Is cold sores herpes?
Herpes is a group of inflammatory skin diseases characterized by spreading or creeping small clustered blisters caused by herpes simplex virus. Different forms of the virus result in either a cold sore or sexually transmitted diseases. Genital herpes is characterized by blister on the sex organs. This virus type is called Herpes simplex type 2. Developing blisters on the face, mouth or lips is associated with herpes simplex 1. When engaging in any sexually activities, make sure you use a latex condom and if you have herpes simplex 1 you should consider not having oral sex, this could cause the spreading of this virus.
What is staphylococcal infection?
Staphylococcal infection is caused by bacteria that is a common source of skin conditions. Staphylococcal bacteria are normally found on the skin of most people. If the bacteria accumulate within the skin, it can cause a wide variety of skin infections such as pustules, boils, impetigo, folliculitis, abscess or carbuncle.
Believe it or not, American women spend more than $5 billion a year on their fingernails.
And when we get a manicure or pedicure, we expect safe, clean service.
But for some women -- what should be a luxurious experience can turn into a nail nightmare -- resulting in disease, pain, injury -- even permanent loss of their nails.
Rochelle Thomas treats herself to regular manicures at the salon where she works.
But when she didn’t have much money, Rochelle went to a discount nail shop in a strip mall near her home.
She got acrylic nails and was surprised when the technician used a drill to shape them.
Rochelle says, "My hands would throb and my cuticles would be bleeding. They started to become weaker and thinner and break more frequently."
She can't prove it, but she suspects the shop created her nails with a chemical liquid that's actually been banned.
It's called Methyl methacrylate (MMA).
It is an industrial chemical that is no longer to be used as a nail liquid because it has been known to cause allergic reactions.
MMA is an industrial chemical used to make plastics.
It was also once used to create acrylic fingernails.
But in 1974, the FDA ordered nail salons to stop using MMA liquid after customers reported serious allergic reactions.
After the FDA ruling, most salons switched from MMA to other, more expensive liquids to do acrylic nails.
But in recent years, with the explosion in the number of discount nail salons, many experts suspect that cheaper MMA liquid is being used once again.
Most women apparently aren't aware of the dangers -- and the price is right: averaging $25 for a full set of acrylic nails, versus as much as $60 dollars at a salon.
"It doesn't cost a lot of money. It doesn't take a lot of time and you don't have to make an appointment," says nail technician Cathy Williams.
Cathy says not only can MMA liquid cause painful allergic reactions, it creates nails so hard they're impossible to remove...and bumping or catching the nail can rip off your entire natural nail.
Fungus can grow under the nail -- especially if the technician uses dirty instruments and drills.
Cathy says, "They actually pierced the nail bed on all 10 nails. She ended up getting fungus under each one of them and was left without nails for a year, "
Meanwhile, Rochelle Thomas says her days of getting the cheapest nails possible are over.
She says, "It is more expensive, but in the long run if you don't plan on having tips on all the time... it's better in the long run for your nails and your health."
No matter what type of nail shop you go to -- there are ways to protect yourself:
· First and foremost: make sure your nail technician and your shop are licensed by the state.
· Avoid shops where they use harsh techniques like a drill to shape new acrylic nails -- or clippers to remove old ones.
· Verify that the instruments they're using have been properly cleaned -- either in a heat sterilizer -- or in a bath of disinfectant for at least 10 minutes. And if you're not sure, bring your own.
You may wonder if there's a way to know for sure if your technician is using MMA -- and the answer is -- maybe.
MMA has a very strong, sweet odor -- but it can be mistaken for other, legitimate nail products that also have a strong odor.
MMA nails are likely to cost less because the liquid itself costs less.
But some discount salons say they offer cheaper prices because they have less overhead -- not because they're using MMA.
But, if your nails won't soak off, it probably is MMA, since other acrylic nails should come off after a half-hour soaking in a solvent.