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Extreme heat: Staying safe if you have health issues

Climate change has made life-threatening heat waves increasingly common across the globe. Anyone with health issues will have a more difficult time in extreme heat, including older people and people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and other conditions. Be prepared by knowing how to identify and treat heat-related illness, and how to plan for hot days.

What conditions can cause peeling skin on the fingers and hands?

Peeling skin on your fingers can signal eczema, infection, or other issues. Explore common triggers, treatments, and when to call the doctor.

Could steroid creams or hormone problems be causing my excess hair growth?

Discover how steroid creams, hormones, thyroid issues, and other conditions might drive new hair growth and when to seek a doctor’s advice.

Poison ivy rash: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention

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.

Poison ivy: Scratchin' like a hound?

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.

Can insufficient protein intake cause hair loss?

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

What can cause hair loss in small patches?

Small bald spots can result from stress, but not always. Patchy loss can reflect hereditary patterns, alopecia areata, fungal infection, or scalp disease.

What is a dermatofibroma and how can I prevent a recurrence?

These small, firm skin bumps are usually benign and often appear on the legs. Learn why they form, how they’re removed, and sun‑safety basics to help prevent another one.

What is neurodermatitis and how is it treated?

Years of relentless itching and thickened skin may reflect an itch‑scratch cycle. Creams alone may fall short and broader treatment may be needed.

It's not too late to save thinning hair

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.

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