Excessive Groin Sweating: Causes & Solutions
Excessive groin sweating doesn’t just affect overweight people.
Even a thinner person could suffer from excessive groin sweating.
But being overweight does bring with it unique factors that lead to a lot of perspiration in this area.
Groin Sweating a Problem for Thin People Too, but Being Overweight Is a Risk Factor
“Sweating in the skin folds and groin area can be bothersome and more common in those who are overweight,” says Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
“This can lead to chaffing, and infections with yeast which can be itchy and burn,” continues Dr. Kally.
“The best solution if someone is overweight is to try to eat healthy and increase the activity level.
“Wearing undergarments such a fitted shorts or spanx may help prevent skin from touching skin and help to keep these areas dry.
“Another option is to apply an antiperspirant spray or stick to these areas after patting the area as dry as possible.
“Powders which are talc free may also be beneficial. If these tips are not helpful, see your dermatologist for prescription treatments.”
What can also help for women (regardless of weight) who have excessive sweating in the groin is to trim their pubic hair.
Otherwise, the perspiration will get on the hair and cause matting.
How to Lose Weight: Listen to Science, not Fads
- Ditch the crunch marathons for 30 minutes of high intensity interval training on your favorite cardio equipment.
- Do fewer biceps curls and triceps kickbacks and more bench pressing, shoulder pressing and rowing movements (not aerobic rowing but dumbbell or resistance-machine rowing).
- Include the squat and deadlift into your program.
You’ll find that losing weight will help improve the situation of excessive groin sweating.
Dr. Papantoniou
is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
“Because I Said So” Ruins Parent’s Credibility with Kids
If you’re a “Because I said so!” parent, you’d better rethink this credibility-destroying approach with your kids.
When you say “Because I said so!” to your grade school, adolescent or teen child, who asks “But why?” when you dictate an order, here’s what happens:
• You come across as ignorant. Your child might assume that your curt response is an attempt to avoid answering a question you don’t know the answer to.
• You send the message that you don’t value your child enough to take the time to explain the “Why.”
• You come across as impatient, rude and only interested in being in charge.
• Your child doesn’t learn anything—which means that once they’re on their own, they will lack a full understanding of the “Why.” Don’t assume that once they’re older, they’ll understand.
A perfect example is the don’t-talk-to-strangers rule. A young child may pester you with “But whyyyy?”
A full explanation is in order. Don’t assume your child will automatically develop an understanding of the “Why?” once they reach a certain age.
After all, how many times have we heard about an ADULT who gets suckered into going off with a stranger, accepting a ride from a stranger or offering a ride to a pleading stranger—only to end up raped or murdered by that stranger?
“Because I said so” eliminates a teaching moment that can actually be quite gratifying for the parent—and child—if the parent would just take a few deep breaths and change their perspective. An inquiring child isn’t exactly dumb.
If you’re raising your children with the “Because I said so!” approach, you may end up with ignorant kids who mindlessly follow rules.
Now this may be exactly what you want: a child who follows rules without challenging them.
But here’s the problem: What if the rule-maker is unhinged? I don’t mean you, the parent.
But what if this child, now a teenager or young adult, is in the workforce, and their bully of a boss senses that your child will mindlessly follow orders without question?
This bully will take advantage of the employee; the young worker has been groomed never to “question authority.”
Your child isn’t questioning YOU when they ask why.
They simply would like an explanation. It’s not that they don’t trust you. In fact, if they didn’t trust you, they wouldn’t be asking YOU for the answer!
“Because I said so” leaves kids with no tools to effectively navigate the dog-eat-dog world once they are grown.
Some parents use this phrase because they believe there’s no time, at the moment, to explain things.
But these same parents don’t exactly follow up with the answer later on when there IS time.
How about, “Right now I’m in a hurry; I’ll tell you ‘why’ later when I can sit down and have more time with you.” Unfortunately, this isn’t simple enough for many parents.
And of course, often, when parents dish out the “Because I said so!” they have all the time in the world at that moment. And their child knows that. This wrecks your credibility with your child.
Do you really think they will come to you for life advice if you keep sending out the message that:
1) They’re not important enough to you to take the time to explain something, and/or
2) You’re ignorant and more interested in belting out orders to show who’s boss than in educating your child?
