Men are obsessed with their beard—at least many of the ones I know. They wash, groom, style it. But recently a discussion on how hygienic are beards has taken the internet by storm. Several articles floating on the the interent post the same question—Do they harbour germs akin to those on a toilet seat? If yes, what should a person do to keep them clean? Or Is shaving them the only solution?

So Are Beards Really As Dirty As A Toilet Seat?

Recently, The Washington Post published an article highlighting that while beards do harbor microorganisms, these are generally not harmful. In fact, a study involving over 400 healthcare workers found that clean-shaven individuals might carry more pathogenic bacteria due to micro-abrasions from shaving.

However, an earlier study, published in the journal Medicine in 2022, involved 80 male healthcare workers—61 bearded and 19 clean-shaven. After analysing both groups, researchers dicovered that bearded participants had a significantly higher facial bacterial load compared to their clean-shaven counterparts. Moreover, among the bacterial isolates, 27.1% were resistant to meropenem, with 77.8% of these resistant strains found in bearded individuals. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

However, cotrasting results came from a small experiement back in 2015, when a reporter for a local news segment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, swabbed a small number of men's beards and had the samples analyzed by a microbiologist. The analysis detected the presence of "enteric bacteria," which are typically found in the human gut and can also be present in fecal matter. This triggers a huge debate online.

Later, health experts clarified that the presence of enteric bacteria on the skin or hair doesn't necessarily indicate poor hygiene or health risks. Such bacteria can be transferred through common activities, like touching one's face after handling various objects or surfaces. Moreover, the human skin naturally hosts a diverse array of microorganisms, many of which are harmless or even beneficial.

So Should You Shave Your Beard?

Science is just beginning to learn about the many species of bacteria that live within our bodies and what purpose they serve. We do know that most bacteria isn’t bad for us—many are beneficial and, in some cases, required for good health.

Here Are Three Steps You Can Follow To Get Better Beard

1. Shampoo and condition your beard a few times a week, like you'd do the hair on your head

2. Give your berd a trim every now and then to keep it healthy and eliinate split ends

3. Develop healthier habits to support a healthier brain. Eat a healthier diet, get plenty of sleep and excercise.

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Walking into a clinic or diagnostic centre is never easy. You carry your worries, discomfort, or questions, hoping the people there will guide you with care. Most medical professionals honour that trust. But when someone crosses a line—when a touch feels sexual, unnecessary, or wrong, the sense of safety disappears instantly. It’s not just awkwardness; it’s a violation in a place where you should feel protected.

A recent case in Bengaluru shows just how real this is. A radiologist at a private diagnostic centre was booked for allegedly sexually harassing a woman during a routine scan. When she spoke up, he reportedly threatened her and used abusive language to intimidate her. She had come for an abdominal scan with her husband, expecting a routine procedure, not harassment.

What stays with you after such an experience is not just the shock, it’s the feeling that your trust has been broken. That moment cannot be taken back. What you can do, however, is make sure the system is held accountable, so no one else has to face the same harm.

This raises an important question. Are there legal protections in India that support patients in such situations? To understand this better, we spoke with Anisha Mathur, Founding Partner at Shepherd Law Associates.

What Does India’s New Criminal Law Say?

India’s updated criminal code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaces the Indian Penal Code, is clear that sexual misconduct is a crime no matter where it occurs. Clinics, nursing homes, physiotherapy rooms, diagnostic centers, and even home-based procedure spaces fall under its scope. If a staff member touches a patient in a way that is not medically necessary, ignores privacy during an intimate examination, makes the patient feel uncomfortable, or reveals sexual intent, the act may be treated as a criminal offence.

According to Anisha Mathur, “Unwanted or unnecessary touch can amount to sexual harassment. Any contact that has sexual intent and is not medically justified may be treated as assault with sexual intent. The context, the nature of the procedure and the patient’s consent are all considered while determining this. A medical setting is not a loophole. A uniform is not immunity. Misconduct is misconduct.”

Actions To Take When A Sexual Misconduct Takes Place In A Medical Setting

Once you recognise that the behaviour is inappropriate, you have every right to act. Anisha Mathur suggests the following steps:

Step 1: Pause the interaction

Say you want the procedure to stop. You may ask for a female attendant or any other staff member to be present.

Step 2: Move to a safer area

Walk to the waiting room or any open space within the facility.

Step 3: Note down details

Record the time, the room, what happened and who was involved. Even small details may matter later.

In a larger hospital or diagnostic chain, go to the administration or patient desk and request that your complaint be put in writing. Many such establishments have an Internal Committee (IC) under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013.

If you are in a smaller clinic, nursing home or any space without a complaint system, call 100 or 112. When the officials arrive, ask them to record your statement. If you can reach a lawyer, it helps, because early legal guidance prevents confusion and intimidation.

