A tablet for sunburn
We’re living in an era where everything is instant. We can place an online order in the morning and it can be delivered the same day, share prices can peak or tumble in an instant on a tweet sent from the other side of the globe, and information on any subject can be found online […]
From cold sores to head knocks: unravelling the Alzheimer’s link
The virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or human herpes virus 1 (HHV-1) is extremely common. We are probably exposed to it in childhood, usually through oral contact and kissing. It can also be sexually transmitted from mouth-to-genital contact and as it is highly contagious, it is thought that up to […]
The cheeky truth about laxative rashes
We’ve had a good Christmas and we were lucky enough to have a week away after Christmas with the kids which we were very grateful for, despite the 12-13 hour drive as the rest of the continent seemed to have the same idea. Long travel times, not drinking enough or eating enough fruit or vegetables, […]
Christmas is a time for giving
As we approach Christmas, I do get sad from time to time as it was a time of year my dad really liked. He loved giving, especially to his grandchildren and he absolutely loved Christmas day and the meal and most importantly the sprouts! Last year was the first Christmas without him and it was […]
The increasing incidence of acne
Acne must be the most common presenting complaint for any teenager seeking dermatological advice and it now also seems to be on the rise. A recent paper in the British Journal of Dermatology looked at trends in the incidence of acne among adolescents and young adults aged 10-24y globally and their findings were interesting. [Zhu […]
The ongoing battle with the bedbug
Almost a year ago, I wrote about the resurgence of bed bugs due to the boom in travel after the pandemic together with their resistance to the traditional insecticides used to eradicate them. The outlook was gloomy, with the advice to stringently check any bed before lying on it and get in a professional if […]
Looking on the bright side
The summer holidays are over, term has restarted for a couple of my kids, one is off to university shortly and we’re back at work. A huge part of a dermatologist’s work, in the south east of England at least, is in skin cancer management. The majority of skin cancers we see are directly linked […]
The perils of trying to lose weight
Diabetic medications such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have become increasingly popular ever since their weight loss potential has been promoted. However, concerns have started to be raised about the link between these weight loss drugs (called GLP-1 inhibitors) and a type of irreversible vision loss called NAION or non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. […]
The mechanisms behind itching – the ultimate puzzle
My kids used to think it was great, usually when I’m in the middle of doing something else, to throw at me the most absurd questions, such as, “Mum, what would you rather do? Jump into a pit of poisonous snakes or walk through a tunnel of deadly spiders?” Er, neither, would be my preferred […]
How ‘clean’ is a ‘clean’ product?
As a dermatologist, we see problems with the skin day in day out as our job, and we are in the position where we get queries about which products to use on the skin, not necessarily to treat a primary skin condition but more to do with every day use. It is interesting to know […]