Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Avoid further contamination. Use conventional medications. Try homeopathic treatments.

Answer: This common infection affects the skin of your toes and soles. Because feet come into contact with floors used by many people (at home or in a sports facility), the infection can be spread easily and quickly. Don't share shoes or towels with anyone. Avoid walking barefoot in locker rooms, public swimming pools, communal showers, or gyms. Wear flip-flops or shower shoes when showering until the infection is cured. Keep your laundry separate so items like socks and bedsheets don't contaminate other laundry. Keep surfaces of home bathing facilities clean. Put on clean, dry socks every day or more often if necessary (such as after playing sports). For mild cases, an over-the-counter medication can be an effective treatment. For more severe cases, prescription medications may be necessary. Apply antifungal ointment, spray, powder, or cream. Take an over-the-counter medication. Examples include butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra), clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF), miconazole (Desenex, Zeasorb, others), terbinafine (Lamisil AT), and tolnaftate (Tinactin, Ting, others). For severe cases, get a prescription medication. Topical medications include clotrimazole and miconazole; oral medications include itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan) and terbinafine (Lamisil). Note that these oral medications can interfere with other medications such as antacid therapies and some anticoagulants. Several non-conventional treatments are thought to be effective for fighting skin and nail fungal infections. Use tea tree oil, applied in a light coating to the affected areas two to three times a dayuse products that are 100% tea tree oil. Apply grapefruit seed extract, which is thought to have antifungal properties when used in full strengthfind this product at stores specializing in natural food and bath products. Expose your infected foot to sunlight and fresh airwear open shoes such as sandals and keep your feet dry and clean. Treat with garlic, which contains antifungal compounds shown to be effective against a number of fungal infections including athlete's foot. Finely crush several garlic cloves, add them to a foot bath, and soak your foot for 30 minutes. Alternatively, mix freshly-minced garlic with olive oil and rub it on the affected area with a cotton ball.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Clean the rash area. Apply a drying powder. Lubricate your skin. Add an essential oil to lubricant. Test the mixture on your skin. Take an oat bath.

Answer: Since the area will be sensitive and could be sweaty, it's important to wash the area with a mild, unscented soap. Wash and rinse using warm or cool water, making sure to completely rinse off the soap. Extra residual soap could irritate your skin even more. Consider using a plant-based oil soap. Look for a soap made from a vegetable oil (like olive, palm, or soy), vegetable glycerin, or plant butters (like coconut or shea). Be sure to bathe immediately after sweating a lot. This prevents moisture from becoming trapped in the rash area. Once your skin is clean and dried, you can lightly apply a powder to prevent moisture from accumulating between your skin. Choose an unscented baby powder, but check to see if it contains talcum powder (which you should only use in small amounts). If the baby powder you use contains talcum powder, use it sparingly. Some studies have linked talc to an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women. Avoid applying cornstarch since bacteria and fungi can actually feed off of it, causing skin infection. Keep your legs moisturized so they don't chafe against each other. Use a natural lubricant like almond oil, castor oil, lanolin, or calendula oil. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before you apply the lubricant. Consider placing clean gauze over the rash to protect the skin. Apply lubricant at least twice a day or more often if you notice the rash is still rubbing on your clothing or skin. While lubricating your skin is important, you can also apply herbal essential oils that have healing properties. You can also add medicinal honey for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. To use the herbs, add 1 to 2 drops of any of the following oils to 4 tablespoons of your lubricant: Calendula oil: the oil from this flower can heal skin wounds and acts as an anti-inflammatory. St John's wort: is usually used to treat depression and anxiety, but it is traditionally used to heal skin irritation. Children or women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn't use St John's wort. Arnica oil: More studies are needed to understand the healing properties of this herbal oil that's made from flowerheads. Children or women who are pregnant or nursing shouldn't use arnica oil. Yarrow oil: this essential oil from the yarrow plant has anti-inflammatory properties and supports healing. Neem oil: has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. It's also been used with success in children with burns. Since your skin is already sensitive, you should determine if the herbal oil mixture will cause an allergic reaction. Dip a cotton ball in your mixture and dab a small amount on the inside of your elbow. Place a bandage over it and wait 10 to 15 minutes. If you don't notice a reaction (like a rash, stinging, or itching), you can safely use the mixture throughout the day. Try to apply it at least 3 or 4 times to ensure that the rash is always being treated. These herbal mixtures should not be used in children under 5 years old. Pour 1 to 2 cups of rolled, steel cut oats into a nylon knee-high stocking. Knot the stocking so that no oats can spill out and tie it to the bathtub's tap. Run lukewarm water so that the water runs through the oats as it fills the tub. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes and pat your skin dry. Do this once a day. A soothing bath is especially helpful if the area of chafing is large.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Understand why stitches are used. Consider the depth of the wound. Evaluate the width of the wound. Look at the location of the wound. Ask your doctor about getting a tetanus shot.

Answer:
Stitches have a multitude of uses. The most common reasons to get stitches are: To close a wound that is too big to be closed otherwise. Using stitches to bring the edges of the wound together can help to speed up healing. To prevent infection. If you have a large, gaping wound, closing it with stitches can help to minimize the risk of infection (as skin that is broken open, especially large, gaping wounds, are a prime target for an infection to enter the body). To prevent or reduce scarring after your wound heals. This is especially important when the cut is on areas of the body that are more cosmetically important, such as the face. If it is greater than 1/4 inch deep, the wound may be eligible for stitching. If it's deep enough that you can see yellow fatty tissue, or even bone, you should definitely see a doctor for treatment. Are the edges of the wound close together, or do they need to be pulled together to cover the exposed tissue? If the edges of the wound need to be pulled together to cover a gap of exposed tissue, this is an indication that stitches may be required. By pulling the edges of the wound close enough to where they can touch, stitches can help to speed healing. If the open wound is located on a specific area of the body where there is a lot of movement involved, it will most likely need stitching to prevent re-opening of the wound caused by movement and stretching of the skin. For example, an open wound on the knee joint or fingers (especially where joints connect) would be eligible for stitches whereas an open wound on the thigh would not really need stitching. Tetanus shots last no longer than 10 years and then you'll have to be re-vaccinated. If you have an open wound and it's been longer than 10 years since you've had a tetanus shot, go to the hospital. While you are at the hospital, you can have the doctor evaluate the cut also to see if it will need stitching.