Anisha adds, “Authorities may ask whether you want a Medico-Legal Certificate (MLC) examination to document physical signs, which is normal. You can request a trusted friend or family member to be with you. You do not need to know the law in that moment. You only need to protect yourself, the law will support you. If something feels wrong, it is wrong. You are allowed to stop the procedure immediately.”

Legal Actions You Can Take After the Incident

Once the initial shock settles, several routes are available:

• Filing a criminal complaint (FIR)

• Requesting disciplinary action from the medical council

• Filing a civil or consumer case if the establishment failed in its duty

Anisha Mathur stresses that both the individual staff member and the institution can be held responsible. This is often how meaningful change begins.

Can a Patient File a Complaint Anonymously?

In many hospitals and clinics, internal systems allow anonymous complaints. For police cases, your identity is needed for investigation, but Indian law protects your privacy strictly. Your name cannot be disclosed publicly. Any attempt to threaten or silence you becomes a separate offence.

Are Hospitals Expected To Have Safety Measures For Patients?

Every medical facility is expected to follow basic standards that protect patients. According to Anisha, these include:

• Clear consent before intimate examinations

• A female attendant upon request

• Privacy safeguards during procedures

• Staff training on professional boundaries

• A channel for patients to raise concerns

If these were ignored or missing, it strengthens the patient’s case. These protections are not optional. They are part of the provider’s legal duty.

Consequences For Staff Who Violate Boundaries

Sexual misconduct by medical staff is treated as seriously as misconduct in any other setting, sometimes more so because patients are vulnerable and rely on the professional’s judgment. Anisha explains, “Under BNS, the staff member can face criminal prosecution leading to arrest, fines, suspension or dismissal, and loss of professional license. Courts have repeatedly said that misusing power in a caregiving role makes the offence more serious, not less.”

Being in a medical space should never turn into an experience marked by fear. Any form of sexual misconduct during care is a violation of your dignity at a moment when you are already exposed and trusting. What happened cannot be undone.

Anisha Mathur stresses this and says, “Your voice can bring accountability. Your action can protect someone else. Your dignity remains yours, and the law stands with you.”

The year 2025 served as a stark reminder that COVID is no longer the only illness demanding public attention. Over the months, several diseases resurfaced or intensified, some reaching epidemic levels. In many cases, the surge was driven by new variants that altered how these illnesses spread, how severe they became, and how quickly they overwhelmed health systems.

From respiratory infections to vector-borne diseases, 2025 showed how familiar pathogens can return in unfamiliar forms. Mutations made some infections more contagious, while others blurred early symptoms, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Below, we take a look at new variants of diseases that we witnessed in 2025.

Also Read: The “Triangle of Death” on Your Face: Why You Should Never Pop a Pimple There

New Disease Variants That Emerged In 2025

COVID-19 New Variants

In 2025, fresh COVID-19 variants continued to circulate, most of them linked to Omicron sublineages. These strains spread quickly but, for many people, caused symptoms closer to a bad cold, flu, or seasonal allergies. Common symptoms included stomach issues, body pain, exhaustion, and fever.

Health authorities continued to advise testing through RAT or RT-PCR, short-term isolation, and medical care where needed. As with earlier waves, acting early made a clear difference in recovery and containment.

As per World Health Organization, some of the Covid variants that appeared in 2025 include:

XFG Variant

The XFG variant of COVID-19, also known as Stratus, surfaced in early 2025 as a recombinant strain. Recombinant variants form when two different COVID strains infect the same person and merge during mutation, a process that occurs naturally as viruses evolve. XFG drew attention because of how easily it spread and its ability to infect people despite previous infection or vaccination. Classified as a recombinant Omicron subvariant, XFG was detected widely across regions including North America, Europe, and Asia.

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According to WHO-linked data from mid to late 2025:

In the United States, XFG became the leading variant, responsible for around 85 percent of reported cases by the end of September 2025.

In the United Kingdom, XFG and related sublineages accounted for a sizeable share of infections, with reports suggesting nearly 30 percent of cases in July 2025.

In India, where XFG circulated by mid-2025, early clusters were largely reported from Maharashtra, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Gujarat. It later emerged as the dominant strain in states such as Madhya Pradesh.

The nickname “Frankenstein” was informally attached to XFG because it combines genetic material from different Omicron subvariants. Experts from institutions like the Institute Pasteur and the University of Nebraska Medical Center noted that while it spreads rapidly, it has not been linked to more severe disease.

Omicron NB.1.8.1

NB.1.8.1, informally called “Nimbus,” is a distinct Omicron lineage that was first identified in early 2025. The World Health Organization classified it as a “Variant Under Monitoring” after noticing its steady global rise, particularly across parts of Asia and North America. Although it contributed to visible spikes in case numbers, there was no strong evidence that it caused more serious illness. Vaccines continued to offer reliable protection.

