Bald patterns on the top or front of the head and at the sides/temples are quite common amongst men, with half of all men suffering from pattern hair loss by the age of 50. It is the most common type of hair loss, representing about 95% of all cases of hair loss in men. Although... »

Know the Symptoms of Swine Flu: You may have Swine Flu if you develop temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above, followed by at least two of the following symptoms: Widespread muscle and joint aches A cough Headache Blocked or runny nose Sore throat Vomiting Watery diarrhoea Cannot stop crying (only children) Call your GP directly if you think you have swine flu and are... »

Are you at high risk of flu? Know the facts from the myths about the common flu. It is a myth that only the elderly should have the flu vaccine. It is correct to say that if you are over 65 years old you should have the flu vaccine, because as we get older our immune... »

Burns and blisters are caused when the body is exposed to either extreme heat, cold or chemicals that react with the skin. Sometimes a burn may be superficial, just skin deep. These can usually be dealt with at home with creams and cool washing. Deeper burns require medical assistance. The severity of a burn... »

A new drug, called PLX4032, has been developed to block a faulty molecule present in cancer cells. It kills the tumorous cells by blocking the activity of the BRAF gene, which is believed to be the cause of the spread of skin cancer. The drug works at the molecular level, representing a seismic shift... »

Corns and calluses are thick layers of hard skin that form when the skin is repeatedly damaged, usually due to friction and pressure with shoes. The easiest way to remove them is to change your footwear, and then in time they will go away, so long as you are healthy and fit. Older... »

Constipation is a very common medical condition. It is simply the result of the bowels not opening frequently enough and the faeces becoming hard and dry, which makes their passage slower, and sometimes more painful. Frequency of bowel movement varies from person to person, some people have 2 or 3 movements a day, and others... »

The Journal of Sexual Medicine has reported on research into a new cream that can carry the Viagra drug through the skin. The New York medical community predicts that for many people it will be a safer option than taking erectile dysfunction pills. The new invention is actually a cream that allows the Viagra drug... »

Hirsutism is an excessive growth of hair that is sometimes seen in women. Usually the hair is dark and course, and grows in abundance on the abdomen, face, back and chest. It is obviously very distressing for women. It is generally caused by a hormonal imbalance resulting where androgens (male hormones) are present in above... »

Frozen shoulder is a condition which affects mostly older people, from 50 years onwards. It is when the shoulder joint becomes painfully stiff, and movement is severely limited. There is often no apparent cause for the problem, although it does sometimes follow an injury. The following treatments are usually prescribed by doctors / health... »

There has been a worrying growth in the availability and marketing of do-it-yourself facial fillers (aka dermal fillers). These products allow people to purchase a package containing a medical needle and the product, usually some form of collagen, which is made from cow skin. They are generally used to fill out lines and wrinkles,... »

When HIV was first discovered, the medical community were optimistic that by now we would have a cure. However, this is now far from the case. The nature of the virus, and its ability to mutate rapidly, makes combating it very difficult. And today we hear that another strain has been found, this time... »

More than half the children in England taking the swine flu drug Tamiflu suffer side-effects such as nausea, insomnia and nightmares, researchers have found. Tamiflu ‘linked to side effects among children’, reports find – from the Telegraph.co.uk »

As we get older bacteria and yeast infections seems to take an increasing hold on our bodies. One of the most unpleasant cases for many adults is prunitus ani, which is literally itchy anus. An itchy anus can be caused by several factors, including bacterial infection, yeast/fungal infection or piles (haemorrhoids). Treatment in threefold: Stay as... »

The belly button is a prime spot for harbouring yeast infections and bacteria. the first signs of a problem are a slight itchiness, followed by soreness, and then possibly an odour from the bacteria. Cleaning alone will not help, and neither will antiseptic creams. To treat the infection, both an antibacterial and an anti-fungal/yeast should... »

Most patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery want to know when they will be able to return to their normal life. “Recovery time” is a common question posed to specialists and non-specialists alike. There are many factors that can contribute to recovery time, but typically patients can return to normal life activities within 1... »

Pain is a major concern for patients who are about to have total knee surgery. Post-operative knee replacement patients want to know what their life will be like after their surgery, how much discomfort they will have, and how many narcotics or other medications they will have to take. Educating yourself about pain before... »

Inflammation is your body’s natural response and is how a healthy immune system reacts to stresses to your body from injuries, irritation, chemicals, free radicals, stress and many other factors. New studies help confirm emerging evidence that low-grade inflammation is a factor in the development of heart disease and diabetes. Blood levels of C-reactive protein... »

What is stretch mark? Stretch mark, also known as stria or striae, is a type of scaring on the skin that occurs when the dermis (middle layer of the skin) is torn. It is related to rapid weight gain or loss, growth during puberty, pregnancy and muscle building. When the stretch mark first appears it... »

What is Botox? Botox is a Trade Mark for a medication based on the neurotoxic protein, called Botulinum toxin, produced by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum, it is the most toxic protein known to men. But, it can be medically used in minuscule doses to treat muscle spasms. Now a days it is also sold commercially... »

Types of Skin Lesions As we age it becomes more common to develop skin growths and pigment spots on the skin. They can vary from harmless warts, liver spots or age spots to skin cancer due to years of sun exposure. Among the most common are the red or brown scaly spots, known as actinic keratoses.... »