Medical Conditions

Introduction Psoriasis is a condition in which skin cells multiply faster than a normal person’s, causing areas with thickened skin. Psoriasis can happen on any part of the body, and the term “scalp psoriasis” simply means that the psoriasis occurs on the scalp. The severity of the scalp psoriasis differs greatly from person to person. For some people, only a small area is affected, while for others, the affected parts can extend beyond the hairline onto the ears, forehead and neck. Some people might have psoriasis on their scalp only, while others could have psoriasis on other areas of the body. […]

Introduction Head lice are tiny insects that live on your scalp and are usually found in your hair. They feed on blood from the scalp about five to six times a day, causing an allergic reaction and resulting in itching. The life cycle of the head louse consists of three stages – egg (or nit), nymph and adult. Having head lice can give intense discomfort, but rarely leads to severe complications, as head lice do not spread any diseases. Signs & Symptoms Signs and symptoms of head lice include: Feeling of something moving around on scalp Intense itching Small, red […]

Introduction Although hair loss is mainly an aesthetic problem, it can be extremely distressing, taking a toll on the sufferer’s self-esteem. There are many causes of hair loss, including: Androgenetic alopecia – more commonly known as male or female pattern hair loss. Alopecia areata – a patchy hair loss that might be due to an autoimmune disorder. Traction Alopecia – caused by tight hairstyles such as cornrows and hair braids. This form of hair loss will resolve itself once hair styling habits are changed, if the problem is addressed early enough. Telogen Effluvium – a type of hair loss caused […]

Introduction For a normal person, skin cells form and rise to the surface in about 25-30 days.  With dandruff however, the skin cells on the scalp go through this process about twice as fast, causing an accumulation of skin cells on the scalp. Itching can cause the patient to scratch violently, resulting in embarrassing flaking, swelling and breaking of the skin, compounding the problem if an infection sets in. This is more common at the top of the head, although for some people the entire head might be affected. Signs & Symptoms Flaking of the scalp, which is more apparent […]

Introduction Gastritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach lining. This might occur suddenly or develop slowly over time. On the other hand, heartburn is a condition in which acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the food pipe. Normally, a barrier known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents this from happening. For heartburn sufferers however, the tone of the LES is insufficient, causing reflux. Some patients experience gastritis or heartburn separately, while others might experience them together. Signs & Symptoms Gastritis: Nausea and vomiting Stomach bloating Burning, sharp pain in stomach Heartburn: Discomfort in chest and stomach […]

Introduction Indigestion (or dyspepsia) refers to pain and discomfort in the centre of the upper abdomen, with a feeling that food is stuck and not passing normally through your food pipe. Sufferers might also experience heartburn together with indigestion. While it certainly is bothersome, indigestion is not a disease, but rather refers to a group of symptoms due to an underlying cause such as Gastritis, Celiac Disease or stomach ulcer. Signs & Symptoms Signs and symptoms of indigestion usually occur after eating. These include: Stomach pain which is not alleviated by passing gas or visiting the toilet Burning sensation Feeling […]