They may not be life-threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs and other body bothers can be painful, embarrassing and just plain annoying. Here's a roundup of 15 of the most common body annoyances, with info on what causes them, how you should handle them and when they may warrant a call to your doctor.
WATERLOGGED EARS
waterlogged ears + water gets trapped in ear canal
Waterlogged Ears + Water Gets Trapped in ear canal---When water is trapped in the ear canal, bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal multiply, causing infection of the ear canal and those ears are called waterlogged ears.

A common source of the infection is increased moisture trapped in the ear canal, from baths, showers, swimming, or moist environments.

Swimmer’s ear is a painful condition resulting from inflammation, irritation, or infection, by affecting the outer ear.

This condition commonly affects swimmers, it is known as swimmer’s ear.

Swimmer’s ear often affects children and teenagers, but can also affect those with eczema or excess earwax.

Swimmer’s ear needs to be treated to reduce pain and eliminate any effect it may have on your hearing, as well as to prevent the spread of infection.

Try these simple ideas to get the water out of your ears.

*The treatment is a prescription antibiotic ear drop. Place 5 – 10 drops into the ear 2 to 4 times a day for 5 to 7 days.

*Tylenol or ibuprofen can be used to treat the pain until the ear drops take effect. Use both together for severe pain.

*Treatment for the early stages of swimmer’s ear includes careful cleaning of the ear canal.

*Mildly acidic solutions containing boric or acetic acid are effective for early infections.

What to do: Tilt your head and find an angle that will let the water drain out, says Rachel C. Vreeman, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, in Indianapolis. Holding a hair dryer a few inches from your ear can also dry up the fluid, Freeman says—but be sure to use the gentlest setting.

When to call a doctor: If your ear hurts, is red or is draining fluid, you may have swimmer's ear and should seek medical attention.

HICCUPS
hiccups + diaphragm contraction, vocal chords snap shut
Scaring away hiccups caused by diaphragm contraction, vocal chords snap shut. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
 In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.

 Hiccups
What causes them: Hiccups occur when your diaphragm starts contracting involuntarily. Your vocal cords snap shut after every spasm, making that familiar "hic" sound.

What to do: Well-worn remedies, like drinking a glass of water upside down or holding your breath, can help. "Many of these cures actually seem to work by disrupting your breathing cycle in a way that allows the diaphragm to relax and stop its hiccup-causing spasms," says Vreeman, co-author of "Don't Cross Your Eyes … They'll Get Stuck that Way!"

When to call a doctor: Seek medical attention if they last for more than three hours or make it hard to breathe or swallow.


DRY MOUTH
dry mouth + slow down in saliva production
Dry mouth: slow down in saliva production could be caused by drugs. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.
What to do: Drink more water. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy can also help. Reduce your caffeine intake, and if you smoke, quit. You can also try moisturizing rinses, sprays and gels.

When to call a doctor: "If none of these remedies work, check in with your doctor," says Roshini Raj, MD, Health magazine's medical editor and co-author of "What the Yuck?!" "There's a chance you could have another problem like a respiratory infection, chronic sinusitis or diabetes."

Dry mouth is a side effect of this treatment

BLISTERS
Blisters + friction causes fluid between layers of skin
Blisters: friction causes fluid between layers of skin, shoe shopping tips to prevent blisters. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.


What to do: "The best thing you can do for your blister is leave it alone," Dr. Vreeman says. "Blisters can get infected easily, and this is why we don't want you to pop them unless they are really big." If you must pop a blister, make sure your hands are clean, use a sterile needle to let the fluid out, and don't remove the flap of skin covering the blister.

When to call a doctor: You should seek medical help if the area around a blister gets red or tender, or starts draining fluid that is not clear—all of which can indicate infection.


Shoe-shopping tips to prevent blisters


SNEEZING FITS
sneezing fits + allergy or viral infection
Sneezing fits caused by allergy or viral infection, pollen season January to October. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.


