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Unmasking Eczema: The Hidden Struggles

United States: When Oscar Brann envisioned the twilight of his career, it wasn’t with doctors’ appointments or fighting off incessant discomfort. Instead, he dreamt of tranquil mornings spent by a stream, casting a line with his grandson, or tending to his beloved garden in Skowhegan, Maine.

However, this serene image was shattered when persistent, fiery red rashes began spreading across his skin, disrupting his mobility and his peace of mind. The searing pain eventually forced Brann, a 62-year-old retiree from the shoe manufacturing industry, into early retirement. The once simple act of gardening became an unthinkable challenge, and his hours were now spent in search of elusive relief, according to nytimes.com.

“I never thought I’d be sweeping skin off my floors,” Brann lamented, reflecting on the exasperating ordeal. His condition, one that millions share across the nation, is eczema—a catch-all term encompassing a variety of skin disorders, most notably atopic dermatitis. Affecting nearly 10 percent of the US population, it is a chronic condition that leaves many yearning for solace.

A Childhood Curse, Lingering in Adulthood

Atopic dermatitis, a disease that often sets its roots in the tender years of childhood can either be an ephemeral phase for some or a lifelong affliction for others. While a lucky few see their symptoms wane with age, many, like Brann, continue to battle its fiery grip well into adulthood.

Though, for some, it manifests as occasional mild irritation, the severity of atopic dermatitis can be life-altering. Dr. Brittany Craiglow, an adjunct associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, emphasizes that for those whose symptoms are more intense, the condition transcends mere nuisance. “It’s not just skin deep—it can drastically reshape one’s quality of life,” she explained, as per nytimes.com.

Many Faces of Eczema

Unmasking Eczema: The Hidden Struggles. Credit | Sharecare

What might be seen on one person as an eruption of brown, purple, or grayish patches on another may appear in hues of pink or red. Despite the visual variations, the constant thread is the unbearable itch and the dry, rough skin that accompanies it. In more severe cases, these irritated areas may ooze or thicken, developing a scaly texture that betrays the body’s fragile defenses.

These troublesome patches most frequently settle on areas like the elbows’ inner creases, behind the knees, or around the hands, neck, and feet. Yet, as Dr JiaDe Yu, head of the Atopic Dermatitis Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes, the condition isn’t merely skin-deep. Its invisible impacts are profound—disrupted sleep, reduced focus, and even heightened risk for anxiety and depression, according to nytimes.com.

Complicated Web of Causes

Despite years of research, the root causes of atopic dermatitis remain elusive. Experts have, however, pinpointed a constellation of contributing factors. At the heart of the disorder lies a compromised skin barrier—the body’s outermost defense.

Imagine the skin as a brick wall, suggests Dr Yu. Skin cells form the bricks, and fatty substances act as mortar, holding them together. But for those with atopic dermatitis, this mortar weakens. The “leaky” wall fails, allowing moisture to escape and irritants to infiltrate, leading to the itching and inflammation that characterize the condition. Dr Shari Lipner of Weill Cornell Medical Center likens it to having “tiny holes” in this defensive structure.

Genetics also play a role, as the condition often runs in families. Individuals with a genetic predisposition might lack filaggrin, a protein crucial to maintaining the skin’s barrier, according to Dr Yu. Beyond genetics, the immune response also contributes. Those affected tend to have an immune system on high alert, overreacting to harmless elements such as fragrances or preservatives in everyday products. This overreaction leads to an excess of cytokines—proteins that spark inflammation.

Unmasking Eczema: The Hidden Struggles. Credit | Nationaleczema

Another key element is the skin microbiome. Those with atopic dermatitis often exhibit a less diverse bacterial ecosystem on their skin, an imbalance that can intensify symptoms, as per nytimes.com.

Strategies for Managing the Unmanageable

While a cure remains out of reach, managing atopic dermatitis is possible with the right strategies.

