The golden ratio, also known as the divine proportion, golden mean, or golden section, is a special number approximately equal to 1.618.  Its symbol is the Greek letter φ (phi). It appears many times in nature, geometry, art, architecture and other areas. Two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio of the sum of the quantities to the larger [...]

Diaper rash is a rash that develops in the diaper-covered area. Most commonly it’s caused by irritation from urine or stool. Diaper rash rarely involves the groin folds because those areas are not in contact with irritants. Skin infections can either cause a diaper rash or be superimposed on it. Bacterial (Staph and Strep) and yeast/fungal (Candida) [...]

Blood sugar level regulation is complex with contributions from many different systems. These multiple controls are designed to keep a steady supply of glucose to the brain. Brain metabolism depends primarily on glucose for fuel. If the amount of glucose supplied by the blood falls, the brain is one of the first organs affected. There [...]

Most of the time dark spots or brown spots left after trauma or a burn to the skin are not permanent, although sometimes they can last a long time. How long they last depends on a number of factors: how much pigment there is in the skin initially. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation tends to be worse and [...]

Anal or perianal itching is a common skin condition that goes undiagnosed and untreated for years, because patients are embarrassed to bring that up to their doctors.  Many patients think,  ”They have to look down there?  No way!”  The importance of bringing this “embarrassing” topic up with your doctor cannot be overestimated. Anal itch (pruritus [...]

There are a number of causes to chronic hair shedding. Clearly not all of them will be applicable to a young, healthy man. We normally lose approximately 100 hairs a day, and they are replaced by new growing hairs. So the problem comes when either the numbers of hairs shed per day is greater than [...]

How do wrinkles form? Lines and wrinkles form by repeated movements of the muscles of facial expression.  These movements are a normal daily part of our lives: smiling frowning concentrating raising our eyebrows squinting engaging in emotional discussions. We pay no attention to them – they are automatic.  Over time these movements cause the skin [...]

Most commonly, the skin flakes in the ear are due to seborrheic dermatitis, commonly known as dandruff.  Another common cause is psoriasis. Even chronic scratching of the ear can produce a rash with flaking, called lichen simplex chronicus. Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and eczema can cause flaking, scaling, redness and itching on the back of the [...]