What to do: "If you regularly have sneezing fits, you need to think carefully about when they happen and what you might be allergic to," Dr. Vreeman says. "Dust, pollen and animal dander are the most common causes."

When to call a doctor: If your sneezes happen only during pollen season (track pollen levels) or after you pet a dog, you may have allergies. See an allergist to find out for sure.

STIFF NECK

stiff neck + neck muscle strain
Stiff neck, neck muscle strain and ergonomics. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.

What to do: Be aware of your posture. If you work in an office, make sure your desk, chair, computer keyboard and monitor are positioned to let you work comfortably. What movement created a more comfortable work place?

When to call a doctor: If your stiff neck doesn't respond within a week to home remedies such as over-the-counter pain relievers, heating pads, icing, or gentle massage, check with your doctor.

CHAPPED LIPS

chapped lips + dry air, sun, cold dries out lips and causes cracks or splits
Chapped lips: dry air, sun, cold dries out lips and causes cracks or splits. We've all experienced some variation of the following "issues." They may not be life threatening, but hiccups, blisters, ingrown hairs, and other body bothers can be painful and just plain annoying.
In fact, there are simple steps you can take to make them go away faster—or to prevent them in the first place.


What to do: Licking your lips can make it worse. Frequent applications of lip balm will shield the delicate skin of your lips and help them heal. Dermatologists recommend using a balm with built-in sun protection and staying away from ingredients such as eucalyptus or camphor, which can dry out your lips.


When to call a doctor: If lip balm doesn't do the trick, you should consult a doctor. "Cracks at the corners of your mouth may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency," Dr. Raj says. "Have a doctor check your levels—and consider taking a multivitamin."

CHARLEY HORSE
Charley horse + caused by strenuous workout, heels, lack of potassium
Don't strain yourself. If you are an athlete, you should not put strain on the affected area. Limit your movements and avoid strenuous activities.
Ice. For the quadriceps contusion type of charlie horse, applying ice to the affected area should be the immediate response. Keeping the leg in a fully bent position for 24 hours also helps in preventing further pain or spasms.
Do not use heat. Heat may only increase swelling and encourage more blood to flow in the affected area and it may worsen the contusions.
Compression.Compression is done to reduce swelling, and is especially useful for the quadriceps contusion type of charlie horse.
Elevate the area. Encourage the blood flow from your limbs towards the heart by elevating your legs above the heart area. You can do this by lying down and propping your legs on pillows.
Vitamin E. 400 iu of vitamin E is recommended for people who get nightly charlie horses.
Stretching and massaging. For the quadriceps contusion type of charlie horse, do gentle pain-free quadriceps stretching for 30 seconds, and repeat five times daily. Depending on the severity of the condition, you may also apply gentle massaging to the area.
For the more common kind of charlie horse, you can also gently massage the affected area and also do some simple stretching exercises.

Walking aid. Depending on the severity of the case, walking aids are also recommended until your legs fully recover. Physical therapy may also be needed. (For more information on physical therapy, read the guide to Physical therapy)
Medication. Anti-steroidal, non-inflammatory may be prescribed for the pain. For more severe cases, anti-spasm medication may also be prescribed to you.
Seek medical attention. It's best that you see a specialist to diagnose the severity of the charlie horse and its proper treatment.


What to do: A charley horse every now and then isn't cause for concern, Dr. Raj says. "Try eating more foods with potassium, like avocados and bananas," she advises. Be sure you're hydrating adequately before workouts, she adds, and fully warm up and cool down after each exercise session.

When to call a doctor: Rarely, the spasms can be due to nerve injury—stemming from a herniated disc, for example. If they happen frequently, have your doctor test for nutrient deficiencies and do a full neurological exam.


