Bump on the roof of mouth is one of the dental conditions frequently seen by the dentist. They can be quite distressing, painful and make the act of swallowing a bit cumbersome. Bumps that develop on the roof of the mouth are symptoms of several disease conditions.

In this post, we shall examine the problem in detail, the symptoms, causes, treatment, home remedies, and when to see the doctor. So, if you have the problem or you know of anyone who has it, this is an opportunity to know exactly what to do in order to alleviate the symptoms or to completely get rid of the disease.

Picture of bump on roof of mouth

Symptoms

Bump on the roof of mouth comes with noticeable signs and symptoms among which are:

• Painful lumps: With these lumps, it hurts to swallow foods sometimes
• Hard bump: This could come from dental abscess, or torus palatinus
• Pimple like zits inside the mouth
• Itching of the affected areas
• Sore: This hurts when touched
• There could be bleeding when the bump is popped
• There may be green or yellowish pus in the sores
• There is sore throat especially if there is infection of the back of the throat.

Causes of Bumps on the Roof of Mouth

Bumps on roof of mouth are caused by various factors. Some of the known causes include the following:

Smoking

Using pipes to smoke can ultimately result in the individual developing a condition known as “Nicotine stomatitis” or “smoker’s palate”. The condition is distinguished by the appearance of white bumps on the roof of the mouth.There may also be red depressions on the centers of the bumps.

Epstein pearls

Also referred to as palatal cysts or gingival cysts, the condition is common in a newborn baby’s mouth or in little children. The gums or palate has whitish or yellowish bumps. Research shows that about 80% of kids are likely to suffer from Epstein pearls. The condition usually subsides and disappears on its own accord.

Incisive papilla

They are bumps that appear on the mouth’s roof just behind front teeth. They are sometimes enlarged and filled with fluid and are quite common. The condition is not severe and goes away in a matter of time.

Maxillary sinus growths

These are also some of the causes of bump on the roof of mouth. Since the maxillary bone lies in the upper jaw, any unusual growth in the bone can manifest as a swelling or protrusion through the upper palate and be seen as a bump.

Dental problems

When plaque and calculus form as a result of poor oral care, this could lead to a swelling on the upper jaw. Bumps due to dental issues may be distinguished by caries on the upper jaw, which run into the root canal. They sometimes result in abscess. There could be visible large bumps on roof of mouth.

Torus palatinus

Torus palatinus causes a round lump on the roof of mouth. The protrusion that occurs is usually harmless. They can be different from one individual to another, though on the average the size is about 2 mm in diameter.

Exostosis/Mandibular Torus

There is a protrusion on roof of the mouth and the side of the lower jaw. Hard or sharp food can cause an injury to the extra protrusion, leading to ulcers or painful sores. Bruises can lead to pain during and after eating and also delay healing

Allergy

Allergy usually results in itchy bumps and could come from vaccines, foods and medications. However, lichen planus produces small itchy bump on the roof of mouth, which can sometimes be misunderstood for a bump from allergic reaction.

Pregnancy

Bumps on the roof of mouth can also manifest during pregnancy, where it is referred to as pregnancy induced gingivitis. It causes swelling and bleeding but goes away after delivery.

Mucocele

This produces a cyst-like bump on the mouth’s roof. The main cause of this problem is a blockage of the salivary gland. It leads to the formation of a soft, painless, flexible bump characterized by a pearly or bluish color.

Mouth ulcers and spots on the roof of the mouth

Mouth ulcer can form in any part of the mouth and is usually seen as an oval sore. But it is commoner in roof of mouth, lips and cheeks. They lead to the formation of red, white or yellow bump, which hurts when touched with food or tongue. They are thought to result from anxiety and stress.

Oral cancer

Oral cancer can produce bumps on the roof of mouth that won’t go away and keeps increasing in size over time, accompanied by fever, bleeding, headache, swollen lymph nodes, etc. It can also affect other areas such as lips, tonsils, sinuses, glands, cheeks, tongue, throat, as well as floor of the mouth. The bumps can be irregular in shape and dark in color. The spreading cancer can easily cause sore throat as well.

Canker sore

They are shallow lesions or small bumps on the soft tissue of the roof of mouth. They can be noticed on the gums, followed by severe pain when touched or when chewing. Before their arrival, you may notice a burning, tingling or prickling sensation on the spot where they are set to appear. This is followed by white, yellow or gray bumps bordered by red rings after two days.

Adenocarcinoma and Swollen Salivary Glands

Cancer or infection can cause the minor salivary glands in the palate or upper part of the mouth to swell. Adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer, can easily affect those glands. The condition is frequent in pipe smokers and reverse smokers.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Bumps in the roof of mouth can be a symptom of some forms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as herpes and HIV AIDS. While HPV leads to the formation of painful small clusters of bumps on the inside mouth, roof of mouth, and lips, HIV lowers one’s immunity level thereby creating room for opportunistic infections. In this case, yeast, which usually exists as a normal flora in the mouth can then form bumps on the roof of mouth.

Lump After a Root Canal or as a Result of Braces

Hard lump may occasionally form after root canal or surgery. This is normally seen on the roof of the mouth, close to the gums of the upper teeth. This can result from yeast infection as a result of poor oral hygiene and could start in form of a pimple.

After wisdom teeth removal: Occasionally, bumps on the roof of teeth occur after wisdom teeth removal. This can sometimes result from infection of the wound.

Sore Bump Due to Tongue Ring: The ring in your pierced tongue can mount a little pressure on the palate when the mouth is closed. The ring (being a foreign body) can cause irritation to your palate and lead to the formation of a bump on the roof of your mouth.

The tongue piercing can be infected and the infection spreads to the roof of the mouth thereby producing bumps in the affected areas.

Treatment

Bump on the roof of mouth can be treated in various ways. Some of the interventions known to work effectively include:

Stop Smoking

Quitting smoking is one practical way of stopping or controlling bumps on the roof of mouth. If you smoke or after drinking alcohol persistently for a long time, white plaques and yellowish patches develop on the roof of your mouth. This gives rise to mouth odor and also creates favorable environment for bacteria to thrive and infect your mouth and the back of your throat. So, to get rid of the problem, you need to stop smoking.

Radiation and Chemotherapy

Cancerous bumps on the roof of your mouth can be treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. While the therapies are capable of killing the cancer cells, they also prevent their spread to other parts.

Surgery

Adenocarcinoma or oral cancer can be surgically removed. This is done by a qualified surgeon or oncologist, under a local anesthesia. This helps in curtailing the spread of the cancer cells. Bumps on the roof of mouth that comes and goes, such as mucoceles, can be excised to permanently remove them. Marsupialization can be performed to assist in the formation of a new salivary gland.

