Public Health

Before conducting an ultrasound scan your doctor will apply a clear, water-based gel to your skin. This helps provide accurate images for several reasons.

Staph, or staphylococcus, is a common bacteria that often lives on the skin around the nose, mouth and genitals. Usually, staph doesn't cause illness on the surface of the skin, but if the...

There are over 70,000 identified species of fungus, including various types of mushrooms, molds, truffles, rusts and yeasts; some estimates of total species count (including unidentified...

MRSA, also known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a strain of staph infection that usually occurs in hospitals, nursing homes or other health care settings. It generally causes...

Exam gloves, whether latex or vinyl, serve as a second layer of skin when dealing with hazardous biological and/or chemical substances. The gloves prevent penetration of body fluids or chemicals...

Fentanyl is a patch medication that is placed on the arm or upper back to supply the patient with a continual stream of pain alleviation. The medication is absorbed through the skin. Fentanyl is...

Mineral oil is an ingredient commonly found in items like baby oil, lipsticks, baby lotions, petroleum jelly and other cosmetic products. Not every ingredient found in these products is safe for...

Fentanyl patches are prescribed medication provided on a patch for moderate to severe pain. Fentanyl is a strong opioid medication that can cause overdose situations. The patch is attached to the...

Lipids are easily absorbed into the intracellular matrix of the skin and assist in fixing the matrix and barrier of the skin. Lipids have moisture-binding properties, which reduce moisture loss...

Ionic water is produced from tap water through water ionization process. It is the most simplest and convenient way of adding minerals to your diets. Proper hydration is also necessary for...

Sodium laureth sulfate is a chemical with the molecular formula C12H25NaO4S. It is the sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, which is the sulfate of lauryl alcohol. It is an organic sulfate salt.

Boric acid, also known as boracic acid, is a water-soluble chemical compound. It has been used as a mild acid since the 1700s. Boric acid is harmful to humans and other animals.

Mineral oil is very common in household products. It is consumed every day in ointments, medicines and even our food. However, recent research by health professionals has raised questions...

Natural sunlight contains two types of ultraviolet light: UVA and UVB. Tanning beds contain both as well, but the UVA radiation in a tanning bed emits 93 percent to 99 percent more of it than...

Ultraviolet light, UV for short, is an often ignored part of the light spectrum, mostly because it is invisible to the naked eye. The short-term dangers of UV exposure are usually fairly minor and...

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or drug-resistant bacterial staph infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MRSA is highly contagious and...

We are all exposed to sun rays, either natural or artificial, during our life. Both artificial and natural sun rays are comprised of either long-wave ultraviolet A or ultraviolet B rays. When it...

Learning to properly take care of your body is one of the most important skills you will ever learn. Certain parts of the body require special attention or techniques to keep them healthy and...

Gangrene is discoloration and death of the body's tissue as a result of a lack of blood being supplied to it. Gangrene can be caused by a bacterial infection or a sudden stop of blood flow caused...

Pulmonary tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infection of the lungs that can spread to other areas of the body. Although most cases of TB can be treated with antibiotics, early diagnosis is...

Teenagers generally have high levels of energy and need lots of outlets to keep their minds and bodies occupied. Swimming is a very appropriate activity that can keep teens busy, allow them to...

For many people, tanning beds are a popular alternative to spending a hot summer day at the beach and exposing your skin to the dangers of too much sunlight. Someone who is genetically pale in...

TB, or tuberculosis, is an easily spreadable, oftentimes deadly infection. This is why clinicians must monitor it closely to ensure that it does not covertly start spreading, as it can affect...

MRSA is a serious condition and it kills thousands of people every year. Because it is a serious public health issue, medical researchers continue to gather information on MRSA and come up with...

Propylparaben is a white crystalline solid that is frequently used in cosmetics, skin care products and food. It has a generally low toxicity by ingestion. Propylparaben can irritate eyes, skin,...

When we think of parasites and the various symptoms that go along with their infection, gastrointestinal problems usually come to mind--gas and bloating, diarrhea and the like. But the fact is,...

Coumadin is a prescription medication used for the prevention and treatment of dangerous blood clots. The medicine makes sure the blood is flowing properly by lowering the blood's clotting...

Boric acid is a naturally occurring compound used in insecticides, antifungal preparations, antibacterial preparations, insulation, glass, skis, circuit boards and furniture padding. When handled...

Yeast, or candidiasis, is a fungus that is found on areas of moisture on human skin. This includes body zones such as the mouth or genitals. Yeast infections are the result of a build-up of excess...

Intradermal injections are a method of introducing a substance (allergen, vaccine or other) under the top layer of the skin. This method is used most often in tuberculosis screenings, also known...

Skin lotion, although often fragrant and appealing, can be harmful to skin and health if it contains dangerous chemical ingredients. Chemical additives can trigger severe allergic reactions such...

Indoor tanning beds are extremely popular, especially in locations with long, cold, snowy winters. Sure, people living along a coastline in California or Florida have easy access to glorious sun...

Tanning booths are popular in today's culture, but the tropical hues obtained by tanning salon patrons can come at a steep price.

get rid of acne - Looking to get rid of acne. This article will explain hot to get rid of acne and have your face clear up in no time. This article is geared to those with mild cases of acne. ...

prevent razor burn - this article will help you prevent razor burn. Razor burn can be one of the most irritating thins for new and experienced shavers. Here are a few simple steps to prevent...

Tanning booths are electronic beds that provide an artificial source of ultraviolet rays, designed to help people achieve a tan more rapidly and under more controlled conditions than in natural...

Everyone wants beautiful, clear and unblemished skin. Whether you're sixteen or sixty, you can have the best possible skin just by following a few simple steps each day and making sure that you're...

A common method of measuring body fat is by measuring the thickness of subcutaneous fat on 7 particularly fleshy areas of the body. These skinfold measurements are taken with a special tool...

In the United States, 30 million people use indoor tanning salons every year. More than 2 million of that group are teenagers, with about half of those states regulating tanning for minors. It's a...

Mace can be used to control an unruly crowd or as a self-defense mechanism. Hopefully, you will never have to worry about being sprayed with mace. If that time ever does come, however, you may...

Lice are known as fly babies, and can infect both humans and animals. For humans however, the prominent type of lice that can be infectious are body lice. They are parasitic insects that thrive...

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a certain type of staph infection which usually affects the skin. Although it can be treated, it is resistant to most common antibiotics,...

There are few benefits to using tanning beds and many side effects. Tanning beds can be harmful to your eyes and skin. They can also cause other health problems such as skin cancer and prohibit...

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it is prone to dozens of disorders. These can range from minor conditions such as rashes and allergic reactions, to chronic conditions such as eczema...

Tanning beds are a popular way to tan when tanning outside is impossible or undesirable. Tanning beds, despite their popularity, are not without risks. Tanning beds emit the same ultraviolet...

Indoor tanning does not expose you to the damaging effects of the sun, and is actually one of the safest ways to get a tan. Having a base tan is one of the best ways to ensure you don't get...

One of the hazards of obtaining a tattoo is the possibility for serious infection. Because tattoos involve having a needle pierce your skin, it is possible for contaminated blood or serum to...

Soap cleans by removing dirt, germs and other debris from your hands and body. The act of rubbing or scrubbing with soap helps rid the hands and body of germs and dirt, while reducing the spread...

Sunscreen is needed to protect the skin form two types of damaging rays from sunlight. They are called ultra violet or UV rays for short. The two types of ultra violet rays that can damage skin...

Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) are small insects that feed on human blood. These parasites live and lay their eggs on human clothing and crawl onto the skin surface to suck blood. They...