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10 surprising things that are ruining your skin
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Here are 10 ways you are unknowingly destroying your skin every single day. - photo by Melinda Fox
Everyone wants model-esque skin that allows them to skip smearing foundation on their face every day in an attempt to hide acne marks and wrinkles. But you may feel like you are at the bottom of the gene lottery with your skin, and there's not a thing you can do to help it.

That may be true, but believe it or not, there are changes you can do to make all the difference when it comes to your skin.

Here are 10 things you are doing that may be preventing you from having that J-Lo glow.

1. Talking on the phone

Turns out your phone has more bacteria crawling on it than an office toilet seat. One study found 140 units of Staphylococcus aureus on smartphones compared to less than 20 units on the toilet seat. So when you talk on the phone, this bacterium is transferred to your face causing breakouts and rashes on your cheeks and jawline.

While you need to be careful when cleaning your phone so you don't damage it, you can regularly wipe it down with a dry or lightly damp lint-free cloth. Also, make sure you wash your hands often because the bacterium on your hands transfers to your phone.

2. Skipping meals

You already know that food is fuel for your body, and since your skin is your body's biggest organ, it should be no wonder that skipping meals negatively impacts your skin. Without the essential vitamins food provides, your skin will look dull and become extra dry.

3. Not exercising

Skipping your work out could be affecting more than your heart and waistline. Just like with food, because your skin is your body's biggest organ, it's also one of your body's biggest beneficiaries when it comes to physical exercise.

Exercise improves blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which affects its luster. Exercise also helps release stress and toxins that can influence your skin's health.

While exercise does wonders for your skin, it can also have a negative impact if you're not careful. Exercising while wearing makeup can clog your pores and neglecting to wash your face after a workout can cause dirt and sweat to inflame your skin as well. Furthermore, don't forget sunscreen when working out in the outdoors.

4. Hot showers

Hot showers may feel may feel great but they aren't great for your skin. The heat strips your skin's natural oils. To avoid the harmful effects of hot water, don't shower longer than 10 minutes and keep the water at a lukewarm temperature. Also, after your shower, pat yourself down with a towel and make sure you moisturize.

5. Coffee

You've heard it all before. Chocolate, fried food, or anything that tastes good, is bad for your skin. But there really is science to back up this claim.

Coffee happens to be very acidic and the caffeine messes with your hormones which can increase your skin's oil production. This means that you may end up with some nasty breakouts.

6. Towels

You probably already know that dirty pillow cases are a hot bed for acne production, but did you know your towel could actually be worse? It's used to wipe not-completely-clean hands and sits in a room that's generally a moist breeding ground for bacteria. Dermatologists recommend cleaning towels and washcloths that touch your face after every use.

7. Swimming

Spending lots of time in pools is not great for your skin. Swimming pools contain lots of chlorine to kill bacteria and keep them safe. However, chlorine also kills the good bacteria that your skin needs. This can cause you to have acne, rashes, dry skin, premature wrinkles, and even skin cancer.

Make sure you wash after swimming and be aware of the chlorine levels in both your drinking and bath water.

8. Too much sugar

Sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and make you feel more sluggish but beyond that, it can be wrecking your skin. It can aggravate hormonal acne, make it harder for your skin to recover from inflammation, and bonds with skin fibers causing them to be stiff and wrinkly. One of the best things you can do for your skin is to limit your sugar intake.

9. Popping zits

You might think that the quickest way to make a pimple clear out is to pop it. However, doing this can cause your skin to become more infected by forcing bacteria into the opening in your skin.

10. Not enough sleep

Did you know that having only one night of bad sleep can wreak havoc on your skin? Sleep for only six hours for three days and the effects are visible. Consistently skimp on your sleep, and you're looking at permanent skin damage. Inadequate amounts of sleep trigger dark circles, duller skin, and premature aging.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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