Meniere's disease is a long-term condition of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance, and requires a trio of symptoms to make the diagnosis. About 1 in 1,000 people are affected by it, and it most commonly occurs between the ages of 40 and 60, although it can occur at any age. One ear only is usually affected initially, but about 4 in 10 of the cases go on to affect both ears. It is named after the French doctor who first described it in the 1860s. The first symptom is vertigo, where you feel as though the environment is spinning around you, or that you are spinning when you are standing still. The second is tinnitus, a ringing in the ear, and you may also get a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear. The third is hearing loss that comes and goes, usually affecting one ear at a time. Meniere's typically comes on without warning, and episodes can last between 20 minutes and 24 hours - although the average length of an attack is 2-4 hours, causing severe nausea or vomiting. Unfortunately, Meniere's is a progressive disease that gets worse over time. The episodes may happen in clusters in a week or over months, or even years, with most sufferers having 6-10 clusters a year. Some people only have vertigo without any hearing loss but hearing loss without vertigo is uncommon in Meniere’s.

Halitosis, known to most as bad breath, is when an unpleasant or foul odor comes from your mouth. It's very common and can affect anyone, from children to adults. In many cases, it does not last long, and there is no serious underlying cause. However, chronic (long-term) halitosis can cause a negative impact on the mental health and social well-being of people who suffer from it. Fortunately, there are some simple steps to help with bad breath, so let's talk you through them.

Fungal infection of the scalp usually affects children under 10 years old, although more rarely, it may affect older children and adults. The medical terms are tinea capitis, where the scalp is infected, and tinea barbae, where the beard or mustache are infected. It can cause itching and patchy hair loss, with ring-shaped areas of redness and flakiness. Yellow crusts may form if left untreated, and this may cause hair to become matted. Hair loss is usually temporary until it's treated, but the appearance can cause distress, and the scalp can feel very itchy and a bit sore, if left untreated.

Hair is often seen as a significant part of a woman’s identity, and losing it can be deeply distressing. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with images of long, thick, and sleek hair, experiencing hair loss can cause significant anxiety and affect self-esteem. Hair loss in women is more common than many realize, and it can occur for various reasons, from natural aging to underlying medical conditions. Understanding the different types of hair loss, identifying the causes, and knowing when to seek help is key to managing the problem effectively. In this guide, we will explore the various reasons behind hair loss in women, such as genetic factors, hairstyling practices, and medical conditions. We will also look at treatment options available and offer practical advice on when to see a healthcare professional. By being informed, women can take steps to address hair loss and improve the health of their hair.

Difflam is a branded version of the anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication benzydamine. It primarily comes in three formulations: mouth spray, mouth rinse and lozenges. It is important that it is taken with food as it can cause stomach irritation. This medication is not available in the US.

An ear infection can affect the middle ear, just beyond the eardrum, causing inflammation and pain, and this is called acute otitis media. Bacteria or viruses can cause the infection, but either way, it usually gets better by itself after about 3 days. The middle ear can fill with pus, and the pressure can cause pain. Children can get ear infections due to a cold, flu, letting too much water in the ear after bathing or swimming, or constant allergies

Hydrocortisone cream is a short-term steroid cream used to treat different causes of skin inflammation. The cream can be used to treat eczema, heat rash, and insect bites, as well as many other inflammatory skin conditions. The strength of the products ranges up to 2.5%, although the maximum strength found over the counter is 1%. There are three main formulations of hydrocortisone: cream, ointment, and lotion.

It's quite common to get an itchy ear. There can be a number of causes, so if this persists past a few days, it's worth getting checked out. If you suffer from psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin, this can also affect your ear canal, where debris from dead skin cells builds up and irritates. If you've been on holiday, "Mediterranean ear" can develop as a result of sweating and bathing in hot climates. Hard wax can build up and irritate, with some reporting an itch as the primary symptom, and if a good solid blockage of the eardrum, you may also suffer a loss of hearing. Otitis externa describes inflammation in the lining of the ear canal and can be associated with infection - in this case, the ear would be painful (often described as an earache) more than itchy, and you may also have a cough or cold and fever.

Xailin Night is an eye ointment for treating dry eye conditions, corneal erosion, and lubricating the eyes before or after eye surgery. It contains paraffin and wool alcohols (lanolin) which all serve to lubricate and protect water loss from the eyes. This, in turn, relieves symptoms of dry eyes and forms a protective barrier on the surface of the eye.