Doggone it, if your child wants to know why he can’t wade in grimy one-foot-deep water, then TELL HIM WHY.
No child admires the parent who snaps, “Because I said so!” You will not be a hero in their eyes. You will not be a role model. You’ll come across as ignorant and self-centered.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com
Do Butterfly Rashes Come & Go? Doctor Explains
“The classic butterfly rash of lupus is not something that comes and goes overnight,” says Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
“It tends to be persistent and will occur out of proportion to the degree of sun exposure experienced.
“If you think you may have a butterfly rash seek a dermatologic evaluation, and if you cannot get in soon, I encourage taking your own photos.
“There are so many times in which a patient’s photographs are very helpful in making the correct diagnosis, as by the time you get into the office it is not unusual for the condition to be inactive.”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease; there is currently no cure, and the precise cause is not known.
With this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation and damage to organs such as the skin, joints, kidneys and heart.
Though its exact cause remains unclear, it’s believed to involve a combination of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors.
It can affect the body in many ways, but the classic sign is the butterfly rash.
However, other conditions can cause a rash that might be described as shaped like a butterfly.
By coincidence, for example, very slowly evolving patches of actinic keratosis can take on the appearance of a butterfly rash. So can rosacea, another skin condition.
Dr. Papantoniou is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: CNX OpenStax, CreativeCommons
Your Seborrheic Dermatitis Won’t Respond to Nizoral?
If your seborrheic dermatitis has stopped responding to Nizoral, here are solutions.
Or, to put it another way, has the Nizoral lost steam in treatment of your seborrheic dermatitis?
“It is actually very common for medicated shampoos to lose their effectiveness over time,” says Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
“The best way to prevent this and maintain an itch-free clear scalp is to alternate between several medicated shampoos containing ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, sulfur, ketoconazole, and possibly even a salicylic acid or tar based shampoo.”
For example, Selsun Blue contains salicylic acid and can effectively rid patches of seborrheic dermatitis on the face as well as scalp.
Just dab it on (no need to rub it in) the affected area, leave on for a few seconds, then pat it off with a wet rag or sponge.
Do not rub. It can be gooey to remove; do so with patience.
Use a Q-tip swab to clean up any remaining Selsun Blue (or whatever treatment you’re using) that’s around your nose.
Dr. Kally continues, “The idea is to wash your hair daily, allow the shampoo to sit on your scalp about five minutes, and to use different shampoos on alternate days.
“Seborrheic dermatitis occurs when the balance of skin’s pH and oil production creates an environment where yeast overgrow which leads to itching and flaking of skin cells.”
These patches can sometimes look like actinic keratosis (sun damage consisting of precancerous cells), but one of the tell-tale signs of seborrheic keratosis is that it usually has a salmon-colored or orange-dark-pink tinge to it.
Flaking is also a dead giveaway, though many times, a patch on the face won’t flake much.
Seborrheic keratoses may itch to the point where the patient aggressively scratches, making it worse.
No matter what you do — do not scratch these patches.
Seborrheic dermatitis patch on the forehead
Dr. Papantoniou is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Dermatology11
Why Does Being Tired Make Your Skin Itch?
If you’re skin itches like mad when you are tired, here’s the reason!
It’s aggravating: Every time you get tired your skin itches and drives you batty. Just what is going on?
“It is no coincidence that we become itchier at the end of the day when you are tired, and this is due to the body’s circadian rhythm,” says Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
Dr. Kally explains, “The body produces its own cortisol [a hormone], which is at its highest first thing in the morning and is at its lowest in the evening.
“When the cortisol level lowers we experience worsening pain, higher fevers, itchier rashes, and that is all because of the lessened anti-inflammatory effect of innate cortisol as the levels in our bodies decreases.
“We also become itchier when we are stressed or anxious or overtired, and this can manifest as a flare-up of eczema and other skin conditions such as psoriasis.”
So what is the solution?
How can you prevent itchy skin? After all, getting tired may be difficult to prevent.
Well, one thing you can help manage is the bad combination of stress and fatigue or feeling tired.
You can work on trying to manage your stress levels and anxiety, and work on removing yourself from stressful situations whenever possible.
You should also increase your water intake, as the skin loves being hydrated.
If you drink a lot of soda, you’ll definitely want to cut way back and replace with water.
