health ABC > Skin
A slightly darker skin?
Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment t...read more
About paronychia and nails...
Paronychia is an often tender infection of inflammation around the base of the nail fold. It can start suddenly (acute paronychia) or gradually (chronic paronychia). Acute paronychia Acute paronyc...read more
Acanthosis nigricans, it may begin at any age!
Acanthosis nigricans is a disorder that may begin at any age. It causes velvety, light-brown-to-black, markings usually on the neck, under the arms or in the groin. Acanthosis nigricans is most often associat...read more
Acne and skin problems
Our skin is the largest organ of elimination and assimilation there is. It reflects the state of our entire system and is a good barometer of our internal health. Chronic skin problems are a ...read more
Acne and your diet
Chocolates, fatty foods, refined sugars and starches have all been wrongfully accused for being acne-causing agents. Although there is still a lot of controversy, it is now generally believed that the diet pl...read more
Acne cream eases wrinkles
A prescription acne cream appears to moderately reduce sun damage in older people, says new research. Tazarotene cream (marketed as Zorac in South Africa) is in the same Vitamin A family as Retin-A, another a...read more
Acne scarring: treatment options
Treatment options The internet will bombard you with thousands of miracle cures for acne scars, but if you are searching for a solution that won’t leave you looking like Michael Jackson, read the foll...read more
Acne treatments
More than three quarters of all adolescents will experience acne; in some cases it is a condition that will persist into adulthood. Acne is an inflammation of the skin caused by overactive gl...read more
Acne, afflicting most people!
Acne is a common skin condition that afflicts most people, to a varying degree, during the teen years. However, the disease is by no means restricted to this age group; adults in their 20's o...read more
Acne: a treatment overview
Teenagers and many others with acne, seek five-minute cures for acne and a return to a clear skin free of blemishes. The truth is that there are no instant cures, but a twice daily routine and appropriate tre...read more
Allergic eczema
Infantile eczema, otherwise known as Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema, is a chronic relapsing itchy disease of the skin. It may commence after the third month of life as a ...read more
Anatomy of the skin
Your skin: amazing stuff. Tough, yet sensitive, permeable, yet waterproof. It’s flexible, yet strong, considering that it’s very thin. It houses millions of tiny units that regulate its fluid levels and temperatur...read more
Are toxic synthetic chemicals hiding in your make up?
Most consumers would be surprised to learn that the government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for cosmetics and other personal care products before they are sold. According to the government agency that...read more
Away with cellulite !
Exercise cellulite away A simply analogy that describes cellulite is skin that appears to have a cottage cheese appearance. The lumpy appearance of the skin is actually deposits of fat and/or water that are ...read more
Babies and eczema
What is eczema? Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a very common skin disorder. It is characterised by itchiness (pruritus), redness (erythema), and tiny blisters (vesiculation) that appea...read more
Botox: a more youthful appearance
Botulinum toxin type A (trade name: Botox) is an injectable drug that causes temporary muscle weakness. It is FDA approved for the treatment of strabismus (crossed eyes), blepharospasm (twitching of the eyeli...read more
Botulinum toxin, better known as botox
What is botulinum toxin? Botulinum toxin is a naturally occurring protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium makes several different types of protein which are called type A to t...read more
Bowen's disease, also called squamous cell carcinoma
Bowen's disease, which is also called squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCC in situ), is a form of skin cancer. The term "in situ" added on the end tells us that this is a surface form of skin cancer...read more
Bruises on the hands and forearms
Bruising on the back of the hands and arms is common. Dermatologists call it 'actinic purpura' or 'Bateman's purpura'. These flat blotches start out red, then turn purple, da...read more
Callus
When we walk or stand, our body weight is carried first on the heel and then on the ball of the foot, where the skin is thicker, to withstand the pressure. When this pressure becomes excessive, some areas of the skin thicken,...read more
Cellulite and fat: an overview
Cellulite is the name given to the lumpy, irregular fat deposits often found around the hips, buttocks and upper leg areas. It is sometimes described as 'orange peel skin' because of the dimp...read more
Cellulitis, not to confuse with cellulite!
Cellulitis is a skin infection characterized by redness, swelling, and pain. It is an infection of the deeper layers of the skin that is usually caused by a group A streptococcus and S. aureu...read more
Cold is the culprit
Many people suffer from cold feet in winter, but not all of them develop chilblains. Whether they do or not depends to a large extent on the efficiency of the circulation. Chilblains are small itchy, red swel...read more
Dangerous leaves!
"Leaves of three - let it be!" aptly describes this woody vine with 2-4" leaflets in groups of three. The center leaf has a longer stem than the other two. Poison ivy clings to tree trunks and ...read more
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