Most sore throats are caused by the same viruses that cause colds and flu. They usually get better on their own within a week. Antibiotics don’t help a viral sore throat, but plenty of simple remedies can make you feel better while your body clears the infection.

What causes a sore throat?

• Viruses such as colds, flu and COVID-19 cause most sore throats, often with a runny nose, cough or hoarse voice.
• Strep throat, a bacterial infection, causes around 1 in 10 sore throats in adults and up to 3 in 10 in children. It needs a test and antibiotics.
• Dry air, allergies and acid reflux can irritate the throat, especially first thing in the morning. See allergies or cold: how to tell and heartburn relief.
• Smoking and shouting can also leave your throat raw.

Home remedies that help

• Salt water gargle: dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, gargle and spit. Repeat several times a day.
• Honey: a spoonful on its own or in warm water or tea soothes the throat and can ease coughing. Never give honey to babies under 1 year old.
• Warm and cold drinks: warm tea or broth, or cold drinks and ice lollies, whichever feels better.
• Rest your voice and get plenty of sleep.
• Humidify the air with a humidifier or a steamy shower if the air is dry.
• Stay hydrated so your throat doesn’t dry out.

Over-the-counter options

• Pain relievers: acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen ease pain and fever. Follow the label and check other cold medicines for the same ingredient.
• Medicated lozenges and sprays: lozenges with menthol, or with numbing ingredients like benzocaine, give short-term relief. Don’t give lozenges to young children because of the choking risk.
• Herbal lozenges: honey and herbal lozenges such as Himalaya Koflet lozenges soothe and keep the throat moist.
• Cough syrups: if a cough is keeping your throat sore, a soothing herbal syrup such as Himalaya Koflet-EX linctus may help. Read the age guidance on the pack.

Is it strep throat?

Strep is more likely if you have:

• A sudden, severe sore throat and pain when swallowing
• A fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
• Swollen, tender glands at the front of the neck
• White patches or pus on the tonsils, or tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
• No cough or runny nose

A doctor or urgent care clinic can do a quick swab test. If it’s strep, antibiotics help you recover faster and prevent complications.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if:

• Your sore throat lasts longer than a week, or keeps coming back
• You have signs of strep throat, listed above
• You have a high fever, a rash, or ear pain
• You have a weakened immune system

Get urgent help if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, are drooling because you can’t swallow, can’t open your mouth fully, or have swelling on one side of the throat or neck.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a sore throat last?

A viral sore throat usually improves within 5 to 7 days. Strep throat improves within a day or two of starting antibiotics.

What is the fastest way to soothe a sore throat?

A salt water gargle, a spoonful of honey, a lozenge and a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen usually bring relief within an hour.

Do I need antibiotics for a sore throat?

Only if a test shows a bacterial infection such as strep. Antibiotics don’t work on viruses and can cause side effects.

More in our Allergies guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

More in our Everyday Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

Cracked heels (heel fissures) are very common, especially in dry weather and for people who stand a lot. Most cases heal within 1 to 2 weeks with a simple daily routine.

Why heels crack

• Dry skin, especially in winter or hot, dry climates
• Standing for long periods, particularly on hard floors
• Open-back shoes and sandals, which let the heel fat pad spread
• Long hot showers and harsh soaps
• Extra body weight, which adds pressure on the heels
• Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, eczema, psoriasis and athlete’s foot

Nightly routine to heal cracked heels

1. Soak your feet in warm (not hot) water for 10 minutes.
2. Gently rub thick skin with a pumice stone or foot file. Don’t cut hard skin yourself.
3. Pat dry and apply a thick foot cream to the heels, such as Himalaya FootCare Cream.
4. Put on cotton socks overnight to help the cream soak in.
5. Moisturise again in the morning.

Ingredients that help

• Urea (10 to 25%) softens hard skin and holds in moisture
• Salicylic acid or lactic acid gently remove thick, dead skin
• Petroleum jelly, glycerin or shea butter seal in moisture

Prevent cracks coming back

• Moisturise your feet every day
• Wear closed-back, supportive shoes
• Drink enough water and avoid very long hot baths
• Check your feet for athlete’s foot, which can cause cracking. See athlete’s foot treatment.

When to see a doctor or podiatrist

• Cracks that bleed, are deep or very painful
• Redness, warmth, swelling or pus, which can mean infection
• No improvement after 2 weeks of daily care
• If you have diabetes or poor circulation: see a doctor or podiatrist about any crack or sore, as foot wounds can become serious quickly

Frequently asked questions

How long do cracked heels take to heal?

Mild cracks usually improve within a week of nightly care. Deeper cracks can take 2 to 3 weeks.

Is Vaseline good for cracked heels?

Yes. Petroleum jelly seals in moisture, especially under socks overnight. A cream with urea works faster on thick skin.

Can I use a razor to remove hard skin?

No. Cutting can cause deep cuts and infection. Use a pumice stone or foot file instead.

More in our Skin and Fungal Infections guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

More in our Everyday Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

Dandruff affects about half of adults at some point. It’s not caused by poor hygiene, and it’s very treatable. The key is using the right shampoo ingredient, the right way, consistently.

What causes dandruff

Most dandruff comes from a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis. A yeast called Malassezia, which lives on everyone’s scalp, breaks down scalp oils. In some people this irritates the skin and speeds up how fast skin cells shed, causing white or yellowish flakes and itching. Dandruff is often worse in winter, with stress, and in people with oily skin.

