and help meet the demand.

When will the general public be able to get it?
Pfizer has said that it will likely apply for emergency authorisation in the third week of November, after it collects the two months of safety data that the FDA has asked manufacturers to submit. Then, the agency will consult with an outside advisory committee of experts, and may take weeks to pore over detailed data about the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and the companies’ ability to safely manufacture millions of doses.

The vaccine could be authorised for certain high-risk populations before the end of the year, but that would only happen if everything goes as planned and there are no unforeseen delays.

What is left to do in the trial?
The trial will continue until it reaches 164 cases of Covid-19. At that point, the study will be complete and the results analysed.

While the preliminary results offer some compelling evidence that the vaccine is effective, they don’t tell us with certainty just how effective it is. Clinical trials simply aren’t set up to do that. They can only allow scientists to make an estimate based on statistics — an estimate known as efficacy. The effectiveness of a vaccine can only be firmly determined once millions of people get it. But experts say that the preliminary data indicates that the effectiveness should be very high.

Will it work on older people?
The new results also don’t tell us whether older people will get strong protection from the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech’s clinical trial includes people over age 65, so it will eventually provide this crucial information. Early clinical studies have suggested that older people produce a weaker immune response to coronavirus vaccines. But with such strong preliminary evidence, it’s possible that they will still get strong protection from a vaccine.

What about children?
Another open question is whether children will get protection from the vaccine. The trial run by Pfizer and BioNTech initially was open to people 18 or older, but in September they began including teenagers as young as 16. Last month, they launched a new trial on children as young as 12 and plan to work their way to younger ages.

What does this news mean for the other vaccines in the race?
There are 10 other vaccines now in late-stage trials across the globe. The fact that Pfizer and BioNTech have gotten encouraging results is making experts optimistic about the entire field.

“It gives us more hope that other vaccines are going to be effective too,” said Akiko Iwasaki of Yale University.

Original WRITER: New York Times
Sources: www.Pfizer.com/news/press-release | Bangkok Post

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The first sun tan lotion was developed around 1938 by a Swiss chemistry student named Fran Greiter, who got sunburned as he climbed Mount Piz Buin in the Alps. Then in 1944, pharmacist Benjamin Green, who was serving as an airman in World War II, used red veterinary petrolatum as a physical barrier to prevent ultraviolet rays from hitting his skin.

Sunscreens have come a long way since then, and in recent years the average consumer has been constantly bombarded with different and conflicting information about them. You might read from one source that the higher the SF number, the better protection you’ll get, then saw somewhere else that high SF isn’t really that useful. And in the last few years there’s been a growing concern that sunscreens contain all kinds of chemicals that harm coral reefs. If all this leaves you confused, we are here to help.

Here are some of your sunscreen questions, answered:

Is higher SPF better?
You’ve probably heard that sunscreens with an SPF over 50 only provide a negligible increase in protection. This is mostly true, because SPF 50 already blocks 98 percent of UVB radiation. Going over 50 can only give you another percent or so of protection. But this idea is based on principle, not on actual experiments. The only randomised, double-blinded study that has been conducted on SPF efficacy in preventing sunburn found that SPF 100 did prevent burns more effectively than SPF 50.

Are spray-on sunscreens better or worse?
Sprayed sunscreen often ends up in the wind, and more could end up on the sand than on your skin. Even discounting the possibility that inhaling the mist could be bad for your lungs, it’s worth remembering that a fine mist is less likely to provide adequate coverage than a lotion or cream.

Can I just take a sunscreen pill?
No. In 2018 the US Food Drug Administration sent warning letters to three manufacturers of supplements claiming to protect you from radiation, telling them to stop falsely advertising the benefits of their pills. The USFDA noted that there’s no pill or capsule that can replace your sunscreen and to instead opt for one of the traditional forms available in the market.