Antibiotics and Antiviral Medications

Antibiotics treatments can be prescribed by the doctor for the management of bumps caused by bacteria. When there is sore throat, it is advisable to treat it with potent antibiotics drugs.

But where HIV and AIDS exist, it is better to treat with antiviral medications to help in controlling the symptoms.

Other treatments

Other treatments you can employ based on the cause and symptoms include:

• Minimizing spicy foods
• Rinsing the mouth with warm saline water 3-4 times daily
• Laser treatment
• The use of vitamin supplements to take care of the vitamin deficiency.

Home Remedies

Apart from prescription drugs, there are a lot of home remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of bumps on the roof of the mouth. Some of the remedies are:

• Black Tea: You can apply a bag of black tea to help reduce the irritation and pain.
• Goldenseal Root: Rinse the mouth with a tea containing goldenseal root. This should be done at least two to three times daily, to lessen the effect of the sore.
• Yogurt: Adding yogurt to your regular meals goes a long way in helping to prevent canker sore.
• Honey: Apply raw honey to the roof of the mouth three to four times daily with soft cotton. This should be continued until the cold sores are gone.
• Chewing gum: Chewing gum plays a role in helping to reduce the burning sensation. Besides, it improves saliva production and hydration of the mouth.
• Witch Hazel and Baking Soda: Apply a paste of baking soda and witch hazel or water to the spot to take care of the sores and lower pain. It equally accelerates the rate of healing.
• Hot Pepper Sauce: Add six drops of Tabasco sauce together with a teaspoon of water to make a hot pepper sauce. Use it to rinse your mouth and spit it out. Do it up to 4 times daily, to lessen the burning pain sensation.
• Aloe Vera Juice: Rinse your mouth or gargle with aloe Vera juice to help lower the bumps or lumps on the roof of your mouth. As a home remedy, Aloe Vera is efficacious in reducing bumps.
• Cold Milk: Though milk and dairy are great sources of protein, milk also plays a role in reducing pains associated with bumps. Drink some cold milk and swish it around in your mouth in a way similar to mouthwash. Using buttermilk can also be helpful.

When to See a Doctor

You should consider seeing the doctor if any of the following is present:

• The bump is extremely painful
• The size of the bump is increasing
• The bump refuses to subside spontaneously
• There is bleeding from the bump

Conclusion

Bump on the roof of mouth is caused by different factors. No matter the cause, there are treatments and home remedies to help alleviate the symptoms. Before commencing treatment, therefore, it is important to find out the root of the problem.

If the home remedies recommended in this post fail to help you or if you notice that there is extreme pain, increase in the size of the bump, or there is bleeding, consult your doctor immediately for further examination and management.

Pictures of Bumps on roof of mouth

Wondering how bumps on roof of mouth? Take a look at below pictures:

Herpes is a viral disease that affects any part of the body, with the genitals and the lips being the most hit. Herpes does not stop with the lips and the genitals; it also affects the tongue as well thereby making the act of eating a terrible experience for the sufferer.

Herpes otherwise known as cold sores can stay in the nerve cells for years after the initial infection but keeps being reactivated from time to time. No matter the part of the body that is affected, the sores can be quite painful or distressing.

What is Tongue Herpes?

Herpes on tongue is one of those things you have when you suffer from a condition referred to oral herpes, which involves the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks and the palate (roof of the mouth). Specifically, tongue herpes is the herpes that is localized to the tongue. It is mostly caused by the Herpes Simplex One virus. Having this type of viral infection can make chewing, swallowing and enjoying the taste of food a hell for you.

How does Oral Herpes look like?

Oral herpes is quite easy to understand because it comes with sores around the mouth – lips, tongue, cheeks, gum or palate.

Picture of herpes on tongue

While the virus affects humans only and the mouth sores are commoner in children between 1 and 2 years old, anybody can be affected irrespective of age. The oral inflammation associated with HSV-1 is also known as herpes gingivostomatitis.

A few days before the appearance of the blisters, you may have itching, pain or burning sensation around the infected area. Sometimes, you could have sore throat, fever, tiredness, bleeding gums, swelling of the lymph nodes and salivary glands, etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Herpes on Tongue

The signs and symptoms of tongue herpes include:

• Painful sores or bumps on the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks and the roof of the mouth (hard palate)
• Sores may be present on the chin, nose, neck, and face
• Sores contain painful lesions filled with fluid
• Periodic reactivation of dormant lesions
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing food
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• There could also be muscle aches.

What Causes Oral Herpes?

Oral herpes is mostly caused by an infection by a virus known as “Herpes Simplex Virus One”. While there are two similar viruses (Herpes Simplex Virus One and Herpes Simplex Virus Two), they present with distinctive DNA but both are capable of causing oral and genital lesions. Nevertheless, about 80% of all oral lesions and just 20% of genital lesions are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus One (HSV-1).

Exposure to Oral herpes (HSV-1) infection also occurs sometimes without showing any signs of actual infection. There are no sores, lesions or pains. Antibodies to HSV-1 have been found in about 65% of the population of the U.S.A by the age of 40. Genital herpes is seen as sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Herpes Simplex Virus Two (HSV-2) is responsible for genital herpes and has been linked with the incidence of cervical cancer because its presence in women with cervical cancer is nearly twice as often as in those who have not.

Different Stages

Once you are infected with the herpes virus, the disease passes through 3 distinct stages which have their own features:

Primary infection: The virus gains entry through your mucous membrane or skin and starts to reproduce. At this stage, you may develop oral sores and other symptoms like fever.
It is also possible not to experience any sores or other symptoms after being infected by the virus. So, you may not even be aware that you are infected. This is referred to as asymptomatic infection. The incidence of asymptomatic infection is twice as high as the symptomatic disease.

Latency: The virus migrates from the site of infection to a mass of nervous tissue in your spine known as the dorsal root ganglion. Upon arriving there, it reproduces again and then becomes inactive.

Recurrence: The virus is reactivated when you pass through some forms of stress such as physical or emotional stress. At this point, the virus is able to cause outbreak of new sores and symptoms.

If you are susceptible to reactivation, here are stages to expect the blisters to go through:

Prodrome (1 -2 days)

In this case, some persons have tingling, tightening, or itchy sensation a day or so, on the site of infection before there is an outbreak. It is mostly seen in those with initial outbreak.

Swelling (1-2 days)

At this stage, there is formation of blisters. Your immune system or treatment may succeed in controlling it before the blisters break out in some cases.

Appearance of Blisters (1-2 days)

There is formation of red, white, grey or clear blisters at this stage. They can be tiny but come in large clusters. The blisters can be confined to a place or affect various areas on the tongue or elsewhere.

