Minor Ailments

Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects the feet. You can usually treat it with creams, sprays or powders from a pharmacy, but it can keep coming back.

A pharmacist can help with athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work.

Athlete's foot treatments are available as:

• creams
• sprays
• powders

They're not all suitable for everyone – for example, some are only for adults. Always check the packet or ask a pharmacist.

Back pain is very common and usually improves within a few weeks or months.

Pain in the lower back (lumbago) is particularly common, although it can be felt anywhere along the spine, from the neck down to the hips.

In most cases the pain is not caused by anything serious and will usually get better over time.

There are things you can do to help relieve it such as:

• stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities – this is 1 of the most important things you can do, as resting for long periods is likely to make the pain worse
• try exercises and stretches for back pain; other activities such as walking, swimming and yoga may also be helpful
• take anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen – remember to check the medicine is safe for you to take and ask a pharmacist if you're not sure
• use hot or cold compression packs for short-term relief – you can buy these from a pharmacy, or a hot water bottle or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth or towel will work just as well

Although it can be difficult, it helps if you stay optimistic and recognise that your pain should get better. People who manage to stay positive despite their pain tend to recover quicker.

Chickenpox is common and mostly affects children, although you can get it at any age. It usually gets better by itself after 1 to 2 weeks without needing to see a GP.

Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you can do to help ease the pain.

A pharmacist can recommend:

• creams to ease pain and irritation
• antiviral creams to speed up healing time
• cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals

You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.

Conjunctivitis is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies. It usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment.

There are things you can do to help ease your symptoms.

Use clean cotton wool (1 piece for each eye). Boil water and then let it cool down before you:

• gently rub your eyelashes to clean off crusts
• hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them down

Do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better.

Constipation is common and it affects people of all ages. You can usually treat it at home with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Speak to a pharmacist if diet and lifestyle changes are not helping.

They can suggest a suitable laxative. These are medicines that help you poo more regularly.

Most laxatives work within 3 days. They should only be used for a short time.

Most cuts and grazes are minor and can be easily treated at home.

Stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound thoroughly and covering it with a plaster or dressing is usually all that's needed.

Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days.

In order to treat the cut or graze first stop any bleeding. Then make sure the wound is cleaned a protective dressing applied to stop it becoming infected.

Only attend your local Minor Injuries Unit or A&E if you cannot stop the bleeding or the cut is severe; stitches may be required.

If the wound appears infected (smelly, oozy) then contact your GP surgery for an assessment. An infected wound can usually be successfully treated with a short course of antibiotics.

Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema triggered by contact with a particular substance.

Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause skin to become dry and irritated.

Contact dermatitis usually improves or clears up completely if the substance causing the problem is identified and avoided. Treatments are also available to help ease the symptoms.

Speak to a pharmacist if your contact dermatitis is troubling you.

They can recommend treatments such as emollients (moisturisers), which you rub on your skin to stop it becoming dry.

A pharmacist can help if:

• you or your child (over 5 years) have signs of dehydration – such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
• you need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours

They may recommend:

• oral rehydration sachets you mix with water to make a drink
• medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours (like loperamide) – not suitable for children under 12

Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

Speak to your pharmacist if you have hay fever.

They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, like antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays to help with:

• itchy and watery eyes and sneezing
• a blocked nose

Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux). If it keeps happening, it's called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Speak to a pharmacist for advice if you keep getting heartburn.

They can recommend medicines called antacids that can help ease your symptoms.

It's best to take these with food or soon after eating, as this is when you're most likely to get heartburn. They may also work for longer if taken with food.

Up to a third of babies and toddlers in nappies have nappy rash at any one time. It doesn't usually develop in newborns, but all babies can get nappy rash.

Nappy rash can be caused by:

• your baby's skin being in contact with wee or poo for a long time
• the nappy rubbing against your baby's skin
• not cleaning the nappy area or changing the nappy often enough
• soap, detergent or bubble bath
• alcohol-based baby wipes
• your baby recently taking antibiotics

If the rash doesn't go away or your baby develops a persistent bright red, moist rash with white or red pimples that spreads into the folds of their skin, they may have an infection.

Ask your pharmacist or health visitor for advice. The pharmacist may recommend a cream for you to use.

If the rash is severe, take your baby to the GP who may prescribe cream or medicine. Follow your GP's instructions on whether and when to apply barrier cream as well as the prescribed cream.

Ringworm is a common fungal infection. It's not caused by worms. You can usually buy medicine from a pharmacy to treat it.

The main symptom of ringworm is a rash. It may look red, silver or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.

The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy.

Ringworm can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis) and groin (jock itch).

Scabies is very common and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.

A pharmacist can help with scabies

Scabies is not usually a serious condition, but it does need to be treated.

A pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion that you apply over your whole body. It's important to read the instructions carefully.

You'll need to repeat the treatment 1 week later.

Scabies is very infectious, but it can take up to 8 weeks for the rash to appear.

Everyone in the household needs to be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms.

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.

A pharmacist can help with sore throats

To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, you can:

• use paracetamol or ibuprofen
• use medicated lozenges or anaesthetic sprays (although there's little proof they help)

You can buy them from a supermarket or from a pharmacist without a prescription.

Thrush is a common yeast infection that affects men and women. It's usually harmless but it can be uncomfortable and keep coming back. It is not classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

You can buy antifungal medicine from pharmacies if you've had thrush diagnosed in the past and you know the symptoms.

A pharmacist can recommend the best treatment for you. Ask if they have a private area to talk if you're embarrassed.

You should not use antifungal medicine more than twice in 6 months without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.