Glaucoma is a condition where there is damage to the optic nerve. This nerve sits at the back of your eye and transports the images your eyes see to your brain for processing. Glaucoma can threaten your vision, either by direct damage to the optic nerve, or by an increase in pressure in the fluid filling the eye, and thereby squeezing the optic nerve. It can ultimately lead to a loss of vision, so it's important it's detected and treated early. There are two usual types of glaucoma, based on whether pressure increases slowly or quickly. Chronic open-angle glaucoma - the most common type - is where pressure inside the eye builds slowly, so the loss of vision occurs gradually. You might not even notice changes early on, but you're most likely to lose vision in the outer edges of your vision (the periphery) first. It's often picked up on a routine check-up with your optician, where they check eye pressure by blowing a puff of air on your eyeball. This type of glaucoma usually affects both eyes and is painless.  About 3 million people in the US have chronic open-angle glaucoma. Acute angle glaucoma is much less common. Pressure builds rapidly inside the eye and threatens vision if not treated urgently. You might feel severe pain in or around your eye or in the head, the eye may feel tight or full, lights may appear to have halos around them and you might complain of blurred vision. You may even feel unwell and be vomiting. This is an emergency and you should seek medical attention urgently. Other possible types of glaucoma include secondary glaucoma – caused by an eye injury or inflammation of the middle layer of the eye – and congenital glaucoma which is rare but present at birth.

There are many different types of eye drops available both over the counter and via prescription. Eye drops are used to treat a myriad of eye conditions, including hay fever, dry eyes, infections, glaucoma, and more. While they cover a variety of treatments, they all are instilled using the same technique. Below we have a step-by-step guide to help you instill your eye drops effectively!

Ear infections are prevalent in children and most likely come with a viral cold. Your child might feel unwell with a fever, sickness, and loss of appetite. Ear infections usually affect the middle ear, which we call otitis media. The pain comes as a result of infection and inflammation build-up behind the eardrum. They may complain that hearing comes and goes, or they may feel pain on the cheek side of the ear or under it, which might be worse when eating. It’s usually just one ear affected. Sometimes infections affect the outer part of the ear. This may be the case if you have symptoms of wetness with white or yellow discharge, and the ear may feel itchy or sore just inside. This points more towards otitis externa, where the ear canal leading to the eardrum is infected.

Melanoma (also known as malignant melanoma) is the most serious type of skin cancer caused by sun exposure. It's serious because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body, so it needs prompt identification and treatment. You can take steps to prevent it, but also keep a watch for any moles or other skin marks that are new, changing or don't look like your other moles. Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the US, with almost 100,000 new cases each year. The number of cases has doubled in the last 30 years, and it can occur at any age.

Xerostomia means dry mouth and is due to too little saliva to keep the mouth moist. Saliva is produced from glands in your mouth and helps not only keep your mouth and throat from becoming too dry but also helps with keeping the mouth clean by helping move small bits of food out from the crevices in your mouth and providing some protection against microbes (viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections). A dry mouth is a symptom in itself and can have multiple causes ranging from being dehydrated to a side effect of medication or treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, can cause it, or even if you breathe through your mouth most of the time rather than through your nose. A dry mouth can go hand-in-hand with a sore throat, bad breath, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, mouth infections such as thrush, and problems with gums or teeth (this is due to bacteria or plaque building up more when there is less anti-microbial saliva).

Earwax forms naturally inside your ears and acts as a defensive barrier, protecting the ears from harmful substances and bacteria. It usually moves out of the ears gradually by the action of chewing and is harmless. However, sometimes it can build up and block the ears.

You know when the pollen season has arrived if you suffer from itchy, streaming eyes that look red and puffy. It can be uncomfortable, and you feel desperate for some relief. Our pharmacist has put together some remedies to help soothe your eyes and heal your eye symptoms.

Psoriasis is a long-term condition that causes thickened patches on the skin. It may only affect the scalp, or you might have other patches on your body. It can be intensely itchy and, in a mild form, may cause red patches, usually at the back of the head and extending to the neck or behind the ears. In a more severe form, thickened plaque may cause temporary hair loss, which requires stronger and more prolonged treatment.

