Dermatologists often diagnose melasma by closely examining the skin on your face and neck. To get a better look, they may use specialized devices like a Wood's lamp or dermatoscope, which can reveal how deeply the darker pigment has penetrated the skin layers. This information is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment.

In some cases, melasma can resemble other skin conditions, so the dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy to rule those out. This simple in-office procedure involves removing a small sample of skin for analysis.

Melasma can sometimes resolve on its own, such as when it's triggered by pregnancy or medication. However, it can also persist for years or even a lifetime. While melasma is not medically harmful, many people seek treatment to improve the appearance of discolored skin.

Keep in mind that treatment for melasma is typically considered cosmetic, so insurance may not cover the costs. Your dermatologist will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan based on factors like your skin tone, the depth of pigmentation, and any identified triggers. Common approaches include sun protection, skin-lightening agents, and procedures to reduce excess pigment production and even out skin tone.

       

For patients who have melasma, dermatologists often recommend using a sunscreen that contains:

Zinc oxide

Titanium dioxide

Iron oxide

Your dermatologist may recommend a treatment regimen that includes medication aimed at reducing excess pigmentation in your skin. Typically, patients are provided with a prescription for topical medication to be used at home.

The following medications may be prescribed by your dermatologist:

Hydroquinone: This is a widely used treatment for melasma, applied directly to the skin to help achieve a more uniform skin tone. Hydroquinone is no longer available in over-the-counter formulations.

Tretinoin combined with a mild corticosteroid: This combination features a retinoid alongside an anti-inflammatory agent, which assists in evening out skin tone.

Triple combination cream: This formulation includes three active ingredients—tretinoin (a retinoid), a corticosteroid for inflammation reduction, and hydroquinone for skin tone evening.

Other medications: Your dermatologist may prescribe a medication that’s gentler on your skin like azelaic acid, kojic acid, or vitamin C.

When using makeup to hide melasma, it’s important to apply everything in the right order to get the best results. Here’s the order that dermatologists recommend:

Melasma medication

Sunscreen

Camouflage makeup

Your dermatologist may recommend a treatment regimen that includes medication aimed at reducing excess pigmentation in your skin. Typically, patients are provided with a prescription for topical medication to be used at home.

The following medications may be prescribed by your dermatologist:

Hydroquinone: This is a widely used treatment for melasma, applied directly to the skin to help achieve a more uniform skin tone. Hydroquinone is no longer available in over-the-counter formulations.

Tretinoin combined with a mild corticosteroid: This combination features a retinoid alongside an anti-inflammatory agent, which assists in evening out skin tone.

Triple combination cream: This formulation includes three active ingredients—tretinoin (a retinoid), a corticosteroid for inflammation reduction, and hydroquinone for skin tone evening.


Before prescribing this medication, your dermatologist will talk with you about your health. If you’ve had a blood clot, be sure to tell your dermatologist.

I've rewritten the original sentence to improve clarity, flow, and impact:

Mpox is a rare disease caused by the mpox virus, which typically affects rodents, such as rats or mice, as well as nonhuman primates like monkeys. However, the virus can also infect humans.

Mpox cases outside of Africa are often linked to international travel, imported animals, or close contact with an infected animal or person. In 2022, mpox cases were reported in countries where the disease is not commonly seen, including the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor mpox cases reported worldwide, including in Europe and the U.S.

The key improvements are:

Separating the information about the virus's typical hosts and its ability to infect humans into two distinct sentences for better flow and clarity.

Consolidating the details about the causes of mpox cases outside of Africa into a single, more concise sentence.

Emphasizing the recent increase in mpox cases in non-endemic countries and the CDC's ongoing monitoring efforts.

This revised version provides a clearer, more concise, and better-structured overview of the mpox disease and its spread.

   
Doreen Lewis, a dedicated nurse from Shepton Mallet, Somerset, has retired after an impressive 57 years of service with the NHS. Beginning her career in 1967, Ms. Lewis became a pillar of healthcare, especially during the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In August, Ms. Lewis retired, marking the end of an era with a prestigious silver award from NHS England in recognition of her outstanding contributions to nursing. Reflecting on her transition, she shared, "Retirement has been a bit of a shock. I've got to find some other purpose in life."

Her nursing journey was far from straightforward, marked by numerous challenges and significant moments. "It was a very challenging career, but I enjoyed it and met amazing people along the way," Ms. Lewis recalled. Her experience spanned emergency care across hospitals in Bristol and Bath, where she found deep fulfillment in helping others, especially during the pandemic. "We saw a lot of unwell people. We’d see people in the car park and get them in the back way so they wouldn’t infect others. It was rewarding—we were playing our parts. It was routine, just another thing to overcome."

Ms. Lewis's career also included working through other major health crises, such as the Ebola outbreak and avian flu. "It's one of those things," she said, reflecting on her extensive experience in crisis care.

The silver award, presented by NHS England, honors nurses and midwives who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice, education, research, leadership, and tackling diversity and health inequalities. Ms. Lewis was nominated for this award by her team, a gesture that came as a delightful surprise. "The award was an absolute surprise. I didn't expect it," she admitted.

As she steps into retirement, Ms. Lewis is adjusting to a new pace of life. "I think it’ll take quite a bit of getting used to—I don’t have to get up quite so early in the morning," she remarked with a smile. She has taken up golf and is considering volunteering but plans to first take a few months to reconnect with old friends.

Hi Everyone,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am currently exploring options for an EMR/EHR software solution that is both cost-effective and capable of supporting the needs of my clinic chain. If you have any recommendations or experiences with software that could be a good fit for managing multiple clinics, I would greatly appreciate your input.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

Best regards,
bluepetszone2atgmail.com

Dr. Ishika here,

Few days back my younger cousin brought her friends to our home for lunch. While entering into our house one of her friends kind of screamed and shouted -

“Oh! This place is very good for making Tik-Tok video.”

They are a group of teenagers who keep searching for perfect location for selfie and now a days this Tik-Tok videos. She any how recorded two videos and then got calm. My cousin could read my irritation and asked her to stop that.

I understand and respect that every generation has its own obsession. But this kind of madness!! You are going to a stranger's house for the first time, and all you can think and say is how to record a funny video on a stupid app.

No disrespect, but what the shit is this TikTok app, for which teenagers are mad like nothing else matters. Everyday I get some forwards from such stupid videos.


That got me thinking how it used to be good thing to be funny. Such video apps has turned being funny means being irritating.

It has occupied their minds, that easily being part of viral video in Tik-tok has become dream of some teenagers in India.


When Indian teenagers are wasting their precious time doing such stupid videos for no reason other than being viral, then there are several things wrong with them I guess.


That got me thinking how it used to be good thing to be funny. Such video apps has turned being funny means being irritating.
It has occupied their minds, that easily being part of viral video in Tik-tok has become dream of some teenagers in India.

Without a linked paper or abstract it's hard to say for sure. An educated guess, I would say it's possibly granzyme B being secreted to induce apoptosis in the cancer cell.

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