Have you had an outbreak of clusters of small red bumps or white-headed pimples on your forehead, head, armpit, chest, elbow, or any other hairy part of your body recently? Is the development making you feel uncomfortable in the midst of friends? Well, infected hair follicle can be really embarrassing. Apart from the pains, the ugly-looking pimples and the itching can be terrible.

You may have tried knowing the actual cause of your problems. I understand your plight; a lot of people in your shoes will never rest until they have a proven solution. Don’t worry; we are here to give you as much help as we can. After our years of researches, we have been able to document the causes, types, symptoms and treatment of infected hair follicle. So, take your time to go through this post because all that you need have been carefully discussed below.

Symptoms of Infected Hair Follicle

Infected hair follicle otherwise known as folliculitis comes with some symptoms amongst which are:

• Clusters of small white-headed pimples or red bumps appearing around hair follicles.
• Red, inflamed skin
• A large swollen mass or lump
• Burning or itching of the skin
• Blisters filled with pus, which breaks open and crust over
• Pimples which drain pus, blood, or both
• Tiny pustules which may itch initially
• Furuncles develop yellow or green pus which can be expressed with a core plug of dead tissues.
  Carbuncles can present with fever and swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

What Causes Infected Hair Follicle?

Infected hair follicles have different causes, including infections from bacteria, fungi or yeast. However, other factors that cause folliculitis are the use of improperly treated hot tub, swimming pool or whirlpool, wearing tight clothes, diabetes, HIV infection, and the use of substances that block or irritate the hair follicles (including motor oil, makeup, creosote, tar, and cocoa butter).

In order to make it clearer to you, we are going to group infected hair follicles into superficial and deep folliculitis, and also list the various causes.

Superficial Folliculitis

The infection of the hair follicles is usually on the surface of the skin and the problems are not deep-rooted. The major types and causes include:

Bacterial folliculitis (Folliculitis barbae)

These are caused by bacterial infection of the hair follicles, especially by Staphylococcus aureus. The symptoms include itchy, white bumps filled with pus. Usually, the Staphylococcal bacterium lives on the human skin. Notably, staphylococcus can be found on the anterior nose, pubic area, armpit, or on other skin lesions like eczema, psoriasis, etc. But they cause problems when they penetrate into your body through an open wound or a cut. When the hair follicles in a man’s beard area are infected by bacteria, it is referred to as Barber’s itch. The infection usually results from shaving which leads to a broken skin. Sometimes, it occurs even when the hair is not shaved.

Pityrosporum folliculitis

They are mostly found in adult men and teens. It is caused by a yeast infection, and its symptoms include chronic, red, itchy pustules which are mostly on the chest and back but can also be found on the shoulders, neck, face and upper arm.

Hot tub folliculitis (Pseudomonas folliculitis)

They result from pseudomonas infection (a form of bacterial infection). One can easily get in contact with these bacteria in several places like heated pools and hot tubs where the chlorine and the pH levels are poorly regulated. The symptoms of hot tub folliculitis include rash with red, round bumps that are usually itchy in nature. They develop one to four days after one has been exposed to the organism. The rash may later develop into pustules (small blisters filled with pus). The rashes are usually more on the areas where the skin got in direct contact with contaminated water – mostly the back of the thighs.

Razor bumps (Pseudofolliculitis barbae)

This is an inflammatory reaction due to ingrown facial hairs, which usually result from shaving. It is not limited to the face; it can as well occur in any part of the body where hair is shaved or plucked such as the pubic area, leg, and armpit. It can be referred to as razor bumps or shaving rash. It is possible for folliculitis barbae and pseudofolliculitis barbae to occur at the same time in an individual.

Deep Folliculitis

In deep folliculitis, the whole hair follicle is inflamed. This type of infected hair follicle manifests differently. Some of the causes and symptoms are:

Gram-negative folliculitis

Most of the times, this problem occurs when you are on a long-term treatment of acne with antibiotics. The bacteria present in the human nose are usually harmless under normal conditions. But with antibiotics treatment, the bacterial balance can become altered thereby leading to an overgrowth of the gram-negative bacteria which are normally harmful. They can spread from the nose to the skin surrounding the nose and mouth and cause new, harsh acne to break out.

Sycosis barbae

This usually affects men who shave. Initially, small pustules develop on the chin, upper lip and under jaw. They spread and become more pronounced as time goes by and as one continues to shave. Scarring may occur with severe sycosis barbae.

Eosinophilic folliculitis

This is commonly seen in people with HIV infection. The presenting symptoms are recurring patches of inflamed sores filled with pus, and itching on the face, upper chest, scalp and neck. The sores spread, leaving behind areas of hyperpigmentation (darker than the normal skin) after healing. The actual cause of eosinophilic folliculitis is unknown. However, there are suggestions that it may be caused by the same yeast-like fungus that causes pityrosporum folliculitis.

Boils (furuncles) and Carbuncles

They are caused when staphylococcal bacteria deeply infect hair follicles. There is a sudden appearance of a boil which can be red or pink and really hurts. This can start with a hard lump that is painful to touch. There could be redness and swelling of the surrounding skin as well. The boil is then filled with pus as it increases in size and causes more intense pain before rupturing and draining. If it involves a large boil, healing may be accompanied by a scar, but for the smaller boils, there may be no scar formation.

Carbuncles are clusters of boils. They are often found on the shoulders, thighs, neck or back. Carbuncles give rise to more severe and deeper infections than single boils. That is why they develop and heal more slowly than boils. They usually leave a scar behind after healing.

Treatment

Infected hair follicle can be treated in diverse ways. Some of the few ways of treating them include:

• Antiseptic: You can use antiseptic lotion such as povidone iodine or a topical antibacterial such as fucidin or mupirocin over the affected part. They help to fight against the bacteria population and put the infection under control.
• Oral antibiotics: In severe cases, you can make use of oral antibiotics like Erythromycin or Cloxacillin. These would typically fight the infection from within and put the growth and spread under control. For carbuncles, you may need to start with intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics injections and then change to oral antibiotics as the situation improves.
• Analgesics: Potent analgesics will help to minimize pains and reduce further inflammation that comes with the infection process.
• Antiseptic soaps: Antiseptic soaps and bath preparations often help a lot in taking care of the infection. They work in the same way as antiseptic lotions. You can use the soap to wash the area. This can be done alone or you use them alongside taking the oral antibiotics.
• Medicated shampoos: This is helpful in the management of folliculitis of the beard or scalp. Simply apply the shampoo as you are about to take your bath. Allow to stay for a few minutes and then wash off as you bathe.

Removal

You can skillfully remove the boils, carbuncles or furuncles, using a few steps I am going to highlight below.

Removal of boils, carbuncles or furuncles which are brought about by infected hair follicles should not be done forcefully. Do not attempt to squeeze out the pus in the boil or furuncle as this would help to spread the infection further. Instead, you should look for a way to hasten the ripening process so that the pus, the infecting organisms, and the dead tissues can all be expelled naturally by the body. You should only pop the boil if it develops a head (the pus is visible at the top) or when it becomes really soft.

When it is not yet soft, apply warm compresses as explained under the ‘Home remedies’ below. Do this several times a day until it becomes soft and ready to be popped. If it is soft, clean the boil, furuncle or carbuncle and the surrounding tissues with an antiseptic lotion to minimize the spread of infection to the surrounding tissues.

Put your cotton or gauze swab around the affected area and gently apply pressure from both sides of the boil to empty its content into the cotton swab, making sure that the pus does not drain onto the nearby skin as this can lead to a further spread of the infection. After draining the pus, clean up the skin with the antiseptic lotion and apply a soothing cream like hydrocortisone to the boil. You can also apply white vinegar to the itchy skin to minimize the skin irritation. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry them.

Home Remedies

There are a lot of things you can do at home to help get rid of the infected hair follicles or reduce the discomfort that comes with the problem. Some of the home remedies to employ include:

Turmeric

Turmeric is good for boils and staphylococcal infections. It is a traditional Ayurvedic spice that is used as an anti-inflammatory therapy and blood purifier. You can easily purchase the powder form from any grocery store. Mix a glass of warm water with 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Drink it three times daily. You will start noticing the healing in a matter of hours. This should be repeated for 3 days. You can get the capsule if you don’t love the taste of the turmeric mixture.

Onions

They can be employed in the treatment of boils. They have antiseptic chemicals that work as antimicrobial irritants. When applied to boils, they heat up the boil and increase blood flow to the area of infection, making it faster to cure the ailment. All you need to do is to cut a slice of onions and place it over the boil. Hold it in place with a piece of clean cloth (wrap it around). The onions should be changed every three to four hours until the boil forms a head and begins to drain.

Tea tree oil

This has served as an antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal agent for several centuries. It is quite useful in relieving discomfort and speeding up the healing process of boils and carbuncles. Dab a piece of cotton swab into the tea tree oil. Apply it gently to the boil or carbuncle. Discard the used swab, making sure it has no contact with uninfected skin areas. Repeat the procedure several times daily.

Echinacea

This is an herbal remedy that works fine on boils and helps them to heal faster. Its active ingredients help to cleanse the lymph gland and the blood, thereby making it easier for the antibiotics to circulate and get rid of the infections. To get rid of boils, take 2 capsules of 300mg of Echinacea. It is advisable not to take the preparation continuously for over 2 weeks.

