Dermatology

• Virus Fights Acne

  

  Posted 7:16 PM 9/25/2012

  Sept. 25, 2012 -- Viruses that kill acne-causing bacteria might make a powerful acne treatment, new research suggests.

  A specific species of bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, is a major cause of the unpleasant, sometimes disfiguring disease doctors call acne vulgaris. The bacteria live inside the pits in the (More)
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• Smoking, Ink Color Affect Laser Tattoo Removal

  

  Posted 3:04 AM 9/21/2012

  Sept. 21, 2012 -- Regret getting that Chinese character tattoo that turned out to be gibberish? Can't face turning 30 with the "Hello Kitty" tat you got on a whim a decade ago?

  You're not alone.

  Studies suggest that a third to half of people who get tattoos end up wanting them gone, and now laser technology makes it possible for those who can afford it. Maybe.

  New research finds that the success of laser (More)
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• Are Mites Causing Your Rosacea?

  

  Posted 6:05 PM 8/30/2012

  Aug. 30, 2012 -- A tiny mite may be the cause of the skin condition rosacea.

  Rosacea causes flushing, redness, and bumps across the nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. It usually strikes after age 30 and affects more women than men. It tends to flare in response to certain triggers, like sun exposure or emotional stress.

  "Previously, people had no real idea what caused the condition," says researcher Kevin Kavanagh, PhD, a biologist at the National (More)
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• New Tick-Borne Disease: 'Heartland Virus'

  

  Posted 8:27 PM 8/29/2012

  Aug. 29, 2012 -- A new virus, dubbed "Heartland virus," is being spread to people by ticks common in the Southeast, the CDC reports.

  The only known cases are two northwestern Missouri men who fell ill in 2009. Ticks had bitten both men, but they did not get better after treatment with antibiotics. Tests later showed that the men did not have any tick-borne bacterial diseases.

  But CDC researcher Laura K. McMullan, PhD, and colleagues did find something (More)
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• Studies Question Safety of Tattoo Ink

  

  Posted 8:31 PM 8/22/2012

  Aug. 22, 2012 -- When it comes to tattoos, here's the rub: The tattoo parlor may be spotless; the tattoo artist may be using sterile techniques; but you can still wind up with a nasty infection from ink that was contaminated before it arrived at the shop, new studies show.

  The first study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It describes an outbreak of 19 (More)
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• Spray-on Skin May Promote Wound Healing

  

  Posted 9:33 PM 8/2/2012

  Aug. 2, 2012 -- An experimental spray-on skin product may help people with chronic leg wounds heal faster and more effectively than available treatments, a new study suggests.

  The spray-on skin is made up of skin cells and suspended in a mixture of different types of proteins. The participants in this study all had venous leg ulcers (More)
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• West Nile Virus: Questions and Answers

  

  Posted 6:35 PM 7/30/2012

  July 30, 2012 -- How extensive is the threat of West Nile Virus this summer, and how can you help protect yourself from it? WebMD asked the CDC's medical epidemiologist Marc Fischer, MD.

  What is the status of West Nile so far this summer?

  Well, so far this year, some areas of the country are experiencing substantially more activity than (More)
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• Foggers No Match for Bedbugs

  

  Posted 2:33 AM 6/4/2012

  June 3, 2012 -- Bug bombs and other insect foggers may be no match for pesky bedbugs.

  A new study confirms that these commonly used pesticides are ineffective against the current bedbug invasion.

  "These foggers don't penetrate in cracks and crevices, where most bedbugs are hiding, so most of them will survive," researcher Susan (More)
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• Vigorous Exercise Might Protect Against Psoriasis

  

  Posted 5:51 PM 5/24/2012

  May 24, 2012 -- Here's yet another reason to exercise: A new study suggests that vigorous physical activity could reduce the risk of psoriasis.

  The findings come out of the long-running Nurses' Health Study, which includes only women (More)
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• Eye Color Linked to Skin Diseases

  

  Posted 7:37 PM 5/7/2012

  May 7, 2012 -- They say "the eyes are the window to the soul." But a new study suggests the eyes may also offer a sneak peek at the risk of serious skin problems down the road.

  The results showed that people with blue eyes were less likely to develop vitiligo. Meanwhile, people with brown eyes were more likely to (More)
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