12 Things You Should Never, Ever Do to Your Skin, According to Dermatologists

Never pop a pimple

When a pimple is big and red and gross and you want it gone ASAP, popping it can seem like a good idea. “It is so tempting to do,” says Boca Raton dermatologist Jeffrey Fromowitz, MD. “But whenever you create a disruption in the skin, it increases the chance of infection, worsening inflammation and even scarring.” Instead, if you have a really prominent pimple you want to pop, go see your dermatologist—or try this dermatologist-approved way to pop a pimple.

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10 Signs of Disease That Are Written All Over Your Face

Dry, flaky skin or lips

This is a common warning sign of dehydration. It may also indicate a more serious problem that affects sweat gland function, such as hypothyroidism (marked by insufficient levels of thyroid hormone) or diabetes, says Roshini Raj, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine and author of What the Yuck?! Other signs of hypothyroidism include feeling cold, weight gain, and fatigue. Diabetes symptoms include extreme thirst, frequent urination, and blurry vision. Here are more signs of disease your skin can reveal.

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10 Pieces of Anti-Aging Advice You Should Definitely Ignore

Washing your face more than once a day will lead to wrinkles

Any dermatologist will tell you the importance of washing your face twice a day—both in the morning and at night. This is true even on a lazy weekend day when you haven’t left the comfort of your own house. “The World Health Organization has determined that indoor pollution is at higher levels than outdoors,” says Miami, Florida–based dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, MD, cofounder of Dr. Loretta Skincare. “You should wash your face twice daily and directly after exercising to clear your skin of microscopic pollutants before they penetrate and damage deeper layers of skin that can lead to age spots and wrinkles.” Avoid these 22 habits that make you age faster.

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Doctors Reveal the Real Questions You Should Be Asking Them

The doctor will see you now

Twenty minutes isn’t even enough time to catch an episode of The Big Bang Theory—yet for most Americans, that’s the amount of face time they’ll get with their doctors all year, according to a study published in the medical journal BMJ. Which is why it makes sense to prepare for those precious 20 minutes. Asking the right questions can be key to staying healthy in between checkups. Here’s what top docs say are the most important questions to pose. By the way, check out the 16 signs you need to fire your doctor right away.

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14 Ways Podiatrists Say You’re Killing Your Feet

Your heels are too high

Your feet are the most used—and abused—body part. Yet while you probably spend a good ten minutes taking care of your face every morning and night, chances are your feet are lucky to get a pedicure once a month. Trust podiatrists when they warn you that should something go wrong with your tootsies, your entire way of life will suffer.

So let’s start with the obvious: High heels may make a statement, but if they’re too high, the only statement you’ll be making is “Ouch.” Your feet and legs have to overcompensate to help you walk, which could lead to painful conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions, and heel spurs, warns Rebecca Pruthi, DPM, a podiatric physician and surgeon at Foot Care of Manhattan in New York City. Keep heels to two inches or less to prevent foot pain, Dr. Pruthi recommends. By the way, these are 20 things shoe salespeople are secretly thinking about you.

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Millions More People Can Now Benefit from This Anticancer Vaccine

In 2006, science gained a distinct advantage over the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus known to cause cancer and other diseases in both men and women: That’s when the FDA first approved the anti-HPV vaccine Gardasil. In the decade that followed, even greater strides were made in the form of Gardasil 9, which is effective against nine different HPV strains. Until now, Gardasil 9 had been available only for people between the ages of 9 and 26, but in an exciting new development, the FDA has OK’d Gardasil 9 for adults between the ages of 27 and 45. Check out 10 dangerous myths about HPV.

HPV is a widespread public health issue—about 14 million Americans becoming infected each year. Of those, roughly 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 will die. Men not only can pass the virus but also face the risk of anal and esophageal cancer, among other types of cancer. Experts estimate that over a recent two-year period, nearly 23 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 to 59 had some form of HPV. Find out 9 facts about cervical cancer.

