Today marks the first full day back at school for my two girls. Since I’ve been doing this for seven years, I know that it’s a day always marked with excitement and anxiety. Thankfully this year the right friends, the right teachers and the right classrooms all came through and I was able to leave without wiping a single tear. Whew!
Although my girls are still young enough to have the beautiful skin of childhood, I know that in years to come they may be plagued with the skin care angst that hits many teens – acne, blackheads, warts and oily hair. If you or your charges are old enough, take note of the following skin care tips, sure to see you through till the end of school. It’ll happen before you know it.
Tip 1. Keep Blackheads and Whiteheads in Check. Although the cause of acne varies amongst individuals, using non-comedogenic products can help to keep pores clear. Exfoliating ingredients including salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids can help to unclog blocked pores that may lead to blackheads and whiteheads.
2. Shiny Hair. Puberty can bring oily hair. Conversely, perimenopause and menopause dryness. Choose a gentle shampoo that will clean the scalp without drying it, leaving hair looking clean and not oily.
3. Ringworm and Lice. Highly contagious; these infections can spread rapidly when kids are in close quarters for prolonged periods of time. See your physician for treatment if you suspect ringworm. Check in with your school regarding lice – many have public health programs in place to help reduce its spread.
4. A Healthy Diet. You are what you eat and your skin will show it. Load up on fruits, vegetables, healthy fats (as in olive oil and fish) and lean proteins. Go easy on the sugar, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates (nix or limit the cookies, cake and white bread), which add calories and can play havoc with skin.
