What is psoriatic arthritis? Do you have psoriasis? If so, it's important to pay attention to your joints. Some people who have psoriasis get a type of arthritis called psoriatic (sore-ee-at-ic) arthritis. This arthritis often begins with a few swollen joints. A single finger or toe may be noticeably

  Excessive sweating: It’s normal to sweat when you get nervous or too hot. If you sweat for no apparent reason, you may have hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis: Overview (Excessive sweating) What is hyperhidrosis (hi-purr-hi-DROE-sis)? This is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating.

Melasma is a common skin problem that causes brown to gray-brown patches on the face. More likely to affect women and people with darker skin tones, melasma affects more than six million women in the U.S.  Although the exact causes of melasma are unclear, common triggers include sun exposure, pregnancy,

What is psoriatic arthritis? Do you have psoriasis? If so, it's important to pay attention to your joints. Some people who have psoriasis get a type of arthritis called psoriatic (sore-ee-at-ic) arthritis. This arthritis often begins with a few swollen joints. A single finger or toe may be noticeably

Next steps after a melanoma diagnosis Learning that you have melanoma, the most-serious type of skin cancer, can make it difficult to hear anything else your doctor says. After leaving the office, you may wonder what happens next. While what happens next varies with each patient, there is a process

How you style your hair can cause hair to look brittle, frizzy and lackluster or even fall out. Follow these tips from dermatologists to help style your hair without causing damage. Dry your hair by wrapping it in a towel after a shower or bath. Another alternative is letting your hair air-dry.

Your skin can burn if it gets too much sun without proper protection from sunscreen and clothes. To help heal and soothe stinging skin, it is important to begin treating sunburn as soon as you notice it. The first thing you should do is get out of the sun—and preferably indoors. Once indoors, these

  Nail fungus causes changes to the infected nails. You may see white spots or a change in the nail’s color. Other signs include debris under the nail and thickening nails. Overview: Nail fungus It’s easy to get a fungal nail infection. If you have a fungal infection on your foot, the fungus can

  Lichen planus: This common skin disease often develops on the wrist. Lichen planus: Overview Many people get lichen (LY-kin) planus (PLAN-us). This disease can develop on one or several parts of the body. It can appear on the skin or inside the mouth. Sometimes, it appears in both places. Lichen

There is no need to worry if chewing gum gets stuck in your child’s hair. Simply follow these steps from dermatologists: Find a jar of creamy style peanut butter or vegetable oil, such as olive oil. Cover the gum completely with peanut butter or oil using your fingers or an old toothbrush.

Having beautiful nails is less a matter of luck and more a matter of caring for them correctly. Here are dermatologists’ top manicure and pedicure tips: Apply a cream to moisturize your nails, especially after removing nail polish since most removers contain chemicals that dry the nails.

Shaving can be a challenge for both men and women. Here are dermatologists’ tips to help you get a clean shave: Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it. Taking a shower or bath is a great way to soften your hair. Next, apply a shaving cream or gel. Be sure to shave

Has your child broken out in an itchy rash? If so, it could be a case of hives. Fortunately, hives are usually harmless and temporary. Common symptoms of hives include slightly raised, pink or red areas on the skin; welts that occur alone, in a group, or connect over a large area; and skin swelling that

If you have ever had chickenpox, or been vaccinated for it, you are at risk for getting shingles – a painful, blistering rash. This is because after the chickenpox clears, the virus stays in the body. If the virus reactivates, or wakes up, you could get shingles. Although shingles is much less contagious

  Hereditary hair loss: Millions of men and women have hereditary hair loss. This type of hair loss can often be successfully treated. Hair loss: Overview Also called alopecia (al-o-PEE-shah) Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of

  Head lice: This magnified picture of head lice on a fine-tooth comb shows that these bugs are tiny. Head lice: Overview Also called Pediculus humanus capitis Having head lice does not mean you are dirty. Most people get head lice when they have head-to-head contact with someone who has head

  Herpes simplex: After clearing, herpes simplex sores can return. When the sores return, the outbreak tends to be milder than the first outbreak. Herpes simplex: Overview Herpes simplex is a common viral infection. If you’ve ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you picked up the herpes simplex

