Kokofu General Hospital

16/07/2025

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16/07/2025

15/07/2025

Acanthosis nigricans is a condition that causes areas of dark, thick velvety skin in body folds and creases. It typically affects the armpits, groin and neck.

Acanthosis nigricans (ak-an-THOE-sis NIE-grih-kuns) tends to affect people with obesity. Rarely, the skin condition can be a sign of cancer in an internal organ, such as the stomach or liver.

Treating the cause of acanthosis nigricans might restore the usual color and texture of the skin.

Photo of acanthosis nigricans
Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that causes a dark discoloration in body folds and creases. It typically affects the armpits, groin and neck.

Symptoms
The main sign of acanthosis nigricans is dark, thick, velvety skin in body folds and creases. It often appears in the armpits, groin and back of the neck. It develops slowly. The affected skin might be itchy, have an odor and develop skin tags.

When to see a doctor
Consult your health care provider if you notice changes in your skin — especially if the changes are sudden. You may have an underlying condition that needs treatment.

Causes
Acanthosis nigricans might be related to:

Insulin resistance. Most people who have acanthosis nigricans have also become resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that allows the body to process sugar. Insulin resistance is what leads to type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is also related to polycystic ovarian syndrome and might be a factor in why acanthosis nigricans develops.
Certain drugs and supplements. High-dose niacin, birth control pills, prednisone and other corticosteroids may cause acanthosis nigricans.
Cancer. Some types of cancer cause acanthosis nigricans. These include lymphoma and cancers of the stomach, colon and liver.
Risk factors
The risk of acanthosis nigricans is higher in people who have obesity. The risk is also higher in people with a family history of the condition, especially in families where obesity and type 2 diabetes are also common.

26/02/2025

Herpes

Doctor's refer to the infection commonly known as "herpes" as herpes simplex. The herpes simplex virus can cause sores anywhere on a person's skin. It usually occurs around the mouth and nose or the buttocks and ge****ls. Herpes simplex infection is painful, embarrassing and often, will reappear again and again.

Say the word "herpes" and most people think of the sexually transmitted disease ge***al herpes. But herpes is actually the name of a family of viruses, which includes the cold sore virus (HSV-1), ge***al herpes (HSV-2), infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr Virus), chicken pox and shingles (varicella zoster virus).





The two Herpes Simplex viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2, look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or ge****ls. Most commonly, however, HSV-1 occurs above the waist, and HSV-2 below.

These viruses blend into the DNA of genes after they infect, especially in the nerves. They try to force the body to make copies of them so they can spread to other people. The body's immune system resists this. When one's immune system is weakened, the virus finds a path to the skin and leaks out in tiny blisters. This is referred to as having a recurrence. Pain, burning or unusual tenderness of the skin may begin between one to several days before a recurrence.

Rarely, herpes can be serious in those with weak immune systems, such as newborn babies. More often, herpes is a mild infection. Many people who are infected don't even know that they are, and instead think they are having some chaffing or skin irritation. Years later, when there is a recurrence of HSV, it may be mistaken for an initial attack. This can lead to unfair accusations of infidelity.

Herpes simplex is very common. At least one in six adults in the United States has HSV-2 and half to three quarter of all adults test positive to HSV 1. But only 10% of those exposed get visible sores.

Maintaining general good health and keeping stress to a minimum give the best possible chance to limit recurrences. Fortunately, recurrent infections tend to be milder than the initial attack. Also, HSV-1 infections tend to have fewer recurrences than HSV-2. Both may be set off by a variety of stress factors including fever, stress, irritation at a site previously infected, sun exposure and menstruation. However, for many the recurrence is unpredictable and has no recognizable cause.

Take care of the affected skin area. Keep the area dry and clean during outbreaks to help healing. Avoid physical contact with the area from the time of the first symptoms (tingling, itching, burning) until all sores are completely healed, not just scabbed-over. Wash hands with soap and water if a sore is touched. Better yet, don't touch the sores as the virus can spread. HSV may infect the eye and lead to a condition called herpes keratitis. It feels like there is something in the eye. There is also pain and sensitivity to light and a discharge. This can cause serious eye damage if not promptly treated.

