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Skin, Hair, and Nails

Learn about skin, hair, and nails

Photo of a young woman holding her hands up near her face

Almost everyone knows someone who has dealt with acne or had a case of dandruff. Even though you might think these problems just affect your appearance, they can make you feel miserable. It's important to pay attention to the health of your skin, hair, and nails so you can prevent problems like an ingrown nail, a rash, or a life-threatening problem like melanoma (skin cancer). Our topics are here to help you deal with skin, hair, and nail problems, and they can give you tips for preventing these problems.

Get more information in our skin, hair, and nail topics, such as:

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Health Topics
Abuse: Signs of Abuse-Related Injuries Accidental Needle Sticks: Chances of Infection Acid Burns Acne Acne: Tips for Keeping It Under Control Acne: Treatment With Alpha Hydroxy Acids Acne: Treatment With Antibiotics Acne: Treatment With Benzoyl Peroxide Acne: Treatment With Salicylic Acid Actinic Keratosis Age-Related Foot Changes Alcohol Increases the Risk of Cold Injury Alkali Burns Allergic Reaction to Tattoo Dye Alopecia Areata Alopecia Areata: Psoralen With Ultraviolet A Light (PUVA) Therapy Anal Fissure Anal Fissures: Botox Injections Anal Fissures: Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy Anal Fissures: Nifedipine and Diltiazem Anal Fissures: Nitroglycerin Ointment Animal and Human Bites Animal and Human Bites: When Stitches Are Needed Anthrax Artificial Nails: Problems and Treatment Aspiration of a Ganglion Aspirin Athlete's Foot Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Bartholin Gland Cyst Bedbugs Birthmarks Bites and Stings: Flu-Like Symptoms Black Widow Spider Bite Blepharitis Blister Care Blisters Blocked Sweat Glands Body Piercing Healing Times Body Piercing Problems Body Piercing: Safe Jewelry Choices Boils Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Breast-Feeding: Sore Nipples Breathing Smoke or Fumes Broken Blisters: Home Treatment Brown Recluse Spider Bite Bruises and Blood Spots Under the Skin Burns and Electric Shock Burns to the Eye Calluses and Corns Calluses and Corns: Protective Padding Calluses and Corns: Using Pumice Stones Capsaicin Care for a Skin Wound Care of an Insect Sting Caring for a Baby's Nails Causes of Hair Loss: Diseases Causes of Hair Loss: Medicines and Medical Treatments Cellulitis Changes in a Mole or Skin Growth Changes in Your Nails Chemical Burn Chemical Peel Chickenpox (Varicella) Chickenpox: Preventing Skin Infections Chilblains (Perniosis) Chili Pepper Burns Coal Tar for Atopic Dermatitis Cold Exposure: What Increases Your Risk of Injury? Cold Hands: Home Treatment Cold Sores Cold Temperature Exposure Color Changes in Nails Common Stinging or Biting Insects or Spiders Common Types of Birthmarks Complications of Pressure Sores Contact Immunotherapy for Hair Loss Copperhead Coral Snake Corns and Calluses: Home Treatment Corticosteroids for Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) Cradle Cap Creams and Ointments for Cold Sores Crohn's Disease: Problems Outside the Digestive Tract Cryosurgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Cryotherapy (Cryosurgery) for Genital Warts Cryotherapy for Warts Curettage and Electrosurgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Cut That Removes All Layers of Skin Cuts Cuts: When Stitches Are Needed Cyclosporine for Atopic Dermatitis Dandruff Dermabrasion Determining the Seriousness of a Burn Diabetes: Checking Your Feet Diabetes: Protecting Your Feet Diabetes: Steps for Foot-Washing Diaper Rash Dry Skin and Itching Electrical Shock or Burn Electrocautery for Genital Warts Electrolysis for Removing Hair Environmental Illness Environmental Illness in Children Environmental Illness: Evaluating Your Home or Workplace Estimating the Size of a Burn Excision for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Eye Injury: First Aid for a Black Eye Eye Injury: First Aid for Chemical Burns Eye Injury: First Aid for Heat Burns Eye Injury: First Aid for Minor Cuts Eyelid Problems Face-Lift (Rhytidectomy) Facial Injuries Facial Problems, Noninjury Fifth Disease Filler Injections Fire Ant Stings First Aid for Chemical Burns First Aid for Electrical Burns First Aid for Tar or Plastic Burns Fishhook Injuries Fly Bites Folliculitis Food Allergies and Atopic Dermatitis Foot Odor Fungal Infections: Risks of Oral Antifungals Fungal Nail Infections Ganglions Genital Self-Examination Groin Problems and Injuries Hair Loss Hair Loss Caused by Lack of Protein Hair Loss From Cancer Treatment Hair Transplant Surgery Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Hand-Washing Heat Rash Heavy Sweating Henna Tattoos (Mehndi) High-Pressure Injection Wounds Hives: Home Treatment Home Remedies for Bites and Stings Home Treatment for Second-Degree Burns How a Scrape Heals How to Recognize Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac How To Remove A Tick How to Stop Bleeding From a Head Wound Hydrocortisone for Itching Impetigo Incision Care After Surgery Ingrown Toenail Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites Insect Repellents Insect Stings: How to Remove the Stinger Interferon Gamma for Atopic Dermatitis Irritant Plant Rashes Itching Relief Jellyfish Sting: Home Treatment Jellyfish Stings: Allergic Reaction Jock Itch Kissing Bugs Laser Resurfacing Laser Surgery for Genital Warts Laser Surgery for Skin Cancer Laser