Ulceration (1 day)

The sores rupture and release fluid that is filled with the HSV-1. The sores eventually transit from red, wet and raw sores to ulcers that are grayish. The sore are extremely contagious and excruciatingly painful.

Scabbing (3-5 days)

After the blisters are broken, a crust grows over the wet blister and may become hardened into a painful scab if it is not prevented by the moisture in the mouth. There may also the emergence of a yellowish crust.

Healing (3-5 days)

The formed scabs gradually heal and fall off on their own. New skin form under the scab, making them to naturally fall off if the healing process runs on its own accord.

The outbreak of herpes last for about 2 weeks including all the stages. If you irritate the sore or scratch them, the healing process may become prolonged by another week.

How to Treat Tongue Herpes?

Diet is an essential part of the treatment of herpes. Foods that are rich in lysine and poor in arginine are particularly helpful. While lysine suppresses the replication of the virus, arginine is capable of assisting it to replicate. Lysine is an essential amino acid needed by the human body for calcium absorption and antibodies production.

Foods with a high level of lysine include fish, meat and dairy products. If you are to apply diet, make sure the percentage of lysine in the diet is higher than that of arginine.

Drugs

There are several over-the-counter pain relief drugs that you can apply to take care of the pain associated with tongue herpes. They include:

• Analgesic gels containing benzocaine to create temporary numbness of the lesion and provide pain relief.
• Give more vitamin C, B, and zinc, to help speed up the process of healing. This is really necessary if a deficiency of any of them had contributed to the problem.
• Aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen also serves as a potent pain relief drug.
• Carbamide peroxide solution releases oxygen as it comes in contact with the ulcer thereby cleaning the sore and providing pain relief, including antibacterial effects.

Doctor Prescribed Treatment

When the sores refuse to respond positively to over-the-counter drugs, the doctor may need to prescribe the following medications:

• Silver nitrate: It offers quick pain relief and aids healing. It should be applied by experienced medical personnel. It has a burnt taste when used but the pain goes away in a matter of hours and the sores are healed within a few days.
• Debacterol: This mixture of sulfonated phenolic compounds and sulfuric acid will help to burn the ulcer chemically. Its mode of action is like that of silver nitrate and can only be gotten through prescription.
• A mouth wash which contains tetracycline or an active ingredient known as steroid dexamethasone also plays a role in minimizing inflammation, swelling and pain.
• Different antibiotics and corticosteroids can be prescribed to relieve pain and speed up healing time for severe sores on the tongue.

Difference between Tongue Herpes and Canker Sore

The main feature that distinguishes tongue herpes from canker sores is that herpetic lesions of the tongue herpes are filled with fluid and are painful while canker sores are not. Canker sores are also self limiting to the inside of the mouth (do not affect skin surfaces), they are not contagious but usually caused by substances that irritate the lining of the mouth.

Is Herpes on Tongue Contagious?

Herpes on tongue is highly contagious, meaning that it can be contracted through touching the skin, saliva or mucous membrane of an infected person. Due to its high level of contagiousness, a vast number of the populace is infected by a subtype of the HSV-1 virus before they become adults. So, anyone who is currently suffering from the disease poses a great threat to others who come in close contact with them daily.

One of the easiest ways of contracting the virus is through kissing an infected person. Since the saliva is often laden with the virus, kissing makes it easy to transmit the virus. Having open wounds in your mouth or around the lips increases the chances of getting herpes on tongue.

Transmission through sexual activity is quite common as well, especially during an active stage. Vaginal fluids are contagious hence it is regarded as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Oral sex (mouth-to-genital) is also a good way of transmitting the virus because of the direct contact with the fluid discharged from the genitals.

When should I see a doctor?

If the herpes on tongue won’t go away or the pain becomes unbearable even after trying your normal home remedies, then it is time to see your doctor for more investigation and further treatment. You should also see the doctor if there are signs of dehydration.

Conclusion

Herpes on tongue can be quite discomforting and make eating a difficult task. The itchy and painful sores can also be a great challenge. However, when the signs of its onset are recognized on time and treatment commenced immediately, the seriousness can be reduced.

If you take over-the-counter drugs and they fail to address your problem, see the doctor for further evaluation and management.

Pictures of Herpes on tongue

Collection of photos, pictures and images of herpes on tongue:

What are Bulging veins?

In the human body, all the veins have one-way valves that help to keep the circulation of blood in one direction. Muscles contract to act as pump and elastic vein walls push the blood to the heart for recirculation. When the valves don’t work properly and allow the blood to pool or accumulate, it results in bulging of veins. In fact, the valves couldn’t prevent the backward flow of the blood into the veins and it will begin to pool, causing the vein wall to bulge. This situation leads to the enlargement of the veins, and they become large, distended and unattractive. The patient also feels itchiness or pain in these bulging veins. These veins appear to be bluish. The blue color is mainly due to the deoxygenated blood accumulated in the veins.

The bulging of veins is generally caused by venous insufficiency, obesity, pregnancy, aging, hereditary, overexposure to the sun, chronic constipation, hormonal changes (especially in women) lack of movement and Thrombophlebitis etc. We will discuss the causes in details in the upcoming sections of this article.

What are the Symptoms of Bulging veins?

Arteries help to circulate the blood away from the heart to the rest of the body while the veins take the blood back to the heart from the rest of the body. In majority of the cases, the patient will not feel pain but there are some quite visible symptoms of bulging veins. These include:

Common symptoms

• Veins appearing to be blue or dark purple in color
• Lumpy, twisted and swollen veins (looking like chords in the legs)
• Skin darkening
• Rashes on the skin
• Feeling of heaviness in legs
• Aching legs
• Swollen ankles
• Affected skin becomes itchy, dry and red, a condition known as venous eczema
• Restless legs syndrome
• Appearing of irregular whitish patches on the ankles of patient, a condition known as Atrophie Blanche
• Hardening of the fat just above the ankle, a condition known as lipodermatosclerosis which results in skin shrinking.

Painful and severe symptoms

• Prolonged bleeding from the affected area or vein
• A feel of severe pain or pulling in legs
• Severe pain after standing or sitting for a long period of time
• Sore of the skin or skin ulcers near your ankle
• Numbness in legs
• Cramping, swelling Burning or throbbing in lower legs.

Bulging veins Diagnosis

Diagnosis of bulging veins is an easy task. The doctor will carry out easy steps to identify the characteristics of bulging veins. You’ll have to go through a physical examination for the diagnosis. If have any of the above mentioned symptoms, you must visit a vascular surgeon or vascular medicine specialist. These health professionals deal with the issues of blood vessels. You can also visit a dermatologist.