Originally, the FDA limited Gardasil 9 to people between the ages of 9 and 26 because research suggested that the vaccine was most effective for that age group, in which HPV infection was less likely. But medical professionals had begun to suspect that Gardasil might benefit people older than 26. Then, in a groundbreaking study that followed 3,200 women between the ages of 27 and 46 for an average of 3.5 years, Gardasil was found to be 88 percent effective in preventing the infection. Ignore these 10 myths about vaccines.

Follow-up research confirmed the results—and revealed that men could benefit too. “Today’s approval represents an important opportunity to help prevent HPV-related diseases and cancers in a broader age range,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that HPV vaccination prior to becoming infected . . . has the potential to prevent more than 90 percent of these cancers, or 31,200 cases every year, from ever developing.” Although the vaccine does not protect you from an HPV strain if you are already infected with it, it will still protect against other strains.  If you’re worried about getting a vaccine, check out 40 facts about vaccines that these medical professionals wish you knew.

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What You Need to Know Before Seeing an Acupuncturist

Yes, there are needles—but not the kind you think

Acupuncture needles are nothing like the ones used in a typical doctor’s office. They’re much thinner and flexible—you could fit 40 acupuncture needles into one hypodermic needle. “Often, my patients will not notice the insertion at all, and if they do, the feeling is similar to having an eyebrow plucked,” says licensed acupuncturist Michael L. Fox, PhD, of Silverlake Acupuncture in Los Angeles. FDA regulation requires that each needle is individually wrapped and sterile. Find out more about how exactly acupuncture works its magic in the body.

It works by reestablishing the flow of vital energy

Chinese healers have been using acupuncture for over 2,000 years. Rather than focus on individual symptoms like fatigue or nausea, acupuncturists try to read the flow of vital energy known as “qi” (pronounced “chi”) throughout the body to identify the root cause of the trouble. Acupuncturists believe that there are meridians—pathways—through which qi flows; when health issues arise, it means the pathway is blocked somewhere. “The needle allows you to reach the points where the energy pools; by stimulating that point with the needle, you can open a gate so the energy can flow again,” explains Eugene London, DAOM, a practicing acupuncturist in San Francisco and former chair of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Even with the poking, acupuncture is very safe

As long as it’s performed by a licensed practitioner, acupuncture is considered safe. In fact, the chances of complications are far lower than with medications or other medical treatments for the same condition, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There might be slight bruising where the needle goes in, or a bit of muscle ache after the treatment if the area has been overstimulated. Check out these 7 compelling reasons to try acupuncture for weight loss.

Using a certified practitioner is a must

The NCCAOM oversees accreditation for acupuncturists across the country. Its database of licensed acupuncturists is a good place to start your search for treatment. Licensed acupuncturists must complete a minimum of three years in a master’s acupuncture program at an accredited school; those who also practice Chinese herbal medicine must complete a minimum of four years.

It’s great for pain relief

According to the National Health Institute’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, acupuncture offers effective relief for people with back, neck, or knee pain; it can also ease headaches and symptoms of osteoarthritis. “It helps as a nonpharmacologic therapy for chronic pain,” says Ada Stewart, MD, a family physician in Columbia, South Carolina. She points out that acupuncture could be an alternative to highly addictive opioids. “Most of the folks that have gotten it have been pleased,” she says. A recent study published in the Journal of Pain further bolsters the use of acupuncture for lasting pain relief. Read about the 24 things your pain doc won’t tell you.

Acupuncture is used to treat other conditions besides pain

Although studies have mostly focused on acupuncture for pain relief, practitioners have also had success managing sports injuries like tennis elbow and chronic conditions such as infertility, hormonal imbalance, irritable bowel syndrome, fibroids, and seasonal allergies. “We treat long-term chronic diseases rather than acute illnesses like a heart attack,” says acupuncturist Jill Blakeway, MSc, cofounder of Yinova Center, an acupuncture practice in New York. Find out 9 natural treatments for allergies.

Your insurer might cover it

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine, but more and more insurers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United American, cover the treatment for pain management, says Olga Cox at the NCCAOM. Call your insurer to see what it will cover.

Prepare for strange questions

Your acupuncturist is interested in more than your symptoms. This practitioner is looking for any disharmony in your body that could be causing trouble. So you might be asked whether you prefer hot or cold drinks or if you’re a restless sleeper with vivid dreams. And prepare to stick out your tongue. “You can diagnose a ton from what the tongue looks like, says Blakeway. Note these other ways to treat chronic pain naturally.

You won’t feel rushed

You know how you’re lucky if your doctor spends 10 minutes with you during a visit? This won’t happen with an acupuncturist. The typical visit can run 30 minutes, and your initial visit can be double that so your practitioner can get to know you and diagnose what is causing your symptoms. After that, you’ll go in for one or two sessions a week. How many times you visit the acupuncturist will depend on what’s ailing you; for example, pain-relief treatments can involve three to six sessions.

You can do it in a group setting

If you like the idea of being in an open room full of people also getting acupuncture, consider a communal acupuncture practice. They’re much cheaper: In Florida, for example, a 30-minute private session will run between $80 and $120; a communal session costs just $35 to $60. Check out these 7 surprising conditions that acupuncture can treat.

It might help with aging

While there’s not a lot of research on cosmetic acupuncture, it gets a lot of buzz thanks to its popularity with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow. Inserting needles into facial tissue seems to stimulate blood flow to the face, which may boost collagen and elastin production, helping to smooth out wrinkles, fill in fine lines, and give cheeks and jawline more definition, says Shellie Goldstein, LAc, owner of cosmetic acupuncture firm Shellie Goldstein Associates in New York.

It may involve electricity, cups, and herbs

Remember when Michael Phelps had all those red round spots on his back at the Olympics? That was from cupping. An acupuncturist heats cups to create a vacuum and places the cup on the skin over key meridians; the concept is that the suction of the cup increases the flow of qi and helps relieve pain, London says. Sometimes a machine that delivers a tiny amount of voltage may be connected to the needles to help boost qi. Some acupuncturists may also prescribe herbs—the goal, again, is to smooth the flow of qi through meridians. Now read about other alternative medicine treatments that doctors recommend.

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31 Secrets the Beauty Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

The main difference between designer cosmetics and their drugstore counterparts?

Fancy packaging. In fact, some manufacturers make both high-end and drugstore product—using similar formulas! This is what the symbols on the back of your beauty products mean.

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What Your Fears Reveal About Your Personality

Fear of clowns means you value honesty

Does the idea of Pennywise make your heart drop? Not to worry, you aren’t alone. According to an article in Scientific American, clowns are portrayed as “tricksters” whose masks give them the feeling that they can abandon typically acceptable social behavior. So it’s no surprise that coulrophobia is quite common—nearly one in 10 adults fesses up to having it. In a University of Sheffield study, 250 children aged 4 to 16 were asked how they felt about clown images. The conclusion from this study was that the children simply find them to be “frightening and unknowable.” Carlin Flora writes in Psychology Today, “Because reading facial expressions has long been a key to survival, our inability to discern a clown’s expressions (and true intentions) underneath what covers their face raises automatic suspicions.” People who are afraid of clowns tend to pride themselves on their honesty, transparency, and straightforwardness, and expect others around them to do the same. However, your no-nonsense and overly logical nature may sometimes prevent you from kicking back in social situations. Although you don’t need to do it at the circus, don’t be afraid to clown around every once in a while.

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15 Surprising Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu

Go for a fist bump

The next time someone approaches you with palm outstretched, try a fist bump or air kiss instead. “Shaking hands may be a social expectation, but it is also an excellent method of transferring germs from one person to another,” says J.D. Zipkin, MD, at GoHealth Urgent Care. That’s why Harvard Medical School alternately suggests a fist bump, which in a study transferred 90 percent fewer germs than a handshake.”While avoiding a handshake is not always socially feasible, hand-washing afterward will kill any germs you picked up,” Dr. Zipkin says. In addition, if you can’t avoid the handshake, don’t touch your face afterward to prevent germs on your hands from migrating to your nose and mouth. Find out the clear signs a cold is coming.

