Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Skin, Hair, and Nails
Learn about skin, hair, and nails
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:
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
- Indoor Tanning: Is It Safe?
- 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
Medications
- Allylamines for Ringworm
- Allylamines for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard
- 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
- Azoles for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard
- 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
- Griseofulvin for Ringworm of the Scalp or Beard
- 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?
Last Revised: August 24, 2011
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated 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.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2013 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
