If you just can’t stop biting your nails, picking at your skin or pulling out a hank of hair, especially when you’re stressed out, here’s something to try that just might work. Instead of nibbling, picking or pulling, simply touch your skin gently, such as by lightly rubbing the fingertips, palm or back of arm, at least twice a day. That strategy, called “habit replacement,” helped 53% of participants in a new six-week study cut back on their unwanted behavior, a new study shows. “The rule is just to touch your body lightly,” lead study author Steffen Moritz, head of the clinical neuropsychology working group at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, told NBC News. “If you’re under stress, you might perform the movements faster, but not with more self-applied pressure.” These body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB) are believed to affect about 5% of people worldwide. The new study included 268 people. They either had trichotillomania, a condition in which people respond to stress or soothe themselves by plucking out their hair, or they repeatedly bit their nails or the inside of their cheek. Members of the control group were told they were on a waitlist for treatment (which they received after the study ended). Other participants were taught how to form a replacement habit through a manual and video. Those who bit their nails appeared…  read on >  read on >

Researchers around the world are working to tease out the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now, a new study points to so-called systemic inflammation. British researchers found that inflammation — activation of the body’s innate immune system — is associated with a small but statistically significant later risk of dementia. They reported their findings July 19 in the journal PLOS ONE. “In this study, we found associations between higher systemic inflammation levels and risk of being diagnosed with dementia three to 11 years later, although the increase in risk is small,” said study author Krisztina Mekli, of the University of Manchester in England. “This association, of course, does not mean causality, therefore, further research is needed to understand and evaluate the potential mechanism,” Mekli said in a journal news release. “In addition, high levels of inflammation might be one of the biomarkers which helps to identify people who have elevated risk of developing dementia in the near future.” The U.S. National Cancer Institute defines systemic inflammation as a serious condition involving inflammation throughout the whole body. This may be caused by an infection, trauma, surgery, ischemia (lack of blood supply to a part of the body), or certain conditions, such as an autoimmune disorder or pancreatitis. Data from the U.K. Biobank on a half-million people showed the association between dementia and…  read on >  read on >

Dehydration brings lots of risks — including urinary tract infections (UTIs). An expert offers some tips for avoiding these painful infections without sacrificing summer fun. “Patients can experience more UTIs during the summer due to inadequate fluid intake, especially in the historic heat waves we’ve been experiencing,” said Dr. Maude Carmel, a urology specialist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “Dehydration is a leading risk factor for UTIs,” she added in a center news release. To help reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the summer, Carmel recommends staying hydrated by drinking at least two liters (68 ounces) of fluid every day. Urinate frequently — go to the bathroom at least every three hours, she advised. Also, avoid constipation, and urinate after intercourse. While cranberry supplements can reduce some risk of infection, cranberry juice is too diluted to treat UTIs, Carmel noted. Signs of a urinary tract infection can include burning sensation or pain with urination, increased urinary frequency, urinary urgency and blood in the urine. Many other conditions can mimic the symptoms of a UTI, but the infection can be diagnosed with a urine culture. A urinalysis, or dipstick test, is not enough, said Carmel, an associate professor of urology. Someone experiencing symptoms that suggest UTI should see a primary care physician. A urologist can help narrow down the cause of frequent…  read on >  read on >

Fluoride may have found its match in preventing cavities. New research shows that toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite, one of the main mineral components in teeth, can prevent cavities as effectively as fluoride, which has been used in toothpaste since 1956. The findings were published July 18 in Frontiers in Public Health. “If the article is correct based on the data, one might choose the hydroxyapatite over the fluoride, because the hydroxyapatite itself is safer than fluoride,” said Dr. Leonard Patella, a dentist with Northwell Health in Glen Cove, N.Y., who was not involved with the study. “If you give too much fluoride, it can be toxic. And too much fluoride, if ingested, can cause damage to teeth. It can cause something called fluorosis.” Dental fluorosis is a condition that changes the appearance of tooth enamel and can happen when children consume fluoride during their teeth-forming years. In places like the United States, cases are typically fairly mild and usually result in white or brown spots on the teeth. In more severe cases, however, pits can form. “This is a very important issue,” said researcher Dr. Elżbieta Paszyńska, head of the department of integrated dentistry at Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poland. “Unlike fluorides, hydroxyapatite has a high remineralization effect, biocompatibility, and is safe if accidentally swallowed. Dentists worldwide should be informed about hydroxyapatite to be…  read on >  read on >

If your child has ever taken a knock to the head on the playing field, a new study has some reassuring news: There’s no evidence that a concussion shaves points from a kid’s IQ. Researchers found that compared with children and teens who’d suffered broken bones or sprained ankles, those with a recent concussion did just as well on IQ tests up to three months after the head injury. The study — published July 17 in Pediatrics — should ease the worries of many parents, as well as young people who’ve taken a knock to the head in sports, play or accidents. They often ask whether the injury will dull their mental sharpness, noted lead researcher Ashley Ware, an assistant professor of psychology at Georgia State University. “This study is good news,” she said. Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury, occurring when the brain gets jostled around in the skull. That can cause various immediate symptoms, such as headache, confusion, dizziness and a general sense of feeling unwell. It’s well known that more severe brain trauma can harm kids’ long-term intellectual functioning, but studies have come to mixed conclusions when it comes to concussions. Those studies, however, have been hampered by various shortcomings, Ware said. Many have been small, or compared concussed kids with peers who were perfectly healthy. That’s an issue because…  read on >  read on >

Using skin lightening products can be dangerous without a doctor’s supervision because they may contain harmful ingredients. Still, nearly a quarter of people in a recent survey said they used the products not for a medical issue, but for overall skin lightening. It’s an issue that relates back to colorism, the system of inequality that considers lighter skin more beautiful, researchers say. “The most surprising finding was the lack of awareness of ingredients in products being purchased over the counter and their potential detrimental effects,” said lead investigator Dr. Roopal Kundu, a professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “These products are bought from chain grocery stores, community-based stores or even online and do not undergo the same type of regulation as large-chain store or prescription products,” she said in a university news release. While doctors prescribe lighteners for some skin conditions, including melasma, many people who use these products do not consult a medical provider before use, said Kundu, who is also founder and director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Ethnic Skin and Hair in Chicago. Research has shown these products are often contaminated with other things such as steroids and mercury that could be toxic to the skin. To study what was happening with skin lighteners, researchers sent an anonymous 19-question survey to individuals of color in the United…  read on >  read on >

Dermatologist Dr. Caroline Opene is often asked if certain types of sun blocks are better for people with darker skin. Not necessarily, says the director of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health Skin of Color clinic. “In general, the best sunscreen is the one you put on consistently,” Opene said in a UCLA Health news release. “While I recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for everyone, there are options: mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be better for those with sensitive skin, and young children. Zinc oxide also provides good UVA protection, so I tend to recommend it to those prone to hyperpigmentation,” she added. But these mineral sunscreens can sometimes leave an undesirable white cast on people with darker skin tones, Opene noted. “While chemical sunscreens usually don’t leave a cast, they can be irritating to those with sensitive skin or allergies. So for my patients with darker skin tones, I frequently recommend hybrid sunscreens, with both chemical and mineral filters for protection and improved blendability,” Opene said. Melanin, the dark pigment in skin, provides some protection against the sun’s harmful rays, but not as much as people tend to think, Opene said. “Those with medium to darker skin tones usually develop fewer pre-cancerous growths and have later onset of wrinkles that are due to…  read on >  read on >