Black oil

Boils and carbuncles have been successfully fought for centuries using the black oil. Add half a teaspoon of black oil to a glass or cold or hot drink. Drink it two times every day during the active phase of a boil infection.

Hydrotherapy

Apart from the above-listed home remedies, there are other steps you could take to help heal your folliculitis faster. The procedure is called hydrotherapy – the use of water to treat the inflammation and pain associated with the boils and carbuncles. But how do you use the water? I shall quickly talk about that below.

Warm compresses

Applying warm compresses to the areas of inflammation would help to improve blood supply to the area and help the body’s immune system to take care of the problem fast. Warm compresses can also soothe the itchy skin. Pour water into a bowl and add salt to the water. Soak a hand towel or napkin in the warm salty water. Wring out the excess water and apply the towel over the affected area.

Tea compress

Apply a warm tea bag over the boil for a period of about 15 minutes on a stretch. Repeat it several times daily.

Bread compress

This is an old method of treating boils. Even though it is old, a lot of people testify that it truly works on boil. Soak a piece of bread in warm milk and then paste it directly on the boil. Replace the warm slice of bread continuously for 15 minutes at a go. Repeat this up to four times daily.

Vegetable compress

This involves the application of heated slices of raw onions, tomatoes, outer leaves of cabbage, or mashed garlic directly to the surface of the boils, carbuncles, or furuncles. Place the heated vegetable on the boil and leave it for about 15 minutes at a time. If the vegetable begins to feel cold, replace it.

Waxing an infected follicle

Waxing an infected follicle is a potentially dangerous practice that must be avoided at all cost. Waxing is a semi-permanent hair removal which involves removing hair from its root. When waxing is done, new hairs will usually not grow on the waxed area for at least four to six weeks. One can wax any part of the body like the face, eyebrow, pubic area (known as bikini waxing), feet, arm, abdomen, leg, back, nose, and behind ear.

However, waxing can lead to ingrown hairs, minor bleeding, and red bumps. One can easily get hair follicle infection from waxing, because of the destruction of the skin integrity (by pulling off tiny pieces of the skin’s outer layer) which creates an opening for microorganisms to infect the follicles thereby causing folliculitis, boils, carbuncles or furuncle. You must avoid waxing the eyelashes and the eyelids because the skin in these areas is quite sensitive.

Conclusion

Infected hair follicle is a common health condition that causes you an embarrassment in public, as result of the ugly skin development. The pain and the itchy skin could make things unbearable for one. However, following the advice in this post can save you a whole lot of pain. Should you at any time be confronted with infected hair follicle, try the home remedies we outlined above. They will sure be of great help to you.

Have you had rash on the neck that just won’t go? Is the development making it difficult for you to mix up with friends or even wear dresses that expose the neck area? I perfectly understand how you feel. Having rash on neck can cause one to be socially withdrawn sometimes. But be rest assured that your condition has a solution.

In this write-up, I shall be talking about the signs and symptoms, causes of rash on neck, its treatment, home remedies, and when you need to see a doctor. So, if you are one of those millions of people suffering from this embarrassing health condition, please pay attention and make sure that you read this post to the end.

Signs and Symptoms of Rash on Neck

• Rashes on the neck, with red, purple, silver or white colour
• Rashes with raised, flat or bumpy texture
• Spots or dots that cover a large, continuous areas of the neck
• Scaling, flushing or flaking off of skin cells
• Itchy red bumps on the skin around the neck
• A neck rash that comes with allergies and shortness of breath, wheezing, or a swollen face, throat or mouth (anaphylactic reaction).
• Hives
• Dry and itchy skin rash around the neck, chin and behind ears
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Sore throat

What Causes Rash on Neck?

Rash on the neck has several causes. But we shall talk about a few of the causes here. So, when you have rash on neck, it is likely to be caused by any one or more of the following: medications, allergies, diseases, cosmetics, etc.

Medications

Some medications cause rashes. This is usually as a result of allergic reaction to the drug, photosensitivity to some constituents of the drug, or a side effect of the medication.

Contact dermatitis

The rashes develop on areas of the neck that comes into a direct contact with a foreign substance capable of causing allergies. This will usually result in a rash, which can be red, inflamed or itchy. Most times, contact dermatitis is caused by touching poisonous plants (like poison ivy, poison sumac or poison oak), contact with chemicals in elastic, beauty products, laundry detergent, and soaps.

Allergic Eczema

Eczema popularly known as atopic dermatitis is a kind of rash that occurs mostly in people who have allergies or asthma. Most times, the rash can be itchy or reddish with a scaly texture. Allergic eczema can easily be triggered off by perfumes, latex, adhesives, clothing dyes, irritants from hair dye, nickel which you can get from jewelry, metal buttons on jeans, and belt buckles, etc.

Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease condition that causes rashes to develop on different parts of the body, including the neck. Juvenile arthritis attacks children and causes a lot of changes to take place in their bodies and joints.

Tick bite

Tick bites cause rashes to develop on the parts of the body exposed to the bite. This can sometimes be on the neck or other exposed parts of the body.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious bacterial disease which leads to an itchy, crusty rash with sores filled with yellow fluid. It is usually distributed around the neck, face and hands.

Measles

Measles is a viral, droplet disease of the respiratory tract which manifests with widespread itchy rashes with red bumps. This can be found on the neck, face, trunk and other parts of the body.

Heat rash

This occurs as a result of excessive ambient temperature. It is very common during the summer or dry season when environmental temperature keeps rising high. It is mostly found on the neck, arms and back, with intense itching and burning sensation.

Ringworm

Ringworm otherwise known as Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that affects the skin. Ringworm infection starts with red patches on the affected areas of skin. It then gradually spreads to other parts of the body with time. It affects the neck, scalp, groin, feet, beard, etc.

Shingles

This viral infection otherwise known as herpes zoster is caused by Varicella-Zoster. The same virus is also responsible for chickenpox infection. The infection causes a red rash with severe pain and burning sensation. Herpes zoster (shingles) usually presents with a stripe of blisters on one side of the body – mostly on the neck, face or torso. Sometimes, a woman can develop shingles during pregnancy if she has not been previously vaccinated against the disease and she gets in contact with a sufferer.

Scabies

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite referred to as sarcoptes scabiei, which can live on your skin for up to 2 months. They usually reproduce on your skin surface before burrowing into the skin where they lay their eggs. Scabies comes with an itchy rash that looks like pimples. In babies and toddlers, scabies mostly affects the neck, head, soles of the feet, hands and face. Crusted scabies causes a rash that is not itchy, but leads to other symptoms like widespread crust on the skin which are gray, thick and easily crumble when touched. It is common in people with a weakened immune system.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox otherwise known as Varicella is a contagious viral disease of the skin. It presents with itchy, red blisters on all parts of the body, including the neck. This disease is no longer common now as a result of the use of the chickenpox vaccine.

Secondary syphilis

The second stage of untreated syphilis infection presents with generalized skin rashes, including rashes on the neck. This is usually not itchy rash, more common on the soles and palms. You may also have swollen lymph glands, headaches, fatigue, aching joints, fever, hair loss, and weight loss. The symptoms usually disappear with or without treatment.

Fire ants

These red-brown to black ants are quite aggressive and their sting can be quite painful, with burning sensation. They sting when their colony or nest is disturbed. You will usually receive a sting on any part of the body that is exposed, including the neck.

HIV infection

HIV is a viral infection that leads to a weakening of the body’s immune system thereby allowing a lot of diseases to affect the body. The acute HIV infection comes with skin rash in several parts of the body including the neck, and behind ears, fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, loss of appetite, sore throat, fatigue, night sweats, swollen glands, and ulcers in the esophagus, mouth, or genitals. Sometimes, people infected with the virus may not present with any symptoms.

Cancer

Neck cancer can present with rashes on the neck. Other symptoms include long lasting sore throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness of the voice, sore or lump in the mouth that refuses to heal, etc. Tobacco smokers and alcoholics are usually at a higher risk of getting neck cancer.

Treatment for Rashes on Neck

The treatment of rash on neck depends on the cause of the rash. However, here are some of the treatments you can apply to some specific neck rashes.

Penicillin injection

This is effective in the treatment of secondary syphilis. Treatment can help to eliminate the bacteria but the complication caused by the infection may not go away. People who are allergic to penicillin can be placed on other forms of antibiotics like ceftriaxone, doxycycline, or azithromycin.

Antihistamine drug

If you have contact dermatitis, the use of antihistamine drugs like diphenhydramine can be of help in reducing the symptoms such as itching and allergic response. Most of the reaction would go away even without taking any drug. However, if the rash spreads close to your mouth or eyes, refuses to improve with treatment, or if the rash spreads to a large area of your body, you should see the doctor.

Treat Tick bites with antibiotics

This is necessary to prevent tick-borne disease or to prevent secondary infection as a result of scratching the skin or laceration of the skin. If the tick was attached to your skin for a long time, you should see the doctor for proper management.

