My Skin, My Health

  D andruff is a common condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It isn't contagious or serious but it can be embarrassing and difficult to treat.  Mild dandruff can be treated with gentle daily shampoo if that doesn't work, a medicated shampoo may help.  Symptoms Dandruff signs and symptoms may include: Skin flakes on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache, and shoulders Itchy scalp Scaly, crusty scalp in infants with cradle cap The signs and symptoms may be more severe if stressed, and they tend to flare in cold and dry seasons. Causes Dandruff may have several causes, including: Irritated, oily skin Dry skin A yeastlike fungus (Malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis) Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema Risk factors Almost anyone can have dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible: Age: Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues t...

  M easles (a lso called rubeola ) is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine , measles spreads easily and can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 200,000 people a year, mostly children. Measles vs. rubella You may have heard rubella referred to as “German measles.” But measles and rubella are actually caused by two different viruses. Rubella isn’t as contagious as measles. However, it can cause serious complications if a woman develops the infection while pregnant. Even though different viruses cause measles and rubella, they’re also similar in several ways. Both viruses: can be spread through the air from coughing and sneezing cause fever and a distinctive rash occur only in humans Both measles and rubella are included in the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and me...

S unburn is the skin's reaction to too much sun exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. You can see sunlight and feel the heat (infrared radiation), but you can't see or feel UV radiation. It can damage your skin even on cool, cloudy days.  Sunburn is inflamed, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. It often appears within a few hours of being in the sun too long.  You can get sunburn relief with simple self-care measures such as taking pain relievers and cooling the skin. But it may take days for the sunburn to fade. Preventing sunburn year-round by wearing sunscreen or using other skin-protection habits is important for everyone. It is especially important when you're outdoors, even on cool or cloudy days.  Although it may seem like a temporary condition, sunburn can cause long-lasting damage to the skin.  The long-term effects of repeated bouts of sunburn include premature wrinkling and an increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma (the most dangerous ty...