Which ingredients harm coral reefs?
In recent years there’s been an increasing awareness of how much our sunscreen can potentially harm coral reefs. Research shows that oxybenone, a common chemical in sunscreen, along with a few others, quickly bleach the coral and damage its DNA, and it only takes a single drop in 4.3 million gallons of water to do the damage.

In an effort to protect coral reefs, the US state of Hawaii has banned oxybenone altogether. And not swimming in the ocean doesn’t help you avoid the problem entirely, because when you get home, you’ll wash that sunscreen down the drain and it can still end up in the ocean all the same.

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In a recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology paper, scientists from the United States and the United Kingdom describe how they analyzed sleep habits and medical records of 461,347 people aged 40–69 years living in the U.K.

The data, which came from the UK Biobank, included self-reports of how many hours participants habitually slept per night and health records covering 7 years. It also included results of tests for risk genes.

The analysis revealed that those who slept less than 6 hours per night had a 20% higher risk of a first heart attack in comparison to those who slept 6–9 hours. Those who slept more than 9 hours had a 34% higher risk.

The researchers also found that keeping sleep duration to 6–9 hours per night can reduce the risk of a first heart attack by 18% in those people with a “high genetic liability” for developing heart disease.

“This [study],” says senior study author Celine Vetter, Ph.D., an assistant professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, “provides some of the strongest proof yet that sleep duration is a key factor when it comes to heart health — and this holds true for everyone.”

By Catharine Paddock PhD

For further reading, click: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326236.php

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Losing weight or maintaining a healthy body weight can be challenging, so being able to easily boost your metabolism is a way of achieving your body goals.  In Thailand, the markets are full of produce that is great for helping to increase your metabolic rate; naturally.

Here are 5 produce items that you can find easily in both the fresh food markets or in dishes all over Thailand:

Thailand is known for the humble chilli, as it is the base of so many dishes, yet it is also a great ingredient to accelerate your metabolic rate.  Not all chillies are hot, so if you want the benefits without the heat, simply choose the bigger red ones.  The smaller the chilli, the hotter they are, making it simple to regulate your heat level.  The #1 condiment in Thailand is Phrik Naam Bplaa, which is fish sauce with chilli; annoint your next Thai dish with it.

Fresh turmeric is widely used in many dishes whose origins are in the south of Thailand.  Fresh turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant that is said to be great to help reduce inflammation, but it also increases your metabolism.  If you are looking to add turmeric to your diet, chew a centimetre piece of turmeric root in the morning on an empty stomach, add turmeric powder to your juice or smoothie, or select dishes that have pounded turmeric in the pastes like Khao Soi or try a Kha Khamin; a soup made with fresh turmeric.

One of the most widely used ingredients worldwide; garlic must be the easiest to add to your diet.  You could even have one garlic clove every morning to increase your metabolic rate. Crush them up in a marinade, in a health juice or a soup.  In Thailand small, locally grown garlic is often served whole with Phad kra-prao; which adds crunch and flavour, though you now have an added reason add them.

One of the easiest ways to start your day off on the right foot is to have a warm glass of water with the juice of a lime or a lemon up to an hour before you eat breakfast. Devotees of this will tell you it gives the body an uplifting, early morning wake up call. It also aids digestion and overall body health. Like all citrus fruit, limes are a great source of Vitamin C and are good for boosting your metabolism and shredding those unwanted.

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The Mayor of Cha-Am, Mr. Nukul Pornsomboonsiri has chaired the opening ceremony for a training project about health care systems for Cha-Am in 2015. The opening ceremony was attended by the Municipal management and staff as well as training participants. A report was presented by the Deputy Mayor Mr. Suphasek Phunlap. The main objective of the training was to promote understanding and knowledge about public health services and enhancing the capacity of staff who work in this area, particularly public health volunteers.

The project also aimed to create unity amongst the volunteers. They are the key persons who provide basic health care. In the municipal area of Cha-Am there are 395 health care volunteers, each of whom takes care of 15 to 30 households. The training project this year focused on encouraging all participants to share and express ideas on cooperative public health care. Most of the trainers were from the Cha-Am Hospital.

