Diet has always been one of the biggest factors influencing our overall health. While I do not follow a strict diet, I know that constantly eating junk food, sugary snacks, and fast food is probably not the best choice, especially as a teenager. Like many people, I have often wondered whether the foods we eat actually affect our skin or if it is simply another skincare myth. After researching this topic, I found several interesting findings that may help explain the relations

For the past five years, I have been drinking matcha almost every single day. At first, I started drinking it because of all the health benefits I heard about online, including clearer skin, healthy weight management, sustained energy, and improved focus. Over time, however, matcha became much more than a healthy habit. I developed an appreciation for its unique flavors and began exploring different cafés and boba shops throughout Orange County. Trying new matcha drinks has s

Have you ever wondered why your skin seems to break out after flying on an airplane? I used to think it was just because I was touching my face more or that airplanes were not the cleanest places. While that can play a role, it is not the full story. It does not happen to everyone, but it is more common than people think. I never really understood why this was happening until I looked into it more, and there are actually a few reasons behind it, along with ways you can preven

Acne is stubborn. My journey battling through this skin condition says it all. One day I am breaking out after a long day in the sun. Another day, my pores feel like they are trapped beneath the surface of my skin while I am hoping they will somehow disappear overnight. Looking back, my journey with acne has been long, frustrating, but also rewarding. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, finally consulting a dermatologist made me realize that all of it was part of the proce

At Troy High School, I saw a pattern that was hard to ignore. Many of my peers, including myself, struggled with acne flare-ups during the same periods when academic stress and burnout were at their peak. Between demanding coursework, extracurricular commitments, and a constant lack of sleep, it often felt like there was barely time to take care of ourselves. In a culture where many teenagers are not meeting recommended sleep levels, stress becomes almost constant, and I star

Prescribed by my dermatologist nearly two years ago, I began taking doxycycline pills paired with 0.1% tretinoin cream. Around this time period, I would often break out after spending long periods in the sun or sweating from physical activities. After a visit to my dermatologist, she prescribed this medication, which I incorporated into my daily routine. Here is what you need to know about doxycycline and how it actually works for acne. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibioti

As a popular drug for treating acne, wrinkles, and other skin conditions, you may have heard of tretinoin or its less potent cousin, retinol. These drugs, simply put, are strong derivatives of Vitamin A. Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for your skin, speeds up the skin cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. You mention tretinoin and retinol. What is the difference? As they are both similar in chemical structure and tretinoin and retinol essentially function the sa

Dubai chocolate has been gaining a lot of popularity lately, especially on social media, with people showing off luxurious, rich-looking desserts that go viral almost instantly. I myself have indulged in these trends and can understand why they’ve been gaining so much hype, especially with how visually appealing and widely shared they are on social media. Along with this rise in chocolate content, discussions about chocolate causing acne have also started trending again. Many

Have you ever noticed how your skin suddenly starts breaking out right before a big test or during finals week? Even if your skincare routine hasn’t changed, stress alone can trigger unexpected acne. I’ve personally experienced this too: I still break out during exam season even when I’m doing everything “right.” Many students assume it’s because they’re not taking care of their skin properly, but that is not always the case. In reality, exam-related breakouts are often cause