Anti-dandruff ingredients compared

For mild dandruff, a gentle option such as Himalaya tea tree or cooling mint anti-dandruff shampoo may be enough. For stubborn flakes, ketoconazole usually works best.

How to use anti-dandruff shampoo properly

1. Wet your hair and massage the shampoo into your scalp, not just your hair.
2. Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing. This is the step most people skip.
3. Use it 2 to 3 times a week until flakes clear, usually 2 to 4 weeks.
4. Then keep using it once a week to stop dandruff coming back.
5. If one shampoo stops working, switch to a different active ingredient.

Other tips

• Wash your hair often enough to stop oil building up
• Avoid heavy oils and styling products on the scalp
• Don’t scratch, which irritates the skin further
• Manage stress and get enough sleep, which can reduce flare-ups

When to see a doctor

• No improvement after 4 to 6 weeks of regular medicated shampoo
• Red, swollen, oozing or very itchy patches
• Thick, silvery scale (possible psoriasis), or flaking on the face, eyebrows or chest
• Hair loss in patches

Frequently asked questions

Is dandruff caused by a dry scalp?

Usually not. Dry scalp flakes are small and white and improve with gentle shampoo and moisturising. Dandruff flakes are often larger, oilier and itchy, and need an anti-dandruff ingredient.

Does dandruff cause hair loss?

Not directly, but scratching can damage hair. Treating the itch helps. See our guide to hair loss treatment for men.

Can I use anti-dandruff shampoo every day?

Gentle ones such as zinc pyrithione can be used often. Stronger ones such as ketoconazole are usually used 2 to 3 times a week.

More in our Hair Loss guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

Himalaya Liv.52 and milk thistle are two of the best-selling liver supplements in the world. One is a multi-herb Ayurvedic formula from India; the other is a single herb from European tradition. Here’s how they compare, and what neither can do.

At a glance

Himalaya Liv.52

Liv.52 has been sold since 1955 and is one of India’s most widely used herbal products. It combines caper bush (Himsra), chicory (Kasani), black nightshade, arjuna and other herbs traditionally used to support liver function and appetite. A double-strength (DS) version means fewer tablets a day.

Milk thistle

Milk thistle’s active compounds, together called silymarin, act as antioxidants in lab studies. In people, trials in alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis and fatty liver haven’t shown consistent benefit. It’s considered safe for most adults.

Which should you choose?

• If you want a traditional all-round formula that also supports appetite and digestion, Liv.52 is the more common choice.
• If you prefer a single, standardised herb, milk thistle is easy to find.
• Don’t take several liver supplements at once without asking a doctor.

Neither one treats liver disease, undoes the effects of heavy drinking, or replaces medical care. The habits that matter most are covered in our guide on how to support your liver.

Who should check with a doctor first

• Anyone with liver disease, hepatitis or jaundice
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• People taking prescription medicines, especially diabetes medicines (milk thistle may lower blood sugar) and medicines broken down by the liver
• People allergic to plants in the daisy family (milk thistle)

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Liv.52 and milk thistle together?

There’s no known dangerous interaction, but there’s also no evidence that combining them helps. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first.

How long until I notice a difference?

Herbal supplements work gradually. Most people take them for at least 4 to 8 weeks.

Do they protect the liver from alcohol?

No supplement makes heavy drinking safe. Cutting down on alcohol is what protects your liver.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Supplements are not evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Around two in three men notice some hair loss by their mid-30s, most often from male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). The treatments that work best slow the loss and regrow some hair, but they all need patience and consistency. This guide compares the options so you can choose what fits you.

First, confirm the cause

Male pattern baldness follows a typical pattern: a receding hairline at the temples, thinning at the crown, or both, developing over years. See a doctor first if your hair loss is sudden, patchy, comes out in clumps, or comes with an itchy, scaly or sore scalp. Thyroid problems, low iron, stress and some medicines can also cause shedding.

Treatments compared

Minoxidil: the first step most men try

Minoxidil is available without a prescription. For men, the 5% strength works better than 2%. Apply it to a dry scalp twice a day for the solution, or once a day for the foam. Expect some extra shedding in the first weeks, which usually means it’s working. If you stop, the regrown hair falls out over a few months. Read more in Rogaine 2% vs 5% and minoxidil side effects.

Finasteride: talk to a doctor

Finasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in male pattern baldness. It needs a prescription because it isn’t right for everyone: a small number of men get lower libido or erection problems, and mood changes have been reported. A doctor can explain the risks and benefits for you. Women who are or may become pregnant must not handle broken tablets.

Supporting habits

• Use a gentle shampoo that suits your scalp. Strengthening shampoos such as Himalaya Bhringaraja can reduce breakage, but they won’t stop pattern baldness.
• Treat dandruff, which can make the scalp itchy and inflamed
• Avoid tight hairstyles and harsh heat styling
• Eat enough protein, iron and zinc; ask your doctor to check your levels if you’re worried
• Take photos in the same light every month so you can judge progress honestly

Frequently asked questions

Can male pattern baldness be cured?

No, but it can be slowed and partly reversed. The earlier you start, the more hair you keep.

How long should I try a treatment before giving up?

At least 6 months for minoxidil, and up to 12 months for finasteride.

Is it too late to start?

Treatments work best on thinning hair, not on areas that have been bald for years. For those areas, a hair transplant is the main option.

Related: Hair loss in women

More in our Hair Loss guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.