When there is a break, laceration or incision in the skin, a large number of bacteria--especially the bacteria that normally colonize the skin--can enter the body and cause infection. These bacteria attach to tissue and stop the wound from...
If you’re recovering from a wound or surgical incision, you have enough on your mind without worrying about whether your wound covering is making things worse. Gauze pads are a common and effective way to protect wounds and incisions, but...
Potassium iodate is an oxidizer, added to table salt for a variety of reasons. Preventing iodine deficiency in children and adults, to keep salt fresher longer, and to boost flavor are a few of the advantages. Potassium iodate in its original form...
Pressure ulcers, or bedsores, are sores or irritation on the skin that occur due to prolonged pressure, usually involving long periods of sitting or lying. Pressure ulcers can develop quickly and create an entryway for bacteria, and they are often...
Hand sanitizers are a convenient way to avoid the transmission of bacteria. Hands are the most common means by which illnesses are spread, according to health-care products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. Using hand sanitizers frequently,...
Antiseptics and disinfectants are the basic tools of cleaning and sanitizing, yet the difference between the two substances is unclear. Knowing the difference between antiseptics and disinfectants and how each works to sterilize wounds or surfaces...
From hand sanitizers to bathroom disinfectants, countless products not just clean but also double as an antiseptic. But what really are these powerhouse chemicals that presumably ward off everything from the common cold to a staph infection?...
Getting out into the wilderness can be a great way to get some exercise, explore the beauty of nature and escape from the complications of modern life. However, nature can be tricky, and a fun outing can easily turn dangerous, or even deadly, if...
Smelt are small, slender, streamlined fish that migrate into freshwater each year during the colder months. The sweet taste of cooked smelt makes them a popular target for anglers, who use a number of different baits to catch these little fish in...
Many factors can affect thyroid health, including environment, lifestyle and dietary habits. Since symptoms often appear only for a while, then disappear again, they are often disregarded. This is why many cases of thyroid disorders go without a...
Fungus of the scalp, or tinea capitis, is caused by the mold-like fungi dermatophytes, according to MedlinePlus. It usually only affects children and quickly disappears at puberty. It can, however, occur at any age and affect anyone. Ringworm, the...
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a strain of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to common antibiotics such as methicillin and oxacillin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 2.3...
Vaginitis is a term used to describe several bacterial imbalances in the vagina, whose symptoms include itching, burning, swelling, discharge and possibly odor. The appropriate course of treatment for vaginitis depends of the type of infection you...
Despite having similar-sounding names, povidone iodine and potassium iodide differ in terms of use. Both substances contain iodine, but povidone iodine is an antiseptic solution used in disinfecting wounds and potassium iodide is a medication used...
Black walnut has long been used medicinally and during the Middle Ages was believed to ward off evil and prevent epileptic seizures. Black walnut contains various beneficial substances that make it useful for managing a wide range of conditions....
Black walnut is also known as Juglans nigra and may also be referred to as butternut, oilnut or English walnut. Black walnut was used by the Greeks and Romans, who called it the imperial nut, for many different ailments and illnesses. According to...
A fish oil allergy and an iodine allergy are two different conditions and are not related to one another. According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, nearly 7 million Americans suffer from a seafood allergy. While most fish oil...
Kelp is a seaweed classified as an algae that grows in oceans and provides many nutritional and health benefits. Kelp can be eaten as a vegetable, sprinkled as flakes on your food for seasoning and extra nutrients or taken as a nutritional...
You've cut your hand or your child has scraped her knee. These are acute wounds. Whenever possible, they should be cleaned and treated immediately with an antiseptic to prevent infection. The textbook Pharmacology for Nursing Care includes...
The black walnut is one of six species of walnut that are native to North America. The tree grows in the eastern part of the United States and up through Canada. It is deciduous hardwood that can reach to 100 feet. The walnut is prized for its...
Papaya is the fruit of Carica papaya, a small tropical tree with a hollow trunk that is indigenous to Mexico and Central and South America. Also called pawpaw or papaw, papaya is a melon-like fruit shaped like an avocado, but orange in color. The...
Bacterial vaginosis is a condition in women wherein the number of normal bacteria in the vagina is altered, disrupted and replaced with an overgrowth of another type of bacteria, as described in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
Iodine is a nonmetallic trace mineral necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiencies are the most common cause of preventable brain damage worldwide, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Iodine deficiencies affect...
Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm. It's a condition caused by a fungal infection under the surface of the skin, and it's highly treatable with antiseptics such as topical iodine. Iodine applied to a ringworm site kills the fungus through...
Extended periods of sitting or lying in one position often cause a lack of blood flow that triggers pressure ulcers, also called pressure sores or bedsores. Symptoms of pressure ulcers include itchy skin with a red or blue appearance, open sores,...
Potassium iodate is easily confused with potassium iodine and potassium iodide. While they are all sources of iodine and are interchangeable for some uses, the compounds have different properties. If you feel you need supplemental iodine, talk to...
Living beings grow because their cells divide and multiply. Even though bacteria only have one cell, their growth is also defined as an increase in number of cells, not an increase in their size. Bacteria have specific requirements for their...
Iodine is used for a variety of conditions, both in medical diagnosis and as a form of treatment for a number of thyroid conditions. Side effects to iodine are fortunately rare. They may range from mild reactions, known as "iodism," to...
Antiseptics are substances applied to the exterior of the body that kill or inhibit microbes and infective agents. Antiseptics can be effective against one or a combination of bacteria, fungi, viruses or other microorganisms. The discovery and...
