Monday, April 27, 2009

Sue Scheff: Teens and Birth Control


Source: TeensHealth


One of the toughest decisions that a lot of teens face is whether to have sex. If people decide to have sex, it means they must also take responsibility to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).


In the United States, the teenage pregnancy rate is higher than in many other countries. Approximately 1 million teens become pregnant every year and most didn't plan on becoming pregnant. In addition to preventing unplanned pregnancies, people who have sex must protect themselves from STDs. For those having sex, condoms must always be used every time to protect against STDs.The most effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs is
document.write(defabstinence120)abstinence. Couples who do decide to have sex can choose from many effective birth control methods.


Check the articles below to learn some important information about different methods of birth control. You may be surprised — some popular ones aren't as effective as people might think.


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Sue Scheff: Teens and Tattoo's


This can be a hot topic today - each parent has their own beliefs, however learn more about getting tattoo’s and important information for keeping it safe.


Source: TeensHealth


It seems like everyone has a tattoo these days. What used to be the property of sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs is now a popular body decoration for many people. And it’s not just anchors, skulls, and battleships anymore — from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols, people have found many ways to express themselves with their tattoos. Maybe you’ve thought about getting one. But before you head down to the nearest tattoo shop and roll up your sleeve, there are a few things you need to know.


WHAT IS A TATTOO?


A tattoo is a puncture wound, made deep in your skin, that’s filled with ink. It’s made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area, usually creating some sort of design. What makes tattoos so long-lasting is they’re so deep — the ink isn’t injected into the epidermis (the top layer of skin that you continue to produce and shed throughout your lifetime). Instead, the ink is injected into the dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of skin. Dermis cells are very stable, so the tattoo is practically permanent.


Tattoos used to be done manually — that is, the tattoo artist would puncture the skin with a needle and inject the ink by hand. Though this process is still used in some parts of the world, most tattoo shops use a tattoo machine these days. A tattoo machine is a handheld electric instrument that uses a tube and needle system. On one end is a sterilized needle, which is attached to tubes that contain ink. A foot switch is used to turn on the machine, which moves the needle in and out while driving the ink about 1/8 inch (about 3 millimeters) into your skin.Most tattoo artists know how deep to drive the needle into your skin, but not going deep enough will produce a ragged tattoo, and going too deep can cause bleeding and intense pain. Getting a tattoo can take several hours, depending on the size and design chosen.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sue Scheff: Teen Acne




Help Kids with Information on Teenage Acne

Almost all teenagers suffer from acne to some degree. In fact, statistics show us that approximately ninety five percent of teenagers suffer from acne. With all the pressures that teens are under these days, the added problem of dealing with acne can lead some to feel overwhelmed. Therefore, it is important, as adults, to have information on teenage acne in order to help the teens with this problem. If left untreated there can be physical repercussions in the form of scarring that will last through adulthood. However, the more serious issues come from the psychological affects teenagers deal with when they have an acne problem.

Teenagers are sensitive and deal with a lot. They are easily thrown into depression and moodiness. Add to typical teenage behavior an acne problem and you may be faced with a child who is sullen, depressed, withdrawn, acts out or has other behavioral issues. For acne in teen boys, they may get teased in the locker room; they may have confidence issues when dealing with girls; they may withdraw from friends and social activities. For acne in teen girls, they may have a negative self image; they may hesitate to get involved with extra curricular activities; they may have a smaller circle of friends. The results of acne can have an enormous impact on a teenager’s life.

The problems resulting from teen acne can be severe. This is especially true if compounded by other issues that are causing problems. However, there is good news. With some teen acne tips you can help alleviate the issue once and for all, restoring a teen’s self confidence and eliminating at least one of the common issues teenagers deal with in today’s society. Most people have some questions regarding teenage acne though: What is acne? How is it caused? What can we do to cure it?

Acne is the term used for the pimples and blemishes found on the skin. It can appear all over the body but is most common on the face, neck, chest and back. Acne can appear in people of all ages, even adults. But, it is most prevalent in teenagers. The severity of the acne problem varies from person to person. Some people may have minor outbreaks occasionally while others have a severe problem. However, almost all teenagers have acne to some degree in their life.

Throughout the generations there has been speculation on how acne caused. This has meant that a lot of old wives’ tales have been started. Chocolate, greasy foods, weight lifting, tight clothing and dirt are all causes of acne, right? No. All of them can help exacerbate a condition but none are the root cause. So before you can properly treat acne, make sure you understand the root cause of it and the cause is hormonal. When a hormonal imbalance occurs in the system, excess oils are produced that clog pores and result in blemishes, redness, pimples and acne cysts.

So, now that the cause for acne is cleared up, how can it be treated? The best treatment for teenage acne means taking a complete view of the acne and treating it fully. Start with a balanced diet. Eating healthy has many benefits and clearer skin is one of them. You should also make sure to clean the skin daily. This can be performed by using over the counter topical creams and cleansers. Use them regularly to maintain a healthy glow, clear away oil, open the pores and to help prevent blemishes. But you still need to treat the root of acne, the hormonal imbalance. This can be done with the use of natural dietary supplements.

When you have a comprehensive treatment plan that includes healthy eating, regular cleaning and supplements, you will have a greater success at curing acne. The acne that is there will go away quickly. Maintaining the skin care regimen will ensure that teenage acne does not return to cause more problems. Before choosing products, though, keep in mind you want a comprehensive program. There are many skin care products on the market today but do not buy into the hype of expensive advertising campaigns.

Instead, research the best products and ideally get a solution that addresses all aspects of a skin care regimen. There are products on the market today that consist of topical cleansers and lotions as well as dietary supplements. These products are most convenient to use because you have all you need in one treatment solution. If you embark on an acne treatment addressing all the needs, your teenager will be more confident and feel better about themselves. With all the problems teenagers have to deal with today, eliminating a source of frustration and depression will go a long way toward helping teenagers get through these tough years. It is an easy solution to a tough problem and one every teen should consider.