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Retin-A Micro is a topical gel used to treat common acne. It can be used by both teens and adults alike. This topical gel comes in four different strengths: 0.1%, 0.08%, 0.06% and 0.04%. Your dermatologist will help you get the strength you need. It is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to see a dermatologist. There is no over-the-counter version of this treatment. How Retin-A Micro Works Retin-A Micro works to clear acne by reducing buildup of keratin, dirt and oil in skin pores (AKA comedones)....

One way to better understand your melanoma diagnosis and the resulting treatment strategy is to read your melanoma pathology report, which is sent to your healthcare provider and contains critical information such as the exact stage of your disease. Diagnosis If a suspicious lesion or mole is found during your skin exam, your primary care healthcare provider or dermatologist will take a biopsy specimen for the pathologist (a practitioner who examines tissues and fluids to diagnose disease in order to assist in making treatment decisions) to examine under a microscope....

When did closed captioning first become available? What is the history of sign language? Living in this current age, it’s hard to imagine what the world was like in the past for those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Taking a moment to recognize the many advocates who have made a difference, both deaf and hearing people, is something we all should do. Deaf history and heritage are very rich and fascinating....

A pheochromocytoma is a type of tumor found in the adrenal glands or certain nerve cells. These tumors are very rare but can cause dramatic symptoms because they tend to secrete large amounts of certain hormones called catecholamines. Though some pheochromocytomas can arise in nerve cells, almost all of them tend to be found in one of the two adrenal glands. These tumors are almost always noncancerous, but they still require treatment because of their hormone-releasing abilities....

Bisphosphonate medications have become a common treatment for patients with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonate medications have been found to increase bone strength and lead to a lower chance of fracture in the first 5 years after starting the medication. Many patients have been prescribed a bisphosphonate medication (such as Fosamax, Reclast, or Actonel), and these patients should be aware of possible side effects of these drugs. Upset Stomach/Esophageal Inflammation One of the most common side effects of bisphosphonate medications is stomach upset....

Statin drugs, used for lowering cholesterol, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the developed world. While statins are generally quite well-tolerated, the most common adverse effects are related to the skeletal muscles, a condition called “statin myopathy”. Symptoms Statin myopathy generally takes one of three forms: Myalgia: Muscle pain is the most common symptom experienced by people taking statins. Statin-induced myalgia is generally experienced as a soreness, usually in the shoulders and arms, or the hips and thighs....

The talus is one of the major bones that form the ankle joint and serves as an important link between the leg and foot. It’s also a unique bone, as it’s over half covered with cartilage that provides cushion and allows bones to move more freely against each other. The talus contributes to motion not only at the ankle joint but also below the ankle at the subtalar joint and in the midfoot at the talonavicular joint....

Misconceptions about arthritis persist. Inaccurate information continues to be spread about arthritis. Unfortunately, misconceptions promote misunderstanding. Seven of the most common misconception include: Arthritis is an old person’s disease.Arthritis is induced by a cold, wet climate.Arthritis can be cured.Arthritis is caused by a poor diet.Arthritis consists of only minor aches and pains.You look fine, so you must be fine.Arthritis is a hopeless disease; you’re doomed. People with arthritis need facts and valid information, not myths and misconceptions....

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first recommended the use of face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, people scrambled to stock up on whatever they could get their hands on. But nearly a year later, the public safety organization ASTM International has released the first national standards for face coverings. Key Takeaways A major standards organization has issued guidelines for consumer face masks.ASTM International’s standards divide face coverings into two groups based on breathability and fit....

An embryo transfer typically occurs on the third or fifth day after the egg retrieval. If you will be transferring frozen embryos, the transfer will take place as scheduled by yourself and the clinic. There is a great deal more flexibility in scheduling a frozen embryo transfer, as it is not as specifically timed as an egg retrieval. You should meet with the doctor or nurse prior to the procedure to discuss the quality of your embryos and how many of those embryos should be placed back into your uterus....

Premature ventricular complexes, or PVCs, are among the most common of the cardiac arrhythmias. Unfortunately, their medical significance — and therefore their treatment — is often confusing to many healthcare providers and patients. If you have PVCs, your treatment should depend on the answer to two questions: First, do you have underlying heart disease? And second, how severe are the symptoms produced by the PVCs? PVCs themselves are rarely dangerous. While statistically PVCs are associated with an increased risk of dying, that increased risk is mainly due to the presence of underlying heart disease and to risk factors for cardiac disease....

There are many orthopedic manufacturing companies that produce different implants used in hip replacement surgery. Most of these companies make several different hip replacement prostheses. Is there a way to determine which hip replacement implant is best? Hip Replacement Surgery When a hip replacement surgery is performed, a damaged, worn-out hip joint is replaced with an artificial implant. The materials used in the artificial implant may vary, but they often include metal, plastic, or ceramic....

Acupressure is a type of massage therapy in which manual pressure is applied to specific points on the body. Acupressure is a practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is similar to acupuncture, except that it uses fingertip pressure instead of needles. Acupressure is said to help with a range of conditions, from motion sickness to headache to muscle pain. TCM practitioners say acupressure benefits are achieved by using pressure points along the energy pathways in the body, to encourage the free flow of energy, or qi....

Antipyrine and benzocaine otic solution is a medication used for treating ear pain that’s caused by acute otitis media (middle ear infections). This medication may also reduce inflammation in the ear. Who Can Use It Using this medication when the eardrum is damaged may cause inner ear damage. Antipyrine and benzocaine otic solution should not be used by anyone who currently has synthetic ventilation tubes in their ears or by anyone who may have a ruptured or otherwise impaired eardrum....

The standard house fly (Musca domestica) annoys people but also serves as a transmission vector for bacterial infections, sometimes in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Types of Flies The house fly measures about a quarter-inch long and shows four distinctive stripes on its thorax, behind its head. But the house fly is just one of dozens of different kinds of flies that enter homes and food-preparation areas. These flying insects, sometimes called “filth flies,” are divided into two groups....

Many physicians believe that long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn) can exacerbate atrophic gastritis in the body (i.e., corpus) of the stomach—especially in people with H. pylori infection. Of note, infection with H. pylori can lead to stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. In addition to interfering with absorption, chronic atrophic gastritis likely serves as a premalignant or precancerous lesion which predisposes a person to stomach cancer (i....

Whether you have Alzheimer’s or you’re caring for someone with the disease, you may have noticed that communication with loved ones and friends has become more difficult. How does Alzheimer’s affect communication as the disease progresses? People with Alzheimer’s lose particular communication abilities during the early, middle, and late stages of the disease. Here’s what to expect and what kinds of communication challenges can occur during each stage of Alzheimer’s:...

No one wants to die alone, and with dedicated hospice volunteers and death vigil programs, no one needs to. Death vigils have been held for centuries. Historically, when a person was dying, the family, friends, and clergymen would gather around the patient to offer their presence and support to the patient as well as to one another. In our modern times, patients may have little or no family members nearby to keep vigil....

Older adults who die in their home are more satisfied with their end-of-life care than those who die in hospital settings, a new study has found. Key Takeaways Dying in the home can lead to greater satisfaction of end-of-life care, according to research.Patients’ preferences around death should be respected when discussing palliative care options.Dying in the home can not only benefit patients and their families, but can also reduce healthcare costs....

Episodic ataxia is a group of uncommon disorders that cause periods during which a person is unable to control bodily movements (ataxia). There are eight types of episodic ataxia, but the first two are the best known. Episodic Ataxia Type 1 The spells of unsteadiness caused by episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) usually last only for minutes at a time. These periods are often brought on by exercise, ​caffeine, or stress....