Health Library

The Health Library is a collection of health and wellness resources created for learning and accessibility. Select a topic below for related health information or search for a topic in the search bar for more information on other medical conditions.

Skin, Hair and Nail Conditions

  • Provides links to information about skin, hair, and nail health. Includes info about skin cancer, hair loss, nail infections, acne, and skin protection.

  • Take a minute to learn about acne and what you can do about it.

  • Guides you through decision to take isotretinoin for severe acne. Looks at the benefits and risks of this medicine. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

  • Guides you through the decision to see a doctor for acne. Covers symptoms like pimples and blackheads. Looks at treating with medicines like benzoyl peroxide (nonprescription) and isotretinoin (prescription). Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

  • The different types of acne include: Newborn acne. About 20% of newborns develop mild acne. This may be because certain hormones are passed to them through the placenta by their mothers just before delivery. Or newborns may get acne because the stress of birth may cause the baby's body to release...

  • Benzoyl peroxide is a medicine you use to treat acne. It comes in different strengths in lotions, gels, soaps, and liquids. How does benzoyl peroxide treat acne? Benzoyl peroxide unclogs skin pores. It also helps stop bacteria from growing and...

  • Alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid, mandelic acid, and glycolic acid (for example, Alpha Hydrox) are often used in products to treat acne. These products work by drying up whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples and causing the top layer of your...

  • Salicylic acid is an active ingredient in some nonprescription acne treatments. When you apply it to your skin, it dries up whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. It also causes the top layer of your skin to peel. Products that contain salicylic acid...

  • Doctors often prescribe antibiotics to treat severe acne or acne that is likely to leave scars. Antibiotics improve the look of your skin by killing bacteria that cause acne. This means you'll have fewer pimples and redness. Less acne means less...

  • Discusses acne, a skin problem. Lists symptoms, including pimples. Covers causes such as puberty, medicines, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome. Covers acne treatment for mild, moderate, and severe forms. Offers prevention tips.

  • Tretinoin (Avita, Renova, Retin-A) is a topical medicine most often used to treat acne. It is sometimes used to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and to smooth rough facial skin. Tretinoin is made from vitamin A and is sometimes called vitamin A acid or retinoic acid. It comes in cream, gel, and liquid forms. Side...

  • You can help prevent acne from getting worse by the way you wash your face: Gently wash your face once or twice a day with warm water and a mild soap or acne wash. Use gentle, circling motions rather than scrubbing your face. Always completely rinse your skin after you wash it, and gently pat it dry. Avoid rubbing...

  • Laser surgery uses a wavelength of light that is focused in a narrow beam. This high-intensity light is used to shrink or destroy skin cancers or pre-cancers (actinic keratosis). With lasers, there is usually less bleeding, swelling, and scarring. Healing is quicker, and you are less likely to get an infection. Several...

  • Discusses common skin changes and possible causes. Includes info on skin cancer. Includes home treatment tips for adults and children.

  • Discusses actinic keratosis (solar keratosis), a type of skin growth caused by sun exposure. Describes how skin will look and feel. Covers treatment options. Explains risk for squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer). Offers prevention tips.

  • What are birthmarks? A birthmark is a colored mark on or under a newborn baby's skin. Some birthmarks show up soon after a baby is born. Most birthmarks are obvious at birth. Some kinds of birthmarks fade or go away as a child gets older. Others stay the same or get bigger, darker, or thicker. There are many...

  • Discusses common skin changes and possible causes. Includes info on skin cancer. Includes home treatment tips for adults and children.

  • Birthmarks are colored marks on the skin that are present at birth or develop shortly after birth. They can be many different sizes, shapes, and colors, including brown, tan, black, blue or blue-gray, pink, white, red, or purple. Some birthmarks appear on the surface of the skin, some are raised above the surface...

  • What are the most common skin conditions in newborns? It's very common for newborns to have rashes or other skin problems. Some of them have long names that are hard to say and sound scary. But most will go away on their own in a few days or weeks. Here are some of the things you may notice about your baby's skin...

  • Try home treatment for blisters: A small, unbroken blister about the size of a pea, even a blood blister, will usually heal on its own. Use a loose bandage to protect it. Avoid the activity that caused the blister. If a small blister is on a...

  • Discusses causes of blisters, including injury and infection. Offers symptom checklist to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment and prevention tips.

  • Learn how to care for your blister so it will heal and won't get infected.

  • To prevent foot blisters that are caused by poorly fitting shoes or socks: Wear shoes and socks that fit properly. You should be able to wiggle your toes in your shoes while you are sitting and when you are standing.The inner seams of your shoes...

  • Many prescription and nonprescription medicines, including some that you put directly on the skin, may cause blisters. A few examples are: Antibiotics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin), naproxen (for example, Aleve), or piroxicam (for example, Feldene)...

  • Discusses how and why bruises and blood spots might develop. Offers checklist to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers home treatment and prevention tips.

  • Body piercing is very popular with both men and women. Many areas of the body are used for piercing. Most people who have piercings do not develop any problems. The ears are the most common piercing site. Most of the time, an earlobe piercing heals...

  • Problems that can develop when you have your tongue, inner cheek, uvula, or lip pierced include: Pain. Bleeding. Infection at the site of the piercing. Infections, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Speech problems. Chewing and swallowing...