Physical Examination

During the physical examination, the doctor will check your legs while you are in a standing or sitting posture. He or she may also ask for common or severe symptoms of bulging.

Doppler Ultrasound

In this method, a handheld device (transducer) is used. The doctor skims the machine over the skin to find out the blocked valves and faulty veins. It is the same device used to check the fetus development during pregnancy.

Duplex Scanning

It is quite similar to the Doppler and it is used to identify the blood clotting in veins.

Magnetic Resonance Venography

If the duplex test is not providing accurate results, doctor may recommend Angiogram. In this technique, a dye is injected into the veins and it highlights the blocked vessels in the x-ray image.

What causes veins to bulge?

Damaged, blocked or weak valves in veins can result in veins bulging. Well, according to the researchers, there are no define set of causes for bulging veins. However, these may happen due to a number of reasons. These include:

Inheritance

According to the doctors, inherited issues cause some patients to have inefficient valves or have too few valves to work properly.

Varicose or spider veins

Both are common cause of bulging veins. These are normally formed in the feet, inner thigh and leg area; however, you can also find varicose veins in other parts of the body. These can be painful, too. Spider veins are milder as compared to the varicose veins. These usually results in bulging veins on side of head, neck and face; however, you can find them in other body parts, too.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes an increased volume of blood in women but decreased flow of blood from legs to the pelvis. Pressure on the veins increases and it becomes tough to push the blood back to the heart promptly. It is natural circulatory flow designed to provide more blood to the fetus for rapid growth but it causes enlarged veins in the legs of pregnant women. These are common in first time or late pregnancy.

The good thing is that the bulginess disappears after 3 to 12 months of the delivery and the veins regain their normal posture.

Aging

When you cross the age of 50, you can experience bulging veins. With the growing age, the vein muscles tend to get weaker and the walls of veins become less elastic. So these muscles can’t exert the required pressure to push the blood back to the heart. In the same way, the valves also become weak and start to function poorly. As a result, the blood pool in the veins and causes bulginess.

Thrombophlebitis

It is a situation in which blood clots inside the vein and it results in vein bulging. It usually happens in legs however it is also observed in the arm and neck area. It can affect both the veins on the surface of the skin and the deep veins. In severe conditions, if the blood clot dislodges from the wall of the vein, blood takes it to the lungs of the patient where it can cause a pulmonary embolism. It is a critical condition for the patients which need immediate and proper medical care. Remember, it can stop the circulation of blood in the human body.

Prolonged standing

It is common issue for persons involved in the jobs requiring prolonged standing like receptionists, waiters etc.

Obesity or distended belly

If you’re overweight, extra pressure would be exerted on your veins resulting in bulging veins.

Chronic constipation or tumor

Anything that exerts pressure in the abdominal area can cause bulging veins. It may be due to chronic constipation or a tumor.

Menopause

In women, menopause is one of the causes of bulging veins.

Other causes include trauma, injury, enlarged prostate and chronic cough etc.

What causes bulging veins in forehead?

Picture of bulging veins in forehead

Sometimes, veins pop up in the area of forehead. It is mainly due to posture, strain, emotions or other medical issues related to bulging veins. It is generally observed in middle-ages people.

Bulging veins Prevention

Keep your weight under control

As a matter of fact, nobody can change or modify the genes but if you have hereditary issues concerning bulging, you must keep your weight under control to avoid this condition. You can do it by controlling your eating habits and exercise.

Eat food containing fiber

Try to eat high fiber food and wear loose clothes if you have inherited bulging veins issue.

Avoid standing for long period of time

Well, you must avoid standing for long period of time if you have bulging veins issue.

Compression

Your doctor may also advise you to wear compression socks or stocking so that they can artificially exert enough pressure on your veins to make normal pressure. In this way, the blood can easily flow back to the heart. It is usually used in the leg area of patient.

You must follow the above mentioned steps if you have bulging veins or you have inheritance issue of bulging veins.

Risk Factors involved in bulging veins

Following are the risk factors involved in bulging veins:

• Sex
• Genetics
• Age
• Obesity
• Job nature

Complications

Normally, patients experience painful headache, itching and reddishness due to bulging veins. Bulging veins can be caused by a number of factors. If the patient doesn’t get proper treatment, he or she can observe various complications and permanent damages. These complications include:

Ulcers

Increased pressure of the blood in the bulging veins can result in long-term fluid buildup in the tissues and it causes ulcer. This type of extreme painful ulcer may result in bulging veins near the ankles of the patient. The skin discolors before the development of ulcer. In such a condition, immediately contact your doctor to prevent further complications.

Bleeding

Patients can observe minor bleeding due to the rupturing of veins near the skin surface. The bulging veins close to the surface burst due to increased pressure of blood. In such a situation, patient must seek immediate medical care.

Blood clotting

Sometimes, the veins suddenly swell. It is due to the formation of blood clot. It results in sudden bulging veins in hand, wrist, legs or arms. It needs immediate medication otherwise it can lead to severe health problems.

Treatment

After identifying the reasons of bulging veins, the doctor may recommend several types of treatment for the bulging veins.

Lifestyle changes

First of all, your doctor may recommend some lifestyle changes to deal with the issue.

For instance, the doctor may recommend alleviating the affected area during rest; wearing compression clothes and doing exercise regularly, putting your feet up frequently or weight lose.

Sclerotherapy

During this procedure, your doctor will inject a solution in the bulging veins. This solution creates scars and closes the circulation within the veins. However, the blood uses other nearby veins to circulate. Within few weeks, the treated veins get healthy.

This process doesn’t involve anesthesia and it can be performed in the doctor’s office. It may be carried out for more than once. If it is done accurately, it provides 100% results.

Foam Sclerotherapy of Large Veins

In this method, a foam solution is injected into large bulging veins. It is a relatively new method.

Ligation and Stripping

In this procedure, two incisions are made, the first one near the knee or ankle and the second one at the top of the affected vein. The affected vein is removed with the help of a thin wire. The removal of vein doesn’t affect the circulation of blood because the large deep veins take care of the large volume of the blood circulation.

The patient recovers within one to four weeks. It doesn’t require a hospital stay. It sometimes causes bleeding, bruising or pain and in rare cases, it may result in deep vein thrombosis. Wear compression cloth during recovery period.

Catheter-assisted procedures using laser energy or radiofrequency

In this procedure, the doctor uses a thin tube called catheter. He puts the v into the bulging vein and heats the tip of the catheter with the help of laser or radiofrequency energy. When the doctor pulls out catheter, the heat destroys the vein by collapsing and shutting it. It is good process for the large veins.

