Doctors often prescribe antibiotics to treat severe acne or acne that's 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 acne scarring. You can put antibiotics right on your skin (topical) or take...
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 causing acne pimples and cystic lesions. At first, acne may get worse. 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 may cause tingling and a mild redness of the skin. Use them less often...
An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous growth or tumor on the auditory nerve near the inner ear. The auditory nerve carries sound impulses from the ear to the brain. An acoustic neuroma grows slowly and can cause hearing loss in the affected ear. Although the growth is not cancerous, it can press on other nerves or brain...
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the last stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS weakens the immune system and increases a person's risk of developing serious illnesses such as certain cancers, opportunistic diseases, and neurological disorders. HIV is spread through...
What is acquired von Willebrand disease? Acquired von Willebrand disease is a rare bleeding disorder that might be caused by other medical problems or medicines. It prevents blood from clotting properly. It is rarer than the inherited form of von Willebrand disease. What causes it? Medical problems that might cause...
Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine is a combination medicine used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies. Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Provides a summary of interactions with vitamins, herbs, and food
Controlling zinc deficiency is key to treating this rare childhood disorder. According to research or other evidence, the following steps may be helpful. Reach for the supplements Overcome the poor mineral absorption associated with acrodermatitis by taking zinc supplements as recommended by your doctor
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder in which the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. This disorder causes abnormal enlargement of bones and tissues, noticeably in the hands and feet, which occurs gradually over several years. Enlarged bones in the nose and mouth may cause a large tongue and widely spaced...
The acromioclavicular joint is the gliding joint that forms the connection between the acromion of the shoulder blade and the collarbone. It is part of the mechanism that allows the shoulder to rise and fall (shrug).
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.
Actinic keratosis, also called solar keratosis, is a skin growth that develops in sun-exposed skin, especially on the face, hands, forearms, and neck. It occurs most often in pale-skinned, fair-haired, light-eyed people beginning at age 30 or 40. Actinic keratoses are persistent, noticeable, small red, brown, or...
Actinic lentigines ("liver spots," "sun spots," or "age spots") are small, gray-brown spots that appear on the wrists, backs of the hands, forearms, and face. Actinic lentigines are not a type of skin cancer, do not progress to become skin cancer, and do not require any treatment. But rapid change in one of these spots...
Common charcoal is made from wood, coconut shell, peat, coal, or petroleum. "Activated charcoal" is a processed form of common charcoal that contains pores that can trap other chemicals and prevent them from being absorbed by the body. Activated charcoal is used to treat certain types of chemical poisonings...
An active ingredient is a substance in a product that has an effect on the body. It can affect one part of the body (such as the skin) or the entire body. A product can have more than one active ingredient. The active ingredient of a product is listed on its box or packaging. Also, the amount of active ingredient is...
Active listening is a process that includes: Paying attention to what another person is saying. Thinking about what the person has just said. Responding in a way that lets the person know that you understood what he or she was trying to say. Hearing is not the same as listening. Hearing is a physical process. A person...
Active surveillance is an option for some people who have slow-growing cancer that hasn't spread outside the prostate (localized). With active surveillance, you'll have regular checkups and tests. You won't have treatment unless tests show the cancer is growing. Some people will never need treatment. It may seem odd to...
Active surveillance and observation are wait-and-see approaches to treatment for prostate cancer. They let you avoid or postpone treatments like surgery and radiation that can cause serious side effects. Active surveillance. This means that you'll have regular checkups and tests but you won't have treatment unless the...
Acupressure may help relieve or shorten the duration of your morning sickness symptoms. Acupressure is based on Eastern medicine practices used to open up blocked energy pathways in the body. Instead of using acupuncture needles, you or a practitioner presses on a small area of the body to treat a given ailment...
Acupuncture is a treatment based on traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese acupuncture usually is done by putting very thin needles into the skin at certain points on the body to produce energy flow along the body's meridians; other types of acupuncture may use heat, pressure, or mild electrical current to...
Discusses a traditional Chinese therapy that uses very thin needles placed in the skin to influence energy flow (called chi or qi). Explains its complementary medicine use for pain and conditions such as headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Covers safety issues.
Acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of illnesses for more than 2,000 years. Acupuncture is a component of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system of medicine. As such, a diagnosis based on TCM is generally made prior to the administration of acupuncture needles. This TCM diagnosis, which is much different...
This cancer information summary provides an overview of the use of acupuncture as a treatment for individuals with cancer or cancer-related disorders. The summary includes a brief history of acupuncture practice, a review of laboratory and animal studies, the results of clinical observations and trials, and possible...
Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to one or more places on the skin known as acupuncture points (see Question 1). Clinical trials report the use of acupuncture relieves nausea and vomiting from anticancer therapies (see Question 5). Other trials have studied the use of acupuncture in...
An acupuncturist is a health professional who applies theories of traditional Chinese medicine in the form of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a procedure in which thin needles are inserted into specific parts of the body to relieve pain and treat illness. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe acupuncture...
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the tubes that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes). When these tubes are inflamed, they swell and produce mucus. Acute bronchitis usually develops rapidly and lasts 2 to 3 weeks in otherwise healthy people.
Describes acute bronchitis, which is short-term inflammation of the tubes that carry air to the lungs. Explains difference between bronchitis and pneumonia. Includes causes and symptoms like cough. Covers treatment options.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an event that occurs when part of the heart muscle is not getting enough blood and oxygen. ACS includes unstable angina and a heart attack. In a heart attack, the heart muscle is injured or starts to die. ACS is an emergency. ACS is most often caused by a narrowed or blocked coronary...
Covers angina and symptoms that happen when the heart does not get enough blood. Covers unstable angina and heart attack. Discusses treatment with medicines, angioplasty, or bypass surgery. Offers prevention tips.
