Adolescent Skin - Part 2
Acne. Many teen-agers are never troubled by acne. Their skin does not produce enough oil to cause the pimples. Unfortunately, the people who do have the problem have no sure cure for it. There are several general practices that can reduce the problem, however.
Care of Acne
- Wash the face gently with soap and water. Do this as many as five times a day.
- Avoid creams and cosmetics that contain oil.
- Because some foods may affect the condition, avoid greasy foods, chocolate, pastries, and roasted nuts.
- If you want to use any medication, consult your doctor for his advice and recommendations.
- Avoid periods of emotional tension or poor health. These conditions can cause a flare-up.
- In the event of severe acne, see a skin specialist, or dermatologist, as acne can leave disfiguring scars.
- Do not pick or squeeze blackheads and pimples, as this can cause infections and is likely to cause more painful and larger pimples.
Reactions to cosmetics. Girls your age begin thinking of using cosmetics.
of one sort or another Sometimes girls find that cosmetics when applied tastefully, help to cover blemishes. Sometimes it becomes "the thing to do" to wear cosmetics.
You should know that some people’s skin is irritated by cosmetics. These people develop dermatitis, or skin inflammation, from the cosmetics. Their skin almost always becomes red, swollen, or blistered where cosmetics are applied. They can avoid this reaction by avoiding cosmetics. If the condition persists, they can consult a doctor.
Promoting attractive skin. Because appearance is so important to most teen-agers, the skin problems mentioned above may sometimes seem like great tragedies. You can save yourself much worry by treating these conditions properly.
Skin conditions, such as acne, pimples, blackheads, and oily skin are normal for some teen-agers and not for others. If you have one of these conditions, you can improve both the condition and your state of mind by not worrying about the particular blemish. Worrying only makes the skin condition worse, and it certainly does not help to make you appear pleasant and attractive. By taking care of your skin, taking special problems to a doctor, and not worrying about skin blemishes you can make the most of this temporary condition.
Think for Yourself
Why is the overuse of cosmetics bad for the skin of anyone who tends to have pimples or oily skin? Do you see a relationship between the use of cosmetics and the cause of acne?
First Aid for Fainting
Causes of fainting. Cartoons often show women shrieking and fainting at the approach of a mouse, or a snake, or a singing star. It is not very often that you will have to give first aid for this sort of a condition. However, fainting can be caused by great fear or any other condition which causes blood to drain away from the brain.
Perhaps you have heard of someone who has fainted after sitting for a long time in a stuffy room. The stuffy air was probably only one of the causes. Lack of sleep, tension, fatigue, and poor diet might have been other causes.
Helping a victim. You can treat a fainting victim by laying him down and elevating his feet slightly. This will help the flow of blood to the brain. If the person is sitting and feels faint, he should place his head between his knees to help revive circulation to the brain.
Women are not the only ones who faint. Soldiers who are forced to stand at attention in the heat of the sun for long periods often faint. The heat causes the blood vessels to expand. Because of the soldier’s inactivity and the tension he is under, the blood collects in the lower parts of the body.
If a person faints from any of the
previously mentioned causes, the first-aid measures already described should revive him within a few minutes. If the person does not respond quickly, there is probably something else wrong. The alert first-aider should then check for an injury suffered during a fall or some other complication. If simple first aid does not produce a quick recovery, a doctor should be consulted at once.
