egilmore's blog

Q: What’s the best way to get rid of blackheads? I have this blackhead-popping thing that looks like a syringe and would like to know if these are safe to use.

A: Blackheads, or comedones in medical terms, are “clogged pores.” Dead skin cells and dried secretions from the skin’s oil (sebum) glands can produce plugs in the hair follicles (commonly known as pores).

Q: What’s the difference between a lotion, a cream, and a gel? Which will clog my pores the least?

A: The consistency of the products is the biggest difference.

Q: I have a red, itchy rash under my armpit. I work out a lot. Could it be from sweating?

It is difficult to say exactly what is causing the itching you are experiencing without seeing the rash in person. However, there are a few possibilities of what commonly cause an itchy rash in an individual’s armpits.

Q: I just developed impetigo. How does one get it as an adult?

Impetigo is a superficial skin infection that is common in young children; however, individuals of any age can be affected. Impetigo is usually caused by bacteria from the staphylococcal (commonly known as staph) or streptococcal (commonly known as strep) species. Generally, those who are affected are carriers of these bacteria, meaning that their nostrils are colonized by the bacteria.

September means back to school – the end of a busy summer vacation season and time for Mom and Dad to relax as the kids are occupied with new friends and activities. Sometimes the close contact that kids have with each other can lend itself to the development of some common childhood skin infections. Here we review some of the more common infections seen in this age group:

Q: Why do paper cuts hurt so much, and what can I do to treat them?

A: For the small wounds that they usually are, paper cuts can be particularly painful, likely related to several factors. First, paper cuts most commonly occur on the hands and fingers, where the densely packed nerves that give us fine tactile sensations also transmit pain signals from the outer layer of skin (the epidermis). So, in short, paper cuts can directly damage the nerves, causing pain.

Developing an itchy rash after a hike in the woods or a day of working in the yard is not particularly surprising. An inadvertent brush with poison ivy or poison oak and the annoyingly itchy rash that develops is a common summertime problem in the Eastern US. But developing similar symptoms after preparing a fresh meal in your kitchen seems unexpected. As it turns out, it’s not so rare.

Warm summer months can provoke some unusual but recognizable rashes due to a combination of sun exposure and leisure activities. Imagine the following: You’ve recently had a weekend barbecue where the signature drink was the mojito – a concoction of rum, lime juice, mint leaves, and some other basic ingredients on ice. You’ve enjoyed this drink before without any problems – so why have you developed a painful rash on your hands after serving them to your friends at your backyard party?

Summer days and nights invite us to relax, so what could be better than a nice soak in the hot tub after an afternoon of gardening, golfing, or hiking? No harm, right? Not necessarily. Occasionally, you may find an unexpected surprise in the days that follow – an itchy rash.

There are many causes of itchy skin, some resulting from unfortunate forays into poison ivy patches, assaults from pesky mosquitoes, or a chronic skin disease such as eczema (atopic dermatitis). Despite various causes, all can produce a similar sensation – an itch. Itch is hard to define, yet most would agree it is “that which produces the desire to scratch.”