I am 59 years old. I noticed a wart growth almost at the entrance of my vagina. It has been there for more than five months. Recently I applied garlic overnight to the site and after two days it was gone. I am still worried. Do you think the wart is a sign of some disease? What do you recommend that I do to avoid a reoccurence?

Why does my scalp itch so badly? I noticed my face has gotten very dry as well. I’m using Obagi on it. I’m 50 years old and taking Estratest Low Dose. I am 5’4", 132 pounds and eat really healthy. I have thick, course dark brown hair that I get colored. And I use Keratin Straightener the one with just Keratin.

But my scalp has been doing this for some time. I want to think it’s not neurological. My mother was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease when she was 40 years old.

After working in my garden for a few hours, I am experiencing pain in my lower back. I do not take any prescribed drugs, but should I ask my doctor for a muscle relaxer?

I do lie down and put my feet flat on the floor, which helps ease the pain. After several days of rest, I start to feel better, but I do need to work in my garden again.

My 75-year-old mother sweats a lot, especially under her hair (her forehead is always dripping). She is post-menopausal.

I used to sweat profusely from under my hair; I had to wear a bandana everyday to keep the sweat out of my eyes. My dermatologist prescribed oxybutnin for me and it has been a God-send. Who should my mother see? Is this hormonal or some other issue?

I noticed a rash on my temple about a week ago and my eye was hurting pretty bad. I didn’t think much about it, but a few days later it wasn’t getting any better and the pain was still there so I went to my doctor who diagnosed me with shingles.

My doctor put me on a antiviral medication and said she hoped it wouldn’t spread, but it did spread to my forehead and in my hair. It’s very painful especially, the headaches. I saw my physician after one week, and she couldn’t believe the shingles spread so much. She put me on three more days of antiviral medications. She was very encouraging to me and said that I had done really well under the circumstances. I still feel awful and the sores are still there, so my questions are: (I forgot to ask my doctor this) how long will these sores stay on my face, will I have scaring and when will I feel like my old self again? I feel weak and the headaches come and go, even though I’m taking naproxen. Thank you.

I’ve just been perscribed HRT therapy: estradiol (vivelle-dot) 0.1mg and progesterone micronized 200 mg. But I have not started it, yet.

I also take 50,000 vitamin D weekly, which I started about 6 months ago.

What health risks are associated with the HRT outlined above? Will I gain weight from this HRT? Will my body composition change as a result of the HRT? How will my hair and skin change?

Andrea Sikon, MD, FACP, is the Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and started the Primary Care Women’s Health Program for the Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic where she also started the enterprise’s Staff Mentorship Program. She is a National Certified Menopause Practitioner and Certified Densitometrist, practicing in both Internal Medicine and the Center for Specialized Women’s Health with clinical interests in Women's Health, osteoporosis, menopause, diabetes and…

Tommaso Falcone, M.D., FRCS(C), FACOG, is Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. He is presently Chief of Staff, Chief Academic Officer, Medical Director. Cleveland Clinic London. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in general obstetrics and gynecology, as well as Reproductive Endocrinology. He is also certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Royal College…

Abby G. Abelson, MD, is interim chair of the Department of Rheumatology at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the rheumatology program director, chair of Workforce and Training at the American College of Rheumatology, and a course director of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Born in Cleveland, Dr. Abelson earned her degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency in Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland,…

Allison Vidimos, MD is a physician in the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Dermatology as well as a Mohs surgeon.She was appointed dermatology chairwoman at Cleveland Clinic in 2005 and retired from that position in 2024. She has encouraged volunteer efforts for the members of her department and this has resulted in many free skin cancer and hair loss screenings in the Cleveland community since 1991.An adoring mother, she and her husband, a Cleveland Clinic staff neuroradiologist, have two…

It is common to have questions about what to expect during your menopause experience. View the questions below to learn more about common concerns, or print out these questions and answers to discuss with your doctor. Can Menopause Cause a Woman's Voice to Change? The majority of women do not experience a voice change during menopause. Rarely, some women may lose the upper register of voice. What Can I Do About the Facial Hair I’ve Developed as a Result of Menopause? Although many women do…

Please visit the listing below for answers and support concerning your breast cancer needs. *Note: This is not a complete listing and inclusion does not imply endorsement by Cleveland Clinic. Remember to always follow the advice of your doctor and healthcare team. Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors Project Breast Cancer Connections Breast Cancer Resource Locations Breast Net Westmead Breast Cancer Institute P.O. Box 143 West Mead, NSW, 2145 Australia Cleveland Clinic…

Dermatologists, or skin care doctors, have expertise in the care of normal skin, as well as in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of skin diseases, including skin cancers. Dermatologists can also diagnose and treat patients with disorders affecting the hair and nails. In addition, dermatologists are knowledgeable in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin (such as hair loss and scars). What Do Dermatologists Do? Dermatologists often perform specialized diagnostic…

Q: My grandson went through two operations as a baby for a congenital heart problem. He is now 15 and having palpitations. Should we be concerned? A: Your grandson has reached the age when heart rhythm abnormalities begin to appear in young people who had congenital heart surgery as infants. He should be seen by a congenital heart specialist because "arrhythmias" can be dangerous. Congenital heart disease – abnormal formation of the heart or major blood vessels – interferes with the…

Are you trying to manage your arthritis symptoms better? Or, do you want more information about the disorder? Visit the listing below to learn more about arthritis. By M. Elaine Husni, M.D., M.P.H., Vice Chair, Cleveland Clinic Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Treatment Center, Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute. Myth: All joint pain is arthritis. Fact: Other conditions, such as tendonitis, bursitis or other soft-tissue injuries also cause joint pain. Evaluation by a rheumatologist will…

Menopause is the beginning of a woman's second adulthood. Freed from childbearing and child rearing responsibilities, this should be a great time in a woman's life. It is a normal part of the female life cycle, but just like other normal events like menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation there may be issues that need medical assessment and intervention. For many women, menopause is a time to reinvent themselves and seek new opportunities and creative outlets. Many women, like Margaret Mead,…

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments. Proper posture: Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis. Decreases the stress on the…

Bathing Necessities Give your baby a sponge bath every one to two days until the umbilical cord falls off. Choose a place that is safe, warm and free from drafts. Before starting, make sure you have the following supplies at hand: Baby shampoo Clean clothes Cotton balls Diaper Mild soap Soft washcloths Two towels Always hold or support your baby while bathing. Have your fingers under your baby’s armpit, with your thumb around your baby’s shoulder. Your other hand should…

When appropriately applied, stress management training can reduce the degree and intensity of your current stress reactions and help you develop skills for preventing additional, harmful stress reactions. Concepts of stress management training Stress reactions take five general forms: Subjective experience of distress, as in feeling tense, anxious, worried, harassed Physical symptoms in response to stress, such as raised blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomach Responding to…

Q. My mother-in-law has fallen several times in her home, and we’d like to make her home safer. What are some ways we can make her home more "fall-proof?" A. If your mother-in-law is living alone, then you and she may wish to speak your local office of the aging, or a social worker, to determine if she needs more assistance to live more safely at home for as long as possible. A home evaluation can also be conducted to determine what special needs your mother-in-law may have. Some communities…