Infant and toddler health
Learning Center
Sunscreen shopping tips
When you're shopping for sunscreen brand matters less than how you use the product. Look for water-resistant, broad-spectrum coverage with an SPF of at least 30. Check the sunscreen's expiration date. Also, find a sunscreen you like. If you don't care for the sunscreen, you're not as likely to use it consistently.
Sunless tanning tips
Want to avoid orange palms, knees and elbows when you're using sunless tanning products? Before applying a sunless tanning product use a washcloth to exfoliate, especially in areas with thick skin such as your knees and elbows. This will help remove excess dead skin cells. Apply the tanner to your body in sections. Wash your hands with soap after each section to avoid discoloring your palms. Knees, elbows and ankles tend to absorb more of sunless tanning products. To dilute the tanning effect in these areas, gently rub them with a damp towel.
Stressed out? Skip the late show
Getting enough sleep can help you handle the demands of daily life. For most adults, seven to eight hours a night is the right amount. If you're drowsy during the day, your bedtime routine may need a tuneup. Try these tips: 1. Don't go to bed hungry or stuffed. 2. Create a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as taking a bath. 3. Limit daytime naps. 4. Keep your bedtime consistent, including on weekends. 5. Jot down worries and set them aside for the next day.
Stress and headaches: Stop the cycle
Stress can make your head hurt, and a headache can really stress you out. Either way, you can rein in the pain with these tips to keep stress under control: 1. Simplify. Ask yourself what really needs to be done and what can be dropped. 2. Delegate. Look over your to-do list and delegate what you can. 3. Laugh. Staying positive with humor is a great way to relieve stress. 4. Relax. When you feel your muscles begin to tense, breathe deeply. Focus on inhaling and exhaling deeply and slowly for at least 10 minutes. 5. Exercise. Regular exercise provides a healthy break from the stress of daily life.
Stop your next migraine before it starts
Medication is a proven way to treat and prevent migraines, but medication is only part of the story. Healthy habits can sometimes stop migraine pain before it starts: 1. Establish regular sleep hours. Take time to unwind at the end of the day. If you can't fall asleep, read or do another quiet activity until you become drowsy. 2. Eat at about the same time every day. Avoid foods that seem to trigger migraines. 3. Exercise regularly. 4. Keep stress under control.
Stop warts from spreading
If you have warts, you can spread the virus to other places on your body. Here's how to stop the spread: 1. Don't brush, clip, comb or shave areas with warts. 2. Don't use the same file or nail clipper on warts as you use on healthy nails. 3. Don't pick at warts. If you can't keep your hands off, cover your warts with an adhesive bandage. 4. Wash your hands carefully after touching your warts.
Solutions for weight-loss setbacks
Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. It's better to expect them and plan for dealing with them. Identifying potential roadblocks — a big holiday meal or an office party, for example — and brainstorming strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course with your weight-loss goals.
Snack attack? Try these 100-calorie snacks
Healthy snacks can satisfy your hunger and keep you from eating extra helpings at your next meal, which can lower total daily calories. Snacks can also supply afternoon energy and extra nutrients. If you're trying to lose weight, try these snacks that are 100 calories or less: 1 cup sliced bananas and fresh raspberries; 2 cups carrots; 2 cups air-popped popcorn; 5 rye or pumpernickel crackers; 2 tablespoons peanuts; 2 domino-sized slices of low-fat colby or cheddar cheese.
Skip booze for better sleep
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and acts as a sedative. It may help you fall asleep, but it prevents deeper stages of sleep and often causes you to wake up in the middle of the night. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, say no thanks to the after-dinner drinks.
Shopping for shades?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your eyes, not just your skin. Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Opt for wraparound sunglasses or closefitting sunglasses with wide lenses that protect your eyes from every angle. Keep in mind that the color of the lenses and the degree of darkness the sunglasses provide have nothing to do with the sunglasses' ability to block UV rays.
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