Are you facing an acne problem even when you are in your 30s or 40s? Acne has never been just a teen problem. However, it is infamous for affecting young people. These days, various causes like an increase in pollution and rising stress levels have caused a surge in the number of acne cases in men and women. Getting the right treatment can help adults control an acne breakout. What causes acne? Acne is a skin condition that results in blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, pustules, and a lot more. These unsightly blemishes on the skin are most prevalent in teens because of hormonal changes. However, adult acne is also a common problem. Acne is caused by a buildup of excess body oil (sebum) in the skin pores. This sebum is sticky, and so hair, dust, and other particles stick to it, causing raised bumps. The blocked pores can no longer push out the excess sebum or clear the skin of toxins by sweating. So, the dirt accumulates, creating a conducive environment for bacterial infections. Causes of adult acne While acne breakouts mostly reduce once you enter your twenties, you can still get it if your skin pores are blocked. People with oily skin are especially vulnerable because their skin normally secretes excessive sebum. Adult acne can be triggered by: Environmental pollution Hormone fluctuations Using harsh cosmetic products Using creamy, oil-based skin-care products on oily skin Eating a high-sugar diet Not taking good care of your skin Treatments for adult acne One can use medications, light therapy, and home remedies to treat adult acne. Some of these treatment options are: Adult acne medication For adult acne, you may be asked to use the following — topical applications and oral medications. Topical applications Salicylic acid-based creams: These creams give a gentle exfoliation effect, thus removing dead cells.

Shingles is an infection caused by a virus. It is characterized by a painful rash. The same virus that causes chickenpox leads to this viral infection. It results in the development of a stripe of blisters, usually on one side of the body. This rash is very painful, and usually, patients need to adopt some remedies to get relief from shingles. Symptoms and diagnosis of shingles Shingles is characterized by pain and a burning sensation. You may also experience a tingling or numbing sensation in or under your skin. It may lead to the appearance of red blisters which are very painful. Shingles is also accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and headache. You may experience itching and irritation as well as fatigue due to shingles. Your doctor may diagnose shingles through its tell-tale symptoms and signs. When you have red blisters that tend to sting, itch and burn, you probably have shingles. These signs alone help your doctor in the diagnosis of this problem. It is essential to get the right diagnosis to find the right remedies and treatments for shingles. Risk factors The varicella-zoster virus which causes chickenpox is responsible for shingles as well. If you have had chickenpox at any point of time in your life, you face the risk of developing this condition. Once this virus enters your system, it stays dormant for a long time. It may get activated by exposure to infections when your immunity levels are low. Though shingles itself is not contagious, the varicella-zoster virus is communicable. Exposure to open sores of other shingles patients can put you at the risk of developing this infection. You are at high risk of developing shingles after you turn 50. Some diseases like HIV, AIDS, as well as cancer, can put you at risk of developing this problem.

Sciatica is referred to as the pain or irritation of the sciatic nerve. It has been found that around 4 in 10 people experience sciatic nerve pain at one point in their lives. The nerve originates from the lower spine on either side of the legs. It then travels down along the upper leg before splitting at the knees to cover the feet. Before one seeks treatment for sciatic nerve pain, they must know the exact cause. Pain can result from anything that exerts pressure or irritates the nerves. This pain will be felt at the back of one thigh or buttock. The intensity of the pain might vary from one person to the other depending on the extent of pressure and the general health status. The pain may be mild, a burning sensation, sharp sting, or extreme discomfort. At its worst, one would feel numbness, a tingling feeling, and extreme weakness. It is worsened by long hours of sitting or standing, sneezing, coughing, straining, lifting, or twisting. Types of sciatic nerve pain Sciatic nerve pain may be divided into two types depending on the frequency of occurrence and the extent of pain experienced. Acute sciatica – The pain appears unannounced and may disappear within a short while. A common treatment option for this type of sciatic nerve pain could be using over-the-counter medicines. Exercises such as light walking and stretching could also help provide relief. Hot and cold treatment therapies are also recommended, with emphasis on the spot where one is experiencing the pain. One can only use self-medicating painkillers after identifying the cause of pain. Chronic sciatica – This pain is prolonged and will, therefore, require continued treatment or medication. One would need a medical diagnosis to ascertain that one is experiencing sciatic nerve pain and not anything else.

