Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Recurrent painful boils in the armpits, groin, buttocks, or under the breasts often point to hidradenitis suppurativa, an immune-driven disease of blocked hair follicles and not a hygiene problem. Flares are commonly triggered by friction and sweat, hormonal shifts, smoking, excess weight, genetics, and stress, and respond best to early, stage-based care using options from topicals and antibiotics to biologics, injections, surgery, and targeted lifestyle steps. There are several factors to consider, including urgent red flags like fever or fast-spreading redness and how to manage pain and mental health. See the complete next-step guidance below to decide when to seek care and which treatments to discuss with your clinician.

Varicose veins swell when weakened vein valves allow blood to pool and raise pressure in the legs, causing heaviness, aching, itching, and ankle or calf swelling that can progress to chronic venous insufficiency or, in some cases, a blood clot. Medically approved next steps include compression stockings, regular walking with leg elevation and weight management, and, if symptoms persist, minimally invasive treatments such as endovenous thermal ablation or sclerotherapy, while sudden one-sided swelling, warmth, redness, or sharp pain needs urgent medical care. There are several factors and warning signs to consider; for full guidance, see the complete answer below.

A painful stye is a red, tender eyelid lump from a blocked, infected oil gland or eyelash follicle; most improve in 1 to 2 weeks with warm compresses 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 5 times daily, gentle lid cleaning, and by avoiding makeup, contacts, and squeezing. Seek medical care if swelling worsens after 48 hours, you have vision changes, severe pain, fever, or spreading redness, since cellulitis may need antibiotics or drainage. There are several factors to consider that could change your next steps; see the complete guidance below.

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage outside the brain and spinal cord that makes nerves misfire, causing numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness, balance problems, or autonomic changes; diabetes is the most common cause, but vitamin deficiencies, alcohol use, autoimmune disease, infections, kidney or liver disease, medications, and injuries are also key drivers. Early next steps include seeing a clinician for history, exam, and blood tests, with possible nerve studies, to identify and treat the cause while managing pain and protecting your feet and hands. There are several factors and urgent red flags that can change what you should do next, so see the complete guidance below to decide the right actions for you.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that often targets the lungs, where granulomas can cause a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes skin, eye, or heart symptoms; early evaluation matters because ongoing inflammation can lead to lung scarring. Medically approved next steps include seeing a clinician for a cough lasting more than 8 weeks or red flag symptoms, with diagnosis through chest imaging, pulmonary function tests, blood work, and sometimes biopsy, and treatment ranging from watchful waiting to corticosteroids or steroid-sparing medicines depending on severity and organ involvement. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more.

Persistent genital itching that will not heal often means the true cause has not been treated, with trichomoniasis being a common culprit that requires prescription antibiotics rather than over the counter yeast remedies. Your next steps are to get STI testing, take the full course of metronidazole or tinidazole if diagnosed, ensure partners are treated, avoid sex until treatment is done, and seek urgent care for severe pain or fever; there are several factors to consider, so see below for key details that can affect your care decisions.

Persistent genital or anal itching can be lichen sclerosus, a chronic inflammatory condition most common after menopause but also seen in men and children, likely driven by autoimmune activity, hormone shifts, genetic susceptibility, and skin trauma, and it is not contagious. Early diagnosis matters because untreated disease can cause scarring, sexual or urinary pain, and a small increase in vulvar cancer risk; first line treatment is a prescription high potency steroid with maintenance, gentle skin care, and regular follow up. There are several factors to consider for your next steps, including when to see a doctor, what tests confirm it, and what to expect from treatment; see complete details below.

Most persistent skull pain comes from tension headaches, migraines, occipital neuralgia, sinus problems, or TMJ rather than the skull bone itself, but get urgent care for a sudden worst headache, fever with stiff neck, new weakness, confusion, seizures, vision changes, vomiting, or pain after head injury. There are several factors and medically approved next steps to consider, from hydration, sleep, posture, and trigger tracking to safe medication use, physical therapy, and when imaging or specialist care is needed; see the complete guidance below so you do not miss important details that could change your next step.

There are several reasons phentermine may stop working, including tolerance, hormonal or metabolic issues such as thyroid disease, PCOS or insulin resistance, metabolic adaptation, poor sleep, suboptimal dosing, and emotional eating. Next steps are to reassess with your clinician, screen for thyroid problems, insulin resistance and sleep apnea, and consider alternatives like GLP-1 medicines or combination therapy while optimizing sleep, stress, protein and strength training. See below for specific red flags and practical details that can change which plan is right for you, including when to seek urgent care for chest pain, shortness of breath or heart rhythm changes.

An itchy, red, blistering rash after outdoor exposure is often poison oak from urushiol; wash skin, clothes, and gear promptly, use hydrocortisone or calamine with cool compresses or oatmeal baths, and avoid popping blisters. There are several factors to consider, including when to seek urgent care for facial or eye swelling, trouble breathing, widespread rash, or signs of infection; see below for complete medically approved steps, timelines, look-alikes, and prevention tips that could change your next steps.