  • Each body piercing site has its own normal healing time. Common sites usually heal within the time frames listed below. Healing depends on many things. It can depend on how big the piercing is and how thick the tissue is at the site. Your own...

  • Questions on safety standards If you are thinking about having a tattoo or body piercing, go to a reputable studio. Look for or ask about the following: Is it clean? The entire shop, including the bathroom, should be clean. What type of sterilization procedures does the shop follow? Is there a...

  • Bunion surgery generally involves an incision in the top or side of the big toe joint and the removal or realignment of soft tissue and bone. This is done to relieve pain and restore normal alignment to the joint. Small wires, screws, or plates may be used to hold the bones in place. There are no guarantees that a...

  • What is a bunion? A bunion is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe. The big toe may turn toward the second toe. The tissues around the joint may be swollen and tender. A bony bump at the base of the little toe is called a bunionette or tailor's bunion. The little toe also...

  • Guides through decision to have bunion surgery. Provides general overview of what bunions are. Looks at types of surgery, possible complications, and effectiveness. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

  • Discusses cellulitis, a skin infection caused by bacteria. Discusses how bacteria can get into the body through cuts, scrapes, and broken skin. Covers symptoms. Discusses treatment with antibiotics. Offers prevention tips.

  • Chilblains (perniosis, also known as pernio) is a reaction to cold, nonfreezing temperatures. It is seen most often in young people who have Raynaud's phenomenon and people who are exposed to damp, cold weather. Symptoms develop 2 to 14 hours after...

  • A pumice stone can be used to remove the dead skin from a callus or corn. Reducing the size of the callus or corn may result in less pressure or friction and less pain. Soak your foot or other affected area in warm, soapy water for 5 minutes or until the skin softens. Wet the pumice stone. Rub the pumice stone on...

  • A variety of pads may be used to treat or prevent calluses and corns. Protective padding cushions the callus or corn or holds the foot and toes in a more comfortable position so that calluses or corns do not develop. You can purchase protective padding in different sizes and shapes, or purchase sheets of material that...

  • What are calluses and corns? Calluses and corns are areas of thick skin caused by pressure or friction. They may cause pain when you walk or wear shoes. Calluses usually form on your hands or feet. They usually don't need treatment. Corns have an inner core that can be soft or hard. Soft corns are...

  • Discusses common skin rashes that affect those 11 and younger. Covers chickenpox, diaper rash, prickly heat, and contact dermatitis. Offers home treatment tips for fever and itching. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

  • Lists common causes of skin rashes in those 12 and older. Covers allergies, chronic skin problems like eczema, or contact with poisonous plants like poison oak. Covers home treatment. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

  • Briefly describes the causes of dry skin. Covers home treatment options. Includes info to help you decide when to call a doctor. Offers prevention tips.

  • Discusses possible causes of swollen glands and other lumps under the skin. Covers bacterial and viral infections, noncancerous growths, hernias, aneurysms, and swelling caused by cancer. Includes an interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

  • Home treatment for a lump, such as an epidermal (skin) cyst, may relieve symptoms but may not make the cyst go away. An epidermal cyst is a small, round lump in the top layer of skin called the epidermis. It may be filled with a soft, yellow substance called keratin. Epidermal cysts most often appear on the face, ears...

  • Why do people sweat? Sweating is your body's way of cooling down and getting rid of some chemicals. Sometimes heavy sweating is normal. You may sweat a lot when you exercise, when you are too hot, or when you are frightened. It's normal for teenagers to sweat more than they did when they were younger. A teen's...

  • Foot odor is common when you wear shoes that don't "breathe." Usually, if you take off your shoes, wash your feet, and put on clean socks, the odor goes away. Occasionally the problem continues despite your efforts to get rid of the odor. Persistent...

  • Hidradenitis suppurativa (say "hih-drad-uh-NY-tus sup-yur-uh-TY-vuh") is a skin condition that causes lumps on the skin that look like pimples or boils. It can come and go for many years. Doctors don't know exactly how this skin problem starts. But...

  • Discusses common skin rashes that affect those 11 and younger. Covers chickenpox, diaper rash, prickly heat, and contact dermatitis. Offers home treatment tips for fever and itching. Includes interactive tool to help you decide when to call a doctor.

  • Briefly looks at impetigo, a common bacterial skin infection in children. Covers causes and symptoms. Covers treatment with antibiotics. Explains that it is contagious. Offers prevention tips.

  • A keloid (say "KEE-loyd") is a scar that grows bigger and wider than the original injury. Keloids most commonly grow on the breastbone, shoulder, upper chest and back, earlobes, and face. Keloids do not become cancer. But they can be bothersome or painful enough that you seek treatment. Keloids often grow back after...

  • What are kissing bugs? Kissing bugs are wingless insects that are about 0.75 in. (1.9 cm) long. Kissing bugs are dark brown or black with red or orange spots along the edge of their bodies. They are also called assassin bugs or cone-nosed bugs. Like mosquitoes, kissing bugs feed on blood from animals or people...

  • What is a lipoma? A lipoma is a growth of fat cells in a thin, fibrous capsule usually found just below the skin. Lipomas aren't cancer and don't turn into cancer. They are found most often on the torso, neck, upper thighs, upper arms, and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. One or...

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