Apply steroids to fire ant sting

Wash the affected part with soap and water. Cover the part with a bandage and apply an icepack to lessen the pain. You can apply over-the-counter steroids to help relieve the pain and the itch. Usually, the pain goes off in about a week. If you develop allergy symptoms like difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if you have dizziness, you need to see the doctor immediately.

Treat scabies with topical creams/lotions

If your neck rash is caused by scabies, you can treat it with 25% benzyl benzoate lotion, 5% permethrin cream, 1% lindane lotion, 10% sulfur ointment, or 10% crotamiton cream. The medicine should be applied from the neck down and washed off the following morning. If symptoms persist, you should see a doctor who may prescribe other medications like antihistamines, antibiotics, or oral tablets of ivermectin.

Wash off the allergen

Is the neck rash caused by allergic eczema? Then wash the skin with plenty of water to get rid of the allergen. Mild and asymptomatic allergen would not need extra treatment. You may only need to use a moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and repair the damage. If there is itching, you need to get over-the-counter corticosteroid to lessen the itch and inflammation. If symptoms do not abate, see the doctor who may prescribe other medications for you.

Treat ringworm with over-the-counter drugs

You can easily get over-the-counter drugs like clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), tolnaftate (Tinactin), miconazole (Micatin), or terbinafine (Lamisil). You can as well use other topical powders, creams or ointments to manage the ringworm infection. But if the ringworm covers a large portion of your body or if it fails to respond to the topical medications, then you need to see the doctor.

Treat drug allergy

If the rash on the neck is as a result of drug allergy, make sure to treat the allergy accordingly. This can be handled with antihistamines, corticosteroid, epinephrine, bronchodilators, etc. However, any allergy reaction that looks severe should better be handled by the doctor.

Treat measles according to symptoms

Measles is best treated according to the presenting signs and symptoms. Oftentimes, the symptoms of this viral disease go away within a space of two to three weeks. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe the following: Vitamin A supplements to boost immunity, Acetaminophen (for the relief of muscle aches and fever), plenty of fluid (up to eight glasses per day), rest (to strengthen your immune system), and humidifier (to help lessen the cough and sore throat).

Treat chickenpox symptomatically

Symptoms of chickenpox will usually resolve on their own accord. You need to be kept away from the workplace, school or other places where you are likely to be in touch with a large number of people in order to curtail the spread of the virus. But you can reduce the itching by wearing soft clothing with lightweight, taking lukewarm baths, and application of unscented lotion.

Reduce symptoms of HIV infection

HIV/AIDS has no known cure for now. But there are a lot of things you can do to strengthen your immune system including eating healthy, balanced diets, keeping yourself away from stress or stressful situations, doing regular exercises, and staying away from people with infections. You also need to see the doctor who will tell you what to do.

Manage Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis with NSAIDs

Rheumatoid arthritis is not curable, but it can be managed with medications like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen (to reduce swelling and pains). Other things you can do for yourself include eating balanced diets, regularly exercises, and going for physical therapy. Surgery may be required in severe cases.

Treat impetigo with antibiotics

The doctor will usually prescribe some oral or topical antibiotics for this condition. Always ensure that you finish the antibiotics regimen, as not completing it could lead to drug resistance and relapse of symptoms. But at home, you can do a few things like soaking the skin in soapy water to reduce the scabbing and hasten the healing process. Apply a non-stick dressing on the skin to minimize the spread of the disease.

Manage shingles according to symptoms

Shingles has no known cure. But you can manage the disease according to symptoms. The doctor may need to prescribe certain medications like anti-viral drugs (such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir), anti-inflammatory drugs (such as naproxen and ibuprofen), an antihistamine like diphenyl, and narcotic medications or analgesics.

See the doctor for cancer treatment

Cancer should not ideally be treated at home. You need to see the doctor fast so that investigations can be done and immediately commence the right treatment. The earlier you commence cancer treatment the better result you get.

Home Remedies

Several home remedies that you can use for your neck rash are available.

Use Chamomile oil

This is helpful in reducing the inflammation, relieving pain, helping to promote the healing process, and providing a soothing effect to the skin. It has anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties that help to bring about the aforementioned benefits. Add two drops of chamomile in two teaspoons of coconut oil or any other carrier oil. Apply the mixture to the neck 2 to 3 times daily until the rashes are fully taken care of.

Coriander

Coriander has soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant and antiseptic properties. That makes it highly useful in relieving the itch, pain, and irritation associated with some forms of neck rashes. Drink a cup of fresh coriander juice once a day for 2 – 3 days. Add a teaspoon of coriander seeds to a cup of water and boil. Drink the tea once a day for up to three days until the rash disappears. Alternatively, grind coriander leaves and paste on the neck area containing the rash. Leave it for up to 30 minutes before you rinse it off with clean water. Repeat it twice daily for 2 – 3 days.

Make use of Aloe Vera gel

Aloe Vera gel is quite helpful in relieving pain and itching resulting from heat rash. You can apply the extracted Aloe Vera directly on the rashes. Aloe Vera lotion is another good alternative you can use. Apply the lotion to the neck and leave it for at least 20 minutes. Wash off with clean water thereafter. Repeat this up to three times daily until the rash clears off.

Baking soda

Baking soda helps in clearing neck rash fast. After having your bath, apply the soda lightly over the rash. Another alternative is to add two teaspoons of baking soda to your bath water before using it to bathe. It helps in reducing itching as well as clearing off the redness of the rash on neck.

Oatmeal bath

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that help in relieving irritation and inflammation resulting from rashes caused by allergies, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy, and chickenpox. Add about 1 cup of ground oatmeal powder or less in your bath tub and then take a dip in the tub for up to 20 minutes.

Apply cucumber

Cut fresh cucumber into slices and apply them to the neck with rashes. Let it stay for some minutes before you remove them. Repeat it two times daily. It will help soothe the pain and itching from neck rash.

Treat with honey

Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and will usually help in minimizing the swelling and control any superficial infection on the neck rash. Apply a little honey on the areas of the neck containing the rash and leave it for some minutes.

Ice cubes

Ice cubes provide excellent relief for heat rash. Add some ice cubes in a piece of cloth or bag and apply it over the rash. Leave it for a few minutes and repeat for few times daily. It will relieve the irritation from the rash.

When to see the doctor

Usually, there are a lot you can do at home to ease your neck rash. However, you need to see the doctor when the home remedies fail, rash on neck getting bigger, you develop allergic symptoms like difficulty breathing or swallowing, the rash is spreading fast to other parts of the body, pain or itching gets worse, or you think that a further medical/laboratory evaluation is needed.

Conclusion

Rash on neck can be a source of stress and worries. It can be caused by different factors. You need to understand the cause before deciding on the type of treatment to take. However, if you have successfully read this post up to this point, it means you have seen a lot of our recommendations. Just follow those recommendations and your rash on neck will be taken care of in no distant time.

Infected cuts may be caused due to certain medical conditions such as diabetes, inadequate hygiene or even psychosocial factors. If you are recovering after an injury or a surgery, it is important to take due care to prevent your cuts or wounds from getting infected. Infected cuts occur when bacteria enters your skin through the cut and multiplies within. This may delay the process of wound healing.

What are the Causes of Infected cuts?

Infected cuts are caused when the cuts or wounds on your skin are contaminated by bacteria. In most of the cases, infections in cuts occur due to bacteria present in the skin or other parts of the body or the bacteria originating from the environment. The normal microbial flora present on the skin and body are harmless when their numbers are in control, in fact it is considered to have some beneficial effects for the skin and the body. However, when there is a cut or wound on the skin, these normal microbial flora get the opportunity to multiply and grow within the injured area. This causes infection in the cut that may prolong the healing time.

Infected cuts are generally caused due to bacteria belonging to Staphylococcus species, especially Staphylococcus aureus. Poor dressing of wound or inadequate hygiene in general may increase the risk of developing infected cuts. Elderly people, people with compromised immunity and diabetics are at increased risk of developing infected cuts.

Infected cuts on hands

Fingers are very prone to get cut, either due to a knife, glass or metal object. It is normal to see some amount of blood oozing out of the cut on your finger. Oozing of blood generally stops on its own and does not require any special medical help. However, if you are a diabetic or are immune compromised, you should take due care to prevent any infection. Your elbows are also very vulnerable to scratches and cuts, especially if you are a sportsperson. If ignored, the minor scratches and cuts on your elbow may get infected and may cause serious complications.

Infected cuts on foot

Feet, knees and ankles are very vulnerable to cuts, bruises and wounds due to sharp objects or if you fall while running or playing. Moreover, cuts on feet are also subjected to repeated trauma. Therefore, cuts on feet or feet lacerations may get infected easily.

Infected cuts on mouth

You may get minor cuts on your mouth, especially the lips while participating in sports or playing. Children are very vulnerable to getting cut on the mouth. Sometimes, there may be immense bleeding from the mouth if the tongue, gums or lips have got cut as these areas are rich in blood supply. Just like cuts on any other part of your body, it is important to ensure proper healing of the cuts on your mouth in order to prevent it from getting infected.

What increases the Risk of Infected cuts?

Anything that interferes with or diminishes your body’s natural ability of healing will expose you to the risk of getting your wound infected. The risk of cuts getting infected may increase greatly due to one of the following reasons or a combination of them.

