Acne, Dizziness, and a Watermelon Feast: A Day in A Life of Medical Student

Hello, everyone!

Today during our OPD rotation on campus, we encountered a patient complaining of head pressure, bouts of vertigo, and acne. 

Disclaimer: The patient consented to sharing this information. 

Back to the post: You might wonder why I’m mentioning acne when it seems unrelated to head symptoms. 

That’s where you’d be wrong. After conducting a mandatory scan (standard for any head-related symptoms), we proceeded with the examination. 

The conditions were related. How, you ask? Well, the patient hadn’t washed his hair for a month, relying instead on dry shampoo for a "fresh" feel and using gel/mousse for styling. 

Now, you might think, What’s wrong with that? The answer: everything. Many forget that the skin is an organ responsible for filtration. 

Since the patient didn’t use proper running water and shampoo to cleanse his scalp, buildup occurred. Initially, the excess oil and grease seeped into the facial skin, triggering acne and later blepharitis (an itchy lash condition caused by oil buildup—in simple terms). 

Next, the scalp follicles became blocked due to the accumulation. To put it simply, the scalp couldn’t breathe, leading to pressure in the head and occasional dizziness. 

We immediately recommended washing with a gentle clarifying shampoo. Surprisingly, the head symptoms vanished as if by magic! 

A follow-up a week later revealed a clear, acne-free face. I’m sharing this because many people experience similar issues but are prescribed acne ointments, which often don’t help much. 

The takeaway? The root cause might be something else entirely. For some, even three days without washing their hair can trigger the same reaction. Always consider the whole body — everything is interconnected. 

And to those who claim acne is primarily caused by impurities and pollution: that’s not entirely true. If that were the case, children would be the ones suffering from acne. 

Sometimes, the solution is simple—no need to overcomplicate it. 

_____

After Campus: A Sweet Reward 

Juicy, red, and oh so sweet,

A summer treat that can't be beat.

Back home, I freshened up and enjoyed a delicious spaghetti lunch with Mom, recounting my day at campus. 

After lunch, I craved something sweet and chilled. Ding! A lightbulb went off in my head—I had an idea. 

I hurried to the backyard garden, where the fruits of my labor awaited. Months ago, with Mom’s help, I planted watermelon and sweet melon vines. Though I’d never been interested in gardening, my love for fresh fruit motivated me. 

The sweet melon isn’t ripe yet, but the watermelon looked ready. Under the blazing sun, I hoisted the largest one (why did I grow such a chonky melon?!) and carried it to the kitchen. 

After washing and dicing it into big chunks, I popped them into the freezer. An hour later, I retrieved my frosty treat and returned to the backyard. 

Sinking my teeth into the icy, sweet goodness was pure bliss. Every second spent tending to it was worth it. 

Now, I can’t wait for the sweet melon to ripen! 

A sweet treat at the end of a tiring day - makes the day worth it.