Laser treatment

In this process, doctor close off the small affected veins with the help of laser. During this process, strong bursts of light are passed into small veins which cause them to fade and disappear. It doesn’t involve cutting or incision.

Endoscopic vein surgery

In critical condition, if other methods fail, the doctor adapts this technique. He will insert a thin video camera into your legs to visualize and close the bulging veins. After that, he will remove the closed veins through small incisions. It is used in patients suffering from ulcer.

Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-tuh-me)

In this method, bulging veins are removed through tiny skin punctures. in this process, the treated area is numbed for a short period of time. It causes small scars that fade away with the passage of time.

Other pain relief medications

There are also some other good products to treat the bulging veins. These include;

• Sweet clover
• Horse chestnut
• Grape (leaves, sap, seed and fruit)
• Butcher’s broom
• Apple cider vinegar
• Witch hazel
• Use of essential oils
• Pine bark extracts
• Pot marigold
• Cayenne pepper
• Mud packs
• Gentle massage

Types of bulging veins

There are two main types

• Varicose veins
• Spider veins

These can be further categorized into

• Bulging veins in neck
• Bulging abdominal veins
• Engorged Neck Veins
• Engorged scalp veins
• Jugular vein distention

Pictures of Bulging veins

Take a look at some of these pictures to find out how Bulging veins looks like:

Picture of bulging veins in hands

Picture of Bulging veins in legs

Picture of Bulging veins in arms

Picture of Bulging veins in feets

The human body has lots of big and small organs. Each of these organs has been developed to perform various big or small functions. One such organ in the human body is the appendix. The appendix is a small pouch of tissues that is located at the end of the large intestine.

An appendix is a worm-like or vermiform structure that is located at the end of the cecum. The cecum is a part of the large intestine. The structure of appendix is just like any other organ in the digestive tract of a human body. It is made up of the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and a serosal layer. The only difference between the appendix and the large intestine is that there is a mass of lymphoid tissues present in the submucosal layer of the appendix. The appendix is said to be a vestigial organ. A vestigial organ is an organ in the human body that was functional in the past but is now useless for the survival.

What side is the appendix situated?

Location of Appendix

The appendix is situated at the lower right part of the abdominal cavity. It is attached to the colon at the McBurney’s point. A normal appendix measures between 2cm to 20 cm depending on person to person. The exact location of the appendix is at the point where the small intestine ends and the large intestine starts. The bottom part of the appendix is located at one point in most of the individuals; however, the top might be present in different locations. These locations include:

• Pelvic – The pelvic position is the most common in most of the people and this means that the appendix falls downwards towards the pelvis of the person.
• Postileal – The post-ileal position is when the appendix is just directed towards the spleen and is situated above the ileum.
• Subcecal – The subcecal appendix is present just below the cecum, this is the smallest size of the appendix.
• Retrocecal – The retrocecal appendix is located is located just behind the cecum but above it. In most cases it reaches up to the colon.
• Ectopic – The ectopic type of appendix is the one that cannot be categorized under any of these types.
• Preileal – This position of the appendix is situated in the front of the ileum and slightly above it.

The Variations in the location of the appendix

Since not all people are similar, there are a few cases when there is some variation in the formation and the location of the appendix. These variations are:

• Mirror Twins – In the case of mirror twins, the appendix is located in the bottom left corner of one child. This is because both the children are the mirror image of each other.
• Malrotation – The rotation of the intestine causes the colon part to shift to the left-hand side of the body. This results in the shifting of the appendix at the bottom left corner of the abdominal cavity.
• Absence of Appendix – Some people are born without an appendix. Since appendix is not necessary for performing important functions in the body, this does not affect them at all in their lives.
• Presence of Gerlach’s valve – In some cases, there is a mucosal valve at the tip or the opening of the appendix which is known as the Gerlach’s Valve.

The use of appendix in the body

The appendix is not a major organ in the human body and is not responsible for performing any big and important functions. Additionally, there is not a lot of information available in the appendix. The appendix has always been considered a vestigial organ that was once used to digest cellulose and has not lost its function in the human body. However, researchers have found out that there are a few functions that the appendix has. They are:

• The Immunological Function – Many researchers have proved that the appendix helps in a lot of immunological functions of the body. It helps a person develop a stronger and much healthier immune system. The maturation of the B lymphocytes takes place in the appendix. Additionally, the antibodies are also produced with the help of appendix. This is not enough; the appendix also helps in the transportation of the lymphocytes to the various parts of the body at times of an attack by the foreign organisms.
• The Maintenance of Gut Flora – Another major function of the appendix is to maintain the good bacteria in the intestine. There are some good bacterias that live in the small and large intestine and aids the digestion of food. The appendix acts as a reserve or a storehouse of these bacteria. There are times when the good bacterias get washed off from the intestine; the appendix supplies them in order to fill in the place of the missing bacterias.

Appendicitis and its treatment

There are times when the appendix gets inflamed due to various causes such as infections and much more. This leads to the condition called Appendicitis. Appendicitis is very common and a lot of people suffer from it.

Symptoms

The symptoms of appendicitis are; pain in the lower abdomen that keeps on increasing with the passing time, fever, fatigue, irregular bowels, inflammation and frequent urination. Most people can continue with their day to day activities even if they are suffering from appendicitis, however, in some cases, the appendix might burst due to excessive inflammation and swelling. This is a huge issue and can cause extreme discomfort to the person. The person will have severe pain on whatever side the appendix is located and they might even vomit and faint. Immediate assistance is required in situations like this.

Treatment

There is only one treatment for appendicitis, surgery. The appendix does not have an important function in the body and most doctors and scientists believe that its removal does not cause any harm to the normal functioning of the body. The doctors would run a few tests before the surgery in order to see what side the appendix is located on. Additionally, the pain caused due to appendicitis can be confused with the normal stomach pain in the beginning. So, any pain in the abdomen that continues for more than a couple of days should be checked in with the doctor.

The tongue is one of the most important parts of our bodies. It helps us in eating, tasting, talking and swallowing. But in addition to all these basic functions, the tongue also tells a lot of things about a person’s health. The doctors usually look at the tongue to find the sign of illness. The wavy tongue is one such sign. The wavy tongue is a condition that makes the tongue look irregular and a formation of waves like structures or scallops takes place along the sides.

The wavy tongue is known by numerous names such as scallop tongue, pie crust tongue, crenate tongue and lingua indentata. The wavy tongue is a sure sign for some major diseases and health conditions in the human body. Numerous diseases can cause the tongue to get wavy such as hypothyroidism, genetic disorders, injury, sleep apnea and much more. The change in the appearance of your tongue might mean nothing in some cases but if it is accompanied by some other symptoms, consulting a doctor is advisable.