Prediabetes means blood sugar is above normal because of insulin resistance and beta cell strain; it is common, often silent, and can be reversed. Without action it can progress to type 2 diabetes and raise risks for heart, kidney, nerve, and eye disease. Medically approved steps include 5 to 7 percent weight loss, at least 150 minutes of weekly activity with strength training, a Mediterranean-style high fiber diet, better sleep and stress control, with metformin considered for higher risk cases and regular A1C follow up every 6 to 12 months; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Quetiapine commonly causes drowsiness, dizziness when standing, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and weight gain with possible increases in blood sugar and cholesterol; less often it can cause movement problems, heart rhythm changes, very high fever with muscle rigidity, and increased suicidal thoughts in younger people, and it is not approved for dementia-related behaviors due to higher death risk. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Next steps include taking it exactly as prescribed without abrupt stopping, monitoring weight and labs, and contacting a clinician promptly for severe dizziness or fainting, chest pain or palpitations, signs of high blood sugar, new abnormal movements, or mood worsening. For a complete list of symptoms to watch, who is at higher risk, and how to plan follow up safely, see the important details below.

Red light therapy is real science, with the strongest evidence for skin rejuvenation and acne, certain inflammatory skin conditions, some joint and muscle pain, and pattern hair loss, but it is not a cure-all. There are several factors to consider that can change your next steps, including getting a clear diagnosis first, using quality devices with the right wavelengths and eye protection, and knowing when to see a doctor; see the complete medically approved guidance below.

A red or painful eye can come from minor issues like dry eye, allergies, pink eye, eye strain, or contact lens irritation, but it can also signal urgent problems such as a corneal abrasion or infection, uveitis, or acute angle-closure glaucoma. Seek urgent care for severe pain, vision changes, marked light sensitivity, nausea, injury or chemical exposure, or contact lens-related pain; mild itching or redness that improves with artificial tears is usually less serious, but persistent symptoms need a doctor. There are several factors to consider and specific next steps for home care and treatment options, so see the complete guidance below.

Feeling restless on Abilify is common and typically results from dopamine shifts that can cause akathisia, or sometimes Restless Leg Syndrome, especially soon after starting or increasing the dose. Do not stop the medication on your own; contact your prescriber to consider a dose reduction, slower titration, short term treatments such as propranolol, a benzodiazepine, an anticholinergic, or mirtazapine, and ask about checking iron levels, with urgent care for severe agitation or suicidal thoughts. There are several factors to consider, and important details that can guide your next steps are outlined below.

There are several factors to consider if ringworm is spreading or not healing, most often wrong or incomplete treatment, re-exposure from people, pets, or shared items, excess moisture or tight clothing, and scalp involvement like kerion that can require oral medication. Medically approved steps include using the right antifungal cream such as terbinafine or clotrimazole once or twice daily for 2 to 4 weeks and at least one week after clearing, keeping skin clean and fully dry, avoiding steroid creams unless prescribed, and preventing spread by not sharing towels, clothing, or razors. See the complete guidance, timelines, and red flags below to choose the right next steps, especially if the scalp or beard is involved, a child is affected, you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, symptoms are painful, swollen, or oozing, or there is no improvement after two weeks.

Pores clog from excess oil, sticky dead skin, bacteria, inflammation, and hormones, so salicylic acid can fall short if the strength is too low, you stop before 8 to 12 weeks, your acne is inflammatory or hormone driven, your skin barrier is over exfoliated, or it is not acne at all. Dermatology-backed next steps include adding a topical retinoid, using benzoyl peroxide, considering hormonal therapy, and for tougher cases short term oral antibiotics or isotretinoin, while protecting the skin barrier and seeking care for cystic, scarring, severe, or unimproved acne after 8 to 12 weeks. There are several factors to consider, and important nuances on combining treatments and timing can change your plan; see below for the complete guidance.

If you are worried about a colonoscopy, know that symptoms like rectal bleeding, ongoing changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or iron deficiency anemia can be your colon signaling a problem, and colonoscopy is a generally safe test that both detects and prevents cancer, with screening starting at 45 or earlier if you are higher risk. There are several factors to consider, including which red flags need urgent care, how prep and sedation work, and what findings like polyps or inflammation mean for next steps; see the complete guidance below so you do not miss details that could change when and how you seek care.

A CT scan is fast and painless, and while it uses radiation, modern scanners keep exposure low and, when the test is medically necessary, the benefits almost always outweigh the small risks; contrast is sometimes used and serious reactions are rare and monitored. There are several factors to consider, from alternatives like ultrasound or MRI and how urgent your situation is, to managing anxiety, pregnancy or pediatric needs, and red flag symptoms like stroke signs or severe chest or abdominal pain when you should not delay care; see below for step by step next moves, key questions to ask, and tools to prepare.

There are several factors to consider: an endoscopy is a safe, quick, sedation-assisted test that directly examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, detects problems like gastritis, ulcers, GERD and Barrett’s, strictures, H. pylori, or early cancer, and allows painless biopsies to guide treatment. Waiting can worsen inflammation or miss bleeding and other serious disease; if you have red flags such as vomiting blood, black stools, severe or worsening pain, progressive trouble swallowing, unexplained weight loss, dizziness, or anemia, seek care promptly, and see below for complete details on what to expect, risks, alternatives, and the medical next steps after your results.

