A dentist has shared a warning for people who suffer from chapped lips, saying there could be an underlying infection waiting to be addressed.
There’s many unhelpful things that come with the winter months.
Namely, shorter daylight hours, the dreaded flu, and for some people – dry or chapped lips are a common occurrence.
And some may find that no matter how much lip balm they put on, the problem just doesn’t seem to mend.
The dentist warned of a more serious underlying problem behind ‘chapped lips’ (Getty Stock Image)
Dr Joyce Kahng, owner of Orange and Magnolia Dental Studio in California, reacted to a clip of a man complaining about the sores in the corner of his mouth.
After thinking that his pain was a result of the cold weather, he was told that it could possibly be caused by a fungal infection.
The dentist, known as @joycethedentist on Instagram, said: “This could actually be angular cheilitis.”
She explained: “Bacteria and yeast will get into little cracked corners, and then cause an infection.
“This is why no matter how much chapstick you use, it is not going to fix anything, and it’s not addressing the root of the issue.”
And Dr Kahng noted two causes – Staph bacteria and Candida yeast.
Lip balm may not help the problem (Getty Stock Image)
But helpfully, she shared two ways in which you can tackle the problem.
The healthcare expert said: “If it’s caused by yeast, you can pick up over the counter Clotrimazole.
“But if the cause is bacteria, prescription antibiotic ointment is the way to go.
“Seal is all in with Vaseline – not chapstick!”
Dr Kahng also warned people against licking the corners of their mouths – a common habit for those who suffer from dryness.
She explained: “People think the saliva is re-moisturising the area, but it’s actually the opposite and makes it worse.”
But there is also such thing as more chronic cases of angular cheilitis – which could be as a result of an underlying health condition.
This could be things such as nutritional deficiencies – notably iron and vitamin B12.
Of course, if you just happen to suffer from minor dryness in general over the winter months, a lip balm will probably go a long way in helping.
But if you feel there is something more serious going on, tackling one of these two infections could help to eradicate the problem for good.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
If one of your New Year resolutions for 2025 was to travel more, listen up.
Now, ever since the UK left the EU in 2020, old-school red passports have been out of commission, with Brits renewing or replacing their passports with the new issued blue passports.
This means we can no longer use the EU border control gates when travelling between any of the 29 countries that form part of the Schengen area.
Burgundy passport owners, listen up! (Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images)
FYI, these include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
And, anyone still in possession of a red passport has been issued an urgent warning on a rule which you really don’t want to ignore.
But what does this rule mean and how can you make sure you’re not met with a major disappointment the next time you book a holiday?
Well, since the UK bid farewell to the EU, passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the Schengen Zone.
And it’s very important to ensure your passport meets this criteria, as it could lead to you being denied entry to the country you’ve planned to visit.
So, what is the ’10-year passport rule’?
Be sure to check your passport will still be valid at the time of flying (Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)
It basically means that, in order to enter EU countries (aside from the exceptions listed above), your UK passport now needs to have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the EU country (or the ‘date of issue’), and must also be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (the ‘date of expiry’).
To check, simply take a look at the date your passport was issued to see if it was issued before September 2018.
Also, make sure your passport has not passed its 10-year anniversary as you need your passport to have been issued less than 10 years before your departure date.
If you find your passport doesn’t meet these requirements, it’s best to act speedy and renew your document, as it can take several weeks to process in busy times.
You don’t need to worry if you’ve got a UK passport that has been issued since 2018, as the cap of 10 years means you will not face any issues.
So, in order to avoid a disaster at the airport, be sure to have a thorough check of your passport before you book any getaways this year…
Featured Image Credit: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images/Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Whether you’re an avid tea drinker or just trying to cut down on the amount of coffee you get through a day, many people perceive tea to be a healthier option.
Much has been said of the health benefits of tea, especially when you look at herbal, fruit and green teas too.
However, researchers have issued an urgent warning that your brew might not be as safe as you think.
Researchers have found that teabags may be releasing millions of microplastics into your drink (getty stock images)
Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have found a potential danger lurking in the humble teabag.
Following many tests, scientists have found that some teabags are full of microplastics.
When they are steeped in boiling water, the microplastics are released into the water we drink.
“The potential health implications of environmental micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) are increasingly concerning,” they wrote.
“Beyond environmental exposure, other sources such as food packaging, including herbal teabags, may also be significant.”
The study examined three popular types of teabag which you can buy online or in a supermarket.
They then tried brewing them in a cup in the “standard” way to see how many microplastics were released.
The study was published in the journal Chemosphere.
Many people have switched to tea to reduce their coffee intake (Getty Stock Images)
It was reported that most of the microplastics which make it into your system are absorbed and removed by mucus-producing intestinal cells.
However, some of the plastics managed to enter the cell nucleus, according to MailOnline.
The first teabag was a nylon one ordered from Amazon.
The next one was made of a polypropylene teabag ordered from AliExpress.
The third tea bag came from a supermarket.
Scientists then steeped 300 of each type of teabag in 600mls of 95°C water.
It was reported that ‘huge’ amounts of microplastics were released.
So which was the worst?
The method of preparation can make a big difference to how much is released (Getty Stock Images)
The polypropylene teabags released around 1.2billion particles per millilitre, with an average size of 136.7 nanometres.
The nylon teabags released 8.18million particles per millilitre, with an average size of 13.8.4 nanometres.
The scientists acknowledged further research is needed.
“It is critical to develop standardised test methods to assess micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) contamination released from plastic food contact materials and to formulate regulatory policies to effectively mitigate and minimise this contamination,” they added.
“As the use of plastic in food packaging continues to increase, it is vital to address MNPLs contamination to ensure food safety and protect public health.
“Overall, our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the pervasive nature of plastic pollution and its potential implications for human health.”
