Persistent Red Rash on Cheeks: Doctor Explains
“The development of a rash on the cheeks, indicated by bumps, swelling and redness to the skin, is the result of the body’s natural inflammatory reaction,” says Dr. Jennifer Gordon, who is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and practices at Westlake Dermatology located in Austin, Texas.
Causes of Red Rash on the Cheeks
“The source of cheek rashes can vary from a mild cause such as exposure to an allergen or the sun, to a more serious cause like a medical disease,” says Dr. Gordon.
“Rashes can occur on individuals of any age and can manifest on a single cheek or both cheeks.”
Often, a person will describe what they see as a “rash” simply if it’s reddish or pinkish and characterized by spots, splotches, patches or bumps.
“The rash itself can greatly vary in appearance depending on the source,” says Dr. Gordon.
“Rashes can vary in color (red, white or purple are common), may be symptomatic (itching, burning, pain) and can have different textures (flat, bumpy, raised or scaly).
“Additionally the rash can be accompanied by scaling or peeling skin.
“The most common causes of cheek rashes include acne, rosacea, allergic reactions, dermatitis and eczema.
“These causes do not result in permanent risks to one’s health, and the rash can be successfully treated by a treatment plan created by your dermatologist.”
Rosacea. Shutterstock/sruilk
Rash on Cheeks Caused by Rosacea
Dr. Gordon explains, “Rosacea is one of the most common culprits for persistent redness on the face. It is very common and occurs primarily on the face of adults.
“Common symptoms of rosacea include redness and rash development along the cheeks, nose, and sometimes the forehead and chin. Often acne-like bumps, sun-sensitivity and flushing can also occur.
“Additionally, rosacea usually causes small blood vessels to be visible on the surface of the skin.
“While there is no cure for rosacea, medicines and laser can help control the rash. And don’t forget your sunscreen!
Serious Causes of “Rash” on the Cheeks
“In rare cases, the development of a rash on the cheeks is an indicator of a more severe medical disease or condition like shingles, severe infections or diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus,” says Dr. Gordon.
Another cause of what appears to be a “rash” is a condition called actinic keratosis (sun damage).
Actinic keratosis lesion. Shutterstock/Dermatology11
This is actually quite common in people over age 40. It’s characterized by pinkish-reddish patches on the face that feel almost like sandpaper to one’s fingertips rubbing along these lesions.
These lesions are easy to miss until they begin progressing. They are removed via liquid nitrogen sprayed onto them by a dermatologist, or with a prescription ointment.
These lesions absolutely must be removed, because they’re made up of atypical skin cells.
This means they are more likely than surrounding typical cells to eventually morph into a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
It’s estimated that if left untreated, 10 percent of AKs will develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
Because cheeks get a lot of sun exposure, the “rash” of actinic keratoses commonly occurs in this location, though other common locations include the nose, and scalp of bald men. These patches do not itch or produce pain.
“If your rash is unresponsive to treatments and persists, it is very important to see your medical care provider right away,” says Dr. Gordon.
Dr. Gordon’s interests include medical dermatology, particularly the treatment and prevention of melanoma and other skin cancers in athletes. For 2016, 2017 and 2018 Texas Monthly Magazine selected her as one of the Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars.
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/Image Point Fr
Conditions that Mimic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There are seven conditions that mimic the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
First up is pronator teres syndrome. “Whereas carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist,” begins Jonathan Oheb, MD, North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Chief of Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, “pronator syndrome is median nerve compression at the elbow.”
The pronator teres muscle starts at the upper arm bone near the elbow and attaches to both lower arm bones.
PTS is similar to CTS in that it can cause pain, numbness, tingling and burning in one’s thumb, index and middle finger, and half the ring finger, says Dr. Oheb.
But CTS will not cause pain in the forearm. And PTS can cause loss of sensation to your palm, because a branch of the median nerve comes off before the carpal tunnel, says Dr. Oheb.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be mistaken for PTS. This happened to my mother.