There are several factors to consider, and modern anesthesia is very safe when a dedicated anesthesiologist continuously protects your breathing, heart, brain, and comfort with real time monitoring and carefully dosed medications; see below to understand more. Your individual risk depends on age, health conditions, sleep apnea, smoking, and the type of surgery, and you can lower it by following fasting and medication instructions, sharing all substances you take, and discussing options like regional anesthesia with your anesthesiologist. For step by step next actions, which symptoms need urgent care, and tools like a snoring symptom check that could change your plan, see the complete details below.

Microneedling can help stubborn scars by stimulating collagen and elastin, improving texture and gradually softening acne pits, some surgical scars, and stretch marks. There are several factors to consider; see below for who benefits, how many sessions are typical, and what influences results. If a scar is raised or growing it could be a keloid, and needling may worsen it, so a clinician may instead recommend medical treatments like steroid injections, silicone therapy, lasers, cryotherapy, or combined plans; see the safety checks, red flags, and when to see a doctor below so you choose the right next step.

Scalp flaking, redness, and itching are often due to seborrheic dermatitis, a common chronic inflammatory condition driven by an overreaction to normal skin yeast, excess oil, and immune factors; it is not contagious and is rarely dangerous, but it can be persistent. Medically approved next steps include consistent use of medicated shampoos (for example ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione), antifungal creams and short-term anti inflammatory treatments for involved areas, plus trigger management and gentle skin care; there are several factors to consider, and key details on correct use, maintenance plans, and red flags that should prompt a doctor visit are below and could change your next steps.

For severe pain, ketorolac is a potent short-term NSAID limited to 5 days because longer use sharply raises risks of dangerous gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney injury, and impaired clotting; there are several factors to consider, so see below to understand more. If pain persists, medically approved next steps include prompt reassessment of the cause and transitioning to safer options like other NSAIDs or acetaminophen, short-term opioids when appropriate, and non-drug therapies, with urgent care for red flags; complete details that could influence your best next step are outlined below.

Hypoglycemia can cause shakiness, sweating, dizziness, or sudden confusion when blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL, most often in people with diabetes but also after high carb meals, fasting, heavy exercise, alcohol, or rare conditions. Treat right away with the 15-15 rule and seek emergency help for severe symptoms, but there are several factors to consider that can change your next steps; see below for complete, medically approved actions, prevention strategies, and signs that mean you should contact a doctor.

Sharp, deep upper abdominal pain that spreads to the back, with nausea, vomiting, fever, or jaundice, can signal acute pancreatitis and needs urgent care, often due to gallstones, alcohol, very high triglycerides, certain medicines, or infections. Doctors confirm with lipase tests and imaging, then treat with IV fluids, pain control, temporary fasting, and fixing the cause; there are several factors that can change your next steps, so see below for the complete guidance.

Sharp pain over the sternum has many causes, most often costochondritis or muscle strain, but also reflux, injury, or anxiety; watch for emergency signs like chest pressure, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, shortness of breath, sweating, or lightheadedness and seek urgent care if present. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. If symptoms are mild and clearly related to movement, first steps include rest, short term OTC anti inflammatory medications if safe, heat or ice, posture fixes, and a prompt medical visit if pain lasts more than a few days or you have heart or clot risk factors. Complete guidance on red flags, at home care, medical tests, and a costochondritis symptom check is outlined below.

Sharp joint pain with tenderness, swelling, or warmth is often bursitis from overuse, pressure, or injury, and sometimes from infection or conditions like gout or rheumatoid arthritis; urgent warning signs include fever, a hot red rapidly swelling joint, severe pain, or loss of motion that can indicate septic bursitis requiring prompt medical care. Next steps typically include rest and activity changes, ice, NSAIDs, and guided care like physical therapy or, when needed, corticosteroid injections, imaging or fluid testing, and antibiotics for infection, with surgery rare; there are several factors to consider, and key details that can change your plan are outlined below.

Sharp pain with bowel movements or bright red bleeding often points to an anal fissure that usually heals, but persistent cases are often due to hard stools and straining, sphincter spasm that limits blood flow, chronic diarrhea, incomplete treatment, or rarely an underlying disease. There are several factors to consider, and medically approved next steps include stool softening with 25 to 35 grams of fiber and good hydration, sitz baths, prescription topical relaxers like nitroglycerin, diltiazem, or nifedipine, and if needed Botox or lateral internal sphincterotomy, with urgent evaluation for heavy bleeding, fever, pus, severe pain, weight loss, or symptoms beyond 6 to 8 weeks; see complete guidance below.

Sharp pelvic pain when you might be pregnant can signal an ectopic pregnancy, which is not viable and can become life threatening; seek emergency care now for sudden severe one-sided pelvic or abdominal pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat, or heavy bleeding. Immediate next steps include taking a home pregnancy test, contacting a clinician right away for evaluation with hCG blood tests and transvaginal ultrasound, and starting treatment such as methotrexate or surgery if needed. There are several factors and other causes to consider, so see the complete, medically approved guidance below.