Moisturization stands as the frontline defense. By keeping the skin hydrated, one can shore up the damaged barrier. Thick ointments and creams, particularly those rich in petroleum jelly, prove more effective than thinner lotions. Look for products containing ceramides, glycerin, and dimethicone, but steer clear of plant extracts like chamomile, warned Dr Craiglow.

Hot showers may offer brief comfort but ultimately worsen the condition by stripping the skin of its natural moisture. Limit showers to 10 minutes, use lukewarm water, and always moisturize while the skin remains damp to lock in hydration.

For flare-ups, over-the-counter options like 1 percent hydrocortisone cream can offer temporary relief. Yet, if symptoms persist beyond a week, it’s essential to consult a dermatologist, according to the reports by nytimes.com.

In more severe cases, dermatologists may turn to stronger solutions, including potent topical treatments, oral medications, injectables, or phototherapy. While not every treatment works universally, advancements in eczema care have grown leaps and bounds since the early days of therapeutic intervention. As Dr Yu asserted, “The journey has been long, but the progress has been remarkable.”

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Every U.S. Rice Sample Tested Shows Arsenic, Cadmium, or Lead

Be smart about the rice you consume and how you prepare it to reduce your loved ones’ intake of potentially dangerous heavy metals.

United States: A new study by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures has uncovered that many rice brands sold in U.S. supermarkets—especially in cities like New York and Miami—contain measurable and potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals. Every single rice sample tested had detectable arsenic, with one-quarter exceeding FDA limits set for infant rice cereal, as reported by HealthDay.

Infant Rules Don’t Apply to All

Although the FDA implemented a maximum arsenic level for infant rice cereal in 2021, no such rule exists for regular rice consumed by millions—including toddlers and young children. Researchers stress this loophole as a public health concern.

Major Brands, Major Findings

The report tested rice from 145 brands including Trader Joe’s, Ben’s, and Goya. Results showed heavy metal concentrations ranging from 63 to 188 parts per billion (ppb), with some samples reaching as high as 240 ppb. Arsenic was the most commonly found, followed by cadmium.

TOXIC ARSENIC IN RICE INCREASES WITH TEMPERATURE & CO2
Multiple very bad health effects.
Risk already recognized
Danger limit being exceededhttps://t.co/MIa4xewDK0 #rice #climatechange. #globalwarming pic.twitter.com/Q7pTPlqcrm
— Peter D Carter (@PCarterClimate) May 16, 2025

Industry Response: Consumers Deserve Reassurance

The USA Rice Federation acknowledged consumer concerns but insisted current arsenic levels in rice pose no significant public health risk, as reported by HealthDay.

How to Reduce Your Risk

The report offers key tips for safer consumption:

Cook it like pasta: Drown your rice in water (6–10 cups per 1 cup of rice) and let it brew.

Switch it up: Switch to grains such as quinoa, barley, or couscous, since they contain less heavy metals.

Pick safer varieties: Look for white rice from California, sushi rice, Thai jasmine, or Basmati rice from India. Stay away from brown rice, Southern-grown white rice and arborio rice imported from Italy (Suggested Alternative: Skip those three varieties as they may contain higher levels of metals).

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Houston Wastewater Detected Measles Weeks Before Outbreak, Study Finds

Early detection and prevention of measles can be done by monitoring for the virus in wastewater.

United States: Measles virus showed up in Houston’s sewage water several weeks before the big measles outbreak happened in Texas in January, according to a new study.

Early Warning Signs in Wastewater

Wastewater samples taken on Jan. 7 were found to have measles virus DNA in them, which was reported by scientists in the American Journal of Public Health, as reported by HealthDay.

According to the researchers, the City of Houston Health Department found and reported two cases of measles in adults not vaccinated for the disease on January 17th. The survey is based on people living in the same areas where the water treatment plants supplied water.