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition that spreads easily among people who live in crowded areas or close-knit communities. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the development of serious complications. What is scabies? Scabies is a skin condition with symptoms like severe itching and a rash that can spread all over the body. It is caused by a small mite that burrows just underneath the skin, leading to the formation of tiny bumps all over the body. Scabies can lead to complications if it is not detected and treated on time. You can run an internet search for photos of scabies rashes to understand how these rashes look. You can see a widespread rash and reddened skin in these scabies rash photos. What’s not visible to the human eye is the infestation by a microscopic mite housed underneath the skin. Symptoms of scabies The most common signs and symptoms of scabies are extreme itchiness that may worsen at night and small, red blisters or bumps all over the skin. In adults and older children, these bumps are all over the body but mostly in the area around the fingers, armpits, waist, wrists, knees, breasts, buttocks, and male genitalia. In infants or babies, this condition is seen on the scalp, face, feet, or palms. A search for photos of scabies rash in babies will show you the areas in which this rash typically forms. Symptoms may not appear for up to six weeks after a person has been infected. However, in the case of people with a prior scabies infestation, the signs may show up after a few days. The condition can worsen even if symptoms are not visible. In the initial stages of the condition, scabies may often mimic other skin rashes caused by acne or mosquito bites. The main difference is the constant itching a person will experience.

The dry eye syndrome can be a progressive and chronic condition that needs to be treated as early as possible. Depending on the cause of the problem and severity, the condition might not be completely treatable. However, dry eyes are manageable in most cases and this result in fewer dry eye symptoms, greater eye comfort, and sharper vision. Since the dry eye disease has many causes, various treatment methods can be used. Some treatments focus on managing or reversing the condition while others improve the tear quality or hinder tears from draining away from the eyes quickly. Let’s have a look at the top five effective dry eye treatment options. Artificial tears If you’re experiencing a mild case of dry eyes which is caused by reading, computer use, school work or any other situation cause, the perfect dry eye treatment is using artificial tears or lubricating eye-drops. Usually, the artificial lubricating tears are the initial step in the treatment of dry eyes. You can get different artificial tears brands even without a prescription; this over-the-counter (OTC) lubricating eye drops come in a wide range of ingredients as well as viscosity. Those with a low viscosity offer quick relief with no or little blurring to your vision once applied. However, the relief is short-lived and must be used frequently. High viscosity artificial tears are gel-like and offer long-lasting lubrication. These tears blur your vision so they should only be reserved for bedtime use. Make sure you adhere to the directions on the brand you use and don’t substitute different brands from those the doctor has recommended. Steroid eye drops In recent years, doctors have realized the significance of inflammation in relation to dry eyes. The inflammation causes the burning and redness linked with the dry eye problem even though it may be present without symptoms or signs of dry eyes.

A burning sensation in your feet can have many causes like diabetic neuropathy, athlete’s foot, alcohol use, and so on. Identifying the cause is vital for focused medical treatments. Besides this, you can also try several home remedies. What causes a burning sensation in the feet? Many diseases and infections can cause burning pain in your feet. Diabetic neuropathy: If you have diabetes, gradually, your nerves can get damaged. This nerve damage starts in the feet. Damaged nerves may send incorrect signals to the brain, inducing pain sensations even when there is no wound or another injury. Heavy alcohol use: If you have a practice of regularly consuming alcohol in large amounts, then you can face nerve damage. Erythromelalgia: This condition produces a shooting and burning pain in your feet, without any recognizable cause. It is a rare disease. If you have it, then the pain can get worse after stressful activities like long walks, running, or standing for a long time. Infectious diseases: Infectious diseases like Lyme disease, athlete’s foot, shingles, and HIV can induce a sharp pain in your feet. Kidney Disease: Kidney dysfunction results in a build-up of toxins as the kidneys are no longer capable of clearing the waste and toxins from your body. Thus, this can result in pain in your feet. Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid results in low levels of thyroid hormones. A low level of these hormones can cause your feet to swell up and feel painful. Nutritional deficiencies: Vitamin B deficiency can cause burning pain in feet. Treatments for burning pain in the feet Depending on the cause of the burning pain, treatments may vary. For instance, burning pain in the feet caused by diabetic neuropathy may require you to keep your blood sugar levels in control by taking the right medications. Kidney disease-induced burning feet pain may be relieved by dialysis, which is a process that removes toxins from the body.