When the temperature dips below freezing, it’s critical to protect your skin from cold-weather health risks. Frostbite occurs when the skin – and sometimes the tissue beneath the skin – freezes due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Depending on how long and how frozen the tissue, frostbite

More and more patients are asking their dermatologists for skin care tips that will keep a tattoo looking its best. Here are some tips from dermatologists for keeping tattooed skin healthy and vibrant: If your tattooed skin feels dry, apply a water-based lotion or cream to the tattoo. Petroleum-based

Dandruff is a common scalp condition in which small pieces of dry skin flake off of the scalp. If you have dark hair or you’re wearing dark colors, you may notice the flakes in your hair or on your shoulders. Dandruff may also make your scalp itch. Many people believe that dandruff is caused by poor

Everyone wants a happy, healthy baby, however, babies often experience discomfort from diaper rash – a condition that causes skin underneath the diaper to become red and tender. Help your baby by following dermatologists’ tips to prevent and treat diaper rash at home: Change dirty diapers as

Simple changes can soothe dry skin Following the same skin care routine year round may not work so well when the humidity drops. Without a change in your skin care, dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. Dry skin can itch, flake, crack, and even bleed.  To help heal dry skin and prevent

  Genital warts: The warts appear in various sizes and shapes. Genital warts: Overview Also called condylomata acuminata Genital warts are warts that appear in the genital area. There can be 1 wart or a cluster of warts. People get these warts by picking up the human papillomavirus (HPV) from

Dry skin can flake, itch, crack, and even bleed. To help relieve dry skin, dermatologists offer these tips: Keep baths and showers short. Use warm, not hot water, and a mild cleanser. Gently pat the skin dry. Apply moisturizer after getting out of the bath or shower. Ointments and creams

Consumers often spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars a year on skin care products in an effort to improve the look of their skin. From anti-aging serums to acne medications, many adults and teens regularly apply medications or treatments to their skin. But does the sequence in which skin

Sunscreen is safe and can protect your skin against skin cancer and premature aging. However, it is not as effective unless it's applied correctly. Follow these tips from dermatologists when applying sunscreen: Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides

Although ear piercings are more common and can be less risky than other body piercings, they can still cause complications if not handled safely. For anyone thinking about getting their ears pierced, dermatologists urge people to follow these steps to avoid infection: Always wash your hands before

Boils are pus-filled skin infections that occur around a hair follicle or oil gland. This causes a red, painful lump to form as pus collects under the skin. A boil that occurs on the eyelid is called a stye. To treat a boil or stye at home, dermatologists recommend the following tips: Make a warm

If you have a cold sore – small blisters on the lip or around the mouth – you’re not alone. More than half of Americans ages 14 to 49 carry the virus that causes cold sores. The virus stays in the body even after the cold sores clear. If the virus reactivates, or wakes up, you could get cold sores. Cold

Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your skin. When diabetes affects the skin, it’s often a sign that your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high. This could mean that: You have undiagnosed diabetes, or pre-diabetes Your treatment for diabetes needs to be adjusted If

  Hidradenitis suppurativa: This skin disease often forms on the underarm. Hidradenitis suppurativa: Overview Also called acne inversa What is hidradenitis suppurativa? Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease that usually begins as pimple-like bumps on the skin. The pimple-like bumps tend to develop

Atopic dermatitis: Overview Also called: Eczema This is a common skin disease in children. It is so common that people have given it a few names: Eczema (name most people use) Dermatitis Atopic (a-top-ic) eczema Atopic dermatitis To avoid confusion, we’ll use the medical term atopic

Fillers: Overview Also called soft-tissue fillers, dermal fillers, soft-tissue augmentation As we age, our skin loses its youthful fullness. Fillers help to restore lost fullness to the face, lips, and hands.  Fillers are popular for several reasons. Patients like that they can return to everyday

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP): Overview What is dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans?   Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: This raised, reddish-brown patch began as a small red lump that grew slowly. Dermatofibrosarcoma (dur-mah-toe-fy-bro-sar-co-ma) protuberans (pro-to-bur-anz) (DFSP) is a rare

How you wash your face can make a difference in your appearance. Follow these tips from dermatologists to help you keep your face looking healthy. Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser.