Parasitic Diseases

Testing skincare products is an occupational hazard. In the past, I've been lucky. I'm relatively non-reactive (I used to claim). But, boy, have I been humbled. I had polished off the last of my morning serum, the Major Fade Hyper Serumby #PillowtalkDerm, which I highly recommend. I swapped in a vitamin C serum from a reputable brand that came highly recommended by derms and other editors. Also, Kaia Gerber uses the full line, non-sponsored. However, I wasn't really paying attention to this serum's label, which read: 25% L-ascorbic acid. You may be thinking, Careful with that! For those uninitiated, L-ascorbic acid is the active form of the antioxidant vitamin C, commonplace in today's "brightening" serums. According to dermatologists, L-ascorbic acid has long been credited as the most effective form of vitamin C, the gold standard, even. The problem? It's unstable and can, in high concentrations, cause irritation or an inflammatory reaction. While t...

Biotin (vitamin B7) is a micronutrient vital to energy production, nervous system health, and other bodily functions. Found in a plethora of foods and available as a supplement, biotin is most well-known for strengthening hair and nails and combatting alopecia . More research is needed, but there is also some evidence that biotin may improve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and help people with diabetes gain control of their blood sugar. While the use of biotin is generally safe, the vitamin may interfere with some lab tests and medications, so you should tell your healthcare provider if you plan to use it. This article covers biotin's benefits for your health and hair, its safety, and how to select the right biotin product for you. Verywell / JR Bee What Is Biotin? Biotin is an essential nutrient. An essential nutrient is one that your body can't produce or can't produce enough of and needs to function correctly. ...

Tocotrienols are a type of vitamin E. Unlike other forms of vitamin E, tocotrienols are less commonly found in nature. Most of the food we eat contains tocopherols instead of tocotrienols, but several types of vegetable oils, like palm oil, contain high amounts of tocotrienols. Most vitamin E supplements contain tocopherols and not tocotrienols. Studies also suggest that tocotrienol is a more potent form of vitamin E than tocopherol. Research also tells us that tocotrienol has many health benefits.  This article discusses tocotrienols, including health benefits and uses, side effects, potential interactions, and more. mooindy / Getty Images What Are Tocotrienols Used For? Research suggests that tocotrienols are powerful antioxidants that can combat inflammation in the body. This anti-inflammatory effect may have several potential benefits, including: Brain cell protection : Some studies suggest that tocotrienol has neuroprotect...

Multivitamins are one of the most commonly used supplements in the United States — around one-third of adults currently take them ( 1 ). People who take multivitamins often do so to improve or maintain their health, protect themselves against nutrient deficiencies, or simply make up for the odd nutrient gap in their diet ( 1 ). You can purchase multivitamins without a prescription, and most people view them as safe, which might explain their popularity. Despite this, multivitamins are not risk-free. This article discusses whether you should be concerned about taking multivitamins. It reviews the potential side effects of multivitamins and which ingredients may cause them. Share on Pinterest Tatjana Zlatkovic/Stocksy United Possible side effects of multivitamins Your body needs to consume at least 13 vitamins and 16 minerals regularly to function properly. A well-balanced diet is the best way to obtain these nutrients. That said, multivitamins provide a good alternative source for those...

Three punch biopsies were obtained. Spongiotic dermatitis with eosinophils was seen. There was a single specimen of tissue that showed a possible intraepidermal larva with a tract in the epidermis. The differential diagnosis included allergic contact dermatitis and arthropod bite eruption, among others, but clinical correlation made cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) the likely diagnosis. The patient was treated empirically with albendazole 400 mg once daily for 3 days. In addition, he was prescribed triamcinolone for symptomatic relief and remained asymptomatic for 8 weeks at which time he presented again to the dermatology clinic with a similar rash in the same distribution. He was treated with a repeat course of albendazole and further educated on the etiology of the infection. The patient has not exhibited a recurrence after treatment of the second episode of CLM. Cutaneous larva migrans is a dermatosis of the skin caused by the larvae of parasitic nematodes from the hookworm family, mo...

Hookworms are one of the most common parasites plaguing the companion animal world. They use their hooklike mouths to latch onto an animal's intestines, where they feast on tissue fluids and blood. Infected animals can experience dramatic weight loss, bloody stool, anemia and lethargy, among other issues. Now they've become multiple-drug resistant, according to new research from the University of Georgia. Right now, U.S. veterinarians rely on three types of drugs to kill the hookworms, but the parasites appear to becoming resistant to all of them. Researchers from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine first reported this concerning development in 2019, and new research, published recently in the International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, provides deeper insight into where the problem started and how bad it's since become. For the present study, the researchers focused on current and former racing greyhounds. Dog racetracks are particularly ...