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Published on: Jul 09, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rakesh Choudhary

COVID- 19 Tests – What Do You Need To Know?

COVID- 19 tests – What do you need to know?

Author: Dr. Rakesh Choudhary MBBS, MS, FRCS UK, FRCS Orth UK, MChOrth UK.

Dr. Choudhary is a practicing consultant surgeon in the UK.

So many of us think it is not their job to learn about COVID-19 tests and this should be left for the experts and governments to decide about these tests. But I strongly suggest the public must have a basic understanding of these tests which they may have to have themselves.

Basically there are two types of tests, one which can detect the virus in the body and the other one which tells if the person had the previous infection.

Virus test

The virus test detects an active infection. It detects the genetic material (RNA) of the virus during an active infection. It is also called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test or nucleic acid test and is sometimes inaccurately called an antigen test.

A swab is taken from deep in the back of your throat and deep in the nose. The swab should go deep up to 7-8 cm and is generally uncomfortable for the patient. Swabbing patients using the correct technique is paramount in ensuring an accurate result. By simply swabbing the inside of the nasal passage is not deep enough to verify that the virus is present.

What does virus testing tell you?

This test tells us if a patient is actively infected with the COVID-19 virus. Virus testing is used mainly for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

When should it be done?

The virus test works best during the first seven days of symptoms.

The coronavirus can be detected in swabs even before symptoms of illness first appear . This is why people can be infectious for a few days before the onset of symptoms, which usually appear about 5 days after the virus infects. Some people have no symptoms throughout their infection but are positive on the virus test and infectious to others. After a few days of illness, the concentration of the virus falls (as seen in swab samples) and the symptoms of the illness usually recede.

Accuracy of the test

In a person with COVID-19, the test is less likely to give a positive result late in the course of infection once the virus has been cleared by the immune system, or if an inadequate sample is taken from the nose or throat. There are concerns that the rate of ‘false negative’ test results could be as high as 30% and a significant number of people are wrongly being told they do not have the virus.

Antibody test

Antibody tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which may tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies are protein structures that are produced by the immune system in response to certain infections. The antibody can help fight off infections and can provide protection against getting that disease again (immunity). Antibodies are disease-specific. For example, measles antibodies will protect you from getting measles if you are exposed to it.

The antibody test detects the presence of antibodies as a marker of past infection. The antibody test (blood test) will only detect infections after the immune system has produced antibodies that recognize the virus. This happens approximately 7–10 days after symptoms develop.

Tests carried out a week after a patient develops symptoms will detect only 30% of people who had COVID-19 infection. Accuracy increases to 72% at two weeks and to 94% in the third week. Some people may take even longer to develop antibodies, and some people who are infected may not ever develop antibodies.

Interpretation of the antibody test is complex for non-medical people. Basically having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 may provide protection from getting infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies may provide or how long this protection may last.

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Best Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

Glowing skin is not simply a cosmetic goal. It is a visible reflection of skin health, hydration, and cellular repair. While the market is flooded with serums and treatments, dermatologists consistently observe that the most sustainable skin glow comes from consistent, simple, and evidence-supported practices. The good news is that many of the most effective ingredients are already available in an Indian kitchen.

Why Skin Loses Its Natural Glow

Before applying any remedy, understanding the root cause of dull skin is essential. Dermatologists identify the following as the most common triggers in the Indian context:

Cause	Effect on Skin
Pollution and sun exposure	Oxidative stress, pigmentation, uneven tone
Dehydration	Reduced elasticity, dryness, dullness
Poor diet and nutrient deficiency	Slowed cell renewal, loss of radiance
Disrupted sleep	Impaired skin repair, dark circles, puffiness
Hormonal imbalance	Acne, oiliness, pigmentation
Harsh skincare products	Damaged skin barrier, redness, sensitivity

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause is as important as applying any topical remedy. Skin that appears dull despite consistent care often signals an internal factor requiring dietary or medical attention.

Which Home Remedy is Best for Glowing Skin?

Among all widely used natural ingredients, raw honey combined with aloe vera gel is considered the most universally effective home remedy for glowing skin. Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin, while its antibacterial and antioxidant compounds protect against environmental damage. Aloe vera complements this by delivering vitamins A, C, and E directly into the skin, supporting collagen synthesis and reducing inflammation.

This combination works across all skin types, requires no preparation time, and demonstrates consistent results in clinical observations relating to skin hydration and barrier repair. Applied three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes, this remedy produces visible improvement in skin texture and brightness within two to three weeks of regular use. For individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, aloe vera used alone without honey is the preferred option as it is non-comedogenic and lightweight.

