
What's That Rash?
Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.
ABC Australia
Show overview
What's That Rash? has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 263 episodes. That works out to roughly 65 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 12 min and 19 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Health & Fitness show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 6 days ago, with 26 episodes already out so far this year. Published by ABC Australia.
From the publisher
Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.
Latest Episodes
View all 263 episodesShould you be taking calcium supplements?
Can tapping calm your nervous system?
Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?
Still coughing — are you still infectious?
Can your joints predict the weather?
Should you get a full-body MRI?
Deep dive on progressive exercise
Hantavirus: what we know about the cruise ship outbreak
Why is yawning contagious?
Tonsils, appendix, gallbladder: is anything actually useless?
Should you be eating more fruit?
Red and other light therapy — can it work?
Why are some people right (or left) handed?
Headaches: causes, cures and exercise?!
Headaches are common, but the causes are wide and varied, and some are more serious than others. Why do we get headaches? What's the difference between a headache and a migraine?Norman and Tegan talk through some basics about headaches, and why a round of squats might help...References:The Science Behind Headaches: What's Really Happening In Your Skull The vascular theory of migraine—a great story wrecked by the factsTwelve-month efficacy of CGRP monoclonal antibodies and predictive value of short-term response: results of an Australian multicentre study Trial of Galcanezumab in Prevention of Episodic Cluster HeadacheErenumab for Chronic Cluster Headache: A Randomized Clinical TrialEffect of Exercise on Chronic Tension-Type Headache and Chronic Migraine: A Systematic ReviewThe effect of different exercise types on migraine frequency in individuals with migraine: A pilot studyIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Am I addicted to caffeine?Is emu oil the new snake oil?There's a lot of fog around brain fog
Is a vibration plate worth the cost?
We've all probably wished for a way to achieve our fitness goals without the strain and sweat that can come with exercise.So what if you could lose weight, gain muscle and improve circulation just by standing on a vibrating platform?Norman and Tegan buzz through the evidence for and against vibration plates and so called "passive exercise".References:Dr Gustav Zander’s Victorian-Era Exercise Machines Made the Bowflex Look Like Child’s PlayThe effects of whole body vibration therapy on reducing fat mass in the adult general population: A systematic review and meta-analyses Whole-body vibration administered during a 3-week in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program increases resting energy expenditure in obese adolescents, a randomized clinical trial Immediate effects of localized vibration on flexibility: A randomized crossover trial Effects of whole body vibration with exercise therapy versus exercise therapy alone on flexibility, vertical jump height, agility and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain: a randomized clinical trial Whole Body Vibration as an Adjunct to Static StretchingWhole-Body Vibration Stimulates Microvascular Blood Flow in Skeletal Muscle Whole body vibration training improves leg blood flow and adiposity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Lower Limb Blood Flow in Children with Myelomeningocele—A Randomized Trial Effect of localised vibration on muscle strength in healthy adults: a systematic review Whole-body vibration training improves muscle mass and strength in older adults through intra- and extra-muscular pathways The effect of whole body vibration training on quadriceps voluntary activation level of people with age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia): a randomized pilot study Hormonal responses to a single session of wholebody vibration exercise in older individualsHormonal and Metabolic Responses to Whole Body Vibration in Healthy Adults Low-frequency vibrotherapy considerably improves the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in patients with lipedema: A two-armed, randomized, controlled pragmatic trial Efficacy of whole body vibration exercise in older people: a systematic review If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Can you zap yourself buff with electrical muscle stimulation?Do the benefits of creatine go beyond the gym?Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?
Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine?
