Ringworm is a fungal infection on the skin. The infection is highly contagious and transfers easily from a person or from a pet to person. Treating the fungus requires using antifungal creams, sprays or powders directly on the skin. The fungi...
Itchy, oozing skin is a general term that describes a skin irritation or rash involving the abnormal production and draining of small associated blisters. Common causes for this condition include the skin disorders eczema and allergic contact...
Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus I. They first appear 3 to 10 days after exposure and can last for up to 3 weeks. The virus then remains in the body forever, and repeated outbreaks are triggered by several factors. These factors...
There are several forms of ringworm that can affect the top layer of the skin. The condition is actually caused by a fungus, not a worm like the name implies. The term "ringworm" refers to the distinct circular rash seen in some forms of the...
In second-degree burns, both the outer layer (epidermis) and at least a portion of the dermis (the second layer of skin) are burned. This type of burn is also identified as a partial thickness burn. One of the first indicators of a second-degree...
Wrapping your belly with an ace bandage has a few limited advantages. It may help keep your form during exercise, slightly lower the risk of herniation and prevent some strain on your back during lifting. Weight loss is not one of those benefits.
MedlinePlus defines a skin rash as a condition that "involve[s] changes in the color or texture of the skin." There are many different types of skin rashes, which cause the skin to become red, itchy, scaly, swollen or bumpy. Severe rashes may...
Burn blisters may be caused by heat (fire, steam or friction), chemicals, electricity or radiation (sunburn). The three degrees of burn damage are first (superficial redness and some swelling), second (both top and second layer of skin is affected...
Genital herpes is an infection most often caused by herpes simplex virus type 2. HSV-1 often causes oral herpes but it can also spread to the genitals. The American Academy of Dermatology points out that sexual intercourse proves the most frequent...
Many folliculitis infections are considered superficial, which means they affect the upper part of the hair follicle. If you have this type of infection, you will find small, red bumps around your hair follicles and have crusty, oozing blisters....
Impetigo is a skin infection that affects the top layers of skin and typically occurs during the first two to six years of childhood. Both staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria can cause impetigo, though staphyloccocus is usually the culprit,...
Mango rinds contain an oil, called urushiol, that occasionally causes skin irritation. Although it is relatively common for people to develop rashes after coming into contact with urushiol, it is minimally present in the actual mango flesh. Few...
Staph infections are caused by the staphylococcus bacteria. There are more than 30 types of staphylococcus bacteria, but the strain that most commonly causes infection is called Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is present naturally in the...
No matter how seriously you consider the risk of skin cancer or how religiously you apply sunscreen, you're likely to experience sunburn at some point. Spreading an aloe-enhanced after-sun skin-soother lotion on the burned area feels good, and...
About 10 percent of children suffer from an allergic rash called eczema, according to KidsHealth.org. Eczema is an allergic skin condition that produces localized red, inflamed and itchy spots that can lead to the skin cracking and oozing. If not...
Laser skin resurfacing is an in-office procedure used by dermatologists to remove liver and age spots, acne scars, skin with sun damage, and mild to moderate wrinkles. Laser resurfacing (sometimes referred to as "skin rejuvenation") uses an...
Poison oak as a member of the plant genus Toxicodendrons, along with poison ivy and poison sumac. In the United States, two distinctive species of poison oak are present: eastern poison oak and western poison oak. While poison oak species are...
The skin, the body's largest organ, loses its protective ability when damage such as a burn affects the top layers. About 2 million people receive medical treatment each year for burns, according to Merck Manuals. Burns most often cause...
Skin disorders can affect toddlers for a variety of reasons. Some disorders that last into adulthood get their start when a child is a toddler. Some skin disorders require minimal treatment and will go away with little assistance, whereas other...
The poison oak bush has shiny leaves that appear in groups of three. Contact with a poison oak plant is very irritating to the skin. The oily sap it emits causes skin outbreaks. Anywhere the skin wipes against the oil of the poison oak, there may...
The skin, the largest organ in the human body, is the first line of defense against the environment. In addition to being a protective shield, it also helps to regulate body heat, sense stimulation and store water, fat and vitamin D according to...
There are many different vitamins and nutrients that are taken on a daily basis to preserve the body and it keep it in good working order. Acerola is a lesser-known substance that is high in vitamin C. But don't let the lack of popularity fool...
The various illnesses that children spread from one to another are no small concern to parents who feel as though they spend the entire winter wiping noses and taking temperatures. But fortunately, some of the more serious communicable diseases of...
Over the course of a typical day, your feet take a lot of abuse. This is especially true of the heels and bottoms of your feet. Once the skin on your feet begins to become fissured and thick, you are faced with cracked skin. Cracked skin on your...
Acne laser treatment, or laser resurfacing, can be used to treat minor facial imperfections, such as mild acne scarring. It is usually done in the doctor's office with a local anesthesia, and can take from a few minutes to an hour to be performed....
Itching occurs as an immune response by the body to stimuli in or on the body. Itching may be generalized, which means that it occurs over the entire body, or localized, which means it only occurs in one area. Extreme itching can be tremendously...
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that typically appears in the first year of life, often between 2 and 6 months of age. According to The Nemours Foundation, about 1 out of every 10 children suffers from eczema, which causes skin...
Herpes is a virus that invades the body and stays put--you can never get rid of the virus, but you can treat it and reduce the amount of flare-ups of the virus that many people experience. Herpes is a distant cousin of chicken pox and produces...
Allergies develop when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, which triggers the production of IgE antibodies in your body. These antibodies react with the foreign molecule and promote the release of histamine and other chemicals that...