The neurologist who was setting her up for an EMG actually told her he thought she had pronator syndrome.
After he was finished with the EMG study, he said, “It’s carpal tunnel.”
What other conditions can mimic the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Dr. Oheb says, “Cervical disc disease or cervical spinal stenosis (associated with concomitant neck pain and often radiating symptoms from the neck).”
When my mother was in the ER (prior to seeing the neurologist for the EMG study), the ER physician was pretty convinced she had a pinched nerve in her neck that was causing her hand pain and finger numbness.
He concluded this based on asking her questions about her symptoms and then viewing an image of her neck that he said showed cervical spinal stenosis (narrowing of the canal through which the spinal cord runs at the neck).
Her symptoms resolved after having carpal tunnel release surgery.
Two more conditions that mimic carpal tunnel symptoms are cubital tunnel syndrome and ulnar tunnel syndrome.
The nerve distribution for cubital and ulnar syndrome.
These cause numbness and paresthesias in the ring and pinky, says Dr. Oheb.
He also names thoracic outlet syndrome and diabetic neuropathy as differentials for CTS.
In addition to hand, elbow and shoulder care, Dr. Oheb provides comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical treatment for all orthopedic conditions of the hip, knee and ankle, including broken bones and injuries. jonathanohebmd.com
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
Top image: Freepik.com, Yanalya
Numb Fingers and Hand from Pronator Teres Syndrome
The numbness in your fingers and hand may be caused by pronator teres syndrome.
“Whereas carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist, pronator syndrome is median nerve compression at the elbow, says Jonathan Oheb, MD, North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Chief of Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery.
“Symptoms similar to carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness, pain, tingling, burning in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger,” continues Dr. Oheb.
Pronator Teres Syndrome vs. Carpal Tunnel
“Differences unique to pronator syndrome include aching pain localized to the forearm, lack of night symptoms (seen in CTS), worsening with repetitive prono-supination, loss of sensation to the palm of the hand (due to a branch of the median nerve that comes off before the carpal tunnel).”
Prono-supination refers to repeatedly rotating your palm back and forth 180 degrees.
“There are varying degrees of pain and paresthesias (tingling, numbness) with pronator syndrome,” says Dr. Oheb.
The pain is “localized over the proximal forearm and paresthesias distally in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.
“Usually stiffness is not a presentation of pronator syndrome. Late findings of pronator syndrome may lead to weakness in the thenar muscles of the hand which may make certain functions difficult to perform.”
What can you do?
“Resting the forearm muscles, splinting to prevent forearm prono-supination, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories are the mainstay of conservative treatment for pronator syndrome.
Shutterstock/Praisaeng
“This is continued for a minimum of three to six months before any surgery is considered.”
Numbness in the fingers and hand can have a variety of causes. This symptom should always be investigated if it persists. Some causes:
• Cervical spine issues – herniated disc or nerve compression in the neck
• Peripheral neuropathy – often from diabetes or vitamin deficiencies
• Poor circulation – reduced blood flow or vascular problems
An overlooked possible cause for a sensation of numbness in the fingers is underactive thyroid.
In addition to hand, elbow and shoulder care, Dr. Oheb provides comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical treatment for all orthopedic conditions of the hip, knee and ankle, including broken bones and injuries. jonathanohebmd.com
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
How Bad Must Shoulder Pain Be to Take Narcotic Pain Pills?
It’s important to figure out just how bad your shoulder pain must get before it’s time to take narcotic drugs.
“For most conditions involving the shoulder I recommended a course of NSAIDs first before any consideration of stronger pain medication,” says Jonathan Oheb, MD, North Valley Orthopedic Institute, Chief of Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery.
“Although, I do not generally prescribe narcotics for shoulder pain, I do prescribe them for fractures. There is not a specific time period for shoulder pain that determines when to consider narcotic pain medication.”
My mother several years ago experienced a lot of shoulder pain that we suspected was originating from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Preceding this she had had knee pain from a torn meniscus and had arthroscopic surgery.
