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All articles by topic
Skin
- Dark marks after spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
The dark patches left behind after acne, bites, burns or eczema, and how to help them fade.
- Melasma
Symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead or upper lip, often linked to hormones and sunlight.
- Light patches: pityriasis alba, vitiligo and tinea versicolor
Three common causes of pale patches, how to tell them apart, and which ones need a doctor.
- Uneven skin tone
Why skin tone varies across the face and body, and a realistic plan for a more even glow.
- Acne
What causes spots, how to treat them gently, and how to prevent dark marks afterwards.
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Dry, itchy, inflamed skin that comes and goes, and how to calm it.
- Contact dermatitis
Rashes caused by something touching the skin: fragrance, hair dye, nickel and more.
- Sunscreen for dark skin
Yes, darker skin needs sunscreen. Here is why, and how to choose one without a white cast.
- Skin bleaching, mercury and steroid creams: the dangers
Why "toning" and lightening creams can cause lasting harm, and safer ways to even tone.
- Keloids
Raised scars that grow beyond the original wound, and how to lower your risk.
- Small dark bumps on the face (dermatosis papulosa nigra)
Harmless dark bumps on the cheeks and around the eyes, common in darker skin.
- Fungal skin infections (ringworm)
Itchy, ring-shaped or scaly patches, and how to clear them properly.
- Psoriasis
Thick scaly patches that come and go, and why it is more than a skin condition.
- Razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae)
Bumps after shaving are not "just irritation"; here is how to shave without them.
- A simple skincare routine for men
Three steps, five minutes: cleanse, moisturise, protect.
- How to spot fake and dangerous creams
Counterfeit and "mixed" creams are common. Here are the warning signs, and what to do if you suspect one.
- Myth: "Dark skin doesn't need sunscreen"
Melanin helps, but it does not stop dark marks, melasma or sun damage.
- Myth: "Toothpaste dries out pimples"
Toothpaste irritates skin and can leave dark marks; proven acne treatments work better.
- Myth: "Shea butter cures everything"
A good moisturiser, but not a cure for infections, acne or pigment problems.
- Myth: "Bleaching is safe if it's natural"
"Natural" lighteners can burn skin, and many contain hidden mercury or steroids.
- Myth: "Oily skin doesn't need moisturiser"
Skipping moisturiser can make oily skin feel worse; light non-comedogenic moisturisers help.
- Myth: "Scrubbing removes dark spots faster"
Rough scrubbing inflames skin and usually makes dark marks darker.
- Myth: "Chocolate and oily food cause acne"
Diet plays a small role for some people; hormones, genes and skincare matter more.
- Your skin barrier, explained
Why the outer layer of skin matters, and how to keep it healthy.
- Retinoids: how they work and how to start
A guide to adapalene, retinol and other vitamin A creams.
- How to patch-test a new product
A simple way to reduce the risk of reactions.
- Hives (urticaria)
Itchy, raised welts that come and go.
- Vitiligo
White patches caused by loss of pigment cells.
- Skin changes in pregnancy
Melasma, dark lines, stretch marks and which products to pause.
- Harmattan skin care
Protecting skin, lips and hair from dry, dusty winds.
- Skin types explained
How oil, sensitivity, pigment and barrier combine — and how our questionnaire works.
- Hair products and forehead acne
How oils and gels cause breakouts along the hairline.
Hair
- Traction alopecia
Hair loss from tight styles, and how to catch it while it can still recover.
- Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA)
Scarring hair loss at the crown, most common in women of African descent; early care matters.
- Relaxer safety
How to reduce burns, breakage and scalp damage if you choose to relax your hair.
- Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis
Flaky, itchy scalp and greasy scale on the face, and how medicated shampoos help.
- Hair breakage
Why textured hair snaps, and gentle habits for length retention.
- Bumps on the back of the neck (acne keloidalis nuchae)
Firm bumps at the hairline after short haircuts, and why early care prevents scarring.
- Male-pattern hair loss
Receding temples and crown thinning: what is normal, what works, and what to avoid.
- Beard care
A healthy beard on curly hair: washing, softening and shaping without bumps.
- Myth: "Trimming makes hair grow faster"
Trimming doesn't change growth speed — but it helps you keep length.
- Myth: "Oils make hair grow"
Oils can reduce breakage, but there's little evidence they make hair grow faster.
- Hair porosity explained
How your cuticle controls moisture, and how to care for each type.
- A gentle wash-day routine
Step-by-step for textured hair.
- Protective styles, safely
Braids, twists and wigs without damaging your hairline.
- Hair dye safety
PPD allergy, black henna and patch testing.
- Caring for locs
Keeping locs clean, strong and your scalp healthy.
- Hair loss in women
Common causes and when to get checked.
- Shedding after illness or childbirth
Telogen effluvium: why hair sheds and recovers.
Nails
- Fungal nail infection
Thick, discoloured, crumbly nails, and why treatment takes patience.
- Dark streaks in the nail (melanonychia)
Brown or black lines in the nail are common in darker skin, but some need checking.
- Brittle nails
Nails that split, peel or break easily, and simple ways to strengthen them.
- Gel, acrylic and UV lamp safety
How to enjoy salon manicures while protecting your nails and skin.
- Myth: "White spots on nails mean calcium deficiency"
Usually caused by minor knocks to the nail; calcium is rarely the reason.
- Myth: "Nails need to breathe"
Nails get oxygen from the blood, not the air — but breaks from gel help for other reasons.
