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Showing posts from October, 2022

Itchy bumps on skin like mosquito bites: What are they? - Medical News Today

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Itchy bumps on the skin can cause discomfort, embarrassment, and confusion. Although the bumps may sometimes resemble mosquito bites, there are numerous possible causes other than bug bites. Most people experience this symptom at some point. Itchy bumps can appear as a result of allergies, infections, insects, and, sometimes, nonidentified factors. However, there is one general principle that the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommend people to follow when their skin itches: Do not scratch it. Additional general self-care practices for itchy skin include: bathing frequently in lukewarm water using gentle, hypoallergenic soap limiting exposure to the sun applying cold compresses avoiding tight clothing in areas where itchy bumps appear Understanding the different conditions that can cause itchy bumps on the skin can help people get appropriate treatment. Depending on the cause, treatment can range from avoiding certain foods to taking prescription medications

3 Things You Should Know About Eczema (That You May Not Have Heard Before), According to a Dermatologist - Well+Good

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A s widespread as eczema is (did you know atopic dermatitis, AD, the most common type of eczema, affects more than 21 million people in the U.S. ages 12 and older?!), there's still plenty of confusion and lingering questions surrounding this condition that even people living with AD may not know. "While some of my patients may know more about the condition than others, they all understand the persistent itch and discomfort," says Amy Spizuoco, DO FAOCD FAAD, president of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, associate clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and editorial board member at Practical Dermatology and Dermatology Times  (yes, she knows her stuff). According to Dr. Spizuoco, AD is a chronic condition caused by an overactivation of the immune system that results in irritated and itchy skin. "It is characterized by inflammation and intense itch, and commo

Chronic Itching: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Verywell Health

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Chronic itching is defined as itching that lasts six or more weeks. Medically known as pruritus, itching is more than just an uncomfortable feeling. It can interfere with daily activities and can be as debilitating as chronic pain. There are many different causes of chronic itching. It can be from a rash, an underlying medical condition, or dry skin. The first step in relieving a chronic itch is to find the cause. After the cause is identified, it can be treated. Some treatments can be done at home, while others require a healthcare provider's prescription or assistance. This article will cover some reasons chronic itching may occur along with ways to treat it. HeikeKampe / Getty Images Chronic Itching Causes Itching is a sensation that is sent from the nerves in the skin to the brain. The itch sensation can be caused by an underlying medical condition or by something simply touching the skin. When the itch sensation begins,

Chronic Itching: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Verywell Health

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Chronic itching is defined as itching that lasts six or more weeks. Medically known as pruritus, itching is more than just an uncomfortable feeling. It can interfere with daily activities and can be as debilitating as chronic pain. There are many different causes of chronic itching. It can be from a rash, an underlying medical condition, or dry skin. The first step in relieving a chronic itch is to find the cause. After the cause is identified, it can be treated. Some treatments can be done at home, while others require a healthcare provider's prescription or assistance. This article will cover some reasons chronic itching may occur along with ways to treat it. HeikeKampe / Getty Images Chronic Itching Causes Itching is a sensation that is sent from the nerves in the skin to the brain. The itch sensation can be caused by an underlying medical condition or by something simply touching the skin. When the itch sensation begins,

Itchy, Red or Purple Bumps From the Cold? Chilblains Could Be the Culprit - Health Essentials

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Brr! You know it's important to bundle up when you go outside in frigid conditions to protect your body from hypothermia and your skin from frostbite. Advertising Policy Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy But there's another, lesser-known cold-weather ailment to be aware of: pernio. Pernio, more commonly known as chilblains, is a kind of skin inflammation caused by an abnormal response by the blood vessels after exposure to cold and damp conditions. Chilblains appear as itchy, inflamed bumps on the skin – usually on the extremities, such as the fingertips or the toes. Less commonly they can affect the nose and ears. They can appear a few hours after exposure to cold weather. "These tend to be reddish or purple-blue skin lesions, and they cause intense i

