Parasitic Diseases

A blister is a bubble of fluid that builds up between two layers of skin. The most common cause of blisters is physical friction. You might get a friction blister from wearing a new pair of shoes or wearing shoes that are too tight, for example. Other causes of blisters include burns, certain types of eczema (an inflammatory skin condition), and the herpes simplex virus.  Most blisters will heal when left alone and are very unlikely to become infected. If you decide to pop a blister, though, you increase your risk of infection. A few key signs can signal that a blister is infected. This article will discuss the signs of an infected blister, complications of infection, how to treat a blister, and when to call a doctor. Daniel Lozano Gonzalez / Getty Images Signs Your blister may be infected if it's: Increasingly painful Red, especially if red streak marks are radiating outward Draining pus Swelling Warm to the touc...

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Closeup of a an adult female deer tick. Hopefully, by now you are aware of the dangers ticks can cause to humans and livestock. Recently, there have been many articles published on this topic. The threat from tick vectoring diseases have steadily increased over the years, and this trend will more than likely continue as new tick species invade our land.   This year, when out checking cattle, fixing fence lines or feeding hay, take caution from my tale and be observant for ticks and be proactive in preventing a tick-vectored disease.   Through sharing my Lyme disease story and symptoms during programs and events over the past few years, I have successfully helped multiple farmers get an accurate Lyme disease diagnosis after they had been feeling ill for an extended period without knowing why.   It is my hope that this article may help you or someone you know who has been suffering from an unknown illness by providing answers with a firsthand description of sym...

Research has suggested that the absence of parasite infections may be linked to an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions. According to a new review of existing studies, parasites may have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent aging. Controlled restorative therapies can be beneficial for regulating a proper immune response. Through centuries of evolution, the human body and its surrounding environments have adapted to improve health and promote longevity. For example, the increasing emphasis on hygiene has been effective in combating parasites that cause disease. These changes have been crucial, as evidenced by the greater life expectancies and lower disease rates in certain regions of the world. However, these benefits come with trade-offs. Parasites and humans share a long history of coexistence. It is likely that the human immune function developed in relation to parasitic mechanisms. The " old friends " hypothesis states that these parasites were lik...

Vitamin C has many important jobs in your body, but it's probably best known for supporting your immune system. Some people wonder if vitamin C is helpful for allergies, which are immune reactions to substances in your environment ( 1 ). This article takes an evidence-based look at vitamin C's effectiveness, uses, and any precautions for treating or preventing allergies. There's some evidence that vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, may help with some allergies. Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine and antioxidant. Studies have shown it may decrease inflammation, swelling, and related symptoms that happen at the site of an allergic reaction ( 1 , 2 ). Allergy symptoms happen when your immune system reacts to a foreign invader, called an allergen. Common allergens include pollen, pet dander, and proteins in certain foods. Cells in your immune system called mast cells are activated and release histamine to help block the invader. Histamine may trigger the following a...

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here's our process. Cancer treatment can cause multiple skin changes. Dryness, redness, and itching are among the most common complaints. Some over-the-counter lotions and creams may help prevent or relieve these side effects. This article discusses how chemotherapy can affect the skin and how to choose skin lotions. It also explores skin lotions in further detail, skin care tips for people undergoing chemotherapy, and frequently asked questions. Quick links Dry skin can develop when the layers of skin lack oil and water. This can occur when people are dehydrated or their skin is exposed to heat or cold. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) , skin dryness can also be a side effect of cancer treatments, such as: Chemotherapy: People who undergo chemotherapy may have dry, itchy, red, or darker skin that may peel more easily. They may also have a...

As with most aspects of beauty, healthy hair comes down to the nutrients and foods you eat. But there are some things you can do on the surface, like massaging your scalp with oil. After all, research has proven that scalp massages can promote hair growth and thickness by mechanically stimulating hair follicles. Using an oil will help reduce friction between your fingers and scalp, further improving the effects of the massage. Don't be so quick to grab just any oil, though. You might as well use an oil with properties that support hair growth. These ingredients, which include both carrier and essential oils, mainly work in one of two ways: Some promote hair growth by directly stimulating the hair follicles, while others create an ideal scalp environment for said growth. Many oils also keep the hair you do have healthy, ultimately paving the way for luscious locks. Now, there's no single oil that will magically give you long and lengthy hair. But if you want to give your scalp ...