By mid-2025, NB.1.8.1 had become one of the faster-spreading Omicron offshoots, driving fresh COVID waves in several countries. Despite its speed, health agencies confirmed that existing vaccines remained effective and that the variant was not linked to increased severity. The WHO officially placed it under monitoring in May 2025.

Flu New Variants

H3N2 “Subclade K” Variant

The flu strain seen during the winter months of 2025 was identified as H3N2 subclade K, a seasonal influenza A virus. Some public commentary labelled it “super flu,” though this term has no medical basis and does not suggest the virus is inherently more dangerous or resistant to treatment. A key concern was that many people had limited prior exposure to this strain, resulting in lower community immunity. Flu vaccines, however, continued to protect against severe outcomes.

Data from NHS England showed a sharp rise in flu-related hospital admissions. During the first week of December, hospitals reported an average of 2,660 flu patients per day, marking a 55 percent increase from the previous week. The number of admissions was high enough to fill more than three entire hospital trusts.

Monkeypox New Variant

Clade LB Variant

Health authorities in England detected a new mpox variant after testing a person who had recently travelled to Asia, as per BBC. Genetic sequencing revealed that the strain was recombinant, combining elements of two circulating mpox types: clade 1, which is associated with more severe illness, and clade 2, which was responsible for the 2022 global outbreak.

The UK Health Security Agency stated that it was still evaluating the implications of this strain. While most mpox cases remain mild, officials advised people who qualify for vaccination to get immunised as a precautionary step.

Chikungunya New Variant

In 2025, Chikungunya did not see the emergence of a single newly named variant. Instead, there was a renewed spread of the East, Central, and South African genotype, particularly the Indian Ocean Lineage. This lineage has developed mutations that improve its ability to spread.

According to the National Institutes of Health, certain CHIKV lineages, including the E1-226A variant, previously helped shift infections into urban settings. More recent severe cases reported in India, including outbreaks in Pune in 2024, showed signs of neurological involvement such as paralysis and darkened nasal tissue. These symptoms are thought to be linked to mutations like E1-226V or A and E2-I211T, along with improved adaptation of the virus to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, pointing to continued viral evolution aimed at more efficient transmission.

Pimples on skin is something we see on a day to day basis. Often, without even thinking much, we pop them. But did you know there is a 'Triangle of Death' on your face, where you should never pop a pimple?

Reacting to a video, Dr Sermed Mezher, a UK-based GP, and a health communicator who goes by @drsermedmezher on his Instagram handle says, "You should never pop pimples but it is even more important not to do it in a specific triangle of the face."

He reacts to a video where a boy shares his experience of popping a pimple on his face, which has left him in pain, and made him enable to use the side of his face with pimple. His face is now swelled.

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What Is The Triangle of Death On Your Face?

Dr Mezher says that while it is named unscientifically, the area extends from the top of the nose to the upper lip. This is important because it drains the cavernous sinus. "So, we don't want bacteria to get into there," he notes.

Why Is Triangle Of Death A Dangerous Place To Pop Your Pimples?

“We naturally have bacteria on our skin, and every time we pop a pimple, we damage the skin barrier. That creates an opening for bacteria to move deeper into the skin. If those bacteria reach the cavernous sinus through the facial ‘triangle of death,’ it can cause a serious condition called cavernous sinus thrombosis," notes Dr Mezher.

He explains that this blood clot can lead to severe headaches, fever, pressure and pain behind the eyes, difficulty moving the eyes, and even eye swelling or bulging. "While it is usually treatable, prevention is far easier than cure, which is why popping pimples should be avoided."

According to Cleveland Clinic, this small segment of your face has a direct line to your brain, which is the cavernous sinus. It is a network of large veins located behind your eye sockets. Through this sinus, blood drains from your brain. This is why, any infection in this area, could a picked pimple or even a nose piercing gone wrong could impact your brain. Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, tells Cleveland Clinic, "There is the possibility for a facial infection to become an infection that impacts the rest of your body."

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Is The Triangle Of Death Really Fatal?

Well, as the name suggest, the triangle of death cannot actually kill you. Dr Vij says, "Thankfully, it is relatively unlikely. But, whenever there is a violation of the skin and interaction with bacteria, there is always a possible for infection, which can lead to greater health concerns."

In rare cases, an infection of the face can lead to septic cavernous sinus thrombosis, or a blood clot in your cavernous sinus. It could also lead to some life-threatening health issues, including:

• Brain abscess (pus that causes swelling of your brain)
• Brain infection
• Damage to your facial nerves, including paralysis of your eye muscles
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Septic emboli (infected blood clots that travel through your bloodstream)
• Stroke

How To Deal With A Pimple In You Triangle Of Death?

• Apply a warm compress, use a clean cloth and apply it on the area for 10 to 15 minutes. Soak the clean cloth in warm water.
• Use a pimple patch or an overnight zit sticker that could soak up some of the drainage, in case your pimple has already opened.
• See a dermatologist.