Avoiding E. coli infection: Wash hands thoroughly, cook food to proper temperature - Chicago Sun-Times

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Dear Doctors: It seems like there's a new E. coli outbreak every week. We're careful about washing our produce, but our son-in-law got pretty sick after eating a fast-food hamburger. How dangerous is E. coli? Is there any way to avoid it? Dear reader: E. coli is short for Escherichia coli. It's a large and diverse group of bacteria that make their home in the lower intestine and also can be found in food, untreated water and the environment. E. coli are shaped like a rod, with a rounded end, studded with thin filaments that help with movement in liquid environments. E. coli symptoms can range from mild to quite severe and can lead to death. How sick someone gets depends on the strain. Most strains of the bacteria are harmless. In fact, E. coli are a natural part of the flora in our gut microbiome. They help with the synthesis of certain vitamins and play a role in preventing some pathogens from colonizing the colon. But several strains cause illnesses including diarrhea, u

staph infections and eczema - National Eczema Association

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Articles By Angela Ballard, RN Published On: Oct 28, 2022 Last Updated On: Oct 28, 2022 If you have eczema, you may be more likely to have the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (or "staph") living on your skin and have increased risk of staph infections. According to studies, approximately 10% of the general population is colonized on the skin with staph bacteria. Among people with eczema, that number jumps to nearly 80%. No one knows exactly why people with eczema are more commonly colonized with staph, but it's thought that differences in the skin barrier play a role. These differences include defects caused by a gene mutation that can allow allergens and bacteria to pass more easily into the body. Also at play may be natural antibiotics produced by the skin's microbiome (called antimic

What Is Eczema? – Forbes Health - Forbes

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Treatment options for eczema vary depending on the severity of the condition and symptoms experienced. For mild cases, creams and ointments, such as topical corticosteroid medications that reduce inflammation, may be enough to manage symptoms. For more severe cases that cause tremendous itching, rashes, discomfort and frequent infections, prescription medications may be necessary. These medications include topical creams and ointments, oral medications and other types of therapy, such as bleach baths and light therapy. Common treatments for eczema include: Daily skin hydration using a fragrance-free ointment Anti-inflammatory medications Topical steroids, including hydrocortisone, betamethasone valerate and clobetasone butyrate Oral antihistamines, specifically for increased itching at night Mupirocin, an antibiotic used when bacterial infection is present Bleach baths, which involve adding a small amount of bleach to a lukewarm bath Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy,

A Lethal Manifestation of Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection: A Case Report - Cureus

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Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is a rare and lethal condition caused by persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Signs and symptoms of CAEBV infection include fever, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Due to life-threatening consequences such as multiple organ failure, hemophagocytic syndrome, EBV-positive lymphoproliferative illness, and coagulopathy, early identification is important for successful therapy. However, because of the wide range of clinical symptoms, it might be difficult to diagnose the disease due to limited clinical experience and a low number of reports. We report a case of CAEBV in a 59-year-old woman from Saudi Arabia. We present the hospital course of the patient from admission until the patient's death as well as the clinical and pathological findings with a review of the literature. This is a rare case of CAEBV in Saudi Arabia. Introduction Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the h

Dealing With Small Red Bumps on Your Body? Doctors Weigh In on When to Worry - Parade Magazine

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When it comes to small red bumps springing up on your body, there are many possible culprits. If you've been diagnosed with a certain medical condition, such as psoriasis or eczema, you may already know what's causing the red bumps or rash on your skin. If you have acne, you're probably all too aware of that, too. But there are other reasons that you may have some small red bumps on your body, and you may not even know what they are. "So much depends on the distribution," says Amy Kassouf, MD , a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic. "If you've got all-over little red bumps, it's going to be very different from just one or two." Plus, you have to consider the location of the bumps, as well as factors like itchiness and pain. That information can help your doctor determine the most likely cause—as well as recommend treatment (if needed). Possible Reasons for Red Bumps What can you blame for your small red bumps? Here's a partial li