SkinMyth buster
An Infected Piercing: Should You Take the Jewelry Out?
Seek medical help promptly and let a doctor advise on the jewelry.
ArticlesTopic 07
Skin
Adult acne, dark patches, bumps and redness. Evidence over hype for the skin you’re in.
SkinChecklist
Iron Infusion: Tell the Nurse About Changes at the Drip Site
Report new sensations during treatment and ask about skin changes and your own contact plan.
SkinMyth buster
Isotretinoin Blood Tests Are Not Blood Donation Clearance
Check donation restrictions separately from your treatment-monitoring appointments.
SkinExplainer
That Itchy Spot Near Your Shoulder Blade That Never Goes Away: Notalgia Paresthetica
A persistent itch beside one shoulder blade, often with a darker patch from scratching, is commonly a nerve-related condition called notalgia paresthetica. It's benign, more often reported in middle-aged women, and anti-itch creams and antihistamines usually disappoint. Here is what a medical review says helps.
SkinMyth buster
Minor Cuts: Drying Into a Scab Does Not Speed Healing
AAD’s minor-cut guidance favors clean, moist, covered care rather than letting the wound dry into a scab.
SkinWhat to expect
Mohs Surgery for Basal Cell Skin Cancer: What to Expect on the Day
Basal cell carcinoma is a common skin cancer on the face, ears and scalp. Mohs surgery removes it layer by layer while you wait and has the highest cure rate of skin cancer treatments. Here is how the day goes and how to prepare.
SkinThe short version
MRI Booked? Tell the Imaging Team About Tattoos and Permanent Makeup
FDA advises informing the radiologist or technologist about tattoos and permanent makeup rather than avoiding a doctor-recommended MRI.
SkinChecklist
Nail Changes After 50: Which Ones Are Normal and Which Need a Dermatologist
Ridges running lengthwise are common with age. A new dark streak, a nail lifting off the bed, pits, deep crosswise grooves or a color change can point to infection, skin disease or something going on inside the body. Here is what dermatologists say to have checked.
SkinThe short version
Nickel Allergy: Check Clothing Fasteners, Too
Bring overlooked clothing contacts into the conversation about your confirmed allergy.
SkinEvidence check
Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) to Prevent Repeat Skin Cancers: What the Trials Show
Some dermatologists suggest an over-the-counter form of vitamin B3 for people who've had several nonmelanoma skin cancers. In a year-long trial it lowered new skin cancers by 23%, but the benefit faded after stopping, and it didn't help organ-transplant recipients. A large veterans study suggests starting after a first skin cancer may matter most.
SkinExplainer
A Nipple Rash That Looks Like Eczema: Get the Change Checked
Have a GP assess nipple or areola changes rather than deciding the cause by appearance.
SkinQ&A
Can an Old Tattoo Develop a New Skin Reaction?
A tattoo’s age does not rule out a reaction. New changes need a dermatologist’s assessment.
