Personal Hygiene:

Why Is Personal Hygiene Important & What Can You Do? As a young adult its sometimes hard to understand why taking showers daily, using deodorant, washing your hair, brushing your teeth and all the other things your parents "make" you do is important.

It's important to take care of all these things to not only stay healthy but to also feel good about yourself. When you reach puberty your body begins producing sweat that smells. Taking showers and using deodorant helps prevent the body odors from becoming strong enough to bother you and those around you.

Washing your hair will keep your hair strong, healthy and shiny. Without washing your hair you look greasy and dirty. Your head is where oils and sweat glands "spit" out their excess.

Brushing your teeth helps your breath smelling good, and keeps your teeth from rotting. Without brushing old food particles can rot and bacteria can grow in your mouth. If you brush at least twice a day you will keep your mouth clean, cavities away, and ensure that you and your teeth will spend a long happy life together!

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Acne:

What is Acne? Acne is a skin condition that shows up as different types of bumps. These bumps are filled with pus. Your skin has pores that contain a special oil that keeps your skin and hair moistened. Most of the time these pores produce the right amount of oil. When it gets clogged with too much oil, dead skin cells or bacteria it will cause Acne.

How Can You Prevent or Clear Up Acne? To help prevent acne you should wash your face at least twice a day with a mild soap or a special acne soap. Don't scrub your face as it can cause acne to be worse. Use your hands, not a wash cloth. When you wear makeup or sunscreen, try and find ones that are non-oil based. Try to keep hair products away from your face. Wash your hair regularly. Last but not least, do not pop, push or pick your pimples, It can cause scaring!

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Bed Wetting:

Who Is Affected By Bed Wetting? Believe it or not bed wetting happens to millions of children on a nightly basis. You talk to your friends about movies, music, boyfriends/girlfriends, school, even life in general. What you don't usually talk with your friends about is whether or not your wet your bed the night before. It's easy to feel like your the only one, when in fact it couldn't be happening to several people you know.

The most important thing you have to remember, that no matter what ANYONE says, it is NOT your fault! You didn't wet the bed because you were lazy and you didn't went the bed because you wanted attention. You did not do it on purpose!

What Causes Bed Wetting? Chances are you probably inherited your bed wetting problem. One or both of your parents probably suffered from it. Most kids who wet the bed do so because they are extremely deep sleepers. It is important that you talk with your parents and/or your family doctor about it, just to make sure that there are no physical problems.

What Can You Do? The good news is, it will stop eventually! It could stop tomorrow, or it could be a little while, but it will stop eventually! Most of the time kids "grow out of it". You can stay dry by doing a few little things before you go to bed at night. Depending on what your doctor says here are some suggestions to help retrain your body and brain.

• Do not drink a lot if anything after dinner

• Go to the bathroom immediately before going to bed

• Have a parent or a small alarm wake you up during the night to go to the bathroom

• Try training your body to wait a little longer by holding it for a big longer during the day

• Doctor solutions: There are 2 things doctors can also give you that may help you with retraining your self or help stay dry some nights, but not necessarily every night. There are nasal sprays (they help but do not cure!) and there are also special alarms that go in your pants at night and when they sense moisture set off an alarm that wakes you.

The most important thing is not to be ashamed! Talk with your doctor, that is what they are there for! Let them help you find the best solution to help you past this normal adolescent problem!

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What Is Stress? Stress is when things in your head or heart cause your body to generally feel bad. It can cause your body to do a lot of different problems both physically and emotionally.

What Causes Stress? Stress can start from something as simple as an upcoming test or numerous other little things that pile up. It doesn't matter how old you are, you can suffer from stress! Stress can cause you to be anxious, angry, frustrated, tired, suffer from sleeplessness, head aches or even simple general "blahs".

Stress isn't always bad either. It can happen from being called to speak in front of people, or even when you are looking forward to something. Stress can also give you a jump in adrenaline which can sometimes help your body stay healthy and is a perfectly normal response to daily situations.

What Can You Do To Alleviate or Prevent Stress? You need to find a balance in life, and know when to let things go.  Stress will always be a part of your life, the way to survive and make it work for you is to learn to channel it into healthy alternatives. It can be simply writing in a journal, talking to friends and venting, finding a hobby, digging a hole in your back yard, take up jogging or any number of other things.

Don't worry you'll find your balance. Talking to your family doctor can help you not only vent, but learn different ways of alleviating stress.

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