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If you’ve ever struggled with acne or uneven skin tone and sought a solution, you’ve likely come to know and love salicylic acid. The popular ingredient is a go-to for treating everything from acne and signs of aging to psoriasis and even dandruff. It’s found in a wide variety of prescription and over-the-counter products. When you start to notice pregnancy breakouts and hyperpigmentation, your first instinct might be to use salicylic acid—especially if it was a regular in your skincare routine pre-pregnancy....

Are you looking for a traditional masculine name that highlights your religious heritage? Christian might be the perfect choice for you. The name Christian comes from a Latin word that means “follower of Christ,” just as the word Christian does in English. How Popular Is the Name Christian? Christian is a consistently popular name in the U.S., and has become even more popular in the past 35 years. In 1986, it joined the top 100 names for boys in the U....

Sneezing and coughing are hallmarks of the fall season, especially in kids. With common colds, the flu, and COVID-19 running rampant, the return to in-person schooling has introduced an additional opportunity for germs to spread. Previously, there was no way to know if a child who is COVID-19 positive may endure severe symptoms. However, thanks to the scientists and doctors who have looked for ways to determine severity, a new study suggests we may have an indicator....

Educators typically begin teaching counting concepts to kids in kindergarten and first grade, but you can begin teaching your child math skills earlier. The skills you teach your child can serve as a foundation the child can draw upon when teachers introduce math concepts in kindergarten. Teaching children to count can be fun and easy by using simple strategies that will help your child develop a fondness for numbers. Benefits of Teaching Counting Teaching preschoolers to count will improve their readiness for other math concepts that will be taught in the future, such as addition and subtraction....

Your fertility is always changing, with a significant decline around age 35 and another measurable drop at 45. Over time, the ability to conceive can become more challenging, along with greater odds for complications. Research shows that as fertility is decreasing, the risk of miscarriage is increasing. In both instances, the quality of a person’s eggs is a big piece of the puzzle. “The lower the egg quality, the higher the rate of miscarriage and infertility....

Endorphins are chemicals in your brain that help you cope with pain and maintain well-being. They’re responsible for that feeling after working out, eating a piece of dark chocolate, or having a good laugh with a friend. What Endorphins Do Endorphins are a group of peptides produced by your pituitary gland and central nervous system. These neurotransmitters (also sometimes thought of as hormones) act on the opiate receptors in your brain to increase feelings of pleasure and well-being and reduce pain and discomfort....

Every human being has genes. These determine hair color, eye color, and other traits, and are packed into 46 chromosomes inside our cells. The majority of cells in the human body have 23 pairs of chromosomes, but eggs only have 23 unmatched chromosomes each, because they are waiting to match up with sperm (which also have only 23 unmatched chromosomes). When pregnancy begins and the egg and sperm are joined, you start with a brand new cell, with 46 chromosomes....

After a home pregnancy test has turned positive and a blood test measuring levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have confirmed pregnancy, the next proof of pregnancy requires an ultrasound. When you have your first ultrasound, your doctor may talk about the presence or absence of the gestational sac. What exactly is the gestational sac? When can it first be detected on ultrasound? What does it mean if it is (or is not) there?...

As the holiday season quickly approaches, you may be searching for ideas to ring in the cheerful season with your family. Crafting is a fun and easy way to celebrate Hanukkah with your kids and loved ones. These cute craft ideas—from dreidel garlands to paper menorahs, and even a wall hanging for presents—will surely get your kids excited about the festival of lights. You pick eight activities to celebrate each of Hanukkah’s eight nights or spend an evening crafting your favorite....

Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Reggie Walker Reggie Walker spent seven years in the NFL playing for the Cardinals, the Chargers, and the Broncos before deciding to walk away from the game. Reggie was sexually, emotionally, and physically abused during childhood—something he tried to hide for much of his life....

Because the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can be difficult to cope with, many people with PTSD may suffer from low self-esteem, making it important that they learn how to improve their self-image. In addition, individuals with PTSD experience other difficulties, such as depression. As a result, they may experience negative thoughts about themselves, resulting in low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. Therefore, it is very important to learn how to catch these thoughts and combat them with positive thoughts....

When you meet someone new, are you one of those people who immediately share personal and intimate details of your life? Or are you someone who holds back such information and shares only the deeply private things about yourself with a select few? This sharing of personal details about your life—your feelings, thoughts, memories, and other such things—is referred to as self-disclosure. If you tend to share a lot right away, then you likely have a high level of self-disclosure....

Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Meet Craig Conover Craig Conover is an attorney who stars in Bravo TV’s reality show, Southern Charm. He’s also the author of “Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong With My Sewing?...

Waking up early for school is difficult for most teens. And there’s research that suggests they aren’t just being oppositional—their inability to wake up may be biologically based. Teens need about nine hours of sleep for optimal performance and development. However, research has shown that most teens are actually getting less than seven hours of sleep each night. Other studies also show that most teens’ natural sleep patterns cause them to stay up late, until around 11 p....

Have you ever noticed how two children from the same family can be drastically different? One child might be a happy, easy-going child who is eager to please while the other one might be cranky, defiant, and attention-seeking. Clearly, behavior differences don’t always stem from the environment. Each child is born with a unique temperament. As a parent, it’s important to tailor your discipline strategies to your child’s individual needs....

If you notice that your newborn is spitting up blood, it can be very scary and you may want to call your pediatrician right away. The good news is that there is usually no reason to be alarmed by this symptom unless your baby is showing signs of fever, swollen belly, or lethargy. Consider these likely causes. Overview If you see some red flecks or pink-tinged newborn spit up or vomit, the source of the blood is most likely to be swallowed maternal blood and is sometimes called rusty pipe syndrome....

There are no winners or losers with these non-competitive games for kids—only lots of active fun. Try them at your next family party or birthday celebration. These games and activities can be adapted for different ages, interests, skill levels, and party themes, and many can be played indoors or out. Active Play Ideas Ideas for non-competitive active play include: Animal Antics: Distribute animal stickers or small stuffed animals to each party guest, then challenge them to imitate their designated critter with motions and sounds....

Habit reversal training is a therapy that can be effective in treating troublesome behaviors caused by a number of conditions. One of these is Tourette’s syndrome, which is characterized by physical or verbal tics, such as blinking, throat clearing, repeating obscenities. People dealing with symptoms of impulse control disorders, such as trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and pathological skin picking, also may benefit from habit reversal training, which is composed of these four main elements....

If you’ve ever heard a parent say to a child who isn’t behaving “One…two…,” then you’re probably hearing someone use some of the strategies described in 1-2-3 Magic. 1-2-3 Magic, by Thomas Phelan, Ph.D., offers discipline strategies that can address a wide variety of child behavior problems. The 1-2-3 Magic Concept The premise of 1-2-3 Magic is based on fairly simple concepts—give directions effectively and stop arguing, nagging and pleading to gain compliance....

Perfectionism is the drive to appear, feel, and be perfect. Although society generally views perfectionism as a positive attribute, it also can have negative effects. A perfectionist has “excessively high personal standards and overly critical self-evaluations.” They insist on perfection and accept nothing shy of flawlessness. This can manifest as criticism of self and others and in attempts to control situations and people. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts...