8 Everyday Habits That Could Trigger a Panic Attack

What is a panic attack?

There’s a big difference between feeling nervous and having a full-blown panic attack. “A panic attack is a sudden state of intense fear or panic that often appears to come out of the blue,” explains Oklahoma City-based therapist Thai-An Truong, LPC, LADC. She says that the symptoms will peak in minutes and last about half an hour, but most people will feel the exhaustion and residual effects hours afterward. According to Truong, the most common symptoms are increased heart rate, heart palpitations, chest pain, sweating, shaking, difficulty breathing, and hyperventilating. What causes panic attacks depend on the individual, so identifying your personal panic attack triggers may help you to manage them. By cutting out some of these habits—with the help of a therapist if necessary—you may notice a difference in your overall anxiety levels. Learn to recognize the 10 clear signs of a panic attack.

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8 Parts of Your Body You Should Never Touch

Keep your hands off your face

Look around a coffee shop and you’ll see a good number of people resting their face in their hands. But unless you are washing your face or applying moisturizer, hands off! According to Matthew Lee, microbiologist, “Your hands contain oils that can plug your pores and worsen your acne. The germs on your fingers can exacerbate this effect.” So to help keep your face clean and pimple-free, don’t touch. Check out the other body features you should never pick or pluck (including blackheads).

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10 Things Doctors Wish You Knew About Ganglion Cysts

What is that weird lump?

I woke up one day last summer with a lump on my wrist. I thought: Hmm, that’s weird. Being a bit (OK a lot) of a worrier, I panicked.

Could it be cancer?

Let’s face it, mysterious bumps and lumps on your skin are troubling. The lump started out the size of a marble, but within days, it was almost as large as a SuperBall. That’s when I hightailed it to an orthopedist. The specialist pressed on it, bent my wrist a few times, and told me it was a ganglion cyst—a benign fluid-filled lump that grows on the joints or tendons. I was relieved—and surprised that I knew so little about these incredibly common growths. To make sure you know how to spot and treat one, we asked Dennis Cardone, MD, Chief of Primary Care Sports Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York to share the essential facts about ganglion cysts. Find out what’s really behind 14 other mysterious bumps on your skin.

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10 Common Myths About Ovarian Cancer You Need to Ignore

Myth: Talcum powder or cosmetics cause ovarian cancer

You may have heard about the lawsuits alleging that products containing the mineral talc, like some feminine hygiene powders and mineral cosmetics, cause ovarian cancer. But don’t get drawn into the hype, says Steve Vasilev, MD, medical director of integrative gynecologic oncology at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and a professor at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. “This current scare is based on observational and case studies alone,” he explains. “There really isn’t any good science showing that talc causes ovarian cancer.” So while we wait for better research to be done, it’s fine to steer clear of talc products if it makes you feel better but there’s no need to give up your favorite face powder yet if you don’t want to. Here are some more things you think cause cancer, but actually don’t.

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9 Hairstyle Mistakes That Age Your Face

Not updating your style

It’s easy to fall into hairstyling habits, but sticking with the same style for years may be making you look older than you really are. Adam Bogucki, owner of Lumination Salon in Chicago, recommends switching up your cut at least once each decade. “I’m not one of those people that thinks that just because you’re of a certain age you should have short hair, but if it’s the same haircut you’ve been wearing for a really long time, it’s probably aging you,” Bogucki says. Here’s what your hairstylist is secretly thinking.

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7 Skin Conditions That Look Like Acne but Aren’t

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory disorder often confused with acne. “While there are multiple types, the two most common include redness of the cheeks (flushing) and an over-abundance of little visible vessels on the cheeks, as well as acne-like bumps generally more in the mid face,” says dermatologist Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD. Unlike acne, rosacea is commonly triggered by histamine-related and spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Treatments usually combines both dietary and lifestyle changes and prescription topicals, and switching to non-irritating skin-care formulas. Follow these skin care tips that dermatologists abide by.

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What’s That Rash? How to ID 14 of the Most Common Skin Irritations

Eczema

If you’ve ever experienced an eczema breakout, you are far from alone. Approximately 31.6 million Americans have eczema, with a whopping 17.8 million of those experiencing moderate to severe eczema or atopic dermatitis, according to the National Eczema Association. “Eczema is a condition that causes patches of skin to become dry, inflamed, and irritated,” explains Joel Schlessinger, MD, board certified dermatologist and RealSelf contributor. “It’s characterized by a dry, itchy, and sometimes scaly rash that commonly appears on the face, the backs of the knees, and the wrists.” It can also show up on the neck, ankles, or in areas that bend such as the inner elbow. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, it typically runs in families, particularly those with allergies, asthma, or hay fever. Many people who have eczema also have allergies to various products, such as soaps, lotions, and laundry detergents. In infants, eczema can cause an oozing or crusty rash, typically on the face, particularly the cheeks and chin. Treatment typically involves topical creams and balms. Check out these key facts about eczema and how to treat it.

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9 DIY Face Masks to Unclog Pores

Pumpkin papaya facial mask

According to Puristry, an organic skincare products company that shared this recipe, “Since the enzymes in pumpkin and papaya will already be working hard to break down skin’s top layer of dead cells, massaging this mask into the skin is not necessary. If you’d like a deeper exfoliating effect, gently and slowly massage mask into skin for 30 seconds before allowing to set.”

What you’ll need:

2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup diced fresh papaya
2 teaspoons fresh, organic coffee grounds
1 teaspoon Purity Restorative Facial Oil or jojoba oil

Directions:

1. Mix pumpkin and papaya in a food processor on low until evenly combined.
2. Whisk in facial oil and coffee grounds until smooth and evenly dispersed.
3. Apply to face and neck, then leave on for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water.

Stop doing these bad habits and you’ll unclog pores naturally.

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13 Extraordinary Tea Tree Oil Benefits You Never Knew About

Tea Tree Oil Benefits: Clear Acne

One of tea tree oil’s benefits is as a home remedy for acne. A 5 percent solution of tea tree oil works just as well as the top drugstore acne remedy, benzoyl peroxide, according to Australian researchers studying their native resource. Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with 20 to 40 drops of witch hazel, and apply to the skin once or twice a day with a cotton swab. Be careful to not overuse it: while gentler than benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil can dry out your skin, triggering your body to overproduce its own oils and make your acne worse. If you apply it to your face, stay out of the sun—tea tree oil can make you more sensitive to UV rays. Here are the surprising home remedies for acne.

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