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If you are one of the lucky ones, you are getting older. (The alternative is that you are already dead!) The average age of westerners is increasing. The more developed countries in Asia are also showing the same trends. Grey power is becoming an important factor, with the marketing of goods and services designed for this increasing niche market. That’s the up side, unfortunately there is a down side. That is just simply that the longer you live, the more parts of you that end up wearing out. Knees, hips, ankles, wrists, fingers come straight to mind.

And if you didn’t look after yourself some years ago, your past indiscretions can surely come round to bite you now! And talking about ‘biting’, one of the organs that can show the ravages of time is your digestive organ, the gut. As the body ages, the gastrointestinal tract changes and people tend to develop more problems with constipation for one. The pundits will tell you a high-fibre diet can prevent that, but many elderly people, especially those with dentures, do not want to eat the seed-filled or crunchy food that is typically high in fibre. They go for soft food that is easily chewed, but is often high in fat. So where can we get some fibre? Try some cooked or baked vegetables, fresh fruit and high-fibre breakfast cereals as these are some denture-friendly ways to get fibre in the diet. Beans and black-eyed peas are also nutritious and inexpensive. Another problem, especially in hot climates such as in Thailand, is insufficient intake of water.

The elderly have a decreased thirst and often do not get enough fluids in their diet. Getting plenty of fluids helps prevent constipation, because the bowel is a water absorber. The constipation decreases when fluids are taken generously. Milk, tea, coffee, soda, ice cream and soup all count as fluids. Exercise plays a part here too. Get more physical, not less. The amount of exercise needed depends on the person, but in general, people need to step up their activity as they get older. Elderly people often do the opposite, because of bad knees or arthritis. Instead of becoming a couch potato, they need to walk, bicycle, swim, garden and find other ways to stay on the move. As we age, our calorie needs decrease due to a drop in muscle strength from taking less physical activity (see above).

However, vitamin and mineral needs may stay the same or even increase if the body absorbs them less efficiently. The daily calorific requirement varies from person to person, but as a very rough guide, males need to drop their calorie intake by around 20 percent after the age of retirement (2,500 cals down to 2,100 cals) and women from 2,000 down to 1,800 cals. There are many foods and ingredients needed to retain optimum health, including those high in Vitamin C, such as blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, citrus fruit, kiwi fruit, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon, and apples. Vegetables high in Vitamin A (beta-carotene) and Vitamin C including carrots, squash, sweet potato, tomatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, leeks and avocado.

Fish should also be included as many are rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and high in Vitamin E, like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna and trout. It is also a good idea to substitute white fish in place of red meat. Some nuts and seeds are also rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and high in Vitamin E, including unsalted nuts, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts and almonds, and seeds such as poppy seeds, sunflower, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Proteins are also important in the diet for seniors and should include eggs, white fish, milk, cheese, yogurt, lean meat, chicken, beans and lentils. Fibre can come from lentils, chick peas (garbanzo beans), brown rice, whole wheat bread, wheat germ, whole wheat cereals and whole wheat crackers. A good spread of items, different dishes every day, plenty of water and moderation in all things seems to be the answer. A glass of red wine also gets our vote!

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In a show of cooperation and a joint commitment to health education, over 250 Village Health Volunteers spent a day away from regional communities to learn more about stroke in a training session at the City Beach Hotel Hua Hin on 12th June. This program was delivered by staff of the Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin and funded by the Hua Hin Municipality. Mr. Nopporn Vutikul, Hua Hin’s Mayor, with Doctor Veerasak Pongphatanaphun, Deputy Director of Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin were there to welcome the volunteers who had come from 35 villages in the region. The theme of the training was “First Aid for Stroke before Transferring to the Doctor”.