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This Common Skin Condition Could Raise Your Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

Genetics aside, everyone should keep a sharp eye out for the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have recently uncovered some surprising early symptoms, beyond memory loss or confusion while driving. Now, research published in the journal Annals of Neurology says that one marker for Alzheimer’s disease could be written all over your face, too.

Rosacea (a skin condition that causes facial redness) could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a 2016 study. To determine their results, lead author Dr. Alexander Egeberg and his team examined data from the Danish national health registry system for the years 1997 to 2012. The nation’s entire population of roughly 5.6 million men and women were included in the study, and about 82,000 had rosacea.

The final data showed that people with rosacea were seven percent more likely to develop any form of dementia—and 25 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease—than people without rosacea. The association seemed more prominent for women rather than men; while women with rosacea had a 28 percent greater risk for Alzheimer’s, men had a 16 percent greater risk. What’s more, Alzheimer’s risk for rosacea patients increased by 20 percent among those aged 60 or older when they first enrolled in the study.

About 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with rosacea, according to the National Rosacea Society. Often, those who have it show redness and acne-like markings on the face.

However, the study authors assure everyone that people with rosacea should not be too concerned about the results. The study only shows an association between dementia and rosacea, and more research is necessary to determine if a causal link exists. Learn the 15 myths about Alzheimer’s you need to stop believing.

“It is important for patients to remember that having rosacea does not guarantee that they will develop Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Egeberg said. “In fact, while the risk in rosacea patients may be slightly increased compared with the general population, the absolute risk [to any one patient] is still quite low.”

If you’re worried about your odds—rosacea or not—these everyday habits can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s.

[Source: Health]

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The Pet Peeve Meghan Markle Has About Her Portraits

When you photograph Meghan Markle, please see to it that you capture her freckles in all their glory. That’s a royal command, according to Allure, which reports that Meghan gets peeved when editors digitally remove her freckles from photos.

“A face without freckles is a night without stars,” Meghan offered up to all her “freckle-faced friends out there.” It was something her dad used to say to her when she was young and complained about those sweet little sun-kisses on her skin. Clearly, her dad’s sweet statement made a lasting impression on Meghan. “To this day, my pet peeve is when my skin tone is changed, and my freckles are airbrushed out of a photo shoot.”

That’s why the Duchess adores her cover photo in Vanity Fair in 2017, and it’s almost certainly why her wedding photos proudly display her cafe-au-lait-toned skin, accented with very real and very adorable freckles. Here are other details you may have missed about her royal wedding.

Freckles aren’t always a great sign of skin health, but they sure are cute, and Meghan would like everyone who has them to embrace them, just as she does. For more insider secrets, check out these surprising things you never knew about the British royal family.

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The Best Anti-Aging Secrets Dermatologists Won’t Tell You for Free

Your best weapon to fight aging skin is sunscreen

Sure, you know you need to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer, but sunscreen is also the number one way to keep your skin looking younger and healthier. “The sun emits ultraviolet radiation that damage skin, both the overlying epidermis and the underlying dermis,” explains Jerome Garden, director of the Physicians Laser and Dermatology Institute in Chicago. “In addition to increasing your risk of skin cancer, the sun causes brown spots, red spots, and wrinkles.” Find out the 13 sunscreens that top dermatologists love so much they use on themselves.

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10 Hidden Dangers of Being Left-Handed

The range of left-handed risks

Being left-handed comes with some shocking health concerns, from anxiety to breast cancer. What it is about being a leftie that makes a person more susceptible to these risks? “There is a famous creed in research that correlation does not equal causation,” says Eugene Charles, a New York-based chiropractor and director of The Applied Kinesiology Center of New York. In other words, being left-handed does not cause these health problems. However, studies have shown that left-handed individuals are more likely to be at risk for certain chronic conditions and even early death, so let’s dive in.

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