Measles Resurgence in Texas

In all, 717 people in Texas had measles as of May 13, reported the Texas Department of State Health Services. Two children who have not been vaccinated have died.

#Measles in the #Sewers? #WastewaterSurveillance Offers Early Warning for #Outbreaks. #Houston @BCMTailorLabs @saracregeen @MikeTisza @bcmhouston @TEPHI_Texas @RiceUNews @UTHealthSPH #AJPH https://t.co/RNxDxBIaFV @DiscoverMag pic.twitter.com/xrlAPDCbsY
— From the Labs at Baylor College of Medicine (@BCMFromtheLabs) May 15, 2025

“With lessons learned from the Houston measles detection event, we are now working with our public health partners to gather data on the current measles outbreak in West Texas,” lead researcher Michael Tisza, an assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said in a news release.

“Our program has been monitoring measles in wastewater from those sites as well, hoping the information can help officials get ahead of this virus,” Tisza said.

The sampled Houston treatment plans help more than 218,000 people, according to the researchers.

Researchers found that testing wastewater before an outbreak revealed that these methods can prepare officials for an infectious disease.

Wastewater Testing: A Promising Public Health Tool

“Systematically sequencing the genetic material in wastewater reveals dynamic changes in human viruses circulating in a community,” senior researcher Anthony Maresso, chair of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor, said in a news release.

“Importantly, analyzing these viral changes in wastewater can improve our understanding of outbreaks and transmission and inform public health preparedness, just as one uses meteorological data to better understand and predict weather patterns to anticipate potentially dangerous conditions,” Maresso said.

According to the researchers, there had not been any measles viruses found in any of the 821 wastewater samples collected in Houston in the past 31 months.

“Because no other cases have been reported and the detections occurred in the same area where the travelers resided, it is reasonable to assume that the measles signal detected in wastewater is from the two infected cases, which underscores the high sensitivity of the method,” Maresso said.

Vaccination Still the Best Defense

Co-researcher Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, said that “this work underscores the ability of sophisticated wastewater analyses to serve as an early detection system benefitting public health, healthcare, and communities in preventing a measles outbreak in Houston.”

If they haven’t already, Boerwinkle advised individuals to acquire the measles vaccine, as reported by HealthDay.

The best way to stop the contagion of measles is the MMR vaccine, since it has already proven to be both safe and effective.

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Health

Your Smartphone Might Predict How Well You Recover from Injury

With more smartphone data, there will be better ways to predict and guide recovery in orthopedics.

United States: According to a study published on May 9 in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, smartphone data — including step count, walking speed, and gait — can predict how well someone recovers from bone or hip injuries. The findings suggest that mobility patterns before an injury may offer powerful insights into a patient’s post-surgical progress, as reported by HealthDay.

Data That Speaks Volumes

The study, led by Dr. Brian Shear at the University of Maryland Medical Center, followed 107 adults who had previously undergone surgery for a broken leg or hip. Using data from participants’ Apple iPhones, researchers analyzed their pre-injury activity levels — specifically, their steps, speed, and gait — and compared it with their recovery progress.

Patients who were more active before their injury tended to recover faster and return to mobility more easily. “This novel approach has the power to reshape how orthopedic care is delivered,” Dr. Shear explained.

A New Era of Personalized Rehab

The study found that patients with higher daily step counts before their injury had better recovery outcomes. Likewise, those with faster walking speeds and consistent gait patterns pre-injury also healed more effectively — highlighting the predictive value of everyday mobility metrics.

With this knowledge, doctors are able to plan treatments better, detect possible issues in patients’ progress earlier, and give patients more precise timelines for recovery.

Expanding the Technology’s Use

Senior researcher Nathan O’Hara, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, announced plans to broaden the study’s scope to include other areas of orthopedics like sports medicine, joint replacement, and shoulder or foot surgery, as reported by HealthDay.

An app is also under development to support this initiative, with multicenter clinical trials expected to begin later this year.

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