Top Home Remedies for Glowing Skin by Skin Type

One of the most significant gaps in standard advice is that remedies are rarely matched to skin type. Applying the wrong ingredient can worsen the skin condition rather than improve it. Dermatologists recommend the following skin-type specific approach:

Skin Type	Best Remedy	Key Benefit	Frequency
Dry Skin	Raw honey and milk paste	Deep hydration, lactic acid exfoliation	3 times per week
Oily Skin	Multani mitti with rose water	Sebum control, pore tightening	2 times per week
Combination Skin	Aloe vera gel	Balances moisture without clogging pores	Daily
Sensitive Skin	Oat flour and plain yogurt pack	Soothes inflammation, gentle exfoliation	2 times per week
Normal Skin	Turmeric and honey mask	Antioxidant boost, brightening	2 to 3 times per week
Dull or Pigmented Skin	Potato juice or tomato pulp	Natural kojic acid, reduces pigmentation	3 times per week

Matching the remedy to skin type is the single most important factor in achieving consistent results from any natural skincare routine.

Which Kitchen Ingredients Work Best for Skin Glow?

Several common Indian kitchen ingredients carry clinically recognised skin benefits. The mechanism behind each ingredient matters as much as the application method:

Turmeric (Haldi): Contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. Curcumin inhibits melanin synthesis, which helps reduce pigmentation and uneven skin tone over time. Used as a paste with milk or honey, turmeric is one of the most researched natural brightening agents.

Raw Milk: Contains lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, stimulates collagen production, and improves skin luminosity. Applying raw cold milk with a cotton pad and leaving it for 15 minutes is a simple and effective brightening practice.

Besan (Gram Flour): Functions as a mild physical exfoliant and oil absorber. Mixed with turmeric and rose water, besan-based face packs have been used across Indian households for generations and remain dermatologically appropriate for most skin types.

Aloe Vera: Rich in polysaccharides that support skin hydration and mucilaginous compounds that form a protective barrier. Clinical data supports its use in reducing UV-induced skin damage and accelerating epidermal repair.

Potato Juice: Contains catecholase, an enzyme with mild skin-lightening properties. Particularly useful for reducing dark circles, tan lines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How to Get Glowing Skin Naturally in One Week

Most competitors list remedies without telling readers how to actually use them together. The following 7-day routine is structured to progressively address cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and brightening within a single week:

Day	Morning	Evening
Day 1	Raw milk cotton pad cleanse	Aloe vera gel application
Day 2	Rose water toner	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)
Day 3	Raw milk cleanse	Turmeric and honey mask (10 min)
Day 4	Rose water toner	Aloe vera gel application
Day 5	Raw milk cleanse	Besan, turmeric and rose water pack (15 min)
Day 6	Rose water toner	Potato juice on dark spots (20 min)
Day 7	Raw milk cleanse	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)

This routine uses no more than three to four ingredients across the entire week, minimising the risk of ingredient overload or skin irritation. Always perform a patch test on the inner forearm before applying any new ingredient to the face.

Lifestyle Habits That Support Glowing Skin From Within

Topical remedies address the surface. Skin glow that is deep and lasting is primarily determined by internal health factors that all four competitor articles fail to address:

Hydration: Dermatologists observe that inadequate water intake is the single most common and most overlooked cause of dull skin among Indian adults. A minimum of 2.5 to 3 litres of water daily supports cellular metabolism and maintains skin turgor.

Diet: Skin cells require vitamins C, E, and A along with zinc and omega-3 fatty acids for repair and renewal. Indian dietary staples such as amla (Indian gooseberry), carrots, spinach, walnuts, and flaxseeds provide these nutrients in bioavailable forms. Reducing refined sugar intake is equally important, as excess glucose triggers glycation, a process that breaks down collagen and accelerates skin ageing.

Sleep: The skin's repair cycle peaks during deep sleep between 11 PM and 3 AM. Chronic sleep deprivation elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and increases inflammatory skin conditions. Clinical specialists recommend seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep as a non-negotiable component of any skin improvement plan.

Gut Health: Emerging dermatological research on the gut-skin axis confirms that dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) is linked to acne, rosacea, and dull skin. Incorporating fermented foods such as curd and buttermilk into the daily diet supports gut microbiome balance, which in turn improves skin clarity.

Home Remedies to Avoid: What Dermatologists Warn Against

This section exists in none of the competing articles and represents the most clinically important addition to this topic. Several widely promoted "natural" skin remedies are actively harmful:

Lemon juice directly on skin: Lemon juice has a pH of approximately 2, far too acidic for direct skin application. It disrupts the skin's natural acid mantle (pH 4.5 to 5.5), causes photosensitivity, and can result in chemical burns or permanent pigmentation when skin is exposed to sunlight post-application.

Baking soda: Despite its popularity on social media, baking soda has an alkaline pH of 9, which severely disrupts the skin barrier, strips natural oils, and causes microbial imbalance on the skin surface.

Toothpaste on pimples: Toothpaste contains fluoride, menthol, and hydrogen peroxide, none of which are formulated for skin. It causes contact dermatitis, dryness, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly on Indian skin tones.

Undiluted essential oils: Applying undiluted tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any essential oil directly on the face without a carrier oil causes irritant contact dermatitis and skin sensitisation.

Dermatologists advise that if a remedy causes stinging, redness, or visible irritation, it should be discontinued immediately regardless of how widely it is recommended online.

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