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Unpaid carers may be eligible for £69.70 a week - how to claim

This could make a huge difference to cash strapped families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills. Around 400,000 Britons could be claiming this benefit and unpaid carers are urged to check their eligibility.

This could make a huge difference to cash strapped families who are struggling with the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills. Around 400,000 Britons could be claiming this benefit and unpaid carers are urged to check their eligibility. 

Unpaid carers could receive up to £302 a month through Carer's Allowance.

Carer's Allowance can provide financial help for people who take care of themselves, or take care of others and the care they provide meets a certain criteria.

The rates increased by 3.1 percent on April 11 so eligible claimants recently just received a cash boost.

To be eligible, the person being cared for must already be receiving certain benefits. 

Reference: Daily Express: Temie Laleye

Julia Bradbury breaks silence on undergoing mastectomy

BBC Countryfile star Julia Bradbury says her breast reconstruction after her mastectomy looked like a ‘plasticine boob’. Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.

Daily Record Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of last year

She told her children Zeph, ten, and twins Zena and Xanthe, six, about the heartbreaking diagnosis in September last year. She said: "At that point – and I think this is a moment that every woman who has had a mastectomy will share – I had never felt so lost, so out of control and so deeply sad.

"The shape of me, as I knew it when I looked in the mirror, was never going to be the same again." Julia told You magazine: "They were like something you see in the butchers. I felt like a piece of meat on a block."

She said: "I didn’t want to see myself so horribly damaged, bruised and battered. I looked at it in the bedroom in my wardrobe mirror and – I don’t want to upset my surgeon because he has done a brilliant job – it looked like a Plasticine boob. That was eight weeks post-mastectomy.

" Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, the NHS website states. 

Reference: M: James Rodger

Parkinson’s patients to be given ‘smart watches’ to monitor their movements

Thousands of patients with Parkinson’s disease will be given “smart watches” which remind them to take their medication and monitor their movements.

PA Archive Elderly stock

The Parkinson’s Kinetigraph, a gadget containing sensors, sends signals about the patient’s activity to doctors and buzzes when they need to take prescribed drugs, which they can confirm with a swipe.

NHS England said the watch will help practitioners detect excessive movement, immobility and sleep disturbance, allowing them to adjust physiotherapy and medicine prescriptions.

Hundreds of patients have already been issued with the device during a pilot, and they are due to be rolled out to the 120,000 people who have Parkinson’s in England.

He said: “The problem is that Parkinson’s changes from day to day, and even throughout each day.

“Under the traditional system, you have to remember all your concerns and symptoms between visits, ensure you can attend the appointment, have the stress of getting to hospital on time, and then remember to tell your consultant how you are.”

Speaking about his experience with the watch, Mr Whipps added: “It really gives you confidence as you know it gives accurate recordings, and you don’t need to rely so much on your own perception.

“As the non-motor symptoms begin to be recorded digitally they will also help doctors track those and inform the healthcare team.”

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the watch will improve the quality of patients’ lives while improving efficiency in the NHS.

She said: “Parkinson’s is an incurable illness that has a significant impact on people’s lives and this small watch will dramatically improve their quality of life – providing a thorough review of their health and ensuring they get the care they need from the comfort of their own homes.

“Not only is it better for these people living with Parkinson’s, but it is also more efficient for the NHS – freeing up space and time in hospitals for our hard-working staff.” 

This digital approach to treating Parkinson’s patients from their homes was developed by the NHS in Plymouth and the University of Plymouth.

The watches were described by Dr Camille Carroll, a neurology expert who led the pilot, as “life changing” and by Health Secretary Sajid Javid as a “fantastic example of how technology is driving cutting-edge innovation in healthcare”.

Parkinson’s patients are still required to fill out questionnaires for their doctors, such as to explain possible causes of night-time disturbances that cannot be accounted for by the watch. 

How To Treat Perioral Dermatitis, According To Pro Dermatologists

Noticed a red rash around your mouth or nose? It could be something called perioral dermatitis. 'A very common skin condition, perioral dermatitis mainly affects young women (90% of cases), but can occur in both genders and in children, too,' says Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe consultant dermatologist.

Filippo Fortis What you need to know about banishing perioral dermatitis aka that red rash around your mouth.

Despite experts reporting a recent rise in cases, the skin condition remains relatively unknown. I, like many others, first heard about perioral dermatitis when model Hailey Bieber shared her experience on Instagram in 2020. Bieber’s candid approach to the skin condition helped me to make my own self-diagnosis (then to be confirmed by a dermatologist) late last year. What started as a small red patch under my left nostril quickly spread around my mouth and chin, staying put for weeks.

