Hemorrhoids are quite common for individuals. In many ways, it is more common than people would like to admit. The topic of hemorrhoids or hemorrhoid treatment tends to be an embarrassing one. As a result discussions among friends, family and physicians tend to be avoided. A little unknown fact is that hemorrhoids are perfectly normal and occur in everyone. When hemorrhoids become enflamed or turn into bleeding hemorrhoids that most...more
Keratosis Pilaris (aka "chicken skin") is a condition in which the skin takes on a sandpaper like appearance with small, acne-like bumps and rough patches appearing most commonly on the back, upper arms, buttocks, and thighs. While less common, bumps may also appear on the face causing the disease to be confused with acne. Keratosis Pilaris is a common condition and estimates indicate that as many as 40-50% of adults and 50-80% of adolescents...more
Dermatographia (aka "skin writing") is a rare, auto-immune skin condition which affects about five percent of the human population. Individuals impacted by this condition have hypersensitive skin and even minor injuries, rubbing, or scratching can cause raised, red lines and ridges to appear on the affected area. Other symptoms include itching, swelling, inflammation, and hive-like welts on the skin. Hives form when skin cells known as "mast cells" become sensitive to physical stimulation like scratching and release histamines. This then causes blood to leak out of blood vessels under the skin. In 2008, an artist named Ariana Page Russell used this condition as basis for art by drawing designs and patterns on it as though it were a canvas.Dermatographia is not a serious condition and symptoms do not normally last very long. However, scratching and rubbing can cause irritation and discomfort. Triggers include rubbing against clothing and bedsheets, exposure to cold, heat, and sunlight, and/or applying pressure to the skin in some way. It may also be caused by stress or emotion. In most cases, symptoms disappear between 30 minutes to two hours following the irritation but in some...more
Morgellon's disease is a very rare and mysterious skin condition that has been reported recently in the US and a number of other countries. It is characterized by itchy, painful skin lesions and a creepy-crawly sensation of fibers growing from inside the skin. Patients commonly complain of a feeling that insects are crawling under their skin and...more
Scabies (aka "the itch") is a highly contagious and common skin disease characterized by small, red itchy bumps and rashes on the outer layer of the skin. As the name suggests, the disease causes extreme itching for sufferers, particularly at night. Scabies is caused by tiny,eight-legged female mites (formally named sarcoptes scabiei) that burrow...more
Dermatitis Herpetiformis is a rare and chronic skin disorder characterized by extremely itchy and almost intolerable rashes made of bumps and blisters that normally occur on the elbows, knees, shoulders, back, and buttocks. It is believed to be related to coeliac disease, a disorder of the small intestine. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is also referred to as Durhing's disease.The predominant symptoms of Dermatitis Herpetiformis include intense burning, stinging, and itching sensations in affected areas. Diagnosis is mainly through physical evidence and analysis of skin biopsies. The ailment most commonly affects young adults, particularly males, aged 20 and higher. Estimates suggest that the disease currently affects about 11.2 out of every 100,000 people in the United States and about 10 out of every 100,000 people internationally. The disease is more common in young males of European descent (particularly from Scandinavian countries) than those of other ethnic backgrounds.The exact cause of Dermatitis Herpetiformis is unknown but it is believed to be related to an allergy to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. When gluten combines with IgA (an antibody produced by the...more
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare disease which causes the skin to be extremely fragile and vulnerable to blisters. The blisters may develop both on the outer skin and inside the body along the linings of the mouth and in other internal organs...more
Perioral dermatitis is common skin condition characterized by red facial rashes that tend to occur around the mouth. The rashes often take on a scaly or bumpy appearance and may resemble those of rosacea. The severity of the condition varies and may...more
Erysipelas (a.k.a. St. Anthony's fire) is an acute skin infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria which typically affects the face, ears, and lower legs. It is a superficial form of cellulitis in that the infection is closer to the skin...more
Pityriasis Rosea is a common skin disease characterized by a rash that can last anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. In most cases, the condition starts with a single, scaly, oval-shaped patch (or "herald patch") on the chest or back and is...more
More health clubs are catering to families today, realizing that keeping members and their families together can be an effective strategy for maintaining membership. Many clubs already offer child care, but an increasing number are carving out...more
Your Weight Loss Program.As we continue to do our best to live a healthy lifestyle and lose or maintain our weight we usually focus on eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking nutritious vitamin supplements. These are the three most...more