Start by drinking only water with your meals.
When thirsty, make a new habit of heading straight for water instead of soda, even sugar-free soda.
Bring along a thermos of water whenever you go out.
To make water more inviting, add a lemon wedge.
All of these measures should help alleviate the itching.
Dr. Papantoniou is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Why Your Burps Smell Like Rotten Eggs: Doctor Explains
Ewww, rotten egg smelling burps! There are some interesting reasons why a burp can stink like a rotten egg.
“Rotten egg burps occur when gastric emptying is delayed and food in the stomach is partially fermented,” says Larry Good, MD, who’s been a practicing gastroenterologist for 40+ years. Dr. Good has a private practice in Lynbrook, NY and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
“This can occur in diabetics with gastroparesis or patients with partial gastric outlet obstruction. It can also occur after binge drinking, alcohol related gastritis and vomiting.”
So in other words, a burp shouldn’t have a stink.
Certainly, if you inhale near someone’s mouth right as they are belching, you are bound to smell something foul.
But if you are actually smelling your own burps…something is clearly amiss and needs to be fixed – especially if what you are sniffing resembles rotten eggs – a most unpleasant odor.
Shutterstock/Aaron Amat
So if this is happening to you, ask yourself if any of the aforementioned situations apply to you.
The good news is that if you are noticing that sometimes your burps seem to have a rotten egg smell, this does not mean anything serious like cancer or an ulcer.
If it keeps happening, see a gastroenterologist to rule out the above-mentioned conditions.
And binge drinking is never the smart thing to do.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Boibin
Big Toenail Has Vertical Light Brown Line: Melanoma?
Yes, the light brown vertical line on your big toenail CAN be melanoma, says a dermatologist.
So let’s say that you just noticed a light brown vertical line on your big toenail (or any nail, for that matter).
“If you notice a vertical brown line on a fingernail or toenail, do not ignore,” begins Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD, with Simply Dermatology in NY.
Dr. Kally, as she is known by her patients, continues: “This can represent a benign mole that is occurring within the nail bed or nail matrix where the nail is being formed, but it takes a professional to distinguish the features of a benign vs. malignant growth.”
Even if you already know that the vertical brownish line of melanoma typically stretches into the skin at the base of the nail, you should still have the nail examined.
“Melanoma which occurs on the nail can be aggressive and it is important to make this diagnosis as early as possible,” says Dr. Kally.
“If there are multiple bands which appear to be monomorphic it is a good sign that these are benign, and these tend to occur more often in skin of color.”
Monomorphic means that the bands all have the same appearance.
“Occasionally it is not even a mole, but something called a splinter hemorrhage which occurs after trauma to a digit resulting in small amount of blood trapped under the nail.
“A splinter hemorrhage will grow out as the nail grows, whereas a melanocytic lesion will not grow out.”
Check your toenails and fingernails regularly for brown (or blackish) vertical lines.
Melanoma that looks like this will not suddenly appear overnight, whereas these splinter hemorrhages do appear soon after the trauma — and they can linger for quite a while, sometimes weeks.
A splinter hemorrhage will not progressively get bigger, while an untreated melanoma, after only four weeks, will show progression.
Dr. Papantoniou is a board certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser and surgical dermatology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/Alexander Raths
Can GERD Cause a Candida Infection?
The GERD and Candida connection is explained by a gastroenterologist.
“Can GERD cause a Candida infection?”
This was the question that I posed to Larry Good, MD, who has been a practicing gastroenterologist for 40+ years. He has a private practice that is located in Lynbrook, NY and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
“Severe esophagitis with deep mucosal injury can predispose to Candida esophagitis,” says Dr. Good.
“This is a very common condition caused by an overgrowth of a fungal organism called Candida albicans in the esophagus.
“This is usually precipitated by the prolonged use of antibiotics or by immunosuppression caused by chemotherapy or other medicines that suppress the immune response.”
Indeed, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can lead to a Candida infection because esophagitis can be caused by GERD!
In fact, GERD is the most common cause of inflammation of the esophagus.
If you are taking a course of antibiotics, you should also, simultaneously to that, take a probiotic supplement every day, or eat a probiotic food such as yogurt or kefir (with “live culture bacteria,” the beneficial kind of bacteria).