Picture of Wavy tongue

Symptoms of the wavy tongue

The wavy tongue is not a disease; however, it sure can be seen as the symptom of other diseases. The wavy tongue is usually accompanied by some other symptoms. These symptoms help the doctors diagnose the reason behind the abnormal shape of the tongue. The other symptoms that need to be looked for with wavy tongue are:

• Swelling of the tongue
• Inflammation and pain in the tongue and the mouth
• Redness on the tongue and the sides of the mouth
• Dryness of the mouth
• Fatigue
• Pain in the Jaw
• Numbness in the tongue.

Causes

There are numerous big and small diseases and conditions that cause the wavy tongue. The wavy tongue can sometimes happen without any serious cause; however, it usually is depicting some kind of deficiency or disease. Here are the causes that can lead to the wavy tongue:

Swelling of the tongue

The swelling in the tongue is the basic reason for the wavy tongue. Since the tongue gets swollen and increases in size, it gets difficult for the mouth cavity to hold it. Hence the teeth create a wave-like a pattern on the tongue. The swelling of the tongue can be due to multiple reasons and can continue for days.

Voluntary and involuntary habits

Some habits such as biting the tongue or rubbing the tongue on the teeth can also lead to the formation of the wavy pattern on the sides of the tongue.

Dehydration

Dehydration is also a big reason for the swelling of various organs including the tongue. Dehydration is basically the deficiency of water in the body.

Deficiency of Vitamin and Minerals

There are numerous vitamins and minerals that are required for the body to function properly. The swelling of the tongue is a clear sign that a person’s body is lacking them.

Hypothyroidism

Another reason for the swollen tongue that has a wave-like pattern is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism happens when the body is not able to produce enough amount of thyroid hormone. This causes the swelling of the tongue and the face along with some other body parts.

Other Factors

Some other factors such as anxiety and allergies can also result in the wavy tongue. Additionally, people suffering from sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint syndrome also wake up to find wave-like patterns on their tongue. People who have a large tongue genetically also suffer from this condition quite often.

Treatment

There is no actual treatment for the wavy tongue but the treatment of the underlying causes that are responsible for the wavy tongue. The most important step in the treatment is the correct diagnosis of the disease. For this the doctor would run a few tests and ask you about numerous signs and symptoms before coming to a conclusion. The wavy tongue can be treated with the following options:

Medications

Some of the reasons for a wavy tongue such as allergies, hypothyroidism and injury can be treated with the oral medicines or injectable medicines. These should only be prescribed by the doctors and no over the counter medicines should not be trusted.

Therapy

People who have a habit of biting or chewing on their tongues need to go to the therapist in order to get rid of it. Therapy is also a good option for the people who are suffering from anxiety and depression.

Taking in Proper Nutrients

The deficiency of various minerals and vitamins can also cause the wavy tongue; hence, taking proper nutrition from the food is the best way to cure it. Also, keeping the body hydrated is also very important.

Exercising

Exercising is really important for the body to function properly. Hence the people with the anxiety and thyroid issues need to exercise regularly in order to get rid of the disease.

Keeping Good Oral Health

Bad oral health can also cause wavy tongue, hence keeping the teeth and tongue clean can prevent the person from infections. Additionally, habits such as smoking and consuming any kind of tobacco also need to be done.

Keeping the Mind Healthy

Since anxiety is one of the causes of the swelling in the tongue and eventually creating the wavy pattern on the sides. Hence, maintaining a healthy mind by yoga and meditation or other activities is also important.

Apart from these treatments, taking preventive measures is also very important in order to prevent the tongue forming the wavy patterns. Furthermore, do not forget to look keenly for the symptoms that come with the wavy tongue.

Wavy tongue Pictures

How Dangerous is developing a Wavy tongue?

Developing a wavy tongue is not very dangerous and the diseases associated with it are also not deadly. However, these diseases can affect the person in the long run. The diseases like hypothyroidism and various deficiencies take a long time to heal so the treatment needs to be continued. If the symptoms such as persistent swelling, numbness of the tongue or pain continue for more than two days, giving the doctor a visit is really important.

The human body experiences various sensations all throughout the day and tingling is one of them. This sensation can be described by a wave of light prickliness moving up and down in any part of the body. It can be felt in various parts of the body such as arms, legs, fingers and others. Tingling in the right arm is one of the most common things people face. It is not a disease on its own, but an indicator that something is not right. These causes can be big or small including poor blood flow, diabetes, stress or even heart attack. The numbness can be felt in just one part of the arm or the entire arm depending on the severity of the situation.

Symptoms Associated With Tingling In the Right Arm

As already said above, tingling in the right arm is not a disease itself, but it might be a symptom or some or the other kind of underlying disease. Many times tingling in the right arm is the only symptom a people face. However, in most cases, there are some other symptoms that are associated with it. These include:

• Numbness.
• Pain in the right arm.
• Weakness in the right arm causing loss of grip.
• Inability to move the arm.
• Blurred Vision
• Chest Pain
• Pain in the other parts of the body like the legs, left hand and the fingers.

Causes for Right Arm Tingling

There are numerous diseases and conditions that can lead to the tingling in the right arm. These can be identified by the symptoms that come along with tingling. Most of the diseases are not really big and can be treated with some simple medications or exercise; however, some of them need a longer treatment. The causes of the tingling in the right arm in the order of their seriousness are as follows:

Abnormal blood flow

In most cases, the tingling in the right hand is because of the abnormal flow of blood the arm. At times, when a lot of pressure is applied to the arm, during sleeping or some other activity. It blocks the passage of blood and hence leads to numbness and tingling sensation.

Pinching of nerve

Sometimes the nerves in the spinal cord get pinched in between the vertebrae. If the pinched nerve connects to the right arm, it can lead to the tingling sensation accompanied by numbness.

Lack of nutrients

The right-hand tingling sensation is also caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals. The deficiency of the Vitamin B complex including Vitamin B6, B12 and B5 in addition to vitamin D and C results in the right-hand numbness and tingling.

Injury in the right arm

Injury in the right arm, neck, back or shoulders can lead to the tingling sensation in the right hand. This is due to damage to the nerves that connect these areas. The situations such as herniated disk, frostbite and animal bite can be the reason.

Heart attack

The right-hand numbness can also be experienced during a stroke or a heart attack. The numbness is accompanied by pain and an inability to move the hand completely.

Long-term medical conditions

Other long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, angina, and much more can also lead to the tingling sensation in the right arm.

How to Prevent Tingling In the Right Arm?