Scientists have previously found that microplastics can cause respiratory issues.
Loose leaf tea with a metal strainer is found to have far lower amounts of microplastics.
Featured Image Credit: Ben Richardson/Getty Images/Getty stock images
A medical expert has issued a warning to those who need to use the bathroom whenever they get nervous as they are more likely to develop certain health problems in the future.
Stress can pose serious side effects to your mental health, but did you know it can have a serious negative impact on your body, too?
Not only can chaos increase your heart rate and blood pressure, but it also can cause serious issues such as intestinal inflammation, psoriasis flare-ups and tension headaches.
According to urologist Doctor Rena Malik, stress can also have an impact on your bladder.
Urologist Doctor Rena Malik has opened up about bladder sensitivity caused by stress. (Getty stock image)
In 2020, the content creator spoke to Men’s Health and revealed that nervousness is the main perpetrator of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Cleveland Clinic defines pelvic floor dysfunction as the inability to correctly relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles. The corporation also notes it is a direct response to stress.
“The bladder has receptors on it that respond specifically to this neurotransmitter, which acts on the bladder by increasing bladder contractions, and bladder contractions are the reason that you feel the urge to urinate,” said Dr Malik on the topic.
“A reduction in serotonin levels has been found to be associated with more bladder contractions and subsequent urinary urgency and frequency.”
The practitioner went on to explain that there is a strong correlation between having an overactive bladder and nervousness.
She told the publication that those who need to go to the toilet more often have a higher likelihood of developing anxiety over the next decade.
If you are one of these people who suffer from a sensitive bladder and find yourself going to the loo when you’re nervous, then Dr Malik has a solution.
Multiple medical experts have expressed the importance of ‘bladder training’. (Getty stock image)
The expert claimed that when you feel the urge to urinate you should wait for the sensation to lessen.
“We call this bladder training; when you get the urge, you wait, you distract yourself, and you do quick Kegel exercises, pulling up and in your pelvis, doing quick contractions and relaxing while you wait for the urge to pass, and then calmly walking to the bathroom after the urge has passed,” she explained.
“This causes your brain and bladder to be reconnected so that they don’t sense that urge so strongly any more.”
Earlier this year, Doctor Rachel Peck issued a similar warning about why bladder training was so important.
“I see this a lot with some of my patients who have increased [urination] urgency and frequency and, sometimes, leakage and the reason that this happens is because, normally, the bladder fills at a certain rate,” she began.
“Once we get to a certain point, we’ll kind of get the first urge to go and we usually ignore that urge.”
This urge is just letting us know that our bladder is ‘filling up’ said the practitioner, adding: “It gets a little bit farther, and it sends some stronger urges and we may kind of ignore those as well and then once it gets full, that’s when it sends us the urge, like, ‘Hey, you actually need to pee now’.”
So, if you’re someone who needs to go to the toilet whenever they experience stress, adding bladder training into your daily routine may totally change the game.
Featured Image Credit: picturegarden/Getty Images/Peter Cade/Getty Images
It seems like, at long last, the sun is back again with temperature set to soar in the next coming days.
According to forecasters, the UK could see its hottest day of the year so far with a possible heatwave on the cards over the next few days.
Yellow heat health warnings have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for all of England apart from the North East and North West until Wednesday (31 July).
While the Met Office has shared that the capital city could enjoy highs of 32C by Tuesday (30 July).
The mercury is set to soar this week in the UK. (Peter Zelei Images / Getty Images)
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: “There is certainly potential that it could become an actual official heatwave, because in the spells you’ve had before it hasn’t actually met all the criteria.
“If there’s not, it’s very close to it, and if you’re out and about and a member of the public then it’s going to feel like a heatwave anyway, because also overnight things are going to turn a little bit more humid and muggy day-on-day as well.”
However, while many Brits will be rushing to the beer gardens and dusting off their BBQ, a health warning has been issued to anyone taking a very common medication.
Doctors have urged those on medication for certain mental health conditions to take extra care when stepping into the sun.
Such medication has been found to trigger excessive sweating. (Ekaterina Bubnova / Getty Images)
Which medication can be affected?
According to representatives of the Royal College of Psychiatrists – as reported by the BBC – some of these treatments, specifically sertraline (Zoloft) and TCAs such as amitriptyline (Elavil), can affect the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, which could lead to dehydration.
These medicines have been found to trigger excessive sweating, but it can also make patients unable to register their level of thirst.
On top of this, antidepressants and antipsychotics have also been found to make their recipient’s skin significantly more sensitive to sunlight, making them susceptible to burning.
And being that – according to NHS research gathered last year last year – around 8.3 million adults in England alone have been prescribed with antidepressants – it’s no surprise that, this week in particular, medics are warning patients about the weather-related risks.
Temperatures are expected to rise over the coming days 📈 Here are the forecast maximum temperatures for the week ahead 🌡️
Advice from doctors:
When it comes to how the NHS says that recipients of these types of medication should act going forward, they first and foremost emphasise that those on antidepressants and antipsychotics should not be tempted to avoid taking them.
That’s because there are actually a number of ways that sufferers of these common mental illness’ can take matters into their own hands, by:
- Using higher factor sunscreen when outdoors, or avoiding sunlight altogether
- Keeping their body temperature as low as possible, for example, by drinking lots of cold water
- Keeping curtains and windows closed at home to retain a cold atmosphere
- Wearing loose, light-coloured clothing made out of natural materials, including linen and cotton – as well as a hat when outdoors
- Avoiding strenuous physical activity
- Avoiding alcohol, which can contribute to increased body temperature
- Taking cool baths or showers
- Consulting with their doctors if they’re considering coming off medication.
If you’re experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They’re open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you’re not comfortable talking on the phone.
