Conditions + Treatments

Poison oak features the same irritating agent as poison ivy, an oily substance known as urushiol which resides within the sap of both plants. Contact with urushiol leads to a rash and other burdensome symptoms.

Zinc oxide is a medicine that is used to treat minor irritations of the skin, including diaper rash, cuts, poison ivy, and burns. Zinc oxide is a component of many ointments and creams that aim to prevent and manage skin irritations. It is a topical medication that is intended to be applied directly over the skin.

A fragrant essential oil obtained from the rinds of lemons, lemon oil’s numerous healing health benefits are derived from its astringent, antiseptic, detoxifying and anti-fungal properties. Throughout recorded history lemon oil has been used by medical practitioners to treat infections, fevers, skin disorders, to aid digestion and to provide a rich source of vitamin C. Lemons are a symbol of purity and cleanliness with documented medicinal applications dating back to 900 BC.

There are a number of reasons why skin spots occur. Most are small and range in color from a light brown to deep chocolate in light-skinned individuals. In contrast, within people of color, the exact opposite sometimes occurs. The skin becomes lighter or develops white spots or patches. While many skin spots are benign, those that are not need to be identified and quickly handled.

While it is advisable to limit the amount of medications taken while breastfeeding, it is not always possible to do so. In 1998, the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) found that Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is the most common medicine taken by women during their child-bearing years. Lactation expert Kelly Bonyata, creator of the breastfeeding website www.kellymom.com, shares that on a one-to-five scale of risk for medications to take while lactating, Tylenol rates one–the lowest risk. It has been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for breastfeeding mothers.

Breakthrough bleeding can be a cause of alarm to women when they are pregnant, although there is not always reason to be concerned.

They’re not wonder drugs, but a new generation of injections has made life easier for many psoriasis sufferers. The new drugs work by interrupting the immune system, preventing or reducing the itchy and painful symptoms of psoriasis. Injections don’t work for everyone, and they do pose some risks. Still, they represent a significant advance in the battle to control and cure psoriasis.

The word “diabetes,” like many medical terms, is derived from Latin and Greek.

Every year more and more teenagers begin smoking. Those who choose to smoke often continue to be adults who smoke, increasing their chances of being diagnosed with lung, mouth or throat cancer. While efforts have increased over the past several years to discourage children and teens from smoking, tobacco companies continue to target teenagers directly to encourage them to take up the habit. Recent statistics from the American Cancer Society indicate that individuals who begin to smoke at or before the age of 19 continue to be smokers well into adulthood.

A calicivirus is also known as a Norwalk or Norwalk-like virus. It is unique among food-borne illnesses because it is carried by humans rather than being passed along from animal products or animal waste. Although it causes unpleasant symptoms that can be severe, it does not require medical treatment.