The Myths and Facts About Acne

We all have it and we all hate it!  Some may have acne worse than others however, it is a common problem amongst college aged people.  Here are a couple myths about acne from My Student Health Zone:

• Tanning clears up skin: Though a tan may make it appear like there is less acne it is just masking what may actualoly be there. The sun may actually lead to  irritation and drying of the skin leading to more breakouts.  There is no link between sun exposure and and acne prevention.  However there is a link between sun exposure and skin aging and skin cancer.
• Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne: We all know that eating too much sugar and high fatty foods is bad for our health and should be limited studies have shown that there is no connection with specific foods and cause of acne.  Everybody is different and may find foods that increase their own specific breakouts.  If you find a certain food triggering acne in you try and cut that food out of your diet
• The more you wash your face, the fewer breakouts you will have: It is true that washing your face will help remove dirt and oil from your pores however, over washing your face can lead to irritation of the skin and more breakouts.  As a rule you should gently wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.

Now that we have cleared up the myths, here are a few facts from My Student Health Zone about how to control and prevent acne:

• Wash your face twice a day. (No more)
• Don’t pop pimples.
• Avoid touching your face with your fingers.
• If you wear sunglasses or glasses make sure you clean them regularly.
• If you get acne on your body try not to wear tight clothes.
• If you wear makeup remove it before going to bed.
• Keep hair clean and out of your face
• Protect your skin from the sun

Acne is an annoying part of life that most of us have to deal with.  Try your best to avoid and prevent acne by following these few tips and hopefully you can relive the appearance and occurrence of acne.

Eating Disorders in College Students

College life can be very stressful.  Students may fell like they have so much pressure placed on them form professors, parents, friends, dating relationships and themselves.  These feelings of pressure lead to students feeling like they have no control over their lives.  A need for control can lead to eating disorders because many feel what they eat is the only thing they have control over in their lives.  Eating disorders are very serious and if left untreated can often be fatal.  They have an impact on both mental and physical health.  The most common types of eating disorders among college students are:

• Anorexia Nervosa: Self imposed starving
• Bulimia Nervosa: Out of control eating followed by vomiting, using laxatives or over exercising
• Binge Eating Disorder: Compulsive Overeating

According to collegetips.com anorexia is the most common amongst college students.  Here are a few warning signs and symptoms of anorexia according to the college tips website:

• Student’s body image is distorted. They are thin but feel fat
• Student complains about feeling full or sick, even when eating small or normal amounts of food
• Student is thin and continues to lose weight (more than 15% of ideal body weight)
• Student checks their weight often
• Student restricts foods from their diet even though they are already thin
• Student denies being hungry
• Student starts to loose hair or hair starts to thin
• Student exercises at a level of obsession
• Female students stop menstruating

Eating disoreders are very serious.  If you or somebody you know may be suffering from an eating disorder get help!  For moreinformation on eating disorders please visit the following sites:

• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
• National Eating Disorders Association

Road Tripping

As spring and summer semesters approach students will be driving long hours to go home, visit friends and to take vacations. According to the CDC the leading cause of death among people 15-34 years of age is unintentional injuries, this includes car accidents.  Whether you are driving cross country or just a few miles across town if you are in the drivers seat you should be prepared.  Mystudenthealthzone.com suggest a few tips for cautious and safe driving:

• Stay focus on your driving: Don’t let passengers or cell phones distract you.
• Watch your speed: Speeding not only plays a huge role in accidents but it also invites tickets.
• Know the rules: If you are driving through states that you are unfamiliar with make sure you know its specific laws.
• Plan your trip ahead of time so you can concentrate on the road, not the map
• Wear your seatbelt!

Road trips with friends can be so much fun and is a great way to enjoy the freedoms that spring and summer can bring.  Make sure to be safe so that you will have a great time and not a devastating experience.