It is always said, prevention is better than cure. In the case of any disease, the person should start taking preventive measures as soon as the symptoms start appearing. The tingling in the right arm is the early symptom of most of the diseases and is usually caused due to the inability of blood flow in the arm. Hence, here are some preventive measures to avoid the disease and stop the tingling sensation from coming back.

Eating right

Diet is one of the most important factors in preventing any disease. The tingling in the right hand is caused due to the vitamin and mineral deficiencies and eating the proper amount of nutritious food can prevent that. Additionally, obesity is the cause of many conditions that are associated with tingling in the right arm and eating right can prevent that.

Exercising

Exercising is another way to keep the body fit and healthy. Exercises cause the blood in the body to flow and hence prevent any nerve blockage. Additionally exercising also helps fight obesity and excessive weight gain.

Hot and warm compress

If the person is suffering from tingling in the right arm, hot or warm compress is also very effective in treating it completely. Just apply the compress on the required area every hour.

Treatments for Tingling In the Right Arm

If the tingling sensation does not stop in a short period of time, then going to the doctor is the best thing a person can do. The doctor will help him diagnose the underlying conditions. The treatment of the condition and the tingling in the right arm can be done by the following methods:

• Medicines – The person can be prescribed oral medicines or injectable medicines in order counteract the situation. Treatment with the help of medicines is the first step that is most successful in the people suffering from this condition.
• Surgery – If the medicines are not successful then the surgery is done on the part of the body. I many cases the tingling is due to an internal injury or because a blood vessel gets stuck and is unable to transport the blood. So, a small surgery to free the blood vessel is done in the arm. In the case of heart attacks also, surgery is required.
• Therapies – Since most of the tingling in the right arm problems are caused due to the poor blood flow, the physical therapies are the most effective in curing the tingling sensations and numbness in the arms. Therapies include various stretching exercises that helps in curing right hand tingling.

How Serious Is It?

The seriousness of the tingling in the right arm can only be known after determining the causes behind it. The tingling in the right arm is not a very serious issue if it lasts for only a smaller period of time. However, if the condition continues for a longer duration and the person feels some other symptoms along with it, then consulting a doctor is very important.

Nausea is a feeling of uneasiness and abdominal discomfort with an involuntary (arising by itself) urge to vomit. Nausea is usually followed by a vomit but certain conditions have been recognized where a person experiences nausea without vomiting. Nausea is a very common symptom in a lot of diseases and almost everyone experiences nausea at one point in life.

Let’s get an insight into the causes of nausea without vomiting below:

Causes of Nausea without Vomiting

Doctor should be consulted if you experience severe nausea without vomiting to confirm the cause. But, the cause can also be one of these:

Motion sickness

Did you know that we have balance centers in our ears? These balance centers help us maintain a balance while sitting, standing or moving. Sometimes, repeated movements in different directions like riding a car, motorbike, ship or an airplane can cause an imbalance in this normal mechanism. In such situations, patients usually experience nausea. This may or may not be associated with vomiting.

Treatment

Obviously, the first thing that you can do is avoiding traveling if it bothers you. But, this is not practical and everybody needs to travel. So, here are a few practical solutions:

• You can try sitting on a seat that causes less movement while traveling by a public transport. You can ask for a window seat when you are on an airplane or sit in the center of the boat.
• Keep anti-nausea drugs handy and take a pill preferably half an hour before the start of the journey.

Morning sickness

The good news of welcoming a new member to your family brings this problem to some women in the first trimester. Morning sickness is common among pregnant women. It causes nausea in 70-90% females which is associated with vomiting in only 20-30%. The name suggests that this uneasiness occurs only in the morning but that is not true. In fact, nausea which is mostly without vomiting occurs at any time of the day.

Treatment

There are a number of home remedies for this problem. A few of them are:

• Sipping ginger ale
• Frequent snacking throughout the day
• Having Tulsi water, etc.

If this problem is severe and is associated with vomiting, then it can lead to severe dehydration resulting in hospitalization.

Food poisoning

Nausea with or without vomiting is a common symptom experienced after food poisoning. Eating stale food can lead to many types of infections including bacterial, parasitic or viral infections. These may manifest within a few hours after eating the particular food or even after 24-48 hours. So, it is usually very difficult to trace back the culprit food.

Treatment

• To avoid food poisoning, you should eat fresh food and avoid tinned products
• Do not drink from a packed juice bottle if it appears puffed
• Do not eat any packaged food with froth in it.

If you start experiencing nausea after eating a suspicious food item, then report a doctor and get some antibiotics.

Chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreases. It is an important organ of your digestive system that secretes many hormones and digestive enzymes. Chronic pancreatitis can be caused by excessive intake of alcohol. It causes nausea without vomiting. It is associated with abdominal pain and other symptoms. Investigations like MRI scans are done to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Such chronic diseases are handled by doctors with the use of prescription drugs. A dietary modification including consumption of more vegetables and fruits helps. Such patients should avoid intake of alcohol.

Addison’s disease

This condition occurs due to the failure of normal functioning of the adrenal glands. It occurs because of low levels of cortisol. Such conditions can occur when you are stressed but your body does not produce enough cortisol. This hormone is known for maintenance of the normal balance of the body functions including the metabolism of the food. Addisonian crisis leads to an imbalance in this metabolism thus, causing nausea which may not be associated with vomiting.

Treatment

This situation requires management with an injection of hydrocortisone. If you or your family member has a history of an adrenal problem, you can keep a home kit ready. But if the home care kit is not available, the patient has to be rushed to the emergency.

Overeating

Many of us experience this problem after having a lot of food at a party. Overeating leads to nausea which may or may not be followed by vomiting. Excess eating is not healthy for a number of reasons. It can lead to weight loss and even shortness of breath. So, all such tempting situations where you might want to eat more than that is required should be avoided.

Smell or odor of certain foods or things

A normal human reaction to certain smells is nausea which is not associated with vomiting. You must have experienced the feeling of uneasiness and abdominal discomfort while passing beside a garbage dump. These situations can be avoided. For those who are very sensitive to such odors, a mask will work if they ever have to be in such a situation. Most people do have to recycle or dump the domestic garbage away; they can do that while wearing a face mask.

Emotional stress or fear

Anxiety and panic attacks usually cause a sudden uneasiness in the stomach. This feeling is certainly followed by an involuntary urge to vomit. This is called nausea. Sudden shocking news or a fear of something can lead to a chain of symptoms leading to a panic attack. This includes nausea which is without vomiting. Other symptoms include chills, shortness of breath, cold clammy extremities and dizziness.

Treatment

The patient can be reassured. If it does not work, they will require some calming medications. Home remedies for such patients include essential oils like chamomile oil, lemon oil and jasmine oil to be massaged on the head at night time for a good night sleep.

