HYGIENE

Teeth and Gums-Here are some simple tips to follow for dental health:

• Visit your dentist once or twice a year for checkups.

• Brush after meals with a toothbrush that has soft or medium bristles.

• Use toothpaste with fluoride.

• Use dental floss every day.

• Eat fewer sweets, especially between meals.

• Do not smoke or chew tobacco products.

Skin Care

Keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful with these useful skin care tips and techniques. Checkout tips from treating dry skin to dealing with oily skin. Also, learn how to mix up your own skin care products to develop a treatment that is perfect for your skin.

• Sunscreen: It's a must, essential for preventing sun damage and lowering your risk of developing skin cancer. Many skin care lines have facial moisturizers with SPF already included; they offer a more luxurious, makeup-friendly texture than traditional sunscreens. If you use only one product, sunscreen should be it. A lotion like Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Lotion with SPF 15 moisturizes, protects with SPF, and smoothes skin with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and vitamin C -- practically the perfect all-purpose face lotion.
   

• Acne- What makes skin break out? - Increased production of sebum (oil) traps dead skin cells in pores, leading to blemishes. A pimple starts when the pores in the skin become clogged with a type of oil called sebum, which lubricates the skin and hair. Acne is common during puberty when hormones go into overdrive, causing the skin to overproduce sebum. Because many oil-producing glands are on the forehead, nose, and chin, this area - the T-zone - is where a person is most prone to pimples.
   

  • What are the triggers for breakouts? Hormonal change is a primary cause of acne. Irregular sleep can also affect the balance of hormones and lead to breakouts. Stress is another trigger-whether from academic and peer pressure, exams, social activities or relationship issues.
     

  • Is it bad to squeeze a pimple? Yes! This can lead to permanent scarring. Apply a warm compress to help bring a blemish to the surface, then apply a spot treatment will absorb more quickly and dry it out faster.
     

  • Is it okay to moisturize my skin even if I have acne? Yes, acne-prone skin still needs moisture. Choose a noncomedogenic moisturizer that's specially designed for young skin. If your skin is very oily, use only once a day or only in the dry areas. Don't use your mother's creams or lotions-their richer formulations can cause pores to become blocked and worsen breakouts