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Birthmarks What are birthmarks? Birthmarks are areas of discolored or raised skin that are seen at birth or within a few weeks of birth. They may be made of malformed pigment cells or blood vessels. Medical experts don’t know what causes birthmarks. But most of them are not

Methods of Surgery What are the different methods of surgery? Surgery doesn't always mean large cuts (incisions) and long healing times, as in the past. Depending on the type of surgery, several methods may be used. People with the same diagnosis won't always be advised to have

Complex gastrointestinal (GI) conditions can affect the digestive tract in a number of ways. They may impact the gut’s ability to tolerate or absorb food. If your child’s small intestine can’t work properly, they may be at risk of not absorbing the nutrients needed for growth and

Anatomy of a Newborn Baby's Skull The skull may seem to be one large bone, but it's made of several major bones that are connected together. The major bones that compose the skull include: 2 frontal bones 2 parietal bones 1 occipital bone These bony plates cover the brain, and

Skin Pigment Disorders What are skin pigment disorders? Skin color is determined by a pigment (melanin) made by specialized cells in the skin (melanocytes). The amount and type of melanin determines a person's skin color. What is the function of melanin? Melanin's role is to

Diet to Help Prevent Heart Disease Eating a healthy diet can help prevent a number of problems, such as high cholesterol and heart disease. But knowing exactly what a healthy diet looks like can be a challenge. The USDA and the U.S. Department of Health teamed up to create an

The Cardiologist A cardiologist is a doctor who has had extra training to treat problems of the heart and blood vessels. A cardiologist has at least 10 years of medical training. It includes: 4 years of medical school. 3 years of training in internal medicine. 3 or more years in

Dialysis in Children What is dialysis? Dialysis is a procedure that is done routinely on people who have acute or chronic kidney (renal) failure. It filters waste and extra fluid from the blood. That is something that would normally be done by the kidneys. Dialysis may also be

Amenorrhea in Adolescents and Teens What is amenorrhea? Amenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by absent menstrual periods for more than 3 monthly menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary: Primary amenorrhea. From the beginning and may be

Your Child's Allergies: Dust Mites What is a dust mite? Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in homes and schools. They like warm, humid areas filled with dust. Dust mites feed on the shed scales of human skin that work their way into furniture, carpets, bedding, and