Health Articles

RSS

Balsam of Peru Allergy

Balsam of Peru is a natural balsam that comes from the Myroxylon tree grown in Central and South America. It contains a mixture of substances related to the fragrance and flavoring materials vanilla, clove and cinnamon. It is used to flavor cakes, pastries, baked goods, soft drinks, chocolate, ice cream, chewing gum, wines, liquors and sometimes even tobacco. The Latin name for Balsam of Peru is Myroxylon pereirae and it is also referred to as Peruvian balsam.

1 Jun 2016

Non-Surgical Treatment for Bunions and Bunionettes

A bunion is a bone deformity causing a protrusion from the foot at the edge of the big toe and at its base on the metatarsophalangeal joint. A bunionette, also known as tailor’s bunion, is a lump of bone on the edge of the other side of the foot at the base of the little toe.

31 May 2016

Bunions and Bunionettes: What’s the Difference?

A bunion and a bunionette are both bone deformities that develop on the feet and can cause pain to affected people. While a bunion or a hallux vulgus is a deformity of the bone at the bottom of the big toe that causes the toe to turn in towards the smaller toes often overlapping with the second toe, a bunionette or a tailor’s bunion is a bony deformity at the base of the fifth metatarsal in the little toe. In some cases of bunion, the second toe is also deformed. Both conditions are most commonly experienced by women. Even though there are similarities in both conditions, there are a few key differences as well.

31 May 2016

Bunionette / Tailor's Bunion

A bunionette, also known as a tailor’s bunion, is a bony deformity at the base of the fifth metatarsal in the little toe. It bears some similarities to a bunion, a bone deformity that develops at the base of the big toe.

31 May 2016

Bunion Surgery

Bunions are a deformity of the bone at the base of the big toe, the metatarsophalangeal joint. It looks like a large bump on the side of the foot. The condition, which mainly affects women, can cause a great deal of discomfort. The patient may experience pain and need to wear wide-fitting shoes to ease friction on the bone.

31 May 2016

Bunion - Hallux Valgus

A bunion, also known as hallux vulgus, is a deformity of the bone at the bottom of the big toe. It causes the big toe to turn in towards the smaller toes and sometimes overlap with the second toe. Occasionally, a bunion can also cause a deformity in the second toe. A lump can form on the top of the joint which may become inflamed, red, blistered, or infected. Some bunions cause pain while others do not. The size of a bunion can also vary.

31 May 2016

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

A person can be diagnosed as having a binge eating disorder when he or she eats an extreme amount of food over a short period of time without purging.

30 May 2016

Types of Pemphigus

Pemphigus is the term used to describe a group of autoimmune diseases that cause the skin and mucous membranes to become blistered. The conditions may therefore affect areas of the body such as the mouth, eyes, nose, throat, or genitals. In some cases, these diseases may be fatal if they are left untreated.

30 May 2016

Paraneoplastic Pemphigus

Pemphigus diseases are a rare group of autoimmune conditions characterized by the formation of blisters that affect the skin and / or mucous membranes. Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare form of pemphigus that is generally associated with lymphoproliferative disorders such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Castleman disease, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. More rarely, the condition is associated with non-lymphoid cancerous neoplasms. PNP is the most rare and most serious form of pemphigus, especially due to the underlying malignancy in affected individuals.

30 May 2016

How Does Shisha Compare to Cigarette Smoking?

Smoking shisha originally arose as a traditional form of smoking particularly in Asian and Middle Eastern communities. It has recently gained popularity in shisha bars in the West - in fact, public health officials have recently given it the status of an epidemic.

26 May 2016

Treatment and Tips for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has no cure and its treatment takes several factors into consideration, including areas affected, physiological response to healing, infection and involvement of other organ systems.

26 May 2016

Types of Epidermolysis Bullosa

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare inherited diseases affecting the connective tissue and is responsible for the resulting blisters that appear on the skin. These blisters are a consequence of a defective anchoring mechanism between the dermis and epidermis. They come about in response to friction, minor trauma, or heat and are not limited to the cutaneous areas and, in severe cases, may occur in the mouth or intestines.

26 May 2016

Epidermolysis Bullosa Diagnosis

The four main types of epidermolysis bullosa (EB): dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) and Kindler syndrome (KS) are each diagnosed by determining the ultra-structural level at which blisters develop in response to minor traction to the skin.

26 May 2016

Epidermolysis Bullosa Inheritance

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) can be inherited in either autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant fashion and this depends primarily on the type of EB.

26 May 2016

Epidermolysis Bullosa Symptoms

The clinical hallmark of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is the blistering of fragile skin, especially in areas that are prone to mechanical trauma. Other features that are prominent with EB include nail destruction, scarring of the skin and milia with very tiny and firm white papules that look like pustules or cysts.

26 May 2016

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris Skin Condition

Devergie disease, lichen acuminatus, and lichen psoriasis are some of the synonyms used to refer to pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). It is a group of rare, chronic disorders that is chiefly characterized by an itchy, severely flaky, orange-red scaly rash with thickening of the skin on the hands and feet and some involvement of the nails.

26 May 2016

Pityriasis Lichenoides Skin Condition

There are three different forms of pityriasis lichenoides, namely, pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC), pityriasis lichenoideset varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), and febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD). It is a relatively uncommon skin condition and while its three forms may occur independently, there is a possibility for one form to develop into another.

26 May 2016

Pityriasis Alba Skin Condition

Characterized by fine, scaly, round or oval patches of skin, pityriasis alba is a fairly common condition that occurs mostly in children between the ages of 6 and 16 and is self-limiting. The scaly patches, which are at first reddish, usually resolve with the affected areas becoming transiently hypo-pigmented (i.e., of a lighter coloration than they previously were). These hypopigmentations usually take some time before they go away and the skin returns to its normal color. Pityriasis alba most frequently manifests on the face and neck and as well as the upper arms and upper torso.

26 May 2016

Do E-Cigarettes Cause Cancer?

E-cigarettes are an alternative to smoking the conventional cigarette. The components of one include a battery, an atomizer and a replaceable cartridge that is designed to hold a nicotine solution and often flavorings for taste.

26 May 2016