SLEEPING HAND OR FOOT
Sleeping foot + nerve pathway cut off causing numbing
SYMPTOMS
What other symptoms might occur with finger numbness?
Finger numbness may also occur with other symptoms or combinations of symptoms. For example, numbness, tingling and itchiness in combination may be symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Numbness due to a bulging cervical disk (in your neck) can be associated with extreme pain that extends down the shoulder, arm, hand, and certain fingers. Any symptoms occurring with finger numbness can help your doctor make a diagnosis.
What causes finger numbness?
Finger numbness can be a symptom of a wide variety of diseases, disorders, or conditions that either restrict blood flow or cause injury to the nerves. Temporary finger numbness can be due to any activity that causes prolonged pressure on a nerve or nerves, such as fine motor activities (drawing), repetitive motion, and sleeping the wrong way on your arm. Finger Numbness can also be due to orthopedic conditions that compress a specific nerve.
What to do: Moving your foot in circles or clenching and unclenching your hand should get rid of pins and needles fast, Dr. Vreeman says. "Shifting position, not crossing your legs for long periods of time, and taking breaks to move around can all prevent you from having a body part fall asleep," she adds.

When to call a doctor: If normal feeling doesn't come back quickly, you may have problems with your nerves or circulation and should seek medical attention.

INGROWN HAIRS
Ingrown hairs + when hair grows back into skin after shaving
There's nothing worse than dealing with ingrown hairs. They cause unsightly blemishes on your skin and can lead to infection in the worst cases. People with curly hair have it especially bad, since the hair is more apt to turn back inward rather than grow straight out. Ingrown hairs are especially prevalent after shaving, when the freshly cut hairs can cause mischief. A few steps before, during and after your shave can keep ingrown hairs to a minimum.

What to do: You can stop tweezing, shaving or waxing. Also, as you're getting ready to shave, gently rubbing your skin with a warm washcloth in a circular motion may help prevent ingrown hairs.


When to call a doctor: Your doctor can prescribe creams, such as Renova, that help slough dead cells from the surface of your skin.


MOSQUITO BITES
mosquito bites + bump is reaction to mosquito saliva
Mosquitoes are a seemingly harmless insects, which feed on almost anything. However, female mosquitoes need human blood to survive. Mosquitoes insert their long proboscis in human skin and release saliva. This saliva contains proteins that prevent human blood from clotting and also keep the blood flowing in the mouth of the mosquito. In fact, it is this protein that induces allergic reactions to mosquito bites in some people.

read more: buzzle

What to do: Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream and repeat until the itch is gone. If you're having a more severe reaction, you can take an over-the-counter antihistamine.

Best Prevention: The best cure is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Cover up as much as possible, use insect repellent (including on your clothes) and stay inside during peak biting hours.

TICKLY THROAT
tickling throat + caused by irritation from cold, allergy
What to do: Most of the time your throat will get better with home remedies like drinking plenty of liquids, gargling with warm salt water , sucking on lozenges and taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen. Putting a humidifier in your bedroom can also help.

DRY SKIN
dry skin + caused by hot, cold, sun, harsh soap

What to do: If your dry skin is caused by environmental factors, using plenty of moisturizer and showering in lukewarm water (rather than hot) will make a big difference.

When to call a doctor: See your doctor for help with dry skin that persists. He or she may be able to prescribe ointments that will solve the problem. Dry skin also can be caused by hypothyroidism.

BLOATING
bloating + caused by excess gas trapped in stomach or intestine

What to do: "Exercise might be the last thing on your mind when your stomach hurts, but a brisk 10- or 15-minute walk can do wonders," Dr. Raj says. "If you don't exercise, your intestines become sluggish, which can lead to cramping and constipation." He also suggests applying gentle pressure in a circular motion to a spot four finger-widths above your navel, for five minutes. This acupressure technique can ease stress and calm belly woes.

PIMPLES
acne + caused by excess oil blocks a pore and bacteria gets trapped inside

What to do: If you try to pop a pimple the wrong way you're liable to end up with a scar. To remove one properly, cover it with a hot, wet towel for three minutes. Then wrap your fingers in a tissue and gently squeeze the pimple from either side until the fluid runs clear. If it's a blackhead and doesn't come out easily, stop and try again later.

When to call a doctor: Dermatologists can treat more serious cases of acne with topical medications, oral antibiotics and even laser therapy.