WARTS Microbe vs. Microbe: Candida Can Do It Most warts are harmless viral eruptions that disappear within two years. But since many people hate to see brown cauliflower sprouting from their skin, doctors often burn or freeze the growths away. Unfortunately, these treatments cause pain and scarring, and the warts often return. A new report in the Archives of Dermatology suggests another approach. Researchers led by Dr. Terry Ruhl of Altoona, Pa., followed 149 people whose warts were injected up to three times with dead candida, the fungus that causes yeast infections. The candida triggers an immune response that seems to destroy warts for good, leaving no scars. No wonder 76 percent of the patients were “very happy” with the results.
SMOKING A Web Site That Will Get You Off Your Butts Some people say quitting cigarettes is harder than kicking heroin. A new Web site, , could help put the junkies back on top. This interactive site helps you define your goals (one pack a week? not a puff?) based on your reasons for wanting to quit (can’t smoke at work? want to climb a mountain?). That done, you choose a withdrawal method that suits you, from drugs (for those who fear the distress of withdrawal) to going cold turkey (for the highly motivated). The site charts your progress and offers suggestions, based on your daily reports. Sure, you can light up while you’re online filling out the questionnaires. But will you want to? As the site says, the very fact that you’re considering this plan suggests you’re ready to take control of your health.
SKIN CANCER Pigment in a Tube Melanin, the natural pigment that protects our skin from the sun’s damaging rays, is now available at the cosmetics counter. Dermablend’s Reflection cosmetics contain a synthetic melanin, called Melasyn, that not only conceals scars and other blemishes but may help guard against skin cancer. First synthesized from the aloe vera plant by John Pawelek, a Yale skin-cancer researcher, Melasyn reflects a person’s natural skin color to create an even tone. Pollack says that Melasyn, like real melanin, also blocks UV rays and is a powerful antioxidant. No one has proved that it wards off tumors, but it does look nice.