This all meant that my mother was taking daily doses of powerful prescription narcotic pain pills.
It wasn’t long before the narcotics began creating side effects. I warned my mother not to take any more pain pills.
These drugs are very potent and can cause a huge host of alarming side effects, including confusion, constipation, vomiting and stomach upset. That’s just the beginning. Narcotics can also cause depression and anxiety.
I told my mother DO NOT TAKE ANY MORE PAIN PILLS. There has got to be a way to get through pain without narcotics or other potent numbing drugs.
After all, people got by before narcotic prescription drugs were even invented. My mother agreed to this plan, which went into effect two days after her carpal tunnel syndrome surgery.
Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery can leave residual pain, and my mother thought this was why her shoulder was hurting.
At one point she asked me how intense the discomfort would have to be before she could take a pill.
This was after she was seated for 30 minutes with an ice pack on her shoulder.
I explained that if she could sit through the hurt for the past 30 minutes, she could sit through it for a few more minutes, to take it a few minutes at a time, to grit her teeth and just let it run its course.
There was no way I was going to give her drugs that resulted in nasty side effects.
To help my mother cope with the hurting shoulder, I reminded her that she was fed (having had breakfast not too long before), and safe, with no danger around.
I pointed out that she was warm (I had just put a blanket on her) and not doing anything that was causing damage to her shoulder.
“The pain will not injure you,” I said.
The development of side effects coincided with when she began taking Norco, a potent narcotic, of which depression is a possible side effect.
The various narcotics my mother had taken never seemed to stamp out the discomfort anyways.
My mother sat through the discomfort until I got her up to do some shoulder exercises to relieve the pain naturally. She got through it, without taking a narcotic pill. Yes, it can be done.
Consider that pain from post-surgical carpal tunnel syndrome can be managed naturally.
Update: The shoulder pain persisted and seemed to get worse. An MRI revealed tears in the rotator cuff region.
In addition to hand, elbow and shoulder care, Dr. Oheb provides comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical treatment for all orthopedic conditions of the hip, knee and ankle, including broken bones and injuries. jonathanohebmd.com
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Image Point Fr
Source: webmd.com/pain-management/guide/narcotic-pain-medications?page=2#2
Scabs on Scalp: Causes Other than Cancer
Here’s a list of benign, non-cancer causes of scab-like growths on the scalp.
“Scabs on your scalp could be caused by a wide variety of different ailments,” says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with 30+ years’ experience.
She explains, “Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to something you’ve touched, like shampoo, hair dye or jewelry.
“It causes dry patches that can itch or burn. If you scratch them, they may bleed and scab.
“Seborrheic dermatitis (a.k.a. dandruff) can be itchy, flaky and scabby. A dandruff shampoo should be able to help.
“Psoriasis can cause silver-gray scabs all over the scalp. A medicated shampoo may help, but severe cases should be seen by a dermatologist because more extensive treatment may be necessary.
“Lichen planus (or lichen planopilaris, as it’s called on the scalp) usually affects middle-aged people.
“It causes red or purple bumps that can be treated with topical, oral or injectable steroids.
“Ringworm is an itchy fungal infection that causes scaly patches. It is highly contagious and usually is seen in children.
“Lice can also cause scalp scabs if you scratch too much.
“Shingles (a resurgence of the chickenpox) causes small blisters that turn yellow and crust for up to two weeks. It may cause headaches or facial weakness for months.
“Eosinophilic folliculitis causes itchy sores that are filled with pus. It tends to affect people who have HIV/AIDS.”
So as you can see, there are many causes of scabs on the scalp other than cancer.
But this doesn’t mean you don’t have skin cancer.
You may even have one of the benign conditions above along with skin cancer, by coincidence.
This is why if you’ve been diagnosed with a benign condition, you should still get cancer ruled out, because the “scabs” of cancer can resemble the “scabs” of a benign condition.