Hives are raised rashed that appear on the skin. They can be a symptom of the skin condition urticaria. They are often red or skin-colored, itchy, and swollen. Hives are very common in young children. Urticaria is the name for the condition in which hives, also called wheals or angioedema, may develop. It is one of the most common types of skin conditions, affecting around 20% of people at some point during their lifetime. Hives can develop at any age, but according to research from 2001 , young children with allergies are particularly susceptible to developing them. Hives vary in shape and size and may develop anywhere on the body. They can appear as spots or patches and are often itchy and uncomfortable. Hives usually fade within 24 hours , but the appearance of the skin may be rough or bleeding because of scratching. Hives are usually treatable at home. This article explores the condition urticaria, the prevalence of hives in kids, and different methods of treating symptoms. The co...

Last year, Santa came a week early for a NSW couple with Ryan and Tori Boyadji welcoming a smiley baby boy. But Isaac's surprise arrival was quickly shadowed by "blotchy" rashes that covered his tiny body. Tori, 27, and her husband Ryan, 30, had no idea how serious the rashes could be until their "healthy" son was diagnosed with leukaemia at just six months old. Speaking with 7Life , the first-time mum says her little man is now one and has "spent the majority of his life in hospital." Watch video above of Isaac's first year Still hitting his milestones, baby Isaac is determined to beat anything the world throws at him Credit: Supplied The couple's first baby, the Northern Beaches mum admits her pregnancy went off without a hitch. After all the usual testing and genetic screening, the mum's results showed no abnormalities. So the excited couple began discussing names, getting the nursery sorted and Tori even started to "imagine what t...

Scabies is a skin condition that occurs as the result of a mite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. The rash that results from scabies may appear similar to other skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, or contact dermatitis. In this article, we look at what a scabies rash looks like. We also look at other rashes that are similar in appearance and their treatment options. Scabies is a common condition that occurs as the result of an infestation of a microscopic skin mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. The mites burrow under the skin, causing intense itching and a rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the rash as pimple-like. On darker skin, the rash may be more difficult to see, but a person should be able to feel it. According to DermNet, a scabies rash is varied in appearance, and may appear as: pimple-like on the limbs and trunk widespread or coin-shaped small blisters scales lesions in the armpits, groin, navel, areolas, scrotum, buttocks, and along the penil...

Research has suggested that the absence of parasite infections may be linked to an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions. According to a new review of existing studies, parasites may have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent aging. Controlled restorative therapies can be beneficial for regulating a proper immune response. Through centuries of evolution, the human body and its surrounding environments have adapted to improve health and promote longevity. For example, the increasing emphasis on hygiene has been effective in combating parasites that cause disease. These changes have been crucial, as evidenced by the greater life expectancies and lower disease rates in certain regions of the world. However, these benefits come with trade-offs. Parasites and humans share a long history of coexistence. It is likely that the human immune function developed in relation to parasitic mechanisms. The " old friends " hypothesis states that these parasites were lik...

First thing's first: WTF is an antioxidant serum? We talked to Dr. Kellie Reed, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas and Dr. Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama to give you a more science-y explanation for how antioxidant serums work. "Free radicals can cause skin conditions including rashes and skin cancers, as well as [premature] aging," Reed says. And according to Hartman, free radicals formed by exposure to UV light degrade collagen, which results in dull skin and sagging. A breakdown of collagen also leads to fine lines and wrinkles. OK, so those guys are up to no good. To prevent premature aging and reduce our chances of skin cancer and other issues, we want to neutralize free radicals. This is where antioxidants ride in on a white horse — they help prevent that damage from happening, giving your cells a better shot at producing collagen. This is mega important because — as Hartman explains — collagen production peak...