Kojic acid, a product derived from several species of fungi, is known to limit melanin production -- the substance that gives skin its color. Consequently, kojic acid is a common ingredient in skin lightening or depigmenting products. Kojic acid can cause some side effects, particularly for those with sensitive skin.
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In 2000, the Federal Food and Drug Administration approved a procedure as an alternative to a tonsillectomy, which removes the tonsils entirely. This new technique, called somnoplasty, instead shrinks the tonsils by using tiny needle electrodes, which are inserted into the tonsils.
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Alcoholism can have a significant impact on one's appetite, food choices and eating habits. In some individuals, cravings for unhealthy food increase. For others, alcoholism rids them of their ability to recognize or feel hunger.
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Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that hyperthyroidism most commonly affects women after childbirth or menopause, but hyperthyroidism can affect men as well.
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Onions and bell peppers hold a flavorful presence in many everyday dishes, but they may be a trigger food for heartburn. To directly answer whether or not they cause heartburn, it truly depends on the individual.
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The color of your stool helps you determine the cause of your problem. When your stools are maroon or bright red, it usually means you have a lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract problem, which includes the large bowel and rectum.
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If your baby has hard dry stool or cries when passing a bowel movement, she may be constipated. A baby can go a few days to a week without having a bowel movement and not be constipated if the stools are still coming out soft.
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The process of digestion is carried out through a number of organs in your digestive tract. The first stop is your stomach, which normally propels food into the small intestine to be digested. Sometimes your digestion will slow drastically or stop with food still left, undigested, in your stomach.
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Antibiotics are prescribed for a variety of bacterial infections in every part of the body. Antibiotics are known to produce side effects in the intestines, causing concern that they have lowered the amount of acid in the stomach; however, that is not the problem.
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Knee pain has many different causes, and the recommendations of allowed activities vary with each problem. If the knee pain is related to overuse injury, arthritis, or a mechanical problem, a StairMaster may not be recommended and may irritate the problem further.
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Muscle cramps are the result of low sodium levels in your body, and several factors can influence the development. The type of fluids you consume prior to and during exercise is important, and heat can also affect your body's internal health.
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The trapezius, the large muscle of the back, is responsible for moving the shoulders and neck and supporting the arms. Overuse -- through weightlifting or carrying heavy objects -- may lead to muscle strain or a partial tear of the trapezius muscle, which may be mild -- first-degree -- or moderate -- second-degree.
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When you have trouble feeling areas of your face, it can be scary to know when and if you will get any type of feeling back. Occasional facial numbness is generally not a concern.
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People who sit at a desk to work most of the day often complain of lower back pain from remaining in the same position for extended amounts of time.
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When food or a liquid enters the lungs, it is called aspiration pneumonia. A common cause might come from inhaling stomach acid or vomit or if food, liquid or spit from your mouth accidentally gets into the airway and travels down into the lungs.
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Accurate cholesterol test results are an important factor in determining your risk for heart disease. More than 35 million Americans have cholesterol levels high enough to put them at significant risk for cardiovascular disease.
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Diarrhea, or loose, watery stools, is a problem that sometimes happens during pregnancy; however, Baby Center notes that constipation is usually more of a problem. There are a number of reasons you could have diarrhea.
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In addition to heartburn, acid reflux can cause pressure or tightness in the chest, with pain that can range from dull to excruciating. In some cases, these symptoms may be impossible to distinguish from those of a heart attack or cardiac chest pain, which is why evaluation by a doctor is so important.
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Although a thinning of the hair is a natural part of the aging process, many men experience hair loss prematurely. According to Medical News Today, 50 percent of men suffer from a type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness.
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Having a blood factor of five means that your blood contains a particular hereditary gene that is passed down through your parents. The condition, known as Factor V Leiden, causes your blood to coagulate more frequently and more quickly than normal.
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