It is normal for the site of the tattoo to have a little swelling, due to skin irritation, immediately after the procedure. This may last up to 48 hours. However, anytime the skin is broken - whether due to a p... continue reading  about  My 17-year-old son got a tattoo about two weeks ago. The skin is now looking red and bumpy. Could this be an infection ot just a skin irritation? Should he see a doctor?

The average age of menopause in the United States is 51 years of age. Unfortunately, the fertility potential in women declines well in advance of this time. But to what extent and how quickly? There are few, if... continue reading  about  Do women experience a surge in fertility at any point in perimenopause or just before menopause?

Pregnancy and endometriosis exhibit a curiously antagonistic relationship. Women who give birth in their 20s are much less likely to suffer from this condition than women who conceive in their 30s or those who ... continue reading  about  I was diagnosed with endometriosis but had a subsequent healthy pregnancy. I was told that endometriosis "goes away" during pregnancy. Can I expect that it's gone, or might it return?

I have a formula that you can use to calculate the calories you will need for your ideal body weight. Get ready for some math! Let's start by looking at how many calories you would need per day just to maintain... continue reading  about  How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?

Your primary care physician is correct about benign seborrheic keratoses. They are considered by Medicare to be cosmetic unless they are causing irritation such as itching, bleeding, pain or get caught on cloth... continue reading  about  I'm 75 and have keratosis on my face and upper torso. My PCP is sometimes reluctant to take care of them using LN2, since Medicare regards this as cosmetic. Does the wart remover "Freeze Away" work sufficiently or is there a better product?

This is a complicated question, so I'll try to break it down into two issues.First, let's talk about the ACL tear diagnosis. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four main stabilizers of the knee.... continue reading  about  I had an X-ray and MRI on my right knee for severe pain. The radiologist said there was an ACL tear, but my doctor attributed it to arthritis. I don't have swelling and the pain is intermittent. If it were arthritis, wouldn't I have other symptoms?

The only way to know for sure if this is an allergy is to have allergy testing. Winter allergies could be caused by any of the indoor allergens - dust mite, mold or animals. If this is allergic reaction and Cla... continue reading  about  In winter my allergies get worse. My doctor thinks it's from mold and dust mites, and told me to take Claritin, which I'm doing. But it only works for a few hours, and then I'm sneezing and itching again. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

One does not need to look at the specific ingredients of a sunscreen to determine if it is effective or not. The main issues in choosing a sunscreen are evaluating its sun protection factor (SPF) and whether it... continue reading  about  I just read information about sun protection, noting the ingredients necessary for a good sun screen. I checked the sunscreens I use and see NONE of those ingredients. Can you recommend a product with the best ingredients?

Hearing can decrease gradually over many years, and many people do not realize it until someone else points it out. Spouses, family members and close friends usually notice the changes first. I have had patient... continue reading  about  My husband has been complaining that I'm not hearing everything he says. If I had hearing loss, wouldn't I certainly know it?