Foreign objects

If you have got a cut due to pricking of glass or some metal on your skin, some part of the foreign object may get retained on your skin or may even enter the cut and may go unnoticed. This foreign object later interferes with your body’s ability to heal the wounds and may delay the process, thereby causing infection.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, improper functioning of liver, kidney or lungs may slow down the process of healing and may increase the risk of infections in the cuts.

Compromised immunity

Your body’s ability of healing cuts and wounds decreases if your immune system is weak. Your immunity may get compromised if you are suffering from diabetes, HIV or are undergoing chemotherapy. If you have any medical condition that compromises immunity, you should be extra cautious when you have cuts in order to prevent them from getting infected.

Repeated injury

If you already have a cut and if you subject the cut to repeated trauma, it may not get the time to heal properly due to repeated stress. This may worsen the situation by giving way to infections to occur within and around the cut.

Reduced supply of blood to the wound

Proper blood supply is required for quick healing of cuts and wounds. If you have cardiovascular disorders such as blood pressure, narrow blood vessels or some heart conditions, you may be at an increased risk of getting your wound infected. Smoking may all the more worsen the situation.

Symptoms of Infected cuts

If a cut does not heal quickly, it may spread and the skin surrounding it may become red and tender. In some cases, you may see rashes or blisters on the surrounding area. The infection may also spread inside the skin. This process is known as cellulitis. As the infection spreads through the blood into your whole body, you may observe various symptoms such as fever and weakness. The symptoms that are generally presented during an infected cut are as follows

Malaise

Malaise is described as a feeling of lethargy and tiredness. It may occur as a non- specific symptom of a localized bacterial infection. You may feel very lazy and may end up sleeping more than usual. If you have undergone a surgery recently, malaise may also occur due to the stress your body has gone through during the surgery. However, if the cuts made during your surgery are not infected, you will start feeling better and more energetic with every passing day. If you do not feel better with time after surgery, talk to your doctor to make sure you have not contracted some infection which has entered your body through the cuts.

Fever

Elevated body temperature i.e. fever and loss of appetite are generally considered to be a symptom that your body’s immune system is trying to fight some sort of infection. If you have had a surgery recently, a slightly raised body temperature of around 100 ° Fahrenheit may be considered to be normal. In some cases, fever may be accompanied with sore throat. However, if the temperature of your body goes beyond 101 ° Fahrenheit, there is a possibility that you have infected your surgical cut or wound.

Drainage of fluid

Irrespective of whether the cut is due to an injury or surgery, some extent of fluid draining out from the cut is considered to be normal. The fluid that generally comes out of the cuts is either clear or slightly yellow in color. The normal drainage can be taken care of by using hydrocolloid containing absorbent dressing or by negative pressure therapy. However, green or cloudy fluid with a stench should be considered as an alarm that you may have possibly infected the cut.

Pain

It is very common to experience pain when your skin gets cut. However, the pain should alleviate as time passes. If your skin around the cut starts turning red and inflamed and is accompanied by continuous pain that increases with time, there are chances that the cut is infected. In case of infected cuts, you may even feel that your skin around the cut or wound has turned warm and is emitting heat. This occurs as sequelae of your immune system trying to get rid of the infection.

What are the Complications caused due to an Infected cut?

If the infected cut is ignored and left untreated, it may develop into a serious infection known as sepsis. In severe cases, the cut may turn in a tender or itchy and pus containing painful lump called as abscess. If you have an infected cut from metal object or any other sharp foreign body, there is a very rare possibility of developing tetanus infection. Consult your doctor to know whether you need to take a tetanus injection to prevent further complications. In extremely rare cases, infected cuts may lead to an infection called necrotising fasciitis, also known as flesh eating bug. In this condition, a large area of the skin gets damaged and the condition is very painful.

How is an Infected cut Diagnosed?

If you suspect that your cut has got infected, visit your doctor immediately. In most cases, the physician will be able to diagnose infected cuts just by looking at it and by assessing your medical history. If required, the physician may prescribe the following tests for confirmation of infected cuts

Blood tests

Generally if you have any form of infection in your body, it can be diagnosed by carrying out a complete blood count determination. An elevated leukocyte count indicates presence of infection.

X- ray, CT scan or MRI

If you have a very deep cut, the physician may ask you to get an X-ray, CT scan or MRI done of the area in which you have the cut. These tests enable the proper visualization of the tissues and bones of the affected area which may help in determining the presence of infection. It will also help in determining whether there is some foreign object left inside the cut. You may be administered a contrast dye during CT scan. Inform your healthcare provider if you have had any allergies to the contrast dye.

Culture test

A small swab of fluid will be taken from the affected area to carry out some microbiological tests that will help in establishing the presence of infection in the cut, if any.

Infected Cut Treatment

The course of treatment of infected cut will depend on how severe and deep the cut is. The basic steps involved in treatment of infected cut would be as follows:

Cleaning the cut

It is important to clean the cut using clean water and antiseptic solution. Make sure you use clean cotton balls for cleaning your wound. If you observe some foreign objects in the affected areas, take care not to wipe the affected area vigorously in order to prevent small particles of the foreign object from entering your body through the cut.

Oral antibiotics and painkillers

If you have an infected cut, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics to get rid of the infection. If the infection is caused due to an open wound or cut, impregnated dressings containing natural antibiotics such as honey or silver may be helpful.

Your doctor may also prescribe some painkillers to reduce the pain and swelling. It is important for you to know that painkillers cause stomach ulcers and bleeding inside the stomach. Therefore, do not take pain killers unless your physician prescribes it. If you have high body temperature, your doctor may prescribe some medicines like paracetamol so that the fever subsides.

As already mentioned in this article, in most of the cases, infected cuts are caused due to Staphylococcus bacteria. Note that there is a resistant form of these bacteria known as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). If your cuts have been infected with these bacteria, you may not respond to the normal antibiotics prescribed to you. If your cuts do not start healing within 5 days of initiation of treatment, consult your doctor to know whether culture test for MRSA is required.

Home remedies

If you have a cut due to a foreign object that has embedded deep inside the cut, do not try to pull it out. You may end up damaging the skin and tissues around the cut. Seek help immediately in such cases.

However, if you have a minor cut, do not have to take a tetanus injection and are not at risk of infecting the cut, you may treat the infection using simple home remedies. You may try using the following home remedies to speed up the healing process

Stop bleeding

Minor bleeding may occur when you get a cut on your skin. First, stop the bleeding by applying pressure on the cut. You should use a clean bandage or cloth to cover the cut to stop bleeding. If the first layer of bandage or cloth gets soaked in blood, apply a new bandage over it without pulling the first layer off. Pulling the first layer of bandage off the cut may undo whatever clotting or stoppage of bleeding has occurred.

Clean the skin around the affected area

Once the bleeding ceases, clean the cut using a clean cotton ball. You may use a mild topical antiseptic solution to ensure that the area is free of germs. Avoid using rubbing alcohol, iodine or hydrogen peroxide to clean the cuts as these chemicals may harm the tissue and slow down the healing procedure. If you see some dirt sticking inside the cut, use a clean tweezer to remove it. Take care not to hurt yourself further while using the tweezer.

Apply natural antibiotics on the cut

You may apply essential oils such as peppermint, cinnamon or garlic oil which are known to have antimicrobial properties. Applying peppermint, garlic or cinnamon oil may cause some amount of burning sensation and irritation in the affected areas. Honey, lavender oil, apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are also excellent antibacterial agents and will help in curbing the infection in the cuts without causing much irritation to the skin. You may also apply the age- old home remedy i.e. turmeric to your wound. It has been known since antiquity that turmeric contains curcumin as a major constituent, which acts as a natural antibacterial and wound healing agent. Alternatively, you can use powdered sugar for quick healing. Intake of excessive sugar is considered to be bad for your health However, when powdered sugar is applied on cuts or wounds, it acts as an absorbent which absorbs all the pus or water that is accumulated within the cut.

Cover the wound

Some people believe that keeping the wound covered may delay the healing process. However, it is advisable to cover the cuts using a clean bandage after application of natural antibiotics so that the medicine stays on the skin and can provide the necessary action. You may remove the bandage after a few hours.

Most importantly, if you have a cut, take care not to injure the affected area again, at least till the time the first cut heals! Follow adequate hygiene to avoid your cuts from getting infected. Small steps such as refraining from walking barefoot with a cut on the feet or entering public swimming pools when you have an open cut may help you in preventing the cut from getting infected.

When to get worried about an infected cut?

If you observe blots of blood on your bandage or dressing or you have severe pain, consult your physician immediately. You should seek a physician’s help if the area around the cut starts turning numb or if you face difficulty in moving the limbs below the cut. Inform your physician if you observe yellow or green pus or a bad odor coming out of the cut.

Bear in mind that cuts and wounds heal better when the area around it is kept clean and free from germs. So, if you have a cut, ensure that you clean the area regularly to have a happy healing!