If one has been taking several trips to the bathroom within a few hours and is experiencing a burning sensation while passing urine, then one probably has contracted a bladder infection. A bacterial infection within the bladder is termed as a bladder infection. A weakened immune system invites yeast and bladder infections. Bladder infections may be contracted by using unhygienic toilets where Escherichia coli bacteria thrive. In some cases, the bacteria can move from the intestines to the urinary system. Bladder infections treatment is fairly easy. Once a proper diagnosis is done to confirm bacterial infection in the bladder, the physician may prescribe antibiotic medication. Apart from medication, one may need other home care remedies to completely heal from the infection. When left untreated, a bladder infection may turn into a life-threatening condition when it spreads to the kidney or bloodstream. Symptoms of bladder infections A urinary tract or bladder infection symptoms vary with the severity of the infection. Common symptoms are as follows: Pain or burning sensation while urinating Bloody or clouded urine Foul smell from urine Frequent urination Frequent urge to urinate Pressure or cramps in the lower abdomen and back. Causes of bladder infections As mentioned above, bladder infections are caused due to E. coli bacteria. This bacterium enters the bladder through the urethra or from the anus. Once it enters the bladder, it attaches itself to the walls of the bladder and multiplies rapidly. Using unclean toilets is one of the main ways of contracting the E. coli. Consumption of unhygienic food could also result in intestinal infections, which in turn, causes a build-up of E. coli bacteria. Treatment for bladder infections Bladder infections treatment varies with the severity of the infection. From drinking plenty of water to heating pads, there are a number of simple home care techniques to fight bladder infections.

Occasional bowel movements that are watery and loose are not uncommon in most people. However, if this condition lasts for extended periods of more than a few weeks, it needs to be taken seriously and has to be treated accordingly. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening. Statistics show that at least two billion cases of diarrhea occur annually worldwide and it has been the cause of death of nearly 1.5 million children below the age of five. What is diarrhea? Frequently passing loose, watery or soft stools, with or without accompanying stomach cramps, flatulence, bloating, and stomach pressure, which is excreted suddenly is termed as diarrhea. This condition may also be complicated when there is blood in the stools, severe pain, fever, nausea, and uncontrollable urge to pass stools. It can happen to people of any age, but children and senior citizens are at a higher risk. Complications The most serious complication of diarrhea is dehydration—loss of water and electrolytes in the body—which happens because the water passes out from the body without getting absorbed by the intestines. Drinking copious amounts of water does not always compensate for the corresponding loss. Types of diarrhea The condition is classified into the following types: Chronic: This typically lasts for more than two weeks Enteritis: It involves the inflammation of the intestine Gastroenteritis: It involves stomach flu, with nausea and vomiting Dysentery: It involves loose stools with pus, mucus, and blood Common causes of diarrhea The most common chronic causes of diarrhea and acute diarrhea include microbial attacks by viruses, bacteria, or certain microorganisms that enter the intestinal tract. Viruses: They cause various mild to moderate symptoms. These may last for 3–7 days and comprise watery, frequent stools, stomach cramps, and a mild fever. Common viruses include rotavirus (common in children), Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and hepatitis virus.

A spasm or cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. Muscle spasms can happen at any time and are quite painful. It usually goes away on its own, without much treatment. However, if the spasm is extremely painful, and does not resolve by itself or recurs, it is imperative to seek medical care as it may be an indication of a serious underlying medical problem. Typically, muscle spasms involve a whole muscle, a specific part of it, or various muscles in a group. The most common sites for muscle spasms are hands, foot, arms, thighs, calves, abdomen, and sometimes along the ribcage. These spasms vary in intensity ranging from mild twitches to severe and disabling pain. The spastic muscle may become sensitive to touch and in a few cases, appears visibly distorted. These spasms may last for a couple of seconds or up to 20 minutes or longer. Also, they may recur several times a day. Muscle spasms can happen to anyone. Irrespective of whether you are old, young, athletic or sedentary, it can happen to you. Also, it can occur while you are sitting, walking, exercising, or even sleeping. Many people who undertake regular physical exercise experience spasms. Causes of muscle spasms The exact cause of muscle spasm is not known. However, according to some research studies, here are some factors that can lead to muscle spasms: Dehydration Insufficient stretching before exercise Electrolyte depletion Muscle fatigue Exercising in high temperatures Altered neuromuscular control Performing a new activity Out of all the causes mentioned above, exercising in high temperatures is believed to be the most significant one. When you work out in the heat, you sweat a lot, and sweat contains fluids as well as electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, salt, and potassium). When the level of these vital nutrients falls beyond a certain limit, the chance of muscle spasm increases.

