Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, most commonly affects the toenails, but can be present in fingernails as well. The symptoms of nail fungus include thickened, brittle nails, a space between the nail and nail bed and a dull appearance. You may feel...
Fungal infections of the fingers are often seen in adults and not children. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nail infections affect about 12 percent of all Americans. Also known as onychomycosis, fungal nail infections are...
Animal bites are a common occurrence, particularly among children. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, dogs cause the majority of animal bites in the United States. Other animals that bite humans include cat, rodents, farm...
An infected, dry blister on a finger can be an extremely uncomfortable problem, especially when performing a task that requires regular use of the hands. However, natural treatments that use all-natural essential oils can be used to fight the...
Herpes whitlow, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus, predominantly affects health care workers, including those in the dental field. Contact with saliva, mucosal and other infected secretions is the general mode of transmission. Both...
An ingrown fingernail occurs when a sharp edge of your nail grows into the soft skin of your finger. Although you may be able to treat the problem at home, some ingrown fingernails can cause further complications or be too painful to handle alone.
Treating yourself to a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon should be a relaxing and pleasurable experience that leaves you with nicely painted, trimmed nails. Sometimes, however, you can walk away with something else, a fungal infection. Having a...
Nail fungus turns finger and toenails yellow, brittle and can even be painful. The infection is more likely to occur in adults and on the toes. According to The National Institutes of Health, wearing closed-toe shoes, keeping skin moist for a long...
"Trigger finger," or stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition in which a patient's finger may catch in a certain position and may straighten with a snap, similar to a trigger being pulled. Trigger finger is a condition that involves the tendons and...
Ointments are a mixture of soothing compounds that are used for different health care-related needs. Most ointments may be purchased without a doctor's prescription. Ointments may contain gel-type additives, menthol and anti-inflammatory...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 14,000 reported cases of shigella infection each year. But the CDC estimates that the number of infections could actually be as high as 280,000, because...
By virtue of its exposure to the outside world, the eye is potentially at risk for many bacterial infections. The eye does have built in protection from bacteria, from eye lashes to the ocular immune system. Eyelashes can help stop bacterial cells...
A fungal infection of the finger or toenails is called onychomycosis and is most commonly caused by dermatophyte fungi. More than one nail can be infected and fungal infections are more common on the toenails. The MayoClinic.com notes that nail...
The skin weighs nearly 10 pounds and covers close to 2 square yards of the body, according to Medline Plus from the National Institutes of Health. It is the first defense against many viruses and bacteria. The fingers frequently develop skin...
Trigger finger is a condition where the finger or thumb bends and momentarily becomes stuck, similar to triggering a rifle, before straightening out. The narrowing of the sheath surrounding the finger's tendon causes trigger finger. Healthy...
Brittle nails break, crumble and peel easily, leaving your finger and toes less protected and, therefore, more susceptible to infection. The medical term that includes brittle nails is onychoschizia. Women are more likely to experience brittle...
Arthritis is characterized by a pain, swelling and stiffness in the affected joint. The Arthritis Foundation reports that about 46 million people, nearly 1 in 5 adults, in the U.S. were affected by at least one form of arthritis as of 2006. Behind...
The human papilloma virus causes warts to develop on different parts of the body. Broken skin is easily infected by the virus, therefore you should exercise caution when you have cuts and avoid contact with infected individuals. Warts under the...
Breast lump evaluation is important because of the potential for cancer; however, most masses felt in the breast are noncancerous. It is noteworthy that the older the patient, the higher the malignant potential. Consult a doctor if you find any...
As with burns on adults and older children, how you treat a burn on a baby's finger depends on the severity of a burn. Burns come in four "degrees," each more severe than the last. In all three cases, your major task as a parent is to...
The tingling, burning pain you notice around your lip generally means a cold sore is rising. Cold sores (fever blisters) are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, and usually occur when something triggers the dormant virus to reactivate, such...
Diabetics or prediabetics may want or need to test blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, at home. Testing at home can help an individual keep track of changes in blood glucose and help him and his doctor make changes to diet,...
The thorn on a rose stem provides an excellent device for injecting infectious material into your skin. Any of the treatments you use in your garden for the health of your roses can provoke an inflammatory reaction when injected by a scratch or...
Herpes is a virus caused by the Type 1 and Type 2 herpes simplex virus, or HSV. The herpes virus transfers from person to person through direct contact of bodily fluids with an infected individual. The virus causes an eruption of painful blisters...
A variety of infections and disorders can cause feet to itch. Sweaty feet, synthetic-fabric socks, tight shoes and shoes made of occlusive materials can make the condition worse. Determining the cause of the itch is imperative to correctly treat...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), herpes is an infection that is caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). Most people are familiar with the two main types of herpes--oral and genital. However, there are five other types of...
Blackheads are a type of acne. According to Medical News Today, they can actually lead to more inflamed and unsightly types of acne, such as pimples. More commonly, blackheads just remain as clogged open pores and can be a constant unsightly...
Bacterial paronychia, a common infection around the nail of a finger, occurs when bacteria enter. Bacteria readily enter small injuries caused by nail biting or picking at the fingers. Thumb sucking can cause paronychia in small children. The area...
Some viral infections can cause systemic illnesses--illnesses that affect the whole body-- in which a skin problem is just one of several symptoms. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library notes that other very common viral infections can cause...
White heads are caused by blocked skin pores, due to sebum, that have closed. Removing them is a procedure that is not too difficult to do at home. In this video learn how to do this procedure and if it's right for you.
Acne afflicts people of all ages and one way to fight it is with a hot compress which treats inflammation on the face better known as pimples. In this video learn how to do this procedure and if it's right for you.
Colic can be quite challenging for parents. It is defined as crying more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby. Colic usually starts a few weeks after birth and often improves...