Do you occasionally suffer from bouts of dizziness when you wake up in the morning? Is your dizziness a recurring problem when you wake up in the middle of the night? If yes, it is not peculiar to you. People from all walks of life are in your shoes. Does that mean you should give it free rein? That’s not the case. If you have a better understanding of the causes and potential effects on you, you will know how to handle it better. That’s exactly the objective of this post. When you have read through the post, you will conveniently identify what triggers waking up dizzy and the effective steps you can take to overcome the problem.

Let’s consider some important fact about dizziness, starting from its meaning.

What is dizziness?

Dizziness is a health condition that gives people some strange feelings like being lightheaded and weak. In some cases, this may be accompanied by fainting, feeling unsteady, or woozy. It creates the false impression that your surrounding is spinning, making you lose your balance. It is the commonest reason why many adults pay unscheduled visits to their doctors. The good news is dizziness is not a terminal disease.

Although it is not life-threatening, dizziness is usually accompanied by:

• Blurred vision: As a result of the spinning, you will find it difficult having a clear view of objects around you. Some objects may be completely blurred while others may be duplicated.
• Sweating: Sweating is usually caused by the anxiety that stemmed from concerns over one’s health.
• Inability to walk straight: a spinning head doesn’t encourage good stability. Without stability, walking becomes nearly impossible.
• Fainting: Some people experience fainting as a result of dizziness. This is common in pregnant women and older ones.
• The combination of these symptoms may result in accidental falls that may be injurious to you.

Waking up dizzy in the Morning

Some people can easily regain their strength after a sound night sleep. These people may wake up in the morning with dynamic energy, moving up and down with little or no effort. Others, however, may find it a bit difficult to muster up enough strength to embark on their daily activities after a good night sleep. The latter case is a source of concern if such lack of strength is accompanied by dizziness. It is a sign of something more serious. What can be responsible for feeling dizzy every morning? Why do you wake up feeling sick?

This condition can be attributed to some causes which are stated below:

Abnormal blood glucose levels

Abnormal blood glucose causes dizziness by creating enabling conditions through:

• Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetic patients are at the risk of having occasional fits of dizziness. This is due to some changes in their glucose levels early in the morning.
• Hypoglycemia: This health condition is common in people who have a hard time controlling their blood glucose levels within a small range. Such individuals experience low blood glucose at while sleeping since they don’t eat while sleeping. The result is dizziness upon waking up in the morning.

Low or high oxygen levels

You may suffer from low blood oxygen levels in the morning as a result of some blood abnormalities, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Some of these diseases are:

• Anemia: This is caused by low hemoglobin levels in the body. When this combines with low heart rate and reduced blood pressure during sleep, dizziness is inevitable.
• Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a health condition that is characterized by the momentary halting of breathing while sleeping. This can lead to low blood oxygen levels upon waking in the morning.

Inner ear disturbances

The ears naturally house the organs of balance in the body. When these organs become dysfunctional for whatever reason, it is an invitation to dizziness.

Pregnancy

Morning dizziness is common to pregnant women, especially during the first trimester. This dizziness occurs due to increase in the hormones that cause the blood vessels in pregnant women to widen and relax. As a result, the blood flow to the baby will increase while blood return to the mother is reduced. The effect of the low blood flow is reduced blood pressure which may cause dizziness. Although it is common in the first trimester, pregnant women can experience dizziness at any stage of their pregnancy.

Postural hypotension

This is a condition of sudden low blood pressure that you may experience when you sit or stand up. This is the common cause of dizziness in adults and it is usually corrected by lying down.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm problem that is usually characterized by irregular heart racing. When the heart beats irregularly, you can’t avoid feeling dizzy.

Dehydration

Dehydration may cause dizziness due to a shortage of enough liquid in the body. The shortage may be due to some factors such as illness, fever, drinking insufficient water during exercise, and much more. Feeling dizzy is your body’s reaction to dehydration.

Headaches and migraines

If you have a migraine, it increases the chances of feeling dizzy occasionally. You may have the feeling before or after the headache or migraine.

Insomnia

Lack of adequate sleep through insomnia is an invitation to dizziness. When the body lacks the adequate rest it needs through quality sleep, it will suffer some deprivation which may result in feeling dizzy.

These are some of the common causes of morning dizziness. While this may make you uneasy, it shouldn’t be of serious concern unless it is a daily occurrence with other feelings such as lack of coordination, poor balance, or loss of balance which may ultimately result in occasional fainting.

Waking up dizzy at night

Many people believe that dizziness can be experienced during the day only, that’s far from the truth. Sometimes, you may wake up in the middle of night feeling dizzy; you can’t walk straight, even while you eyes are closed. You may feel like falling or fainting while trying to stand up. Don’t panic. Night dizziness has the same causes and symptoms with morning dizziness. As such, it also shares a common solution. What is the solution to dizziness?

How to Stop feeling Dizzy and Tired

Since we’ve known the different causes of dizziness, how can you prevent this feeling from taking its toll on your health? These are some tested and proven tips that will help you put dizziness under control:

You can overcome dizziness in many ways according to the causes. Look at the list below and see some awesome ways you can eliminate or reduce the effects of dizziness on you.

Reduce your anxiety or stress

Breathing rates and other hormonal changes may be caused by high levels of anxiety or stress. This can lead to dizziness or nausea. To overcome dizziness induced by stress or anxiety, find the source of the problem and eliminate it. Think of whatever subjects you to stress and put a permanent stop to it.

Drink more water

This suggestion is effective in handling dizziness that is caused by dehydration. If you can drink about 8 glasses or 2 – 3 liters of water daily, it will replenish lost fluid due to sickness or hot weather. Alcohol and some beverages containing caffeine should be avoided.

Eat easily digestible food

This is the perfect solution to treating dizziness that arises from low blood sugar levels. Consider including ripe bananas, apple, and other sweet fruit in your diet. They will provide the right glucose to neutralize your low blood sugar levels. That will prevent you from becoming a victim of dizziness.

Stand up slowly

If you are aged and suffer from hypotension-induced dizziness, standing up slowly while lying down is the solution to the problem. If you are in lying position, gradually sit up before standing up. This gradual transition will prevent dizziness.

Get enough sleep

If lack of adequate sleep is the culprit, increasing the quantity and quality of your sleep will do the magic. Remove any obstacles that will prevent you from having enough sound sleep at night. Turn off the TV, mobile devices, and other electronic devices that may interrupt your sleep.

Consider healthy eating

While getting enough sleep and drinking enough liquid are good suggestions, complementing that with healthy eating will be wonderful. Include foods that will help you reverse the effects of dehydration and antidepressants. You should also include foods that will help you regulate your blood sugar or blood glucose levels. The reversal of the negative effects of some medications and regulation of the glucose and sugar levels will put you in good shape to permanently put dizzy feeling behind you.

The suggestions above are practical in simple cases where the problem can effectively be handled alone. In extreme cases, other drastic measures should be taken to nip this condition in the nub. What are some of these extreme cases? These are a handful of them:

Dizziness During Pregnancy

Feeling dizzy during pregnancy is common to women. If your experience is like one of these women, the following useful suggestions will help you scale through:

• Avoid prolonged standing: If you have an absolute need to stand for long, always keep your feet in motion to stimulate increased blood circulation.
• Don’t allow too much waiting periods between your meals. Eat regularly by snacking as much as possible throughout the day. Remember to drink enough water too. This will prevent dizziness as a result of dehydration.
• Tight-fitting clothes will hinder the free flow of blood through your body. Therefore, wear loose clothing to make circulation easy.
• You should avoid hot showers at all costs. It will provide an environment that is conducive to the stimulation of dizziness.

Seek medical attention

This suggestion is very important if your dizziness is recurring and all efforts to control it using the suggestions above have proved futile. You should consult competent medical personnel that can offer both preventive and corrective medications and suggestions that will put dizziness at bay. This may include doing the following:

• Check your blood pressure: since both hypertension and hypotension can cause dizziness, checking your blood pressure is a good way to combat the illness. If your blood pressure is below or above the ideal reading, your physician will help you adjust it to the normal level.
• Check your blood sugar level: Both low blood sugar and high blood sugar can cause dizziness. In order to know the real cause, consult your doctor for a proper test.
• Consult an ER/ET: What if your dizziness occurs while lying down with your eyes close? If you occasionally experience such, Dr. Arun Phalophia, MD, suggested that you go for ER evaluation. This is especially so if you have a history of high blood pressure, migraine, diabetes, and ear issues. To rule out dysfunctional internal ear, he suggests consulting an ET specialist for a thorough test.
• Check your medication: Speak with your doctor and find out whether the feeling is connected to your medication. You should take this step because some antidepressants are known to stimulate dizziness. If they are responsible, your doctor will decide whether to stop using the medication or reducing the dose will help you cure it.

Conclusion

I believe that the information in this article will help you to overcome the challenges of dizziness successfully. While dizziness is not life-threatening, the effects can endanger your life. Falling down due to dizziness may cause some minor or major injuries. Fainting while on motion or operating a mechanical or electrical device may be dangerous. These possible dangerous examples should be prevented.

To prevent such an unfortunate incidence, you can implement these effective tips here to prevent or eliminate the effects on your health. The suggestions here have been used by thousands of people to bring their condition under perfect control. I strongly believe that you will find it effective too.

