I tend to have what I would call medium (hardness) nails. They tend to grow at a great length but at times you can actually peal off a couple layers at a time. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop the peeling?

(HealthDay News) -- Many an advertiser touts products that purport to keep your skin looking young.

But as AARP says of products that can cost more than $100 for a small tube: "Even if the ingredients aren't harmful, at often exorbitant prices they could remove more cash from your wallet than wrinkles from your skin."

AARP offers these less expensive and probably safer alternatives:

* Moisturizers can help keep the skin from drying out, and may temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- People with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer face twice the risk of developing other malignancies, a new study finds.

Every year in the United States, about 1 million people are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Developing these tumors is known to increase the risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. But the link between skin cancer and cancers at other body sites is just beginning to be explored.

One of my close girlfriends had a bad case of hives last summer (had to be on antibiotics, steroids, and I forgot what else). She was under a lot of stress finshing up her law degree and studying for the bar exam.

Now, a year later, she's passed the bar, has a job, and consequently, has less stress in her life (or, at least a different type!)... and her hives have returned! She is extremely frustrated, and is wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Also, she's wondering if the hives were never really caused by "excess stress" in the first place?

thanks!

TUESDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- People with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer face twice the risk of developing other malignancies, a new study finds.

Every year in the United States, about 1 million people are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Developing these tumors is known to increase the risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. But the link between skin cancer and cancers at other body sites is just beginning to be explored.

One of the down sides of living in the Southwest is the exposure to some rather bad bugs that can cause more than annoyances. I came across a very informative bad bug slideshow on medicine.net that helps identify pesky creatures and what their bites look like.

A number of these pesky creatures are found outside the Southwest, as well.

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Psoriasis can be a maddening disease.

Patches of thick, inflamed skin covered with silvery scales form here and there on the patient's body, often on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. They usually itch or feel sore, and the more of the patches there are, generally, the worse the person suffers.

(HealthDay News) -- Women should be cautious about exposure to any chemicals during pregnancy, even to hair dyes and treatments.

Here are guidelines for pregnant women about the use of these products, courtesy of the American Pregnancy Association:

* Try to avoid treatments that straighten, bleach, perm or color hair until the second trimester.
* Make sure that any treatment is applied in a well-ventilated area.
* Don't leave hair chemicals in longer than necessary.
* Make sure your hair and scalp are thoroughly rinsed with water after the treatment.

yes hair is absolulty a science......which is why i only utilize sulfate free and ph balanced hair and skin care and environmentally safe ammonia free color line ... our ph is 4.5 to 5.5 ..water is acidic and when washing it opens up the cuticle and this is when the products truly make the difference and this is why the proper shampoos and conditioners are of vital improtance... email me personally for more info...

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have identified an "odor profile" for skin cancer, with an eye toward developing a fast, simple and noninvasive test to diagnose the most common form of skin cancer in the United States.

"We found that the odor profile coming from the skin of skin cancer patients was markedly different than that coming from healthy skin," noted study author Michelle Gallagher, who conducted her research while a postdoctoral fellow at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.