Whether it’s one pimple or a cluster of blemishes, acne is a common problem that affects people of all ages — boys, girls, men, and women, according to the Mayo Clinic. (1) Acne, or acne vulgaris, occurs when glands in the skin produce and secrete too much of the skin’s natural oil, called sebum. Sebum, along with dead skin cells, can clog pores, resulting in acne. And sometimes, bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes (C....

While many foods may be contaminated with nonthreatening amounts of Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria’s ability to withstand cold conditions can allow small communities to reproduce and form colonies large enough to cause illness or a serious infection, explains Robert Buchanan, PhD, the director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Food Safety and Security Systems in Baltimore. Many foods that are left sitting out for a few hours at room temperatures — especially meats, cut fruit, and dairy foods — are risky....

In most cases, people recover from a bout of mono without any long-term effects. Usually medications will not help speed recovery, though some painkillers may ease symptoms. Knowing what precautions to take during the healing process can go a long way in helping you feel better sooner and avoid complications. (3,4) Typical symptoms of mono include: Severe fatigueFeverMuscle achesSore throatSwollen lymph nodesHeadacheLoss of appetitePink rash all over the body that resembles measlesEnlarged spleen or liver...

Razor burn occurs in both men and women, and it can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on how severe it is. People with sensitive skin may be more susceptible to razor burn. Red bumpsA rashStinging Most likely, it will look like red, irritated patches of skin. Apply gentle moisturizers to hydrate and repair the skin barrier.Use an over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation....

“Irish moss is a superfood that has recently gained widespread popularity after glowing endorsements from celebrities like Kim Kardashian,” says Jessica Cho, MD, the founder of Wellness at Century City, her personal practice in Los Angeles. AntibacterialAntiviralAnti-tumorAnti-thromboticAnticoagulantAnti-hyperlipidemicImmunomodulatory Below are some of the other proposed health benefits associated with sea moss that may warrant further studies in humans. Keep in mind that the data so far mostly comes from studies in animals, not people, and some of the purported perks are only theoretical and require further research to be confirmed....

At the time, my son was just a year old, and early on, during medical appointments, my healthcare providers would make recommendations, adding the caveat, “Well, you’re BRCA.” Actually, I’m Lambeth, I wanted to scream. While those early days of discovery feel like a lifetime ago, I find it incredible that people still get awkward when it comes to discussing this fact of my life — even though Angelina Jolie has helped demystify what it means to carry a high-risk gene variant....

For all those years, the idea has stayed with me about what we talk about among a group of like people — in this case, those who have multiple sclerosis (MS) — as opposed to what, or more specifically how, we talk about it with people who don’t. Although it’s the same umbrella subject, my experience with these two conversational cohorts falls into two quite different topics. What We Talk About With Those Who Don’t Have MS For those who do not have MS themselves, I find that we talk about what I refer to as the scaffolding of the disease itself....

Digestive Problems and Hormones “[Some] women experience constipation or looser bowel movements around their menstrual cycle,” said Stephen Hanauer, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the section of gastroenterology and nutrition at the University of Chicago Medical Center. For the women who do experience bowel changes as they approach their period, these digestive changes tend to remain consistent throughout the years. This is nothing to be concerned about, he said....

“The typical Western diet tends to be low in fiber, which we know is important to digestive health,” says gastroenterologist Ian Harnik, MD, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “A high-fiber diet can improve constipation and may even protect against disorders such as diverticulosis and colon cancer.” So how can you go about getting more fiber into your diet?...

“Collagen is an abundant protein occurring naturally in the body, and can be found in the bones, muscles, organs, and skin,” says Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center. When it comes to your skin, collagen is what makes it smooth, plump, and springy. The more collagen in your face, the fewer wrinkles you have....

How can a food additive be considered a cancer risk on one continent yet safe on another? Keep reading to find out how the United States’ approach to food safety influences the ingredients in your food, and what you need to know about additives that are prohibited in Europe but still deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When It Comes to Additives, U.S. Regulators Focus on Probability, EU Considers Possibilities Europe takes a more precautionary approach to evaluating chemicals and additives compared to the United States, says Justin J....

The first thing to understand is that most viruses and bacteria have a hard time surviving above normal human body temperature, which can vary by age, activity, and time of day, but is generally accepted as 98.6 degrees F, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In fact, even just a one- or two-degree hike in temperature can stop many invading microorganisms in their tracks. So it’s no wonder that over millions of years, fever evolved as a means of helping the body defend itself....

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and other biting bugs more than tripled between 2004 and 2016. But while mosquitoes are ubiquitous in America and pretty much everywhere else, understanding where they live, how they hunt, and when they come out to feed can help you avoid being bitten. (1) RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Bug Bites and Related Diseases Known formally as a proboscis, the female mosquito’s mouth is made up of a bundle of long, tapered feeding stylets that act like microscopic syringes — sucking out the blood that females require to produce their eggs....

To make matters worse, we often expect weight loss to happen quickly. We believe that as soon as we make up our mind to cut back on snacking, the pounds should magically melt away, and we get impatient if our pants are still fitting snugly after the first week. “People make the decision that they want to start losing weight, and they want to see something in real, substantial numbers, so they go on to this crazy diet,” says Kuldeep Singh, MD, director of the Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy in Baltimore....

“Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially debilitating autoimmune disease that can present in a variety of ways,” says Robert Koval, MD, a rheumatologist at Texas Orthopedics in Austin. It most often affects the fingers and toes, and it can also cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in other joints like the knees, back, neck, and ankles. Most patients don’t end up getting surgery. “That’s because we have so many great treatments now, as compared with in the past,” says Delamo Bekele, MBBS, a rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota....

They’re followed on the list by leafy greens — kale, collard, and mustard — nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes. “Everyone should eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, no matter how they’re grown,” said Alexis Temkin, PhD, an ecologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), in a statement. “But shoppers have the right to know what potentially toxic substances are found on these foods, so they can make the best choices for their families,” Dr....

It’s extremely common — there are more than three million cases in the United States each year. (2) In Europe, 2 out of every 100 children contract impetigo annually, making it the most common skin infection among kids. (3) Here, we answer 10 frequently asked questions associated with impetigo and its diagnosis, symptoms, and treatments. 1. Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease the Same Thing as Impetigo? No. Though hand, foot, and mouth disease is also found in young children and is also contagious, it’s a virus, whereas impetigo is a bacterial infection....

So what are plant-based diets? “There is no strict definition of what [a plant-based diet] entails,” says Elizabeth Shaw, RDN, owner of Shaw Simple Swaps in San Diego. For some, eating a plant-based diet means becoming a vegan (eating a diet free of animal products), vegetarian (eating a diet free of meat), or maybe even flexitarian (eating a vegetarian or vegan diet most of the time). Meanwhile, for other people, eating a plant-based diet simply means having meals rich in fruits and vegetables, with limited amounts of animal products, Shaw says....

You can thank chlorine for that. Chlorine is a chemical added to pools to kill harmful bacteria, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends a chlorine concentration of at least 1 part per million (ppm) in swimming pools and 3 ppm in hot tubs (which you can test using a DPD kit), but the agency doesn’t specify what concentration is too high. According to the Water Quality and Health Council, anything between 1 ppm and 5 ppm falls within an acceptable range....

“All patients should be encouraged to exercise, eat a healthy diet, and manage their weight,” says Mary Ann Forciea, MD, a physician at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia and the chair of the clinical guidelines committee for the American College of Physicians. “There are a variety of strategies to help with these goals, but all require commitment.” If making lifestyle changes feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, don’t worry....