While I have tried to give you a comprehensive discussion on the causes and prevention of dizziness, I may have accidentally overlooked some important tips that you’ve found helpful. If you do, kindly include that in the comment section below. Other people who are battling dizziness may find your suggestion useful.

Red freckles can be quite embarrassing as they cast a contrast on one’s beauty, making one to begin to doubt one’s attractiveness. It takes only a person whose heart is made of iron and steel not to bother about the appearance of clusters of red spots on his/her face. Red freckles can deal a deadly punch on your self esteem.

But what should you do, really? Have you ever had those abnormal appearances of concentrated spots on your skin that make you look like more like an art work? I am not trying to mock you, but that is how a lot of people with this challenge have seen and described themselves. It is embarrassing, but it’s not your fault that you have them.

If you have been diagnosed with red freckles, you don’t have to kill yourself because you are not the only person having this challenge. We are here to help you proffer solution to the problem. This write-up provides you real insight into what this red freckles are, the various types, the causes, and how to prevent them. At the end of reading this piece, you would have fully armed yourself with the right information that would help you out.

What are Red Freckles?

Freckles, otherwise known as ephelides, are clusters of concentrated cells with a high level of melanin which are fairly noticeable on fair-complexioned people. They do not have a higher number of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin), rather, they have melanocytes that are over producing melanin granules, thereby altering the coloration of the keratinocytes (the outer skin).

Freckles are not a disorder of the skin. However, people who suffer from freckles have a lower concentration of melanin that protects them from the harmful effects of the sun rays. Therefore, they are more prone to the harmful effects of the ultraviolet radiation. It is, therefore, advisable for people with high tendency of developing freckles to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. They should use sun sunscreen as much as possible.

Freckles formation is usually triggered by undue exposure to sunlight. The exposure to UV-B radiation stimulates the melanocytes to produce melanin in excess, thereby making freckles to become more noticeable.

Freckles are mostly found on the face, especially on the cheeks. They are also found on the skin of any part of the body that has been unduly exposed to the sun, like the shoulders or arms. Where there is an intense distribution of high concentrations of melanin, it can lead to multiplication of freckles, thereby making them to cover an entire skin area.

Red freckles are commoner in children before the onset of puberty, but quite rare on infants and toddlers. They usually fade with age in a number of cases. However, red freckles in children tend to reappear when the individual is exposed to the sun, even though the freckles had been managed with lasers or creams.

Causes of Red Freckles

There are several reasons why you could develop red freckles. We are going to talk about them below so that you can get the right information that would help you. So, here are the possible causes.

Genetic link

The main cause of freckles is a genetic disorder, which is due to the presence of rare alleles of the MC1R gene. It is not clear if an individual will develop freckles just by having one or two copies of this gene. It is also known that individuals who do not even possess any copies of the MC1R occasionally develop freckles. However, people who have a high number of freckling sites do possess one or more variants of the MC1R gene. The most common variants of the MC1R gene in individuals with freckles include Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp, and Asp294His.

Individuals with red hairs have the MC1R gene in common. A high number of red haired people have two variants of the MC1R gene and nearly all of them have one. The gene is, therefore, more closely associated with red hair than it is with freckles. The variants that cause red hair are one and the same as the ones that cause freckling.

Exposure to sun

The primary reason that has been implicated in the triggering of the development of red freckles is exposure to sunlight. The more a predisposed individual is exposed to sunlight the more the chances of developing freckles. Therefore, it would be better to minimize your exposure to the sun to reduce the possibility.

Fair skin

Fair-skinned people have less production of melanin, making it relatively hard to absorb the ultraviolet light. The pigment-producing cells therefore, work harder to produce more melanin at a faster rate, leading to an abnormal melanin production. It is this excessive proliferation of abnormal melanin that becomes noticeable on the skin as red freckles.

Hormonal effect

The abnormal stimulation of the hormone estrogen prompts the melanocytes into producing extra melanin. This chain reaction makes the melanocytes to secrete excess skin color when exposed to the sun thereby leading to red freckles.

How to Remove Red Freckles

Red freckles can be removed in different ways. So, if you are really keen on fighting those nasty spots, the following information would be of great value to you.

Use Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is quite useful in the removal of red freckles. Some of the body creams have a percentage of Aloe Vera in them. Some people have testified that the wonder plant truly works on red freckles. Rub fresh Aloe Vera juice on the freckled spots twice daily and the spots would slowly fade away in about a month or two.

Laser treatment

Red freckles can be treated with lasers. Light energy from the laser vibrates and breaks the pigment into micro-particles. The body’s own natural mechanism then engulfs and removes the micro-particles. The procedure produces a feeling that is likened to snaps of rubber, accompanied by a sensation of warmth. To reduce or eliminate any discomfort, apply a topical anesthetic cream to the spot 30 minutes before the treatment.

Usually, there is a temporary graying or whitening of the lesion immediately after the laser treatment. This is then followed by redness that looks like sunburn. The redness may last for 2 – 7 days depending on the severity of the pigment lesions. The pigmented lesions get darker over 7 – 10 days after the procedure, and then flake off or fade away. Fresh, normal-looking skin then grows to take the place of the removed red freckles.

Intense Pulsated Light Therapy (IPL)

This works on the same principle as lasers. Light is absorbed into the specific target cells with color (chromophores) in the skin. Then there is conversion of light energy into heat energy in order for it to be able to cause damage to the particular target area. IPL are not exactly the same as laser, because, they deliver many wavelengths of colors in each pulse whereas lasers deliver a wavelength. A higher number of IPL are able to penetrate without employing excessive energy because they use filters to refine the energy output to use in treating specific areas. They are able to target specific chromophores (components of the skin that absorb light).

IPL therapy targets the dermis (lower layers of skin) without destroying the epidermis (top layers of the skin). This is why they are regarded as non-ablative resurfacing technique. The advantage of the IPL over the ablative resurfacing (where both the epidermis and dermis are injured in order to produce an outcome that is more visible), is that the IPL has minimal downtime. Once the procedure is carried out, you can return to work immediately afterward.

Chemical peels

The use of light chemical peels also works on freckles. They work by making those red freckles fade away. To effectively remove the freckles, the chemical peels have to be repeated. Glycolic acid is one chemical you could start with and then gradually move up depending on how well your skin can tolerate it.

Tretinoin cream

Tretinoin is known to help clear the dark spots that come with aging, acne vulgaris, red freckles, etc. Apply it to the skin at bedtime (it should not be used during the day). Don’t use it on the skin at the same time with other products that contain benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid. You need to wait for at least 30 minutes after washing your skin.

Bleaching creams

There are good numbers of bleaching creams with skin-friendly ingredients to help clear away your red freckles. When choosing bleaching cream, you need to go for one that has chemicals that are not harsh to the skin and would not destroy your skin further.

Natural remedies

Natural ingredients that work fine on red freckles and help to brighten the skin are Vitamin E, Licorice, mulberry, lemon, and other fruits of herbal extract. The chances of removing freckles without causing damage to the surrounding skin depend on the number of natural ingredients that the brand has. Those brands with more natural ingredients tend to do better.

When shopping for your natural remedy, it is better to go for those creams with an SPF 15 or more. They assist you in adding up to your daily sunscreen since you would need to make use of one with SPF 30 or higher. The brands you can easily get to buy include

• Nature’s Gate Organics Lemon Skin Brightening Cream: It comes with organic lemon, Japanese Mandarin, Mulberry, and Licorice).
• Xtend-Life Natural Whitening Day Cream: This cream contains Nutgrass and Natural vitamin E.
• Revitol Freckle Removal cream: It has the ability to brighten and rejuvenate skin, as well as moisturize the skin.
• Meladerm Skin Lightening Cream: Meladerm comes with Lactic acid, Kojic acid, and Licorice. It is quite good for the removal of red freckles and dark spots.
• Others: There are a lot more of the creams you can use on the freckles. They include Tri Luma Cream, Arche Pearl Whitening Face Cream, John Plunkett’s Superfade Original, Olay professional Pro-X Even Skin Tone Spot Fading Treatment, Aveeno Lightening Cream, Derma E Evenly radiant cream, Nadinola Skin Discoloration Fade Cream, Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Corrector, and a lot more.

Red freckles around Eyes

Sometimes red freckles appear under the skin of the eyes. They are referred to as petechiae, and they are usually caused by the bleeding of tiny blood vessels which might have ruptured as a result of strain. Conditions that bring about petechiae include crying, coughing, and straining after vomiting. Some of the causes should not really give us a concern. Nevertheless, petechiae can be a sign of a more dangerous health condition like strep throat, endocarditis, scarlet fever, parvovirus infection and mononucleosis. These conditions are either caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

Red freckles on Feet

Red freckles could sometimes be found on the feet. They are also referred to as petechiae. They are usually caused by a simple allergy to certain medications and jewelry, leukemia, etc. One thing that differentiates petechiae from other skin problems is that petechiae do not blanch when pressed with a thumb or finger, instead they become pale when pressed. They are usually small spots on the legs, but they can appear differently on different individuals.

Red freckles on Scalp

If you notice red freckles on your scalp, they may be moles. A mole or nevus is a growth occurring as a result of the color-producing cells of the skin growing in clusters. Most of the times, they are oval or round, flat or raised, and they can be red, brown pink or black. Moles are not skin cancer cells, but other forms of skin growths can sometimes be mistaken for red moles.

