I got a short email today from one of my readers: "My skin used to be so oily, I was always complaining about the shine. And now that I'm going through menopause, things have changed. It's so dry that it feels like my face will crack! I'd like to get some oil back. Any ideas?" I can relate. My own skin used to be so oily and greasy that I'd never go anywhere without those anti-shine wipes. I … [Read more...] about Beauty Q: Help for Dry Skin?
Knowing What to Say to a Friend With Cancer
Even today, 26 years after experiencing what it feels like to be 'that' person, it's can be hard for me to figure out what to say when someone else gets diagnosed with cancer. I know that when I was going through it, there were so many - too many - people around me who let me down. It was only once I recovered from the throes of illness - getting through the shock of the diagnosis, the … [Read more...] about Knowing What to Say to a Friend With Cancer
9 Ways to Help a Friend With Cancer
No matter if you know the person intimately or they’re a passing acquaintance, it can be challenging to know how to handle the situation. Even I, a breast cancer survivor, have to pause and consider what to do and what to say to another to convey understanding and support. But I can tell you this: everyone faced with a cancer diagnosis — and 39.6 percent of Americans will be at some time in … [Read more...] about 9 Ways to Help a Friend With Cancer
Beauty Q: Help for Brown Spots
I recently received an email from a reader, bemoaning the brown spots on her face, asking my advice on ways to treat them. "Aside from wrinkles and dry skin, I'm now finding these brown spots popping up on my cheeks and forehead. It seems that every time I look in the mirror, there's a new one. Any advice is welcome!" Aside from doing a lot of health-related research, I do my fair share of … [Read more...] about Beauty Q: Help for Brown Spots
Why You Get Migraines and What to Do About Them
Over 27 million women in the United States are affected by migraine. Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men, says Dr. Merle Diamond, managing director of The Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. One determining factor might be estrogen. “It’s the drop in estrogen level that occurs just before, or at the time, of menstrual flow that sets off the migraine in predisposed … [Read more...] about Why You Get Migraines and What to Do About Them
Why I’m Not Giving Up My Skinny Jeans
Have you heard or read about the latest fashion-is-bad-for-your-health fiasco? Apparently, skinny jeans are new health hazard - especially if you squat in them. In case you missed it (and it was really hard to miss it, since it was recently ALL over the news), a 35-year-old skinny jean-wearing woman in Australia was taken to the emergency room and had to have her jeans cut off of her. After … [Read more...] about Why I’m Not Giving Up My Skinny Jeans
Wondering About the TransFat Ban?
The word “fat” is so confusing – whether it be the type that we wear on our bodies or the type we put into our bodies. Good fats, bad fats, healthy fats, trans fats. What does it all mean? Let’s start with the one that’s been in the news lately – trans fat. A brief history: In the early 1900s a German chemist named Wilhelm Normann discovered a way to turn vegetable or fish oils from liquid … [Read more...] about Wondering About the TransFat Ban?
Shaving Face
It's funny how there were certain things that, as a young girl, I looked forward to with longing and couldn't wait to happen. Yet once they happened, the thrill wore off quickly. For instance, I couldn't wait to get my period. I couldn't wait to finally be able to call myself a "teenager." I couldn't wait to earn my own money. (Well, that thrill still lives on). I couldn't wait to shave. The … [Read more...] about Shaving Face
Pedaling Like Mad (and Getting Nowhere Fast)
“Let’s go to spin class together, mom! There’s a new Soul Cycle that opened in Westport.” How could I resist my darling 29-year-old son’s request? I’m an empty-nester, after all, and we don’t get to spend much one-on-one time together. Jonathan was planning on visiting for the day, and what better way to kick off the morning than with some high-energy exercise? I thought back nostalgically to … [Read more...] about Pedaling Like Mad (and Getting Nowhere Fast)
Five Ways to Enjoy a Pain-Free Vacation
You’ve looked forward to it all year…researched, planned and anticipated. It’s finally here - vacation time! And you’re determined not to let anything ruin it. Unfortunately, no matter how meticulously you plan, there are a lot of things that can derail a vacation. Some are simply out of your control – like delayed flights, lost luggage, and perhaps the most infamous of all – the weather. … [Read more...] about Five Ways to Enjoy a Pain-Free Vacation