We often think of skincare as something cosmetic — a matter of beauty, glow, and appearance. But the truth is far deeper than that. Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Just like your heart, liver, or lungs, it has its own blood supply, nerve endings, and lymphatic drainage. The only difference is that skin lives on the outside — and that makes all the difference in how we treat it.

Because it’s visible, people often start thinking of skin only in aesthetic terms. It becomes about fairness, texture, acne, or anti-ageing — rather than being respected as a functional, living organ that reflects what’s happening inside your body. And that’s exactly what it does. The skin acts like a window. Many of the early signs of internal disorders, immune responses, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances quietly show up on the skin before anything else.

When To Start Noticing Something That Seems Harmless?

Take something as simple as a mole. Most people don’t give it a second glance. But if a mole starts changing — if it grows, shifts in shape, or changes in color — it may not just be a cosmetic concern. It can be one of the earliest signs of a serious condition like melanoma or basal cell carcinoma. Skin is the only organ where you can see disease developing without any scans or machines. All you have to do is notice.

Similarly, when people develop hives or urticaria, they often dismiss it as an allergy or a reaction to something they ate or applied. But when these flare-ups become repetitive, they may point to something more systemic — possibly linked to the liver or kidneys. It’s your body’s way of saying that something it’s being exposed to — internally or externally — is not okay.

Hair Loss Can Have Deeper Reasons

The same applies to persistent hair loss. Hair fall is often attributed to seasonal change or stress, but sometimes it’s tied to thyroid dysfunction, low iron stores like ferritin, or even chronic gut conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. It’s important to understand that hair and skin health are not isolated events. They are deeply linked to your nutrition, hormones, stress levels, and metabolic health.

We also need to change the way we think about sensitive or reactive skin. Biologically, the skin is not supposed to be sensitive. It’s meant to be resilient and protective. So when your skin suddenly becomes unusually dry, oily, itchy, or inflamed — it’s not just a "type" or a phase. It’s a sign that something in the internal ecosystem has shifted.

The larger point is this: the skin should not be seen as separate from the rest of your health. Just like you wouldn't ignore persistent chest pain or unexplained fatigue, you shouldn’t ignore persistent changes in your skin, hair, or nails. These aren’t small things. They are messages.

What To Do If Your Skin Doesn't Feel Right?

Unfortunately, in the age of beauty filters and social media skincare advice, we often forget that not all skin issues can be solved with a trending serum or a quick home remedy. There’s a time for cosmetic care — and there’s a time for clinical intervention.

A dermatologist’s role is not just to treat the surface but to understand the root. We are trained to interpret what your skin is trying to say about your overall health.

So if something on your skin doesn’t feel right, don’t wait for it to become urgent. Trust your instincts, and let a professional take a look. Skincare is not vanity. It’s biology. And it deserves to be treated with the same seriousness you’d offer to any other part of your body.

A retracted eardrum, also called tympanic membrane atelectasis, is a condition where the eardrum gets pulled inward toward the middle ear. Normally, the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) acts as a boundary between the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound vibrations to tiny bones that help us hear. But when it collapses inward, that delicate process can be disrupted.

The condition is often silent at first, meaning people may not realize they have it. But in some cases, it can escalate, causing discomfort or even permanent hearing damage.

Spotting the Symptoms

In most cases, a retracted eardrum doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. But when the retraction becomes severe enough to affect structures inside the ear, individuals may experience:

• Earache
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid discharge from the ear

If left untreated, a chronic retracted eardrum can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Why Does It Happen?

The most common cause of a retracted eardrum is Eustachian tube dysfunction. These narrow tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and help regulate ear pressure.

When they don’t work properly, pressure inside the ear drops, effectively pulling the eardrum inward.

Some common triggers include:

• Recent or recurring ear infections
• Cleft palate
• A poorly healed eardrum after rupture
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold

How Doctors Diagnose It

Diagnosis typically begins with a discussion about symptoms and any recent infections. A doctor will then use an otoscope, a tool with a light, to look into the ear canal. This allows them to visually confirm if the eardrum is abnormally positioned or collapsed.

Treatment Options: When to Wait and When to Act

Not all retracted eardrums require immediate treatment. In mild cases, doctors often recommend a “watch and wait” approach, as pressure may normalize naturally over a few months.

For more advanced cases, several interventions are possible:

Decongestants or nasal steroids: These can improve airflow in the ear and relieve pressure.

The Valsalva maneuver: This self-administered technique involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and gently blowing as if trying to pop your ears. It should be performed under medical guidance.

If the condition begins to affect hearing or causes persistent pain, surgical options may be considered.

Surgical Interventions

Two common surgical treatments are:

Tube Insertion (Myringotomy):

Often used in children with recurring ear infections, this procedure involves placing small tubes into the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear.

Tympanoplasty:

In more severe cases, part of the damaged eardrum may be removed and replaced with cartilage from the outer ear. This stiffens the eardrum, preventing future collapses.

What’s the Prognosis?

The outlook largely depends on the severity. Minor retractions usually resolve without intervention and don’t cause long-term damage. However, more serious cases, especially those that persist or press against ear bones, may result in hearing loss and need medical or surgical correction.