However as volunteers are also involved in helping villagers with the aftermath of a stroke, including an ongoing disability and a level of paralysis, Doctor Piphat Chumkasean, a specialist in stroke rehabilitation also addressed these issues of caring for victims in the community. Stroke is recognised as a growing concern in rural areas.

The role of Village health Volunteers in understanding risk factors, early signs and rapid responses is an important aspect of their community role. Village Health Volunteers – Providing Better Health Care in Thailand Villages for Over 50 Years Village Health Volunteers are credited with a significant role in health care moving forward in Thailand. The volunteer system has helped even out inequalities in a society where wealth and medical resources are heavily concentrated in cities. Volunteers spread awareness of disease and screen for chronic illnesses. According to the World Health Organization there is “convincing evidence” that the volunteer corps, which it called the backbone of one of the world’s most successful public health systems, has helped curb many including, dengue and malaria. In campaigns against SARS, they are credited with making Thailand one of the region’s least affected countries.

The Village Health Volunteers scheme has been in place for over 50 years and was established by a Thai civil servant returning from a stint at Harvard University. Eight times as many children died in infancy when the system of volunteers commenced. Thailand now has about 12 deaths per 1,000 births, considerably below most of its neighbours. Life expectancy in Thailand was just 55 years when the volunteer system began in 1962, it is now over 70. Volunteers are respected local residents who serve voluntarily as connectors between the community and the health care providers to promote health. There are about 750,000 volunteers nation-wide, each responsible for 5 to 15 households.

They function as a team at village level. Volunteers get a few perks, including discounts at hospitals and subsidised education for their children going into nursing. The government recently began paying volunteers a monthly stipend of 600 THB. The Village Health Volunteers exemplify the spirit of community service and selfreliance in a society with a strong tradition of caring for family and neighbours. As one volunteer put it – “It’s in the culture,” she said, “we take care of one another.”

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Most westerners are fortunate to have obligatory medical insurance. When you are in Thailand, see to it that cash or credit cards are always available and have on hand the most pertinent medical insurance documents. In cases of hospital admissions, you are required to pay up front treatment.

There have been stories appearing in a local Thai newspaper about a young Thai couple that was turned down upon arriving at a private hospital just because they could not show their money. This is a major ethical flaw in Thailand’s health care system.

Although general treatment and admission to private hospitals is quite simple, demanding money up front may be considered very impolite and inappropriate. In most European countries, problems like these are normally avoided because in the first place, patients have obligatory medical insurance and hospitals are confident enough about being paid. Staying in Thailand is generally very desirable however some health care issues are quite concerning.

In order to avoid problems, see to it that you already have in place international health care system insurance before you relocate to this Southeast Asian country. Then you will not have to worry about health issues, especially in a medical emergency.

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How is “Beautiful” of DNA

All humans belong to the same species, so basically all human DNA is the same. The variation between races accounts for a tiny proportion of the DNA in the human genome.

What is not generally realized is that a huge proportion of people who would generally regard themselves as ‘white’ have at least one black ancestor in the last four generations (as demonstrated by random sampling of DNA in the population). Being simply ‘black’ or ‘white’ is based on only a tiny number of genes concerned with skin color. In most cases, skin color is also linked to a number of other genes which determine other characteristics – blood type, nose shape, etc but these are not fixed just to the skin color genes. More overall variation could be found, for example, between a white, blond, blue-eyed Icelander and an olive-skinned, brown-eyed Greek both of who would regard themselves as ‘white’. Genetically speaking, skin color is meaningless – it really is what goes on inside that counts.

The most beautiful of DNA :

Human genetic variation is the genetic differences both within and among populations. There may be multiple variants of any given gene in the human population (genes), leading to polymorphism. Many genes are not polymorphic, meaning that only a single allele is present in the population: the gene is then said to be fixed.

No two humans are genetically identical. Even monozygotic twins, who develop from one zygote, have infrequent genetic differences due to mutations occurring during development and gene copy number variation. Differences between individuals, even closely related individuals, are the key to techniques such as genetic fingerprinting. Alleles occur at different frequencies in different human populations, with populations that are more geographically and ancestrally remote tending to differ more.

