Lia Tremblay

Lisa is an award-winning writer and editor. She is also the Chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee for Colonial Heights City Schools. This committee serves to identify unmet needs in the school system’s handling of special education services. We reach more than 300 million readers annually. Verywell Health content is fact checked and reviewed by ourMedical Expert Boardfor accuracy and integrity. Learn moreabout usand oureditorial process.

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 67 words · James Henderson

Lice vs. Dandruff and How to Tell the Difference

While both can be itchy, lice can cause severe itching. Lice and dandruff are harmless conditions that won’t cause long-term health problems. Both can be treated safely and effectively at home. Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health hirun / Getty Images Lice Certain symptoms and patterns occur with a head lice infestation. While lice is a parasitic infection, dandruff is a skin condition. Head-to-head contact is the most common way to transmit lice....

April 18, 2025 · 4 min · 702 words · Darin Smith

Lichenification

Lichenificationis a skin lesion that develops due to excessive rubbing or itching. It can also occur because of an underlying health disorder. Lesions resulting from lichenification are characterized as thickened and hardened skin. Maria Fuchs / Getty Images This article discusses the symptoms of lichenification, its causes, and treatment options. Maria Fuchs / Getty Images What Are the Symptoms of Lichenification? The first sign of lichenification ishyperpigmentation,which is when theskinbecomes darker than the skin around it....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 384 words · Virginia Owens

Lidocaine Patch for Back Pain: What to Know

These lidocaine patches are prescription-only. OTC lidocaine 4% patches can be used to relieve minor aches and pains, including back pain. Getty Images /sakai000 What Is a Lidocaine Patch? Getty Images /sakai000 The lidocaine patch is in the local anesthetic drug class.It is available in prescription and OTC forms. Zlido is a brand name for a 1.8% lidocaine patch. Five percent lidocaine patches are available generically. The prescription-only lidocaine patches are approved to relieve long-term nerve pain from shingles in adults....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 416 words · Kristina Jimenez

Life After Surgery for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Surgery to remove the ovaries, anoophorectomy, is the last resort fortreatingpremenstrualdysphoricdisorder (PMDD). It permanently stops female hormones from circulating and inducesmenopause. Unlike menopause which occurs gradually and naturally, induced menopause is abrupt, andsymptomsare often sudden and intense. Casarsa / iStockphoto Induced menopause also increases the risk of many diseases and conditions. It’s even associated with a shortened lifespan. In addition, there are ways to help minimize the side effects of early menopause afterPMDD surgery....

April 18, 2025 · 3 min · 518 words · Ryan Edwards

Life Expectancy After Kidney Removal

What does long-term survival depend on? This surgery might improve your quality of life and prolong your survival if you haverenal (kidney) cancer. This article describes the benefits, survival, and expectations after a kidney removal. SDI Productions / Getty Images Total Kidney Removal Total kidney removal is usually a more invasive surgery than partial kidney removal. Treatment for renal cancercan prolong survival and improve quality of life. The study found that cancer-specific survival for people with stages 1 or 2 cancer remained the same after nephrectomy....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 254 words · Stephanie Stewart

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent and Manage Osteoporosis

Osteoporosismakes your bones more fragile over time, which can be challenging to cope with on a daily basis. Fortunately,treatment optionslike prescription medications and hormone therapy are availableand can be supplemented with lifestyle changes. This article provides an overview of how exercising, eating healthy, and preventing falls help support bone health. Doucefleur / Getty Images But its more likely to occur in people withcertain risk factors. There are a few specific nutrients that are essential for an osteoporosis diet....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 301 words · Ryan Barry

Lifestyle Tips for People With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Her expertise includes sensation-preserving mastectomy, hidden scar breast surgery, and oncoplastic breast surgery. A metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. While metastatic breast cancer is not curable, it is treatable. Many people with metastatic breast cancer live full, meaningful lives for yearssometimes a decade or moreafter diagnosis. Exercise may also help managetreatment-related side effects, such as fatigueand joint pain. The Power of Social Support Social support is an invaluable lifeline when living with metastatic breast cancer....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 154 words · Jeffrey Velazquez

Ligelizumab for Chronic Hives: Everything You Need to Know

Another term for CSU is chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Chronic hives last for more than six weeks. Ligelizumab is in development at the Swiss multinational drug company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, as a treatment for CSU. Guido Mieth / Getty Images It is still undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials. Notably, CSU is not triggered by an allergic reaction. Side Effects Ligelizumab is generally well tolerated by patients with CSU. Is Ligelizumab Available? Because ligelizumab is still in Phase 3 clinical trials, it isn’t available yet....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 201 words · Adrienne Riley

Light Therapy Lamps for SAD—Do They Work?

Light therapy lamps have been found to be an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD Overview Seasonal affective disorderis a throw in of recurring major depression with a seasonal pattern. Experts believe that SAD may be brought on by lower vitamin D levels and a subsequent decrease in serotonin. IAN HOOTON / Getty Images Light therapyis also referred to as bright light therapy (BLT) or phototherapy. Light therapy boxes typically provide 10,000 lux (a measure of light intensity)....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 234 words · Denise Cohen

Lightening During Pregnancy

In pregnancy, lightening pops up if the fetuss head moves toward the pelvis to prepare for birth. Thisthird-trimestershift is often called “dropping,” due to the lower position in a pregnant person’s abdomen. This article explains lightening and what it feels like. Larry Williams / Getty Images Larry Williams / Getty Images What Is Lightening? Lightening takes place if the fetuss head moves deeper into the pelvis to prepare for birth....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 320 words · Jesus Carroll

Lightning Crotch Pain During Pregnancy

It can also cause a pins-and-needles sensation that lasts 15 to 60 seconds. The condition is called lightning crotch because the pain often feels like a sudden electrical jolt. Lightning crotch can happen throughout pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. damircudic / Getty Images For people who do experience it, they may not have it with every pregnancy. Is Lightning Crotch a Sign of Labor? By itself, lightning crotch does not mean youre in labor....

April 18, 2025 · 1 min · 206 words · Peter Carter

Lilly's Most Potent Weight Loss Drug Yet Could Help Manage Fatty Liver Disease, Too

If additional studies support these findings, retatrutide could become the most potent weight loss medication on the market. The company also tested the drug on a small subset of patients with MASLD. The study included 338 adults with obesity or overweight. Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images After 48 weeks, the group saw 24.2% average weight loss. Those numbers put retatrutide on track to overtake its predecessors....

April 18, 2025 · 2 min · 323 words · Brandon Mccann