While it has a persistent and recurring nature, dermatologists assure me that there are several steps you can take to help heal perioral dermatitis – many of which, I can attest to.

What Is Perioral Dermatitis?

'Perioral dermatitis is a rash characterised by red bumps and dry, flaky patches around the mouth,' says Granite. Dr Maryam Zamani, aesthetic doctor and founder of MZ Skin adds that it can also 'consist of small inflammatory papules and/or pustules.'

Although perioral means ‘around the mouth’, 'a similar rash may also occur around the eyes and nose, too,' says Zamani. Hence why this condition is also referred to as periorificial, meaning ‘around an opening’, dermatitis. As for symptoms, 'the affected area may itch and burn, or there may be no sensation at all,' says Granite.

Interestingly, both experts have seen a recent uptick in perioral dermatitis cases – something that Zamani puts down to the pandemic and mask wearing. 'Mask wearing can exacerbate perioral dermatitis by creating a warm and damp environment that changes the microflora – resulting in inflammation in the area.' Granite believes the increase is 'likely due to the rise of multi-step skincare routines and product exposure.'

What Causes Perioral Dermatitis?

'The exact cause of perioral dermatitis is unknown,' says Zamani. However, several factors are believed to be at play here. 'It has been associated with long term topical corticosteroids use as well as inhaled steroid use,' says Granite.

'Certain cosmetic products, such as heavy moisturisers, fragranced products and physical sunscreens have been linked to perioral dermatitis,' says Zamani, who adds that fluorinated toothpaste and dental fillings are known triggers.

'In many cases, there may not be an identifiable trigger - so it is likely hormones and stress also play a role,' adds Granite.

How To Treat Perioral Dermatitis?

For some, perioral dermatitis may resolve completely after treatment (or once the trigger has been removed). While for others, it can be a chronic condition that re-appears. In both cases, there are several steps and treatment options that can help keep perioral dermatitis at bay.

1. Identify Your Triggers

Although perioral dermatitis can be hormonal, there are still triggers that can contribute to a flare-up or make the facial rash worse. To help ease symptoms, try to identify and steer clear of those triggers. 'Stop all topical steroid use,' says Granite, 'at first, this may cause the rash to worsen but it will eventually settle.'

'Remove fragranced products from your routine, avoid fluorinated toothpaste, avoid the sun and do not use aggressive skincare,' adds Zamani. Spicy foods can also exacerbate or cause dermatitis, so Granite recommends avoiding these.

Be sure to check your products ingredient list to ensure that they’re free from fragrance as well as 'petrolatum, paraffin, mineral oil and isopropyl myristate - as these are all potential causes of perioral dermatitis,' states Granite.

2. Go Back To Basics

'If you’re experiencing perioral dermatitis, it is important to scale back your skincare routine,' says Zamani. 'Remove all potential irritants such as retinol, vitamin C and AHAs/BHAs, and stop using heavy emollients and oils,' suggests Granite.

As someone whose perioral dermatitis was triggered by overdoing it on the skincare front, I definitely saw some improvement after going back to basics. 'Use a gentle fragrance-free cleanser twice daily and a light oil-free moisturiser,' says Granite. Finish with a non-comedogenic, mineral based SPF. 'Red LED can also help settle some of the inflammation associated with perioral dermatitis.'

3. Consult A Dermatologist

'Consult a dermatologist if your perioral dermatitis persists for several weeks despite simplifying your skincare routine,' advises Granite. While my rash improved slightly, it continued to stick around for three months before I finally made an appointment to see a dermatologist – after which, thanks to prescribed antibiotics, it cleared up in a matter of weeks.

'Perioral dermatitis may be treated with topical medications such as topical antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories, as well as oral antibiotics if needed,' adds Granite.

4. Topical And Oral Antibiotics

According to Zamani, first line treatments for perioral dermatitis often include one of the below options:

• 'Topical antibiotics (in the form of creams, gels or lotions) are helpful for their anti-inflammatory properties and can include metronidazole, clindamycin, and erythromycin.'
• 'Topical sulphur preparations and azelaic acid gel.' Several studies have found that azelaic acid is effective in treating inflammation.
• 'Topical calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimus cream can be effective.' A calcineurin inhibitor works with the immune system to block the chemicals that can contribute to a perioral dermatitis flare-up.

'If topical therapies do not resolve perioral dermatitis, oral antibiotics can be added daily for an extended period of time,' says Zamani. Patience is key, however, as topical therapies may not show peak efficacy for three months of daily use. 'Oral antibiotics can be used for three months or longer if the symptoms are not controlled with topical therapies,' adds Zamani. 

Reference: Elle: Emma Stoddart