Also known as mastalgia and mastodynia, breast pain happens to be a common occurrence. According to the California Pacific Medical Center, between 50 to70 percent of women in the country suffer from breast pain. Breast pain can occur due to numerous reasons. Also, in most cases, breast pain does not indicate breast cancer. The symptoms of mastalgia and mastodynia include tightness and heaviness in the breast, a dull ache, and breast tenderness. In some cases, the pain can spread to the arms as well. If this pain is linked to the menstrual cycle, it is known as cyclical mastalgia. Sometimes, women experience breast pain in only on the left side. There are various conditions which can cause this left-sided breast pain. In this article, we will look at some of the significant causes of breast pain in the left side and some treatment methods for it. Causes of left breast pain in women Injury: The skin of the breast is highly elastic and sensitive. It shields the connective tissues, blood vessels, nerves, ducts, and lobes that produce milk. A breast injury can cause damage to these tissues, resulting in a severe ache. Also, sometimes, an injury to the breast heals with scar tissues and may cause pain. These tissues may feel like a lump, making it difficult to distinguish them from breast cancer. Breast surgery: Any type of breast surgery, regardless of whether it involves reduction, enhancement or reconstruction, will make the breast tender and cause pain. Gradually, as the incision heals, scar tissues will develop. And in the case of scar tissues, the pain can come and go, long after the surgery is complete. Milk duct infections: Numerous benign yet painful conditions can occur inside your mammary glands. For instance, the milk ducts can get clogged and infected, resulting in a breast infection.

The human joints can be considered as engineering marvels that bear an enormous amount of stress. They are body parts that not only connect your bones but also support and carry the weight of your body and facilitate easy movement. Prolonged daily functions can impose a huge strain on them. As a result, they suffer wear and tear, injuries, and damage, causing symptoms like pain, and reduced mobility and flexibility. Statistics show that there are at least 30 million adults in the country who currently live with joint pain. It can be a debilitating condition that prevents you from carrying on daily activities, engaging in sports, entertainment, and recreation. If it is severe, it could affect your career and almost all parts of your life. Based on the underlying cause, severity, and available resources, there are a variety of treatment options that can help provide quick joint pain relief. They include medications, injections, dietary supplements or changes, alternative therapy, massage, yoga, chiropractic options, surgery, lifestyle changes, and exercise. Causes of joint pain Some of the common causes of joint pain include the following: Inflammation Diseases or infections like arthritis and chikungunya Aging and natural wear and tear Accidents and injuries Impact and trauma Nerve damage Poor posture Over-use of certain parts of the body Lack of exercise; sedentary job and lifestyle Being overweight Certain autoimmune disorders Breakdown of cartilage in the knee joints Hypothyroidism Rheumatic fever Dislocation, sprains, and strains Bursitis There are some medicinal and natural remedies one can resort to when looking to get quick relief from joint pain. While acute symptoms caused by accidents, injuries, and certain diseases can be treated with over-the-counter medications or a course of antibiotics, certain other s ymptoms that are caused by lifestyle factors can be treated with exercise regimes, yoga, and even weight-loss.

Heartburn is a condition that results from a disturbed digestive system. In this condition, the acidic contents of your stomach end up going back up through the esophagus pipe as a result of reflux. This leads to an uncomfortable feeling that is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest, which is commonly known as heartburn. Heartburn – Main causes, signs, and symptoms The lower part of the esophagus, or the food pipe, opens up to release food into your stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter, which is the lower part of the food pipe may sometimes end up opening abnormally to release acidic contents back into the esophagus. It could be caused due to indigestion of certain foods or even due to the consumption of spicy foods. This results in the feeling of a strange, burning sensation in your chest, which can be characterized as one of the main heartburn signs. In other words, every time the lower esophageal sphincter gets too relaxed, the stomach juices go upwards, thereby causing this condition. As mentioned above, the occurrence of heartburn signs and symptoms can be attributed to the intake of certain kinds of drinks and foods. The intake of spicy foods, in particular, can lead to the onset of heartburn symptoms. It can also be triggered by consuming certain fatty and fried foods. The lower esophageal sphincter ends up weakening as a result of consuming large meals as well. Certain foods like the tomato sauce and ketchup may also cause certain signs and symptoms of heartburn to appear. Certain citric products can also be responsible for causing heartburn symptoms. Beverages that have high caffeine content and alcoholic drinks are also known to be a leading cause of heartburn symptoms. Even peppermint and chocolate can be responsible for triggering heartburn. Typical heartburn symptoms and signs There are certain heartburn symptoms and signs that are characterized by a burning sensation and pain in the chest usually when you lie down or after eating.