In another article, Dr. Prystowsky explains skin cancer on the scalp.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
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/Point Fr
Eyebrow Bald Spots: Causes & Solutions
“Hair thinning, bald patches and total hair loss in your eyebrows can be reversible in some circumstances,” explains Dr. Janet Prystowsky, who’s a board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with 30+ years’ experience.
She continues, “However, it is important to get to the root of the hair loss problem in order to restore hair to the eyebrow.”
Causes of Bald Spots in the Eyebrows
“Potential causes may be over-tweezing, chemotherapy or radiation treatments, hypothyroidism, a skin infection or trichotillomania (compulsively pulling out hair),” says Dr. Prystowsky.
A person may be unaware of how much she is finger-plucking away at her eyebrows when, for instance, entrenched in computer work or a gripping movie.
“It may take weeks or months for hair to grow back once the underlying cause is determined.
“If hair does not grow back, an off-FDA label use of a hair-stimulating product like Latisse (available only by prescription) or minoxidil (over the counter as Rogaine) may help.
“Check with your dermatologist to make sure you are a good candidate.
“Others may prefer using makeup pencils and powders to fill in their eyebrows. Tattoos are also a great option when they are done well.”
Another option, which is more common than you think, is eyebrow transplantation. Ask your dermatologist about this.
What about postmenopausal hormone changes?
Yes, the changing hormonal environment of a woman’s body in the years after menopause can definitely thin out the eyebrows — to even a very noticeable degree.
The thinning, though, would much more likely be uniform or diffuse rather than in just specific areas causing that bald spot appearance.
And of course, these hormonal shifts wouldn’t be the cause in premenopausal women.
Minoxidil
A less pricier version of the drug minoxidil is available at Walmart, and the brand is Equate.
This drug could be used off-label to reverse bald patches in the eyebrows only when other methods have failed to restore the hair.
You must be extremely careful when applying it because if it gets in the eye, the stinging is very painful.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
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, bearfotos
New Dark Hairs on Breast? Can Mean Weight Gain Disease
The appearance of new dark hairs on your breasts probably mean nothing, but you should see your doctor just to be sure, especially if you have additional new symptoms.
“New dark hairs on breasts should not be an immediate cause for concern,” says Tejas Patel, MD, a board certified dermatologist with Reforma Dermatology in NYC.
Many women do have dark hairs on their breasts. These pop up usually during times of normal hormonal changes such as during puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
It’s generally a harmless finding by a woman.
Concerning Cause of New Dark Breast Hairs
“These dark hairs could be due to a plethora of reasons, most likely caused by hormonal changes,” says Dr. Patel. You should visit your local dermatologist if you notice any other accompanying symptoms, as it might be of importance.
“Examples of accompanying symptoms would include acne, uncontrolled weight gain, excess hair growth, menstrual irregularities and others.”
The condition that causes these symptoms is PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many women with PCOS are mostly concerned about the weight gain aspect.
However, with proper exercise habits and a clean, controlled diet, a healthy body weight can be maintained. Regular physical activity, including both cardio and strength training, helps regulate insulin levels and support metabolism.
Adding lean muscle to one’s body will raise the resting metabolic rate. A diet rich in whole foods — low in refined sugars and high in fiber — can reduce inflammation, improve hormone balance , and aid in weight management.
Consistency in these habits can significantly reduce the symptoms of PCOS and promote overall well-being.
PCOS Without Weight Gain Is Still Concerning
But even if you don’t gain much weight, PCOS is certainly nothing to sweep under the rug, either. That’s because complications can include miscarriage, infertility, type 2 diabetes and abnormal uterine bleeding.
Women with new-onset dark hairs on their breasts should not panic, but should also see a doctor to rule out any concerning cause and hopefully rule in the body’s normal hormonal fluctuations.
Dr. Patel treats all skin types and welcomes the most challenging skin problems. Dr. Patel specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, and treats patients of all ages.
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/Max4e Photo
Black Hairs Growing on Breast: Causes
“If dark hairs suddenly appear on your breast,” begins Dr. Janet Prystowsky, a board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with over 25 years of experience, “hormones are most likely the culprit.”