A higher number of moles vary from light tan to dark brown. Nevertheless, atypical moles otherwise known as dysplastic nevi consist of shadows of red along with brown. Most of the times, they come with a mixture of colors, they are usually slightly raised or flat or may look spotted.

Atypical moles are more often larger than the common moles and more extensive than the width of a pencil’s eraser. Atypical moles can be found on the scalp, back, and chest, even though they can occur in any other part of the body. They usually develop at any age but are commoner in people with a fair skin. If you notice them on your scalp or any other part, see the doctor for proper diagnosis.

Red freckles on Ankles

Red dots can be seen on the ankles and feet, though they can occur on any part of the body. They are usually caused by platelet deficiency otherwise known as thrombocytopenia. Occasionally, the development of red freckles on the ankles could be a condition known as Cherry Angiomas, which is usually a group of dilated blood vessels getting together to form a benign skin tumor that is like a red cherry. They are raised red skin dots that do not itch, but are common in the elderly.

Non-itchy red dots on the ankles can be caused by any of the following: leukemia, aplastic anemia, Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, thrombocytopenia purpura, Cushing syndrome, hypothermic anesthesia, scurvy, Marfan’s syndrome, Senile petechial hemorrhage, chemotherapy, Vitamin K deficiency, radiotherapy, Polycythemia vera, sun exposure, rickettsial infection, prosthetic heart disease, Lupus, dengue fever, hypersplenism, tanning, after sunburn, etc.

Red freckles on Eyelids

Red freckles periodically occur on the eyelids. The appearance, as well as the nature of the spots, would help to determine its origin or cause. Some of these spots appear in clusters while others appear singly. Some red freckles appear to grow, whereas others have whiteheads on the top. One other way to determine the cause of the spots is to see whether they come with symptoms or not. Those that itch could point to red freckles with allergic origin. If the red spots are accompanied with swelling, it signifies the presence of blood accumulation as well as infection.

Another thing that can cause red freckles on the eyelids is insect bites. Insect bites lead to allergic reactions in certain individuals thereby resulting in red spots. Those spots can be managed with the application of calamine lotion, antihistamines, or other soothing creams.

Red freckles during Pregnancy

Some skin challenges come with pregnancy. And we will quickly talk about those different skin changes you are likely to see during pregnancy and their causes.

• Heat rash: These rashes appear as small red dots which can be slightly raised and are usually common in areas of the body that are moist and warm. They are mostly found on the inner thighs and under the breasts. The reason for its frequency during pregnancy is because of hormonal effects on the sweat glands which stimulate them to produce heat.
• Prurigo of pregnancy: Prurigo of pregnancy is a small bump on the skin which is similar to insect bites. They can start with a few bumps, but usually, increase as time goes by. They are common on the feet, legs, hands and arms.
• Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy: Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy otherwise known as PUPPP, brings about itchy patches with small, bumps or red dots. Most of the times, the condition begins on the lower abdomen and then spreads all over the stomach, to the breasts, legs and buttocks. It is commoner in the third trimester of pregnancy and affects about 1 in every 200 pregnant women.

How to Prevent Red freckles

Red freckles can be prevented in several ways. But here are a few ways you can successfully prevent the condition from developing.

• Use wide-brimmed hats: This will help to adequately shield the various parts of your body from the harsh effects of the sun.
• Use sunscreens with SPF 30: Sunscreens with Sun protective Factor (SPF) 30 are quite helpful in preventing red freckles.
• Stay away from the sun: Avoid undue sun exposure and do not get involved in sun tanning too.
• Use sun protective clothing: Cover the various parts of your body that can be easily reached by the sun rays. Make use of long sleeve shirts, long trousers, shirts, etc to keep the extremities from the effects of the sun.

Pictures

Pictures of red freckles on skin:

Conclusion

Red freckles can create a dent in your self-esteem and reduce your ability to socialize with others. However, if you keep to the suggestions we have made in this write-up, you will be able to easily reduce the effects of red freckles, and then give yourself a better aesthetic look.

What is RDW in blood test?

The RDW (Red blood cell Distribution Width) blood test is part of the complete blood count testing, measuring the variation of the red blood cell (RBC) volume. The test is performed with the blood collected by venipuncture. It seems that the RDW blood test is often used to determine the risk for premature death, especially in patients who have been diagnosed with different heart conditions or various forms of cancer. The high levels of RDW are associated with far more health risks than the low or normal RDW levels.

Normal Range

The health red blood cells have a standard size, with a diameter that varies between 6 and 8 μm. The normal range for the RWD blood test is between 11.5 and 14.5%. Even though elevated levels of RDW are believed to be associated with all forms of anemia, not all types of anemia actually come with such changes. In fact, there are many forms of anemia, in which the RDW is within the normal range, such as: anemia of chronic disease, aplastic anemia and thalassemia minor. The RDW levels might also be maintained within normal range in patients suffering from acute blood loss, depending on how much blood was actually lost.

In some patients, the RDW blood test is extremely useful for making the differential diagnosis between iron deficiency anemia (high levels of RDW and normal or reduced MCV levels) and thalassemia (normal RDW levels and reduced MCV levels). However, further investigations are going to be necessary in order to confirm the diagnosis. The levels of RDW might remain within the normal range in patients who are suffering from anemia of renal disease as well or hemolysis caused by other medical problems.

Low RDW

The low levels of RDW are encountered in the following medical conditions: anemia of chronic disease, heterozygous thalassemia and hemoglobin E trait. However, there may be patients presenting normal RDW levels, despite suffering from the above-mentioned medical problems. Microcytic anemia might also lead to low RDW levels, as all the blood cells are small in size and there is no significant variation to cause the RDW levels to become elevated.

High RDW

There are a wide range of medical conditions that lead to a significant difference whereas the cell size is concerned. In general, a high RDW means that the red blood cells present a high level of variety in regard to their size.

The high RDW is often encountered in persons who suffer from different forms of anemia (not in call cases). The doctor might decide to perform additional tests, such as the mean corpuscular volume, in order to identify the causes that have led to the appearance of anemia in the first place. The RDW blood test, performed at the same time with the MCV, allows the doctor to make the differential diagnosis between single-cause and multiple-cause anemia.

Among the types of anemia in which the RDW levels are elevated, there are macrocytic anemia (caused by in turn by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency) and iron deficiency anemia. The analysis of the red blood cells will show that some of these cells are increased in size (hence the name of the anemia), while others remain smaller in size. The variety in size leads to the elevated RDW levels. Also, when the red blood cells have different sizes, this modification is known as anisocytosis.

In case of patients who suffer from iron deficiency anemia, the levels of RDW are elevated, while the MCV is reduced. The levels of both RDW and MCV are elevated in patients who suffer from anemia caused by vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. If the patient suffers from both vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, the levels of RDW are going to be elevated. As for the MCV levels, these can be elevated, reduced or even within the normal range. In case of acute blood loss or a hemorrhage that has occurred recently, the levels of RDW are high, while the MCV levels are maintained within normal range.

Other conditions in which the RDW levels are elevated include: sickle cell anemia, chronic liver disease, chemotherapy (for different types of cancer), prolonged treatment with antiviral medication and chronic alcohol consumption. Patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes can also present high RDW levels.

How to calculate?

The RDW can be calculated with the help of a mathematical formula, as it follows:

RDW = (Standard deviation of MCV/mean MCV) x 100

Note: MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume (average volume of red blood cells)

So, the RDW is calculated by dividing the standard deviation of MCV to the mean MCV and then multiplying the result by 100. In case you are wondering what the standard deviation represents, you should know that this is actually the erythrocyte volume or the number of red blood cells that are found in the blood smear.

In conclusion, the RDW blood test is a faithful investigation that can help one determine the exact cause of anemia. It is often performed with the complete blood count and it is directly influenced by the mean corpuscular volume or the MCV, as it is abbreviated. It can be used for the differential diagnosis between different types of anemia, especially when the results from other tests are inconclusive. As you have seen for yourself, the RDW levels can be increased, reduced or within the normal range, each type signifying the potential presence of different medical problems.

Definition – What is Subdural Hygroma?

A general hygroma is a capsule that is filled with fluid and is surrounded by a layer of fibrous tissue. Some medical personnel refer to them as hydromas. Not only can people have hygromas but also animals. They can be associated with other medical problems or benign in nature. It all depends on what the underlying reason was for the sac to develop to begin with.

In a subdural hygroma it is a subdural body of cerebrospinal fluid without blood. Cerebrospinal fluid is a colorless, clear body fluid that is found in your spine and brain and acts like a cushion for your brain’s cortex, which is your brain’s outer layer of neural tissue. This fluid provides protection to your brain inside your skull. This type of hygroma is often seen in elderly patients but can also be seen in children. Most of these types of hygromas are small but there are some larger ones that can cause a secondary localized mass.

Subdural Hygroma in Infants

When a subdural hygroma is seen in infants and children it is often after they have had an infection but it could also be from a minor head injury from falling, hitting their head, or even child abuse.

Symptoms

What symptoms a person has with a general hygroma depends on the cause.