The Common Cold

According to Brown University, in the United States aproximatley 1 billion people suffer from the common cold each year.  Adults average about 2 to 4 colds a year.  Women aged 20 to 30 typically have more colds than men.  The common cold is a inflammation of the upper respiratory tract often caused by one of more than 100 rhinovirus.  Typically a cold will last for 3-7 days but some symptoms can last up to 2 weeks.  Symptoms of the common cold usually are noticiable 2-3 days after infection.  Symptoms include: runny or stuffed nose, sore or scratchy throat, hoarseness, headaches, muscle aches, blocked and popping feeling in ears, cough, postnasal drip, watery eyes, decreased appetite, fatigue and low grade fever.  Unfortunately there are no cures for the cold and the only treatment is symptom management.  If you find yourself with a cold make sure you take care of yourself.  Brown University health education website suggests a few tips for taking care of yourself when you have a cold.  They include: keeping hydrated, get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, use lozenges, cough drops and sore throat sprays to coat and soothe the throat, humidify the air to help with congestion symptoms and vitamin C can also help relieve symptoms of the flu.  Here are a few tips from medicinenet.com to help prevent the common cold: wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, don’t smoke, use disposable items if someone you live with is infected, keep household surfaces clean, use paper towels, throw tissues away after use, maintain a healthy lifestyle and control stress.  Be smart and put your health first when you are feeling ill so that you can get better faster.

Depression

According to a 2008 American College Health Association survey, within the last 12 months 30% of students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function.  According to the American Psychiatric Association Depression is a serious medical disorder that negatively effects how you feel.  There are many symptoms of depression.  A few of the symptoms are: a deep feeling of sadness, a marked loss of interest, change in appetite that can lead to both weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting, insomnia or oversleeping, loss of energy or fatigue, restlessness of irritability, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions and thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide.  According to the American Psychiatric Association depression is very common and effects approximately one out of ten adults.  Depression can strike at anytime but most commonly appears in the late teens to mid-twenties.  There are many factors that contribute to the onset of depression.  Biochemistry , genetics, personality and environmental factors all play a role in the onset of depression.  Fortunately depression is amongst the most treatable of mental disorders.  For more information about depression please visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Stress

Believe it or not finals are just around the corner!  During the weeks leading to finals there is so much to do and so little time.  Final projects, papers and tests linger in the minds of every student and can often cause feelings of anxiety.  For me and many other college students this mean stress!

Effects of Stress:

According the the American Institute of Stress, stress is difficult to define because it is a highly subjective phenomenon for much of us.  Things that are stressful for one person may be enjoyable to another.  Also each person responds to stress in different ways.  Although stress is very subjective the American Institute of Stress states that there are many signs and symptoms of stress that we all share.  Visit their website for a list of 50 sings and symptoms of stress.  Stress can have a wide range of effects on emotions, mood and behavior.  The American Institute of Stress says, “There are numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress including depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis, the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease.”

Stress Reduction:

Here are a few recommendations The American Institute of Stress recommends to reduce stress:

• Jogging or other aerobic exercise
• Mediation and prayer
• Yoga
• Deep breathing
• Listening to music
• Hobbies
• Volunteer work
• Keeping a journal of daily activities
• laughter
• Getting enough sleep
• Eating a proper diet
• Avoid excess caffeine

For more tips on how to reduce and prevent stress visit The American Institute of Stress website.  Stress has a huge impact on our bodies and minds,  as we approach finals we should all try our best to handle and relive our stress.

Skin Cancer

For most college students spring break is near… which for many means soaking up the sun!! But before you head out to the beach or the pool you may want to reach for the SPF.  Skin cancer is the most common of cancers in the United States.  There are three different types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.  Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common and are highly curable.  Melanoma however is very dangerous and is a serious problem amongst young adults.  According to the CDC 65-90% of melanoma cases are caused by exposure to the suns UV rays.  Here are a few recommendations from the CDC of how to protect yourself from the damaging rays of the sun:

• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection.
• Wear clothing to protect the exposed skin.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, neck and ears.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Seek shade especially among the midday hours

Spending time in the sun with friends and family is a fun activity, just make sure you take the necessary precautions to ensure your health and safety!