Articles
Evidence and practical answers, by condition
Each article answers a common question about the conditions we treat, with the numbers behind the answer.
Hormones & menopause
Estradiol Patch vs Gel vs Pill: Which Route Is Right for You?
Patch, gel, and pill all deliver estradiol, but the route changes your clot risk. Here is how transdermal estrogen compares to oral, and how to choose.
HRT Myths and the WHI Study: What the Trial Actually Found
The 2002 WHI study scared a generation off hormone therapy. Here is what the trial actually found and why the age-stratified reread changed the picture.
Is This Perimenopause? A Symptom Checklist for Your 40s
A clear symptom-by-symptom guide to perimenopause: hot flashes, sleep, mood, periods and brain fog, plus when to ask about hormone therapy.
The FDA Dropped the HRT Black Box Warning. Here Is What Actually Changed.
In November 2025 the FDA removed the boxed warning from menopausal hormone therapy. We break down what was removed, what stayed, and what it means for you.
Why You Need Progesterone With Estrogen (If You Have a Uterus)
If you take systemic estrogen and still have your uterus, you need progesterone to protect the lining. Here is why, and how micronized progesterone fits in.
Hair loss
Dutasteride vs Finasteride: When to Step Up
Dutasteride suppresses more DHT than finasteride, but it is off-label for hair loss with a smaller evidence base. Here is the data and the step-up logic.
Female Pattern Hair Loss: Your Treatment Options Explained
Minoxidil, spironolactone and why finasteride is restricted before menopause. A clear guide to the real treatment options for female pattern hair loss.
Finasteride Side Effects: The Real Numbers, Honestly
A straight look at finasteride side effects: the real trial rates, the post-finasteride syndrome debate and the 2025 EMA suicidality decision.
Hair Shedding vs Hair Loss: How to Tell the Difference
Sudden shedding and gradual thinning are different problems with different causes. Here is how to tell telogen effluvium from androgenetic hair loss, and when to worry.
Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil: Why Dermatologists Moved to the Pill
Low-dose oral minoxidil has become a go-to for pattern hair loss. Why dermatology shifted from the topical to the pill, and who it suits.
Herpes
Daily vs Episodic Herpes Treatment: How to Choose
Daily suppressive antivirals and episodic treatment do different jobs. Here is how the two approaches compare on outbreaks, transmission, cost and who each one fits.
Herpes Transmission Risk: The Actual Numbers
Real per-year transmission rates for genital HSV-2 in couples, plus what suppression, condoms and disclosure each add. The numbers are lower than most people fear.
How to Tell a Partner You Have Herpes
Disclosure scripts, when to have the conversation, how suppression changes it and the legal facts. A direct guide to telling a partner you have herpes.
HSV-1 vs HSV-2: What Actually Matters
The HSV type matters less than where the virus lives. Here is how HSV-1 and HSV-2 differ by site, and why recurrence rates depend on both type and location.
Valacyclovir vs Acyclovir: Which Herpes Antiviral to Take
Valacyclovir and acyclovir become the same active drug in your body. The difference is absorption, dosing frequency and cost. Here is how to choose.
Migraine
How Triptans Work, and Why Painkillers Often Don't
Triptans target the migraine pathway through 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Here is the mechanism, why timing matters, and why ordinary painkillers fall short.
Medication-Overuse Headache: The 10-Day Rule for Triptans
Taking triptans on 10 or more days a month for over three months can cause medication-overuse headache. Here is the threshold, why it happens and how to avoid it.
Migraine Triggers: Which Ones Hold Up in Studies
Not every popular migraine trigger survives controlled study. Here is which triggers the evidence supports, which fall apart and the reverse-causation trap.
Migraine vs Bad Headache: How to Tell the Difference
Migraine is a specific neurological condition, not just a severe headache. Here are the ICHD-3 criteria in plain language and a validated 3-question screen.
Sumatriptan vs Rizatriptan: Which Triptan Works Better
Sumatriptan and rizatriptan compared on onset, efficacy data and formulations. Rizatriptan acts faster orally; sumatriptan has more delivery options.
Skin
Azelaic Acid for Melasma and PIH: What the Trials Show
Azelaic acid 20% matched hydroquinone 4% in melasma trials and is one of the safest pigment treatments for darker skin and pregnancy. A realistic guide.
Latanoprost for Eyelash Growth vs Latisse: An Honest Guide
Latanoprost grows lashes the same way Latisse does. Here is how the two prostaglandin analogs compare, what to expect and an honest section on permanent iris darkening.
Prescription Rosacea Treatment: Azelaic Acid and Doxycycline
How azelaic acid 15% and anti-inflammatory dose doxycycline treat papulopustular rosacea, which subtype you have and why ocular symptoms need an in-person exam.
The Tretinoin Purge Timeline: What to Expect Week by Week
A clinician-informed week-by-week guide to the tretinoin purge, why your skin can worsen before it clears, and when a flare means something else.
Tretinoin Strengths Explained: 0.025% vs 0.05% vs 0.1%, Cream vs Gel
How tretinoin 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1% actually differ, what the photoaging trials showed and how to choose between cream and gel.