Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you can do to help ease the pain. Check if it's a cold sore A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next 48 hours: Small fluid-filled blisters appear. The blisters […]

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus. It used to be known as "the clap". How gonorrhoea is spread The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are mainly found in discharge from the penis and in vaginal fluid. Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through: unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex […]

Motion sickness is feeling sick when travelling by car, boat, plane or train. You can do things to prevent it or relieve the symptoms. How to ease motion sickness yourself Do minimise motion – sit in the front of a car or in the middle of a boat look straight ahead at a fixed point, […]

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that's hot or painful to touch. Symptoms of acne Acne most commonly develops on the: face – this affects almost everyone with acne back – this affects more than half of people with acne chest – this […]

Constipation is common and it affects people of all ages. You can usually treat it at home with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. Check if it's constipation It's likely to be constipation if: you or your child have not had a poo at least 3 times in a week the poo is often […]

Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected. Most adults in the UK have gum disease to some degree, and most people experience it at least once. It's much less common in children. If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. This early stage […]

Mouth ulcers are common and should clear up on their own within a week or 2. They're rarely a sign of anything serious, but may be uncomfortable to live with. How you can treat mouth ulcers yourself Mouth ulcers need time to heal and there's no quick fix. Avoiding things that irritate your mouth ulcer […]

An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular food or substance. Allergies are very common. They're thought to affect more than 1 in 4 people in the UK at some point in their lives. They're particularly common in children. Some allergies go away as a child gets older, although many are lifelong. Adults can […]

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks. How you can treat a cough yourself There's usually no need to see a GP. You should: rest drink plenty of fluids You could also try: hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old) a herbal medicine […]

Losing your hair isn't usually anything to be worried about, but it can be upsetting. Treatment may help with some types of hair loss. Causes of hair loss It's normal to lose hair. We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, often without noticing. Hair loss isn't usually anything to be worried about, […]