Scientists have developed a novel treatment for MRSA, a bacteria that causes abscesses and is resistant to the usual antibiotics. This treatment involves applying a cream that contains tiny nanoparticles carrying nitric oxide to the infection. When these nanoparticles released the nitric oxide, resistant infections in mice cleared up even without surgical drainage.

There is a risk of developing shingles after getting the chicken pox vaccination but that risk is very low. A recent study showed that children who received the vaccination later were at a higher risk of developing shingles.

The first chicken pox vaccine is normally given after a child's first birthday, and the second vaccination is given between 4 and 6 years old. The second vaccination can actually be given 3 months after the first.

The study also showed that children with asthma and developmental disorders were also at a higher risk of developing shingles.

Researchers found that taking N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, before being exposed to UV radiation protected against UV-induced oxidative stress. This reduction was measured by glutathione levels in the tissue. The implication is reducing free-radical damage to the skin will reduce the risk of melanoma.

In a recent study scientists have been able to identify the mechanism that the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, uses to reduce inflammation on the skin.

The conventional thinking on wound healing has been that chemicals causing inflammation in a wound are necessary for wound healing. Lately, studies have been showing that good wound healing occurs when there are low levels of these inflammatory chemicals.

The skin always has bacteria on it, the same bacteria that cause infections if they get into the body. This study showed that one of those skin bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, produces a molecule that blocks a certain receptor on the skin from making inflammatory chemicals in response to a wound.

But it doesn't block all of the inflammation. This bacteria is able to keep the receptor from making too many inflammatory chemicals. It allows just enough required for good wound healing.