We have all had that important date on the calendar coming up, and a day or so before, what happens – our skin breaks out. Many different things in our day-to-day life can affect how our skin reacts. Some in the short term and others over the long term. Here the Healthwords medical team takes a look at some of these lifestyle factors in detail that can contribute to changes in your skin.

Hair loss can cause significant emotional distress in men, often leading to feelings of premature aging and a loss of confidence. For many men, hair loss begins in their 30s or 40s, when they still feel young and actively pursue careers, relationships, and family life. Hair is closely tied to identity, so the impact of losing it can be profound. Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting roughly half of men by age 50. This condition is primarily linked to aging and hormones, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which weakens hair follicles. In this article, we will explore the critical causes of hair loss in men, including natural aging and medical conditions. We will also review treatment options to slow down or reverse hair loss and offer advice on when to seek medical attention if the problem persists. Understanding the causes and treatments of hair loss can help men feel more in control of this common issue.

Dandruff is caused by dead skin cells falling off your scalp, which can be seen as white-grey flakes on your scalp, in your hair, and sometimes on your clothes. It can cause symptoms of an itchy scalp. It is very common and not linked to hair cleanliness, although more flakes may build up with the less you wash your hair. Dandruff is a type of seborrheic dermatitis that also causes a red, greasy, flakey rash over the nose and cheeks. In the majority of cases, dandruff can be treated at home. Extreme weather conditions, such as when hot, cold, or dry, may cause dandruff, and stress can worsen the condition in some people. Dandruff is not contagious.

Maskne is a new phenomenon coined in the COVID-19 pandemic to describe the acne experienced around the nose, upper lip, and chin area in a response to regularly wearing a mask. Mask-provoked acne is new to the general public but has long been experienced by medical and construction workers. The causes of these pimples, or whiteheads, are two-fold. First, the physical barrier that masks provide causes pores to become blocked with the dead skin cells we shed all the time, so-called acne mechanica. A bacteria associated with acne, called P. acnes, causes inflammation in blocked pores and sebaceous (oil-forming) glands. In addition to the physical friction, masks provide a warm, moist environment for P. acnes to grow and multiply, thus further inflaming the spots and even causing deep spots called cysts. As mask-wearing has become an important component of avoiding the virus in the current pandemic and essential in certain aspects of life, including in shops, public transport, and some workplaces and schools, maskne is a fact of life many of us need to adjust to. Simple measures can reduce physical irritation. If you want to wear a single-use mask, choose one with a structure that lifts away from the mouth and nose and seals around the edges. These look a bit like beaks. Choosing silk over other materials for reusable masks may cause less friction and irritation and be more breathable while still offering protection. You should make sure you wash these regularly. Regular and gentle cleansing can help to reduce skin congestion and clogged pores. Wearing make-up that claims to be non-comedogenic (non-spot-forming) and looking for chemical exfoliants in creams and serums, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid, will all help to keep spots at bay. You can also buy targeted spot treatments from your pharmacist to help with individual blemishes.

For most, the abundance of estrogen causes a slowing down of hair shedding, and many women report increased volume and lustrous locks during pregnancy. But this isn’t so for all – the relative stress to the body in the first trimester may cause hair loss, but this is only evident later in the pregnancy. Hair will come back – you’ll notice regrowth two to four months after the baby is delivered.

If your nails turn up at the sides, in the shape of a spoon, this is known as koilonychia. It may be something that runs in your family, but it can also point to a medical condition. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common of these, so it's worth getting a blood test to check, or topping up your iron levels with supplements to see if this improves your nail condition. Other more unusual medical conditions can occasionally cause koilonychia, so if you have any other symptoms or concerns, you can discuss this with your doctor.

Ear infections are common and most likely the result of a virus. You might feel unwell with a fever and a low appetite. Ear infections often affect the middle ear, which we term otitis media. The pain comes as infection and debris from our own inflammatory response build up behind the eardrum, pushing it. This gives a feeling of fullness, earache, and hearing may come and go. You may feel pain on the cheek side of the ear or under it, and it might be worse when eating. It's usually just one ear that is affected. Sometimes infections affect the outer part of the ear. This may be the case if you have symptoms of wetness with white or yellow discharge, and the ear may feel itchy or sore just inside. This points more towards otitis externa, where the ear canal leading to the eardrum is infected.