Causes of differences between individuals include the exchange of genes during meiosis and various mutational events. There are at least two reasons why genetic variation exists between populations. Natural selection may confer an adaptive advantage to individuals in a specific environment if an allele provides a competitive advantage. Alleles under selection are likely to occur only in those geographic regions where they confer an advantage. The second main cause of genetic variation is due to the high degree of neutrality of most mutations. Most mutations do not appear to have any selective effect one way or the other on the organism. The main cause is genetic drift, this is the effect of random changes in the gene pool. In humans, founder effect and past small population size (increasing the likelihood of genetic drift) may have had an important influence in neutral differences between populations. The theory that humans recently migrated out of Africa supports this.

The study of human genetic variation has both evolutionary significance and medical applications. It can help scientists understand ancient human population migrations as well as how different human groups are biologically related to one another. For medicine, study of human genetic variation may be important because some disease-causing alleles occur more often in people from specific geographic regions. New findings show that each human has on average 60 new mutations compared to their parents. Apart from mutations, many genes that may have aided humans in ancient times plague humans today. For example, it is suspected that genes that allow humans to more efficiently process food are those that make people susceptible to obesity and diabetes today. Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

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Keeping your skin looking and feeling healthy is an important part of maintaining an overall sense of wellbeing, and paying careful attention to your skin is a good way to gauge your general health and find out how well you are looking after your body. Having worked in the Spa, Beauty and Hospitality industry for more than 10 years, I have noticed over the course of my career that a common problem for many women is not only pimples on the face, but also on the back, neck and chest.

As well as being unsightly and making us feel self-conscious, pimples can be painful and uncomfortable. Luckily, there are some easy measures to take to prevent and treat pimples which can be incorporated into your lifestyle to help you staying pimple-free.

1: Daily Routine As in all aspects of healthy living, diet and regular exercise will have a positive effect on the health of your skin, and hence will decrease the risk of pimples. A healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables helps the body to increase the levels of natural acne-fighting anti-oxidants. One of the main causes of pimples on the surface of the skin is excess fats within the body which need to be expelled. One of the many benefits of regular exercise is the burning of fats, with less fats on the inside meaning fewer spots on the outside. Vitamin C is vital for healthy skin. It can be found in high doses in oranges, guava and lemons. Alternatively, Vitamin C supplements are readily available. Drinking at least two liters of water per day is a great way to ensure healthy skin.

By staying properly hydrated, your body is able to flush out excess fats and toxins that build up and cause spots. As well as keeping check on what you put into your body, it is important to be careful with what you expose your skin to. For example, many people experience skin irritation because of the detergents they use to wash their clothes, if this is the case try switching to a different brand of detergent. Similarly, it is important to ensure that bed sheets and pillow cases are changed regularly, as these can easily gather dust and dead skin which irritate the skin.

When possible, always wear natural cottons and wellventilated clothes to allow your skin to breathe.

2: Hormone Levels (from the Skincare association Thailand) A medical practitioner or professional skincare specialist can advise on some light hormone medication available to help control and reduce pimples.

3: Treatments Following the treatment of pimples, it is very common to have some “black-spots’” on the surface of the skin. This can cause just as much concern as the original problem. To combat this, try one of my ‘tricks of the trade’ with these natural remedies: Blend half a green apple together with 2 tablespoons of honey and apply to the affected area. Leave for 30 minutes and then shower/wash the area. Do this every 2 days for 4 weeks. Alternatively, slice and ground a red onion and apply to the affected area. Leave for 30 minutes and then shower/wash the area. Do this every 2 days for 4 weeks. At Spa Intercontinental, we have other specialist treatments available to help reduce and prevent pimples. We recommend the 2 hours detoxifying body scrub and body wrap. This treatment is on special offer for THB 4,500 net per person Please contact +66 32 616 999 Ext. Spa.

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