Over-the-counter, or OTC, medications play an important role in treating everything from acne to pain. However, in some cases an OTC medication can cause more symptoms than it treats, especially if you are allergic to an active ingredient in the...
Acne scars are a terrible result of a horrible condition. They appear in various forms from individual boxcar and ice-pick scars to rolling scars that give a wavy texture over large areas of skin. Scarring can be superficial, penetrating only the...
A keratolytic agent is a peeling agent and helps remove the horny layer of skin, according to MedicineNet.com. Salicylic acid and sulfur are keratolytic agents and benzoyl peroxide has keratolytic properties. Keratolytics are often found in...
Everyone's experienced it. It's misery. Sinus congestion,or the swelling of the mucous membranes lining the nasal and sinus passages, is one of life's small torments. Aside from causing the acutely uncomfortable feeling of obstructed breathing,...
Pregnancy may be having you feeling uncomfortable enough, but pair it with a cold and you may be just plain miserable. Pregnancy limits the amount and types of cold medicines that you can take. For the safest and most effective plan of action,...
Having high cholesterol and high blood pressure increases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerosis, a stroke and a heart attack. There are some over-the-counter medications and supplements you can take to help...
Sore muscles occur with injury, overuse or when beginning a new intense physical activity. Sore muscles can be the first sign of positive improvement after exercise, but may also be a sign of serious muscle damage if the soreness is severe. In...
A ligament is a thick, fibrous band of tissue that holds one or more bones together in a joint. Ligaments give a joint stability, as in the ligaments in the knee joint when standing or walking. A patient may injure a ligament during a fall or as a...
When it comes to over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, doctors are more concerned about what you are taking when you have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Certain OTC medicine can raise your blood pressure including anti-inflammatory medication...
The common cold can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Symptoms of a cold are nasal drip (runny nose), sneezing, aching muscles, coughs, scratchy or itchy sore throat, sinus congestion, fatigue, low grade fever and watery eyes. While there is no...
Alternative and natural treatments for common diseases have become so popular that various herbal medicines have joined the ranks of pharmaceutical drugs as over-the-counter products in many pharmacies and health food stores. As gratifying as it...
Differin and Duac are brand name topical acne medications prescribed to people with severe, hard-to-treat acne. Differin, also known as adapalene, is a vitamin-A derivative that prevents pimples from forming by promoting cell turnover in pores and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity in the United States is of epidemic proportions, as over 33 percent of American adults and 17 percent of children are currently obese and at risk for serious health problems. Various...
Trying to find the right over-the-counter medication to ease your toddler's allergy symptoms is often a daunting task. There seem to be a million choices: stuffy nose relief, runny nose relief, cough or any combination of these. How do you know...
Many over-the-counter weight-loss aids contain drugs that can cause high blood pressure. If you already take medication for high blood pressure, you may need to avoid certain non-prescription dietary aids. Ask your doctor which dietary aids are...
Newborn infants breathe through the nose, explains MedlinePlus. This can make nasal congestion even more disruptive in a baby's daily activities, like eating and breathing. Over-the-counter medicines aren't safe for use in an infant without the...
When a baby comes down with a cold and the symptoms include a cough, the cough is a natural reflexive response that helps to clear the build up of secretion. However, a cold and cough can be very discomforting. Parents will turn to everything from...
Flu sickens millions of Americans each year, and most of them get better without any medical care at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A key difference between home remedies and antiviral drugs is that home...
Lactose intolerance is the difficulty to digest lactose, a sugar present in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not produce sufficient quantities of an enzyme know as lactase. In most cases, symptoms of...
An excessive amount of estrogen in a woman's body can be the cause of an array of health concerns. Aside from the often irrational feelings it creates, too much estrogen causes physical complaints such as hot flashes and unpredictable bleeding...
Knowing the most effective home acne solutions is important because approximately 90 percent of acne cases do not require medical assistance, according to "Acne: Treating Yourself," a report by Health Guidance. Learning what solutions and products...
Having dark circles or bags under your eyes is hardly flattering, and sometimes it can be downright embarrassing. Common causes can be allergies, heredity, nasal congestion, poor sleep or lying flat while sleeping, sun exposure or lifestyle...
The best form of treatment for acne depends on the severity of the problem. You can treat acne at home without the assistance of a doctor about 90 percent of the time, according to Health Guidance. If your mild acne becomes more severe, you must...
Whether available by prescription or over the counter, medicines have the potential for side effects. For some medicines, this includes raising blood glucose levels, which causes a problem for people already diagnosed with diabetes and can put...
One of the maladies everyone experiences but no one likes to talk about is constipation. Constipation can be caused by a number of factors like poor diet, medications, changes in lifestyle or even aging. While there is no shortage of...
Congested airways can be caused by a number of issues, including a sinus infection, the common cold, allergies or the flu. The resulting congestion can be painful and uncomfortable, and can make hearing, and sometimes sleeping difficult. Home...
Eating and drinking when your stomach is upset is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. It is very important to continue to eat and drink to stay hydrated and to continue giving your body nutrients to fight the cause of your upset...
Everyone gets diarrhea from time to time; the average adult in the United States experiences it about once a year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Although overdoing it on a spicy meal can cause some stomach discomfort, diarrhea is...
Children and adults both frequently use over-the-counter antihistamines such as Zyrtec to treat common conditions such as seasonal allergies. As with all medications, Zyrtec -- also known by the generic name cetirizine -- can cause side effects....
Cold sores are a symptom of the Herpes virus and can be prevented or treated with over-the-counter medicines. Learn how to prevent cold sores in this medical advice video.
Eczema is a skin disease that causes red, flaky patches. Get expert tips and advice on skin diseases in this medical video.
Learn about Over the counter medicines that can help relieve back strain in this free chiropractic treatment series from our experienced chiropractor.
Fevers are a reaction of the body to something unusual, often an infection, that results in a deviation from normal body temperature. In this video learn more about fevers and what they mean for you.
Scoliosis is a common birth defect characterized by a side to side curved spine. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Scoliosis in this video.
