Maybe you worshipped the sun in your youth or weren’t as meticulous as you should have been with sunscreen. If so, take heart: Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio are finding that certain plant substances, when given in combinations, may suppress damage that can cause skin cancer.
The substances, which occur naturally in grapes, berries, walnuts and a number of other plant-based foods, were tested on mice that had been genetically manipulated to be sensitive to skin cancer initiation and promotion/progression. Given in combination, even at …

Researchers, in a new study, found that common painkillers that have been linked to risks of heart attack may also increase the risk of stroke.
Nearly 38,000 Taiwanese adults who suffered a stroke over one year, researchers found the use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the month prior to the stroke may have elevated that risk.
Results of the study were reported in the medical journal Stroke. Researchers said the increases linked to individual NSAID use were generally modest, and the findings do not prove that the medications themselves led …

With birth control as with other areas of health and medicine, research is ongoing to develop newer and better options. Here are some of the latest advances.
Birth control patch: The birth control patch is a convenient alternative to the birth control pill. It is applied directly to the skin and is changed once or twice per week; it delivers the two hormones that are in regular birth control pills through the skin.
Contraceptive rings: Contraceptive rings are made of flexible plastic materials. They are inserted into the top of the vagina …

New research suggests that acne antibiotics prescribed to help control breakouts may lead to inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. David Margolis, a dermatologist and lead author of a study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, said in an interview with Reuters Health that bowel disorders linked to acne treatment are “a rare outcome.”
However, previous studies suggest that the acne drug isotretinoin might be the cause of inflammatory bowel disease in a small number of patients being treated for severe acne.
Margolis and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania wanted to know if antibiotics …

Swiss scientists suggested Wednesday that psychedelic drugs like LSD, ketamine and magic mushrooms could be combined with psychotherapy to treat people suffering from depression, compulsive disorders or chronic pain.
Research into the effects of psychedelics has been restricted because of the negative connotations of drugs, but the scientists said more studies into their clinical potential were now justified.
The scientists reported that recent brain imaging studies show that psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine and psilocybin act on the brain in ways that could help reduce symptoms of various psychiatric disorders.
The …