When women notice a black hair or two sprouting on their breasts, they want to know what could be the cause of this.
Dr. Prystowsky continues, “Many women experience dark hairs on their breasts, usually during periods of hormonal change like puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
“Generally this growth of dark hair (known as hirsutism) is harmless.
“However, there are some reasons to be concerned. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can cause unwanted hair growth, as it changes your hormonal balance.
“If you have PCOS or another hormone condition, you may also develop acne, problems with menstrual periods, trouble losing weight and diabetes.
“A tumor that releases male hormones could also cause these symptoms.”
“Check with your doctor to make sure that your black hairs are just part of your body’s normal hormonal fluctuations and not attributable to PCOS or another hormonally unbalancing condition.”
Here are the red flags for a tumor related cause:
Rapid onset of new hair growth, especially in adulthood.
Other virilizing signs: deepening of the voice, male pattern baldness, clitoral enlargement.
Irregular or absent menstruation
Abdominal pain
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
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
Can Scabs on Your Scalp Be Cancer?
Scabs on your scalp, even just a single one, can be cancer, says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, a board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with over 25 years’ experience.
“The most dangerous scab you can find on your scalp is from skin cancer,” she says.
“Any scabbing condition on the scalp that does not respond to usual treatments within a month should be re-evaluated and potentially biopsied.
“Skin cancer of the scalp (including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) is frequently mistaken for one of the more common scalp problems.
“Delay in diagnosis leads to a larger and more serious skin cancer.
“Even though hair should be able to protect the scalp from the sun, frequently skin cancer may appear in part lines or areas where the hair was cut short during childhood. It can occur anywhere on the scalp, however.”
Squamous cell carcinoma, like basal cell carcinoma, is intimately linked to cumulative sun exposure.
This is why this cancer typically appears in areas that have received heavy exposure to the sun.
Balding men are especially prone to these non-melanoma skin cancers unless they’ve habitually worn hats or sunscreen on their scalps when outdoors.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in the world, and the most likely cancer to grow on a scalp.
This cancer, which is almost always non-fatal, will start looking scabby if left untreated for long enough.
They are slow growing and can easily be brushed off as nothing to worry about in their early stages, especially if they’re located where a person would not readily see them, such as on the scalp.
A squamous cell carcinoma is more dangerous, in that it can metastasize to distant parts of the body. These, too, can look like a scab.
Actinic keratosis; Source: skincancer.org
A precancerous condition called actinic keratosis often develops on scalps that have received a lot of sun exposure over the years.
If left untreated, these can start looking scabby (though predominately red/pink).
About 10 percent of these atypical growths, if left untreated, morph into squamous cell carcinoma — which can be fatal.
The American Cancer Society estimates that squamous cell carcinoma kills about 4,000 people in the U.S. every year.
This is why if you see any kind of scab development on the scalp that has a progressive nature — get it checked by a dermatologist.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
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
Bumps on Penis: Types, What They Mean
If you have strange, itchy or hard bumps on your penis, there is a particular type of doctor who will have excellent insight into what can be going on.
And that is a dermatologist. This is because the penis is covered with skin.
Disease processes or infections can manifest themselves in the skin, and a dermatologist can determine what that disease process or infection is.
Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with 30+ years’ experience, cites a variety of causes for “bumps” that can appear on the penis.
Clear Bumps
In about 10 percent of men, these are normal “and are nothing to worry about,” says Dr. Prystowsky.
Single Hard Bump
If this appears to be just beneath the skin, it “could be a harmless cyst,” she says. It should be taken out or drained.
Cluster of Blistery Spots
This may be herpes. If not treated they’ll eventually burst and become scaly and red.
There are at least three more reasons for the development of bumps or spots on the penis, and one can lead to cancer, says Dr. Prystowsky.
If you have any bumps on your penis, even if they’re small and don’t itch, it would be a smart idea to make an appointment with a dermatologist rather than with a primary care doctor.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
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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