Cold Sores Tips

What is herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster also known as shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus which produces painful rash. Varicella-zoster virus also causes chickenpox. Once you are infected with the virus it remains dormant in the body near the spinal cord and brain and may reactivate anytime in life and produce shingles. Shingles is a very painful condition.

Location: although shingles may appear anywhere in the body but they usually appear as a singl...more

Burning and itching, along with an unpleasant odor, are common symptoms which indicate a vaginal infection. Vaginal infections, also known as vaginitis are common in women. All women experience some form of it during their lifetime. A vaginal infection may occur when the normal vaginal balance is affected. The balance may be disturbed by factors such as douches, changes in hormone level, certain antibiotic medicines, pregnancy and vaginal intercourse. There are several different types of vaginal...more

The market is replete with various facial scrubs that are favoured by men and women of all ages. These are especially helpful if you are facing dust and pollution every day, or are exposed to the sun for prolonged hours. Using facial scrubs is a form of exfoliation that helps in rubbing the granules into the skin so as to remove dead cells and give the skin a more supple tone. Yet, too much use of facial scrubs can also lead to a variety of skin troubles. So, how can you tell if you are overdoin...more

Gram-negative folliculitis is an infection of the skin. It is caused by gram-negative organisms. This can occur in patients, who are suffering from acne vulgaris and rosacea. In these patients, the acne gets resistant to drugs or antibiotics due to its prolonged use. This disease was first discovered by Fulton in 1968. People suffering from aids may also develop this infection.

Complications

Gram-negative folliculitis can cause other skin conditions including the following ones...more

Tinea versicolor (fungal infection of skin)

What Is Tinea Versicolor (fungal infection of skin)?

Tinea versicolor is also known as pityriasis versicolor. It is a fungal infection of the skin commonly seen in teenagers and adults but can be seen at any age. The fungus lives on the skin and when it grows out of control, it causes discolouration of the skin producing patches lighter or darker in colour than the surrounding skin.

The infection is non-contagious and does no...more

Eczema is a skin condition which is characterized by rough, cracked, red, itchy and inflamed skin. Sometimes it can also cause blisters. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a severe condition which starts during infancy and can go on throughout childhood. While some people may outgrow this condition, the rest might have it till adulthood.

Causes of Eczema:
1. Irritants- Certain irritants found in vegetables, meats, juices extracted from fresh fruits, disinfectants, sham...more

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is hence susceptible to a great number of infections. Here are a few skin infections arranged according to the causative organism:
Bacterial Infections

Leprosy: Mycobacterium leprae is the bacterium which spreads slowly and causes leprosy. It is also called Hansen s disease.
Carbuncles: It is a swollen, painful and red boil aggregation which is joined underneath the skin.
Cellulitis: It is a common skin infliction that spreads u...more

What is a wart?
Warts are small, rough, hard, non-cancerous skin growth, usually having color similar to the color of rest of the skin and is caused when a type of human papillomavirus infects the top layer of the skin through damaged skin.

Warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact.

Types of warts

Common warts: also known as verruca Vulgaris grow most often on the fingers, around the nails and on the back of hands (especially where skin breaks are ...more

What is a peptic ulcer?

Digestive juices help in digestion of food but when these digestive juices damage the membrane of the digestive tract then sore areas develop which are called as peptic ulcers. A peptic ulcer may develop inlining of the lower oesophagus, stomach or duodenum. Thus called oesophageal, gastric and duodenal ulcer respectively.

Risk factors

NSAIDs- repeated use of NSAIDs irritate the wall of the stomach thus increase the acid secretion.
Stress al...more

Ulcer pain can be uneasy and unbearable at times. It is caused by a bacterium known as the H. Pylori. Pain medication, lifestyle changes, and healthy eating habits can ensure pain relief from this condition. Here is a list of 4 best ways to get instant pain relief from an ulcer:

Medication - H. Pylori is often found in the digestive tract. Doctors suggest various combinations of antibiotics kill this bacterium. Some of those include tetracycline, levofloxacin, metronidazole, and tinidaz...more