skin infection

Finding presents for all your loved ones can be very stressful this time of year. The stores can get so crowded that you may just want to pull your hair out. Hair loss, however, is no joking matter.

For the Seventh Day of Dermatology, Skinsight has decided to give you interesting information about the skin infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly abbreviated and referred to as MRSA.

During this busy time of year, it is easy to let nail health fall by the wayside. But take time to remember the importance of your hands and feet (including nails!), particularly during this cold, dry time of year.

Fingernails grow an average of only 0.1 mm each day, and toenails grow 1 mm per month; however, age, time of year, family history, diet, and activity level all affect the rate of how quickly each person’s nails grow. Nails grow faster on fingers (and even faster on the dominant hand) than toes. Men’s nails grow faster than women’s, except during most cases of pregnancy.

The most-searched skin condition on Skinsight this year was herpes, a lifelong skin infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV infections are contagious and spread by skin-to-skin contact with the infected area. An estimated 10-60% of the general population is infected with genital herpes, and only 20% of those infected with HSV develop visible blisters or sores.

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.