There is a vaccine to prevent herpes being tested, but it has not been approved by the FDA for general use. Several oral anti-viral medications (Zovirax, Famvir and Valtrex) have been developed for severe or frequently returning infections. Low doses are sometimes helpful in reducing the number of herpes attacks in people with frequent outbreaks. There is some evidence that taking these will make HSV less contagious. People who have taken Famvir with the initial attack seem to have fewer recurrences.

Prevention of this disease, which is contagious before and during an outbreak, is important. If tingling, burning, itching or tenderness -- signs of a recurrence -- occur in an area of the body where there was a herpes infection, then that area should be kept away from other people. With mouth lesions, one should avoid kissing and sharing cups or lip balms. For persons with ge***al herpes, this means avoiding sexual relations and oral and/or ge***al contact during the period of symptoms or active lesions. Towels should not be shared nor clothing exchanged

07/02/2025

Dandruff is the shedding of excessive amounts of dead skin flakes from the scalp. There may be a bit if itching, but no redness or scabbing. It usually gets worse during the fall and winter and improves in the summer. While it is caused by build up of dead skin, in many more severe cases a yeast-like organism aggravates it. While this germ is normally present on everyone's scalp, it can produce some irritation if it grows heavily.

Dandruff differs from a dry scalp in that it is improved when one shampoos more often. People who actually have a dry scalp are also dry all over their skin. Some people say their dandruff gets worsen by stress, anxiety and tension.

When scaling of the scalp is accompanied by redness, or when the redness and flaking spreads to cause greasy scaling on the face, eyebrows or sides of the nose, one may have seborrheic dermatitis. Severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are really related conditions and can often be controlled by prescription shampoos and medications.

For treatment contact us.

29/01/2025

Erythrasma

Erythrasma is a chronic superficial localized skin infection caused by bacteria called Corynebacterium minutissimum. Erythrasma is more common in warm, humid climates, or in individuals with poor hygiene, increased sweating, obesity, diabetes, advanced age and poor immune function. It is more commonly located in intertrigineous areas or skin folds including the groin, armpit, intergluteal fold, inframammary, and periumbilical areas. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but mild itchiness or burning may be present especially if they are located in the groin area.

Initially the skin lesions are well-defined pink patches covered with fine scales and wrinkling. Later the pink to red color fades and the affected area becomes brown and scaly.

There are also two distinct variants of erythrasma, which are called generalized and interdigital. The interdigital variant is the most common bacterial infection of the feet that presents as fissuring or scaling of the interspaces of the toes without any symptoms. The fissures and scaling most commonly occur between the fourth or fifth digit (little toe) of the feet. The generalized variant is the most common seen in diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 2) in which the skin lesions extend beyond the intertrigineous areas.

Diagnosis can be made by a dermatologist using a Wood’s lamp in the office. Wood’s lamp is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that shines ultraviolet light onto the skin. In erythrasma, a bright coral-red fluorescence is seen when the lamp is shined over the affected area. Another way to diagnose erythrasma is by culturing the skin scrapings from the lesion.

TREATMENT CONTACT
ACURT PHARMACY LTD- 0544751095

29/01/2025

Erythrasma

Erythrasma is a chronic superficial localized skin infection caused by bacteria called Corynebacterium minutissimum. Erythrasma is more common in warm, humid climates, or in individuals with poor hygiene, increased sweating, obesity, diabetes, advanced age and poor immune function. It is more commonly located in intertrigineous areas or skin folds including the groin, armpit, intergluteal fold, inframammary, and periumbilical areas. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but mild itchiness or burning may be present especially if they are located in the groin area.

Initially the skin lesions are well-defined pink patches covered with fine scales and wrinkling. Later the pink to red color fades and the affected area becomes brown and scaly.

There are also two distinct variants of erythrasma, which are called generalized and interdigital. The interdigital variant is the most common bacterial infection of the feet that presents as fissuring or scaling of the interspaces of the toes without any symptoms. The fissures and scaling most commonly occur between the fourth or fifth digit (little toe) of the feet. The generalized variant is the most common seen in diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 2) in which the skin lesions extend beyond the intertrigineous areas.

Diagnosis can be made by a dermatologist using a Wood’s lamp in the office. Wood’s lamp is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that shines ultraviolet light onto the skin. In erythrasma, a bright coral-red fluorescence is seen when the lamp is shined over the affected area. Another way to diagnose erythrasma is by culturing the skin scrapings from the lesion.

TREATMENT