- Infected nail folds (paronychia)
Red, swollen skin around the nail.
- Ingrown toenails
Causes, prevention and when to get help.
- Nail psoriasis
Pitting, lifting and thickening.
- Cracked heels
Thick, dry skin on the heels and how to soften it.
Body
- Dark knees, elbows and underarms
Why skin in folds and pressure points darkens, and when it is a sign to check your health.
- Stretch marks
Why they appear, what helps them fade, and what to be wary of.
- Body odour
What causes it, an effective daily ritual, and when a change in smell matters.
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
When sweating is more than the heat explains, and the treatments that help.
- Jock itch (tinea cruris)
An itchy rash in the groin; easy to treat, easy to get back.
- Sweat and odour for men
Staying fresh in Nigerian heat: a practical ritual.
- Body acne (chest and back)
Spots on the chest, back and shoulders, and how to clear them without dark marks.
- Myth: "Shaving makes hair grow back thicker"
Shaving changes how hair feels, not its thickness, colour or speed of growth.
- Myth: "Antiperspirants cause breast cancer"
Large studies haven't found a link.
- Ingrown hairs on the body
Bumps after shaving or waxing.
- Rash in skin folds (intertrigo)
Under the breasts, groin and belly folds.
- Athlete's foot
Fungal infection between the toes.
- Painful lumps in armpits and groin (hidradenitis suppurativa)
A long-term inflammatory condition, not poor hygiene.
- Ashy, dry body skin
Why skin looks grey and how to restore glow.
Children
- Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis)
A fungal infection that causes scaly patches and hair loss, common in children.
- Eczema in babies and children
Dry, itchy patches in little ones: a calm, practical plan for parents.
- Cradle cap
Greasy yellow scales on a baby's scalp are harmless and gentle care is enough.
- Nappy rash
Sore skin in the nappy area, and how to prevent and soothe it.
- Molluscum contagiosum
Small pearly bumps in children: harmless and usually clear on their own.
- Pale patches on a child's face (pityriasis alba)
Faint pale patches on children's cheeks are common and harmless.
- Sun protection for children
Simple habits that protect growing skin, even darker skin.
- Head lice
Itchy scalp and tiny insects: how to clear lice calmly.
- Gentle bathing for babies and children
How to bathe little ones without drying their skin.
- When a child's rash is urgent
The glass test, and the warning signs that mean you should seek emergency care now.
- Milia in newborns
Tiny white spots on a newborn's nose and cheeks are normal and clear without treatment.
- Baby acne
Little red or white spots on a baby's face in the first weeks: common and temporary.
- Heat rash (prickly heat)
Tiny itchy bumps from blocked sweat glands in hot weather, and how to cool them.
- Insect bites in children
Itchy bumps from mosquitoes and other insects, and how to prevent malaria-carrying bites.
- Scabies
Intense itching, worse at night, that spreads through families. Treat everyone together.
- Impetigo
Crusty "honey-coloured" sores that spread easily, and need prompt treatment.
- Warts in children
Rough bumps on hands and feet: harmless, and most go away on their own.
- Birthmarks: what is normal and when to check
Most birthmarks are harmless. Here is a guide to the common ones and the few that need a doctor.
- Children's hair care: braiding, detangling and no relaxers
Gentle routines for children's curls, and why tight styles and relaxers can harm young scalps.
- Children's nails
Trimming, nail biting and changes worth checking.
- Acne in teenagers
Spots in the teenage years are normal and very treatable; early care prevents dark marks and scars.
- Body odour and puberty hygiene
A calm, practical guide for parents and pre-teens as bodies change.
- A simple skin routine for school-age children
Easy habits for children aged 5 to 12 that protect skin for life.
- Choosing safe products for children
What to look for on the label, and what to leave on the shelf.
- Myth: "Eczema is caused by dirt"
Eczema is a barrier and immune condition — over-washing makes it worse.
- Myth: "Baby powder is good for nappy rash"
Powders don't protect skin and can be inhaled; barrier creams work better.
- Chickenpox
What to expect and when it's urgent.
Makeup
- Reading makeup labels: what "fragrance-free", "non-comedogenic" and "tested" really mean
A practical guide to the words on the tube, which ones help sensitive and darker skin, and which are marketing.
- Shade matching and undertones for deep skin
How to find a foundation that disappears into Nigerian skin tones without looking grey or orange.
- Foundation types, and why tinted (iron-oxide) sunscreen helps dark spots and melasma
Liquids, powders and sticks compared, plus the evidence for visible-light protection in darker skin.
- Mascara and eye makeup: the 3-month rule, infections and allergies
Simple habits that protect your eyes from infection, allergy and injury.
- Kohl, tiro and lead: what Nigerian families should know
Traditional eye cosmetics can contain lead. Here is how to enjoy the look safely.
- Lipstick safety: lead, dyes, fragrance and lip allergy (cheilitis)
What is really in lipstick, and what to do when your lips peel or swell.
- Myth: "Makeup causes acne"
Most makeup does not cause acne — but some products and habits can. Here is the evidence.
- Myth: "Mineral makeup is always safe"
Mineral makeup can be gentle, but "mineral" does not equal risk-free.
- Myth: "Expensive makeup is safer"
Price reflects packaging, brand and marketing far more than safety.
- Removal, double cleansing, brush hygiene and patch testing
The habits that prevent most makeup problems.
- The makeup allergen list: what to avoid if you react
Fragrance, MI/MCI, formaldehyde releasers, PPD, nickel, carmine and more — explained calmly.