A patch test is performed if a careful history (based on the site of the lesion) offers a clue to the offending agent. The gauze used in testing (which is soaked in the suspected material) is left on the skin for forty-eight to seventy-two hours. The causes of contact dermatitis include the following materials: Soaps [...]

Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant and could therefore be classed as a ‘drug’. It has an adverse effect on fertility but it can also cause problems once a woman is pregnant. In a study of 2967 pregnant women, carried out by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine, the [...]

What is it? A condition in which the eyes don’t look at an object in conjunction. The word ‘squint’ is also used to describe the condition in which children especially screw their eyes up to look at something. This is not really a squint at all but it makes sense to take your child for [...]

Many women feel isolated and confused when they have been diagnosed as suffering from endometriosis. Who do you turn to when your family and friends do not understand? They may find it difficult to understand your feelings and are not always able to provide the support and help you need. A support group such as [...]

The following a probably useful: •     Wash several times a day with bland soap and water. Don’t scrub, wash gently. Dry well with a rough towel. •     Use non-greasy, water-based cosmetics. •     Get into the sunlight as much as possible. Ultraviolet light not only cures but prevents acne. Some people’s acne gets worse in hot [...]