We know we need vitamin D: It contributes to healthy muscles and bones and also plays a role in our mental well-being. In fact, new research from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) at Trinity associates vitamin D deficiency with a substantially increased risk of depression—more than 75 percent—over … Read More
A relatively easy procedure, blue light therapy has successfully treated multiple conditions, including cancer, actinic keratosis (a type of superficial skin cancer), and acne. More commonly known as photodynamic therapy (PDT), blue light therapy works often as well as surgery or radiation therapy. Plus, it doesn’t cause awful side-effects. What … Read More
There may be a scientific reason why some people are night owls: delayed sleep phase syndrome. It’s a sleep disorder in which your body’s clock tells you to fall asleep a few hours later than most people hit the sack. The problem is that this delayed bedtime makes it difficult … Read More
Winter can be a depressing time, especially if you live in a cold northern climate. It’s easy to feel sad when the long, dark days and frigid temperatures keep you cooped up inside. Just about everyone has had the "winter blues" at one time or another. Yet in some people, … Read More
Our skin is our body’s largest and fastest-growing organ—it protects us from harmful bacteria, keeps us warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot, and allows us to feel the outside world through the nerves that exist beneath it. But sometimes our immune system, which is also meant to … Read More
Eczema is common and complicated. It’s not one condition; it’s at least seven. In one form or another, eczema affects more than 30 percent of the U.S. population. Up to 18 million Americans have symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common type of eczema. Ninety percent of those who … Read More
You may have heard the term scleroderma but what does it mean? The first half of the word has roots in the Greek word "skleros," or "hard." The second half of the word, "-derma," means "skin." According to the American College of Rheumatology, “Scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis) is an autoimmune … Read More
Just when you thought you left them behind in your turbulent teen years, one pops up on your forehead seemingly out of the blue: pimples. And if you’re one of many who’ve experienced adult acne, you know the feeling. According to the International Dermal Institute, between 40 and 55 percent … Read More
Depression—a mood disorder that affects an estimated one in 10 Americans at some point in their lives—is a complex mental health condition that comes in a variety of forms, each with distinct characteristics. Whether mild or severe, depression in anyone should be addressed. “The concept of ‘depression’ is actually a … Read More
You’ll often hear about postpartum depression, but did you know that many women also experience depression while pregnant? In fact, depression during the pregnancy (called antenatal depression) is actually more prevalent than postpartum depression.[1] Unfortunately, antenatal depression doesn’t get the attention it deserves and, as a consequence, many women aren’t … Read More
