Skin and hair health Archive

Poison ivy rash is a red, blistering, itchy skin reaction caused by contact with the oily resin of the poison ivy plant. Quickly washing any exposed skin and contaminated clothing, tools, pets, or gear may help reduce the risk of a reaction. For a mild rash, home remedies and over-the-counter medications can help soothe symptoms; stronger prescription drugs can help heal more severe cases.

Misconceptions about poison ivy are common - from when you can get it to how you might get it, and the best ways to treat it. Knowing the facts can help you avoid it, or treat it properly if you are exposed to it.

Severe protein malnutrition can trigger hair shedding, but most thinning of hair stems from genes, hormones, illness, or medications rather than daily protein intake.

I have a problem with hair loss. After I came back from Iraq I started losing hair in small patches, first on my beard and then on my scalp. Could my hair loss be caused by a fungus rather than stress?

Treatment for hair loss depends on the type of hair loss a person is experiencing. Sudden hair loss often gets better on its own once an underlying condition is treated. Gradual hair thinning caused by aging or genetics may stop or start to reverse with topical medications, oral medications, supplements, laser light treatments, or injections of platelet-rich plasma. And for any of these approaches, the key is starting them as soon as hair loss is detected. Once hair follicles stop working, the only option to restore hair is hair transplant surgery.

Two drugs-minoxidil (Rogaine, sold over the counter as a foam or liquid to be applied to the scalp) and finasteride (Propecia, a prescription pill)-are approved for treating male-pattern baldness. Several promising new drug options are in the pipeline.

A 2025 study suggested that people with certain chronic conditions were more likely to experience side effects after cosmetic injections with botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin).

About half of Americans have herpes simplex virus type 1, which causes cold sores that can recur periodically. The virus can't be eliminated, but topical and oral treatments can help. In addition, people can avoid cold sore triggers such as stress or fatigue.

Autoimmune disorders that may involve skin symptoms include psoriasis, lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, vitiligo, bullous pemphigoid, alopecia areata, lichen planus, autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and sarcoidosis.