Snail slime, or snail mucin, has become a popular product in skin care.Some claim it has anti-ageing properties, but if the early research shakes out, snail mucus could have even more significant uses.Norman and Tegan discuss why snail gunk has become a hero of cosmetics, and what else it might be capable of.References:Why Snail Mucin? Or, How This Ancient Practice Became a Skin Care SensationChemical composition, mineral profile, anti-bacterial, and wound healing properties of snail slime of Helix aspersa Müller Extraction, structure, pharmacological activities and applications of polysaccharides and proteins isolated from snail mucusAntimicrobial Activities of Different Fractions from Mucus of the Garden Snail Cornu aspersumAntimicrobial efficacy of Egyptian Eremina desertorum and Helix aspersa snail mucus with a novel approach to their anti-inflammatory and wound healing potenciesReviewing The Potential of Snail Extract to Accelerate and Improve Burn Wound Healing: A Literature Review HelixComplex snail mucus exhibits pro-survival, proliferative and pro-migration effects on mammalian fibroblastsThe efficacy of Helix aspersa Müller extract in the healing of partial thickness burns: A novel treatment for open burn management protocolsHelix aspersa maxima mucus exhibits antimelanogenic and antitumoral effects against melanoma cells849 Snail mucus increases the anti-cancer activity of anti-PD-L1 antibody in melanoma Snail Mucus Enhances Chemosensitivity of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Via Activation of the Fas PathwaySnails and Skin: A Systematic Review on the Effects of Snail-based Products on Skin HealthFrom Nature to Nurture: The Science and Applications of Snail Slime in Health and BeautyArtificial Snail Mucus Could Advance Cancer Treatments – Johns Hopkins UniversityIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Does anti-ageing skincare actually work?Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances?What we do (and don't) know about tinnitus
Could headphones be damaging our ears?
Walking down the street, most people you pass will be wearing headphones or ear buds. Chances are you are too!But is this trend of noise-cancelling harming your ears or the way your brain processes sound?Norman and Tegan sound out the evidence on headphone use and hearing damage, and what you can do to protect your ears.References:Know Your Noise - National Acoustic LaboratoriesPumping loud music is putting more than 1 billion young people at risk of hearing loss - University of Melbourne A Partial History of Headphones - Smithsonian Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis Hearing thresholds, tinnitus, and headphone listening habits in nine-year-old children Do Noise-Cancelling Headphones Help or Hurt Hearing? - University of ColoradoTips for safe listening using headphones and earbuds – Hearing Australia If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Is there such thing as TOO much sun protection?Is there a cure for jet lag?Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever?
Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?
Many people believe that taking vitamin C supplements helps their immune system fight off colds.But there are even bigger claims attached to this supplement – that it not only boosts immunity, but fights cancer.Norman and Tegan introduce us to the Nobel laureate who pushed these theories decades ago, and whether there’s any truth to them.References:The Discovery of Vitamin C Treatment for scurvy not discovered by LindLinus Pauling’s Vitamin C CrusadeAscorbic Acid in Cancer Treatment: Let the Phoenix FlyA randomized trial of pharmacological ascorbate, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel for metastatic pancreatic cancerThe Role of Vitamin C in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: A Literature Review High-dose vitamin C: A promising anti-tumor agent, insight from mechanisms, clinical research, and challenges Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent Vitamin C - Australian Institute of SportVitamin C – EatforHealth.gov.au If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Multivitamins: Are they a scam?Can consuming dairy really give you acne?Is sitting the new smoking?
Can peptides keep you young and buff?
Unless you're in certain corners of the internet, you won't be aware of the peptide craze promising to grow your muscles and slow ageing.That's because your average GP won't be printing a prescription for these injectable drugs, like BPC-157 or melanotan.Norman and Tegan discuss why there's so much fan fare over unproven peptides with some potentially nasty side effects.References:Effects of Topical Copper Tripeptide Complex on CO2 Laser–Resurfaced Skin Don’t risk using tanning products containing melanotan - TGAMelanotan‐associated melanomaMelanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case reportMelanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case reportMelanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan – BMJ case studyBPC-157: Experimental peptide prohibited - US Anti-Doping AuthorityEffect of BPC-157 on Symptoms in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot StudySafety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot StudyIntra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee PainGeneral practitioner disqualified for inappropriately prescribing peptidesIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out!Can collagen supplements keep your skin supple?Should you be flexible enough to touch your toes?Can you zap yourself buff with electrical muscle stimulation?
Can flossing benefit more than your teeth?
Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites?Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to maintain.Norman and Tegan pick through the history of flossing, and whether it can improve your heart and brain health too.Terms and conditions of our World Science Festival Brisbane ticket giveaway! References:Ask the Expert: Do I Really Need to Floss? - NIH Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental cariesFlossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults Does flossing before or after brushing influence the reduction in the plaque index? A systematic review and meta-analysisWhy would cardiovascular disease and poor oral health be connected? - Harvard Health Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million peopleStronger connections made between oral health and Alzheimer's disease Large study links gum disease with dementia What Dentists Have to Say About Red-Light Therapy for Optimal Oral Health If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!How risky is sharing a toothbrush?Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances?Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?