Surgery for Warts Laser Therapy for Birthmarks Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins Leg Injuries Lice Lice: Cleaning Lice From Combs, Clothing, and Other Items Lice: Removing Nits From Hair Lipoma Liposuction Living With More Than One Health Problem Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) for Genital Warts Lyme Disease Lyme Disease During Pregnancy and Nursing Lyme Disease: Role of Blood Tests Lymph Node Removal (Lymphadenectomy) for Melanoma Marine Stings and Scrapes Measles (Rubeola) Metastatic Melanoma Misdiagnosis of Lyme Disease Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Molluscum Contagiosum Mouth Problems, Noninjury Mucous Cyst Ganglions Nail Problems and Injuries Nail Psoriasis Nail-Biting Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh-Eating Bacteria) Needle Punctures for Health Reasons Nephrotic Syndrome: Skin Care Tips Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Comparing Treatments Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Photodynamic Therapy Nonpoisonous Spider Bites Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Nonsurgical Nail Removal for Fungal Nail Infections Oral Antivirals for Cold Sores Other Home Treatment Measures for a First-Degree Burn or Sunburn Paring for Plantar Warts Phototherapy for Atopic Dermatitis Phototherapy for Psoriasis Physical Therapy Pilonidal Disease Pinworms Pityriasis Rosea Planning to Be an Organ Donor Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Barrier Lotions and Creams Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Other Plants That Cause a Rash Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Rash From Indirect Contact Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Relieving the Itch Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Tips for Removing Plants Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Tips for Washing Poisonous Lizards Pregnancy: Changes in Feet and Ankles Pregnancy: Complications From Fifth Disease Pregnancy: Hair Changes Pregnancy: Hand Changes Pregnancy: Stretch Marks, Itching, and Skin Changes Pregnancy: Varicose Veins Pressure Sores Pressure Sores: Conditions That Affect Healing Pressure Sores: Pressure-Relieving Devices and Supports Preventing Bedbugs and Kissing Bugs Preventing Bee Stings Preventing Blisters Preventing Flea Bites Preventing Spider Bites Primary Melanoma Protecting Your Skin From the Sun Pseudomonas Infection Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet Light Therapy (PUVA) for Atopic Dermatitis Psoriasis Puncture Wounds Puncture Wounds: Stitches, Staples, and Skin Adhesives Puss Caterpillar Stings Questions About Varicose Vein Treatment Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Rash, Age 11 and Younger Rash, Age 12 and Older Rashes Caused by Plants and Sunlight Rashes or Sores in the Groin Rattlesnake Raynaud's Phenomenon Razor Bumps Removing a Bartholin Gland Cyst Removing a Fishhook Removing an Object From a Wound Removing Moles and Skin Tags Removing Splinters Rhinoplasty Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard Ringworm of the Skin Rosacea Roseola Rubella (German Measles) Scabies Scabies: Getting It From Animals Scabies: Using Medicines Scalp Problems Scarlet Fever Scleroderma Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins Scorpion Stings Scrapes Seabather's Eruption Seborrheic Keratoses Seborrheic Keratosis: Cryotherapy Seborrheic Keratosis: Curettage Seborrheic Keratosis: Electrocautery Treatment Seborrheic Keratosis: Laser Treatment Self-Care for Sjögren's Syndrome Shingles Sjögren's Syndrome Skin Adhesives (Liquid Stitches) Skin Cancer Screening Skin Cancer, Melanoma Skin Cancer, Nonmelanoma Skin Changes Skin Cyst: Home Treatment Skin Grafting for Venous Skin Ulcer Skin Rashes: Home Treatment Smallpox Snake and Lizard Bites Snakebite: Symptoms of a Pit Viper Bite Stages of Lyme Disease Stages of Syphilis Stopping Facial Bleeding Sunblocks to Prevent Sunburn Sunburn Sunburn and Skin Cancer Sunburn: Skin Types Surgical Excision of Melanoma Surgical Nail Removal for Fungal Nail Infections Surgical Removal of Ganglions Surgical Removal of Genital Warts by Excision Swelling or Bruising After a Skin Injury Swimmer's Itch Swollen Glands and Other Lumps Under the Skin Symptoms of Lyme Disease Syphilis: Chancre Syphilis: Gummata Taking Care of Your Stitches or Staples Tattoo and Piercing Safety Tattoo Problems Tattoo Removal Tattoos: Reporting Problems Thrush Tick Bites Tick Bites: Flu-Like Symptoms Tick Bites: Signs of Tick Paralysis Tinea Versicolor Torn or Detached Nail Toxic Reaction to Insect or Spider Venom Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxic Shock Syndrome Bacteria Treating a Hangnail Treating a Nail Infection Treating Personal Contamination Treating Weak or Brittle Nails Types of Acne Types of Fungal Nail Infection Types of Hair Loss Types of Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) Types of Psoriasis Ulcerative Colitis: Problems Outside the Digestive Tract Ultraviolet Rays From the Sun Using Antibiotics Wisely Using Tape to Remove Warts Vaginal Rashes and Sores Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Varicose Veins Varicose Veins Home Treatment Varicose Veins: Phlebectomy or Stab Avulsion Varicose Veins: Radiofrequency Ablation Vein Ligation and Stripping Venous Skin Ulcer Venous Skin Ulcer: Debridement Venous Skin Ulcers: Home Treatment Vertigo: Senses That Help Your Balance and Position Warts and Plantar Warts Warts: Electrosurgery and Curettage Warts: Using Salicylic Acid