Antibiotics snuff out the good bacteria that normally lives in your gut. So taking a daily probiotic will help keep the balance in check.
“If the esophageal mucosa is chronically inflamed it becomes more susceptible to this [Candida] infection,” adds Dr. Good.
“Under normal conditions, Candida is not a pathogen. It is part of the normal flora that lives in the mouth, on the skin and in the vagina. Treatment with anti-fungal medications is very effective.”
A Candida infection is called candidiasis.
When it develops in one’s mouth it’s called thrush or, on the medical report, oropharyngeal candidiasis.
It can also occur in the vagina, commonly known as a yeast infection.
In addition to affecting the throat, vagina and esophagus, Candida albicans can also become invasive, getting into the bloodstream and seriously affecting organs.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Thomas Foldes
Can GERD Cause Heart Problems?
GERD can cause chest pain but do you fear it can lead to heart problems?
GERD causing heart problems is a common concern among the many sufferers of acid reflux disease, which is a prevalent condition.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause burning, aching and strange feelings in the chest as well as the upper abdomen.
Can GERD negatively affect the heart?
“GERD cannot cause heart disease, but esophageal symptoms can be confused with cardiac symptoms,” explains Larry Good, MD, who’s been a practicing gastroenterologist for 40+ years. He has a private practice located in Lynbrook, NY and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
In addition to chest pain, burning and aches, GERD can also cause issues with the throat such as coughing, a hoarse voice and a feeling of a lump in the throat.
When acid reflux makes its way to the throat, causing symptoms, the condition is known as LPR: laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
Heart Chest Pain vs. GERD Chest Pain
Dr. Good continues, “Typical cardiac chest pain from angina pectoris is described as an oppressive heavy chest pressure (on elephant sitting in the chest) with difficulty breathing.”
Though you are now assured that GERD does not cause problems with the heart, you are not quite out of the woods.
Acid reflux disease, over time, depending on severity and frequency, can lead to pathological changes in the esophagus, bringing on a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus: abnormal cells.
This in turn increases the risk of esophageal cancer by leading to cellular changes.
Another important point to consider is this:
Just because GERD does not cause any problems with the heart, does not mean that you do not have coronary heart disease!
You may very well still have clogged arteries! Consider getting a complete exam by a cardiologist.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Sudden Severe Stomach Pain, Diarrhea: Causes
Sudden severe stomach pain and diarrhea can be quite scary.
“Acute severe abdominal pain and diarrhea implies severe intestinal inflammation,” says Larry Good, MD, a practicing gastroenterologist for 40+ years. He has a private practice based in Lynbrook, NY and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
“It is important to understand the difference between the stomach (one organ) and the abdomen,” continues Dr. Good.
Of course, when a person feels intense pain in this area, the term “stomach” and “abdominal” become interchangeable to that person, because the way they see it, “stomach” refers to the section of their body between their bellybutton and sternum.
“Severe abdominal pain with urgency to defecate [diarrhea] is usually caused by an intestinal infection (viral, bacterial, food poisoning) or by a chronic inflammatory disorder like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.”
Sudden Severe Stomach Pain: Benign Form of Colitis
Another inflammatory disorder that can cause these symptoms is microscopic colitis. Like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, this is an inflammatory bowel disease, but it’s far more benign.
You can have it and not even know it, depending on the frequency of the diarrhea and how “normal” it looks.
One of the key features of microscopic colitis is that the diarrhea may be nocturnal.
I have MC (the very intermittent kind), and one time in the middle of the night, I was awakened by a lower abdominal cramp and the urge to have a bowel movement.
Once I sat on the toilet, I was overcome with severe lower abdominal pain—not the typical “pain” you feel when you have a lot of hard BMs to void. It was so intense I felt nauseous.
And then the diarrhea came (not a lot), and poof, the pain was gone! This was a one-time flare, unrelated to previous food intake.
“Chronic abdominal pain, urgency and diarrhea including fecal incontinence is frequently caused by diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome,” says Dr. Good.
Dr. Good has additional expertise in the diagnosis/treatment of IBS and inflammatory bowel disease, and is extremely proactive in genetic testing, individualization of pharmacologic treatment, and risk mitigation in cancer screening/prevention. Concierge Choice Physicians
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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