Trauma – there is usually localized swelling that over time will normally increase as the hygroma grows and starts to become more prominent.

When a person has a subdural hygroma some of the symptoms that can be seen include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Mild fever
• Drowsiness

Causes

There are some general hygromas that develop over time, normally in response to a trauma while others are congenital in nature, which means it was present at birth.

• Trauma causes – this type will normally develop at your joints like your elbows and knees. They are sometimes referred to as false bursae. The reason is because they mimic the structure of a bursa. A bursa is a tough capsule that surrounds your joints and is designed to reduce friction so your joint can move freely with only minimal resistance, like your shoulder, knee, or elbow. Bursa is also small-fluid sacs.
• Congenital causes – during the development of the fetus errors occur that can lead to the formation of a cyst that is normally around the neck or head. At birth these fluid-filled sacs may be visible but at other times it may not become apparent until the infant has gotten older along with the growth aging. With congenital hydromas they are not usually inherited because there are conditions in the womb that has lead to their development. This growth could sometimes be associated with chromosomal anomalies that could be spontaneous in nature or inherited. In this case the patient may have other medical problems.

With subdural hygromas it is thought that they are caused from:

• Chronic subdural hematomas, which is a localized collection of blood outside of your blood vessels that gathers between your brain and dura mater, which is the thick membrane of the outermost of the three layers of the membranes that surround your spinal cord and brain. With a chronic subdural hematoma they usually develop over a period of days to often weeks after a minor head trauma.
• A sudden decrease in pressure from ventricular shunting, which is a surgical procedure to put a tube in one of the fluid-filled chambers inside your brain. With this procedure there could be a leakage of your cerebrospinal fluid into your subdural space. This is especially true in cases with moderate to severe brain atrophy, which is a loss of neurons and the connections between the two.

If it is an acute subdural hygroma they can be caused by head trauma but can also happen after a neurosurgical procedure. They have also been associated with different other conditions such as:

• Lymphoma, which is a group of blood cell tumors and often refers to just the ones that are cancerous
• Dehydration in the elderly
• Connective tissue diseases

Treatment

When a person displays the symptoms of a subdural hygroma they can be relieved by draining the subdural fluid. If a person is suffering from an acute subdural hygroma they can be a possible neurosurgical emergency that requires decompression.

Definition

This word refers to measures that are taken in order to prevent health problems or disease instead of treating or curing an existing condition. These measures are also referred to as “preventative care.” They may also be used to minimize the symptoms of a person who has been exposed to a health hazard or infectious agent or stop an outbreak. It is a medical term that comes from the Greek word meaning “to guard against.” It is a reference to the fact that prophylaxis is intended to provide protections for those who are at risk for disease.

Types

Although there are many different prophylaxis for different diseases and health problems there are two main types, which are:

• Primary – this is any type of measure that is taken to prevent an illness or health problem before it happens. This could include brushing your teeth to prevent gum disease or getting a vaccination to prevent an illness. These measures could also include lifestyle changes like exercise and diet, medications, screening tests, physical exams, emergency preparedness, etc.
• Secondary – this is any procedure that helps to prevent infection after the person has been exposed to a disease. It is also used to ease symptoms that are associated with a health condition or illness. For example, if health workers are exposed to HIV, they may be given an antiretroviral medication to prevent this virus from becoming an active infection. It can also include radiation treatment after a surgery to remove a tumor to prevent the cancer from reoccurring, medication for pregnant women to prevent vomiting when experiencing severe morning sickness, etc.

Prophylaxis dosage

This is the treatment that is given with the intent of preventing an illness from occurring. They are often lower than the medication dosages that are required to treat an illness after it has developed but not always.

Antibiotic prophylaxis

This is the administration of antibiotics used to prevent the infection rather than treating an existing one. It is most commonly used with patients that are a higher risk of infection due to some health condition or has a suppressed immune system. Sometimes this type of prophylaxis is used to prevent infections when exposure to an infection is likely. Antibiotic prophylaxis is common in patients with organ transplant patients and ones with certain heart conditions. It can also be given before receiving dental care that involves disrupting the gum tissue, to patients who have suffered a wound, or undergone surgery. Many medical providers try to be cautious when giving antibiotic prophylaxis because each time one is given it can lessen the effectiveness.

Sometimes antibiotic prophylaxis is given to avoid infection such as with small children who attend school or live with an infected child and are at risk of acquiring the infection. Depending on the surgical procedure it can be administered as part of the postoperative care routine. Most of these antibiotics are broad-spectrum antibiotic, which are made to work against a broad spectrum of bacteria. This includes penicillin and derivatives of penicillin. For those allergic to penicillin there is cephalosporins.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis

This is a medical technique that is used to prevent infections in certain situations. It is primarily restricted to ones who may contact diseases while on vacation or patients who are undergoing some surgeries. Antibiotics are commonly used in this type of prophylaxis but also under this type are other medications that focus on other microbes like parasites or fungi. If someone’s natural defenses against infections are damaged and they have an increased risk of serious infection a surgeon may put them on an antimicrobial prophylaxis regime before, during, and after their surgery.

Dental antibiotic prophylaxis

These are administered to patients who are in a high-risk category to develop an infection because of certain dental procedures. It is mainly used to prevent infections that can affect a ‘patient’s heart. One example is a medical condition called infective endocarditis. This is an infection that can happen to the valves of their heart or on the outside of their heart. What dosage is used for this type of prophylaxis will depend on which type of antibiotic is used. Generally the standard dosage is two grams of amoxicillin orally to adults but if they cannot take oral medications they would get two grams intravenously. For children it is based on weight and for every two point two pounds of weight they would be given fifty milligrams of ampicillin or amoxicillin. If they are allergic to penicillin they would be given a different antibiotic. There are some dangers with dental antibiotic prophylaxis such as potentially severe breathing problems and rash.

DVT prophylaxis

DVT is the abbreviation for deep vein thrombosis and by giving this type of prophylaxis it is to prevent the development of this condition in patients who are risk for it. If a person has DVT a blood clot forms in the deep veins of their leg or arm, blocking the blood flow, which can lead to complications. An example of a serious complication is if a blood clot breaks loose and travels to their lungs blocking their airway, and can be fatal because the onset is so fast they do not get a chance to seek treatment. Ones that might need this are those surgical patients who need surgery that lasts longer than two hours, people over the age of forty, severe physical trauma, people with a history of surgery, or cancer patients having surgery. DVT prophylaxis can be mechanical such as compression stockings, or pharmacological such as medication to prevent clotting.

Endocarditis prophylaxis

This type is used to prevent bacterial infections of your heart prior to certain types of exposure that could elevate the risk. This would mean that the physician would administer antibiotics prior to any treatment that would pose a risk for bacteria to enter your bloodstream and make its way to your heart where it would grow and obstruct your heart function. The procedure is to give the antibiotic in a single large dose about sixty minutes before the procedure takes place. How much would depend on the age, size, and the individual. The circumstances when a person would receive these antibiotics are usually during dental procedures but can be used for other situations such as medical procedures on the gastrointestinal tract.

HIV prophylaxis

With HIV prophylaxis it is used as a treatment aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV, of which there are two types.

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis – this type of HIV prophylaxis is still in its infancy as at this time there is not enough evidence gathered for a definite conclusion about the efficacy of this type.
• Post-exposure prophylaxis – this type of HIV prophylaxis has a better and longer established track record. With this one it involves being given a twenty-eight day course of antiretrovirals if you have come into contact with the bodily fluids of a person with HIV. It is more commonly used when a health care worker, like a doctor or nurse, has been stuck with a needle that contains the blood of a person who is HIV-positive. It is also given to infants whose mother’s have tested HIV-positive. Although rare, it has been used for rape victims as a “morning afterward” or for those who have had consensual sex with an injection drug user or with a person who has or is likely to develop HIV. It is most effective if it is started within thirty-six to seventy-two hours. In health care workers who take the full course of twenty-eight days decreases their odds by seventy-nine percent of being infected by HIV.

Using HIV prophylaxis is not an easy fix to HIV exposure because these medications are expensive and are often prohibitively so if you do not have insurance. There are also severe side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and headache that some experience. Sometimes they are so severe that some are not able to complete the entire twenty-eight day course. If a person has repeated usage of these antiretrovirals it could increase their risk of acquiring a treatment-resistive form of HIV. The best HIV prophylaxis possible is being treated with the medication after exposure to HIV.

Malaria prophylaxis

This is used as a preventive treatment of malaria. When given medications it is best weigh the risk of infection against the side effects and risks that are associated with the medications. There are many medications that can be used to prevent malaria infections. When you are considering traveling where you might contact malaria you need to think about how much you are willing to spend on malaria prophylaxis as weekly medications are more expensive than daily medications. If you do not want to take any of the medications you can always use bed nets but these are no guarantee you will not get the malaria infection. The different malaria prophylaxis available targets certain areas of the world. For example, the specific type of malaria that is common in Southeast Asia is the P. vivax, and the medication to use for that type of malaria prevention would be primaquine. What is used should also be based on how often you are willing to take the medication and the length of your trip. Some are to be taken daily while others are taken weekly. Make sure that you do your research well in advance of your trip if you are planning on using malaria prophylaxis.