Medical Tests
Hair Analysis Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test Lyme Disease Test Rubella Test Skin and Wound Cultures Skin Biopsy

Medications
Allylamines for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard Allylamines for Ringworm of the Skin Anthralin for Psoriasis Antibiotics for Lyme Disease Antibiotics for Rosacea Antihistamines for Itching From Chickenpox Antimalarial Medicines for Lupus Antiviral Medicines for Chickenpox Antivirals for Shingles Azelaic Acid for Acne Azoles for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard Azoles for Ringworm of the Skin Benzyl Alcohol for Head Lice Biologics for Psoriasis Bleomycin Injection for Warts Calcipotriene for Psoriasis Cantharidin for Wart Treatment Contact Sensitizers (Immunotherapy) for Warts Corticosteroids for Psoriasis Crotamiton 10% for Scabies Cyclosporine for Psoriasis Finasteride for Male Hair Loss Fluorouracil (5-FU) for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus) Fluorouracil (5-FU) for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Griseofulvin for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard Griseofulvin for Ringworm of the Skin Imiquimod Imiquimod (Aldara) for Warts Interferon for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus) Isotretinoin for Acne Ivermectin for Scabies Malathion for Lice Methotrexate for Psoriasis Minoxidil for Hair Loss Nonprescription Topical Antifungals for Athlete's Foot Oral Antifungal Medicine for Fungal Nail Infections Oral Antihistamines for Atopic Dermatitis Oral Corticosteroids for Atopic Dermatitis Pentoxifylline for Venous Skin Ulcers Permethrin Cream 5% for Scabies Permethrin for Lice Podophyllin Resin or Podofilox for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus) Prescription Oral Antifungals for Athlete's Foot Prescription Topical Antifungals for Athlete's Foot Psoralen and UVA Light Therapy (PUVA) for Psoriasis Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide for Lice Retinoid (Tretinoin) Cream for Warts Retinoids for Psoriasis Salicylic Acid for Calluses and Corns Salicylic Acid Preparations for Treating Warts Sulfur Ointment (Precipitated Sulfur) 5% to 10% Tars for Psoriasis Topical Antifungal Medicine for Fungal Nail Infections Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors for Atopic Dermatitis Topical Corticosteroids for Atopic Dermatitis Topical Retinoid Medicines for Acne Trichloroacetic Acid or Bichloroacetic Acid for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)

Make a Wise Decision
Acne: Should I See My Doctor? Acne: Should I Take Isotretinoin for Severe Acne? Hair Loss: Should I Take Medicine to Regrow Hair? Nail Infection: Should I Take Antifungal Pills? Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles? Varicose Veins: Should I Have a Surgical Procedure? Warts: Should I Treat Warts?

Take Action
Atopic Dermatitis: Taking Care of Your Skin Chickenpox: Controlling the Itch Diabetes: Taking Care of Your Feet Psoriasis: Skin, Scalp, and Nail Care Skin Cancer: Protecting Your Skin

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: August 24, 2011

Medical Review:

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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