What is Poison Ivy?

Picture of Poison ivy plant

Poison ivy is a wild plant found native in America which has also been introduced to Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. There are two types of poison ivy plant as Western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) and Eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Western poison ivy which grows as a shrub is the commonest type while Eastern poison ivy grows as vine trailing on the ground or on trees. Both types have shiny and smooth leaves arranged in clusters of three.

What is Poison ivy Rash?

The leaves, flowers, stems and roots of this plant have an oily sap which contains an allergenic component known as Urushiol. Either a direct contact to this chemical compound by brushing against a damaged plant part or an indirect contact via urushiol oil contaminated clothing, tools, footwear, pets or inhalation of smoke of burning poison ivy plant can cause an allergic reaction. The chemical causes allergy at the site of contact, thus resulting in contact dermatitis that leads to a skin rash.

Picture of Poison ivy rash

Symptoms

The sap containing urushiol sticks to the skin very soon and causes the allergy. The symptoms may range from mild to severe. The classic symptoms of contact dermatitis due to poison ivy are:

• Severe itchiness
• Redness
• Swelling
• Small and large papules and vesicles
• Bullae (in severe cases).

Usually the symptoms appear within 24 to 72 hours after the initial contact with the allergen urushiol. Often it peaks within a week and disappears in one to three weeks. Usually the contact dermatitis affects the face, neck, legs and genitalia. The appearance of the rash may vary according to the area of the contact. If the affected area is small, the rash may appear as multiple streaks and patches and if it is a larger area it can be more severe. If a person continues to touch other parts of the body with his/her urushiol contaminated hands, the rash can spread to other parts. Anaphylactic reaction can appear very rarely due to extreme allergy.

Airborne contact by inhaling the fume containing urushiol from a burning plant can irritate the lungs, respiratory tract and eyes. Occasionally lung symptoms can be severe.

Causes

The allergic rash due to poison ivy is because of type-4 hypersensitivity, which is also known as delayed hypersensitivity as it takes 24 to 72 hours to show a response. It is a cell mediated response involving antigen presenting cells including B lymphocytes, macrophages and Langerhan cells and Helper T cells (CD4+ cells). This reaction takes place in two phases, as sensitization and effector phase respectively. During the sensitization phase when an antigen enters the body, antigen presenting cell engulfs it and presents the antigen to T helper cells via its surface molecule MHC class II. When the T helper cell binds with the antigen presented by the antigen presenting cell, the antigen presenting cell secretes IL-12 which activates the T cell and sensitizes it.

During the effector phase the sensitized T helper cell secretes IL-2 which promotes proliferation of other surrounding T cells and THF β and IFN ϒ which activate macrophages. The activated macrophages secrete pro inflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 which makes the endothelial barriers leaky which results in increased inflow of immune cells to the area which results in redness, edema and warmth. They also secrete lysosomal enzymes, complement components and reactive oxygen species in to the area, thereby causing more damage to the tissues and resulting in the rash.

In the case of poison ivy rash, when the urushiol molecules (antigens) penetrate the epidermis and enter the dermis of the skin, they are picked by Langerhan cells (which is the antigen presenting cell in the skin). These Langerhan cells present the antigen to the T helper cells via MHC class II molecule which is present on its surface and produce IL-12 to sensitize and activate the T helper cells. The activated T helper cells activate macrophages which in turn release more pro inflammatory products which cause inflammation at the site and result in contact dermatitis (poison ivy rash).

Treatment

First of all, upon skin contamination with poison ivy, the contaminated cloth or footwear should be removed and the exposed skin should be cleaned thoroughly with lukewarm water for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Soap or detergent can be used as degreasing agents. Rubbing sanitizers containing alcohol can be used to clean the skin if water is not available. As the urushiol oil gets easily absorbed into the skin, washing the skin as soon as the contamination occurs is important to reduce the effect of the allergen and to reduce the severity of the dermatitis. In addition any clothes or footwear or tools or pets which are contaminated by the plant sap which contains urushiol should be cleaned properly before using them again as the urushiol can remain active on the surfaces for a long period of time and can cause allergy when it is being used for the next time. Eyes should be washed thoroughly using room temperature water or 0.9% normal saline for about fifteen minutes in case of exposure to the eyes.

Usually the dermatitis is self resolving. Within two or three weeks the rash will improve on its own without any complications. So self care will be adequate most of the time. Keeping the affected part of the skin clean, dry and cool are the basic principles of self care. Scratching should be avoided even though the rash is itchy as it may lead to secondary complications. The treatment method depends on the severity and extent of involvement of the rash. Topical measures will suffice for mild to moderate severity and systemic measures are needed if the severity is more.

Some of the common home remedies are as follows:

• A cool compressor using water or diluted aluminum acetate solution can be applied to the skin to cool it.
• A topical steroid can be used for the itching. If the itching doesn’t respond to that, oral anti-histamines such as diphenhydramine can be used. Topical anti-histamines and anesthetics should be avoided.
• Calamine lotion can be used to soothe the affected skin because of its cooling property and it promotes drying of the lesions because of its drying effect.
• Frequent baths using water with colloidal oatmeal or baking soda can be used for its cooling property.

But medical advice should be sought in following instances when:

• The rash doesn’t improve with any home remedies
• The rash keeps on spreading to other body parts
• The rash involving the genitals or the face
• The rash with symptoms of infections
• The area of rash starting to swell
• If the rash covers a large area of the skin
• Continuation of irritation of eyes with pain, lacrimation, swelling even after washing for fifteen minutes.
• Any signs of respiratory tract irritation (difficulty in breathing, continuous cough etc.)

A doctor will take a detailed history and carry on a skin examination to come to a diagnosis. Usually, no blood investigations or imaging will be needed for the diagnosis.

A doctor may prescribe a short course of steroids if the itchiness and rash didn’t respond to anti-histamines. Antibiotics might be prescribed to prevent the complications such as secondary bacterial infections, erythema multiforme and urticaria.

Emergency medical care should be taken in case of an anaphylactic reaction which includes breathing difficulty, swallowing difficulty and facial edema (swelling of lips and around the eyes).
Learning to recognize the plant and avoiding them, and using protective clothing (long sleeved shirts, trousers, gloves) and appropriate footwear, applying ivy blocking creams to skin are some of the preventive measures.

Poison Ivy Rash Pictures

Take a look at these pictures of poison ivy rash to find out how it looks like…

Is Poison ivy rash Contagious?

Although 85% of the population is sensitive to poison ivy, the rash is not contagious from a person to another person. But it can spread from one body part to another as long as the contamination of urushiol remains on the skin.