Experts recommend seeking medical attention if you notice ear discomfort, hearing changes, or frequent infections. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term issues and protect one of your most important senses, your hearing.

In a surprising discovery that bridges the gap between creepy crawlies and cutting-edge neuroscience, researchers at Virginia Tech have identified unique compounds in millipede secretions that could pave the way for future treatments for pain and neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, depression, and schizophrenia.

Led by chemist Emily Meyers, the research team uncovered naturally occurring alkaloids in the defensive secretions of the Andrognathus corticarius, a species known colloquially as the Hokie millipede. The millipede, which lives under decomposing leaves and branches on the university’s Blacksburg campus, produces a chemical cocktail that not only deters predators but may influence neuroreceptors in the brain.

“These compounds are quite complex, so they’re going to take some time to synthesize in the lab,” said Meyers, who specializes in studying underexplored ecological sources for potential new drugs.

A Hidden Chemical Arsenal

The compounds, dubbed andrognathanols and andrognathines by Meyers’ team, belong to a class of complex alkaloids. They were discovered after researchers collected several millipedes from wooded areas on campus and analyzed the contents of their defensive glands using a suite of chemical tools.

The results were striking: some of these secretions had a disorienting effect on ants, one of the millipede’s presumed predators. But that’s not all, several of the compounds were found to interact with a neuroreceptor known as Sigma-1. This receptor has been linked to multiple brain disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to warding off predators, the researchers discovered that the compounds may also serve a social function, possibly helping millipedes signal their location to family members in leaf-littered environments.

From Defense to Drug Discovery

This study, recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is not Meyers’ first foray into studying arthropod chemistry. She has been collaborating with entomologist Paul Marek, and together, they have previously suggested that the family of alkaloids found in millipede secretions could have significant therapeutic potential.

“Millipedes have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They’ve developed these intricate chemical defense systems, and we’re only beginning to understand their value,” said Meyers.

While the compounds show promise, the next hurdle is a familiar one in drug discovery: scalability. The compounds exist in trace amounts in the wild, and researchers need larger quantities for in-depth testing and potential pharmaceutical development.

The Road Ahead

The team is now exploring partnerships with laboratories that can synthesize the compounds in bulk, which would allow for further testing on their biological activity and medicinal properties. Meyers emphasized that while the research is still in its early stages, the potential applications are broad, from pain management to novel treatments for complex neurological conditions.

“Nature has always been a wellspring of inspiration for medicine,” said Meyers. “And sometimes, the most powerful solutions come from the smallest and most unexpected creatures, like a tiny millipede under a log.”

With this groundbreaking discovery, scientists are reminded once again that the natural world may hold secrets that, once unlocked, could transform human health in unimaginable ways.

The usage of marijuana has been a heavily debated subject. Many states have looked into legalizing the controlled substance as there are many potential benefits to it, while others have understandably pointed out how it can cause harm as well as lead to addiction. Cannabis is the most commonly used substance after alcohol and tobacco, according to a 2018 Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology study, US also saw an increase in cannabis use disorder (CUD) as well as a decrease in the perceived risk of cannabis. However, the researchers have now found a concerning link between cannabis and oral cancer.

A new study suggests that people who smoke a lot of marijuana may be over three times more likely to get oral cancer. This risk is even higher for those who also smoke cigarettes. The study's lead author explains that cannabis smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke, which can damage the cells that line the mouth over time.

Previous Speculations about Cannabis and Cancer

Interestingly, previous researchers have shown that cannabis compounds could actually benefit people. According to a 2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences study the previous studies on the same have had mixed answers. However, lab research on oral cancer cells has shown some promising anti-cancer effects. In these studies, cannabinoids have been found to kill cancer cells and stop them from multiplying. They do this by blocking certain signals within the cancer cells.

Beyond fighting cancer, cannabinoids are already used in some countries to help cancer patients feel better during treatment. They can help with common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as anxiety, depression, pain, and nausea, which improves a patient's overall well-being.

The relationship between cannabis compounds and oral cancer is complicated. While there is promising evidence that cannabinoids could have anti-cancer properties and help manage treatment side effects, more research is needed to fully understand their potential risks and benefits.

How the Study Was Done

Published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports, the research looked at the health records of over 45,000 patients. The team focused on 949 people with cannabis use disorder, which means they used marijuana almost every day. The researchers tracked these patients for five years to see who developed oral cancer. They also made sure to account for other risk factors, like a person's age or whether they smoked cigarettes, to get a clearer picture of the risk from marijuana alone.

What the Study Found

The results were very clear. People with cannabis use disorder were 325% more likely to get oral cancer than those who didn't have the disorder. This risk jumped to 624% for people who were heavy users of both marijuana and cigarettes.

Researchers believe that the high risk of oral cancer in heavy marijuana users isn't just because of smoke. It's possible that THC, the main compound in marijuana, might weaken the immune system. A weaker immune system would make it harder for the body to fight off cancer cells, making a person more vulnerable to developing a tumor. This new evidence adds to a growing body of research that suggests long-term, heavy use of marijuana may increase cancer risk in the areas exposed to smoke.