My son is 10 years old and has developed a reddish growth on his lower lip after constant lip biting. It does not hurt but bleeds spontaneously. I am scared. What should I do?

Your son is suffering from pyogenic granuloma that occurs due to abnormal healing response to trauma. It is a result of to excessive collection of blood vessels at the injury site. Normally when there is injury, blood vessels respond with growth to help heal a traumatic site. In this condition, the response is excessive and does not turn off as it should, after the healing processis complete. It has hence formed a growth at the trauma site. Children and young adults commonly suffer from this condition. It does not usually respond to medication but can be easily destroyed by electrocautery or CO2 laser treatment. Consult a dermatologist.

I am 18 years old. I have been working out at the gym and I have developed stretch marks near my biceps and shoulders. Please suggest how to get rid of them. I want to get into modelling, so it is very important for me to have a clean body.

Ron

Stretch marks or striae, as they are called, is a form of scarring that appear as reddish or silvery white linear marks on the skin. They are typically seen on skin over joints or on the sides of the abdomen and thighs. They occur due to rupture of elastic fibres in the skin due to over-stretching. It is either associated with rapid growth as seen in puberty or due to rapid weight gain. Complete disappearance of stretch marks is difficult, however treatments like retinoid creams, deep chemical peels, dermabrasions, mesotherapy and IPL / pulse dye laser can improve the appearance of stretch marks, especially when used early.

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