Acne
Graduation, weddings, interviews and any other major life event often seem incomplete without the development of a pimple. Acne, a common skin disease, affects nearly 85 per cent of people between the ages of 12 to 24. Everyone experiences acne at some point. Acne usually disappears by the thirties although some still have it in middle age.

Adolescent Concerns and Behavior Problems
Teens and parents are well known to have problems understanding one another. Young children who have been cheerful and obedient suddenly become adolescents with firm ideas about how they want to behave as they develop into adulthood.

Bedwetting in Teens - more common than you think
No matter what your age, talking about bladder issues is never easy. Teens, who are not always open or willing to talk, can find it even harder. Most do not want to discuss it with doctors, parents, and certainly not with friends. Still, such problems are much more common than you may think.

Body Image - Smart choices for teenage girls
As a teenage girl, you face constant pressures from your family and peers. You're expected to do well in school and to fit in. Society and the media also pressures girls to have a so-called 'ideal' body. The idea is that the thinner you are, the more popular you will become. Thanks to this cultural myth, an alarming number of teenage girls are unhappy with their bodies. About 27 per cent of teenage girls are on a diet at any one time. Some girls take dieting to the extreme. Dieting taken too far can surface as anorexia nervosa (starving yourself to reach a dangerously low body weight) and bulimia nervosa (the 'binge and purge' diet). These eating disorders are so serious that many girls with these problems have to be treated in hospital.

Body Piercing – information for teens and their parents
Body piercing has been part of human culture for thousands of years. Archeological evidence shows ancient Egyptian and Mayan societies used piercing as a form of body art to identify individuals and their status. Sadly there is no evidence as to whether ancient Mayan teenagers drove their parents crazy by piercing their tongues! Tongue piercing appears to be a more modern result of the increased interest in piercing.

A Burning Concern - talking to teens about the danger of artificial tanning
Many of us associate a tan with summer sunshine and good health. Often teens spend a lot of time sunbathing, or try to get a tan when they are active outdoors. In addition, many teens are using artificial tanning beds. The idea that tanned skin is attractive is a strong motivation for tanning, especially for young women. However, many studies show a strong link between ultraviolet radiation exposure and skin cancer.

Bullying
In Canada, bullying happens every seven minutes on a playground and every 25 minutes in the classroom. It takes many forms. Bullying may be verbal, such as name calling, using threats, or saying bad things behind another’s back. It can also be physical, such as pushing or punching. It may involve relationships, such as leaving someone out of a game, or recruiting support from other children. Finally bullying may involve extortion, such as stealing money or toys. In any form, the goal of bullying is to enforce power through aggression.

Butting Out - Mentoring helps teens break - or avoid - the habit
It is no secret how deadly smoking can be to health, and our kids may be most at risk. Getting hooked early can mean a lifetime of health problems, including early death. One estimate says that of American kids under the age of 17, five million will die early of tobacco-related causes. By 2015, it is thought that smoking will kill 50 per cent more people than HIV/AIDS. It will cause 10 per cent of all deaths in the world. Clearly, getting kids to butt out is an urgent matter. Mentoring may offer an effective way to steer kids clear of cigarettes.

Chronic Diseases in Teens - health problems in the fast-food generation
Ideally the teen years are a time of perfect health, without the illnesses that can affect older people. Unfortunately, there are chronic diseases (those that persist for a long time) that can affect teens. Sadly, too, many are the result of our modern but sedentary lifestyle. Understanding and recognizing those diseases will help in their treatment and in some cases, prevent their onset.

Communication Skills That Build Relationships
The search for a personal identity is a major task in the life of a teenager. Teens need to learn about themselves and how they are different from the rest of the family.

Keep Your Head in the Game - Concussion in Sport
Lately, television sports and newspapers have featured stories about concussions and their effects on famous athletes. However, this type of brain injury is not confined to professionals. Young amateurs and recreational athletes are at even higher risk.

Cosmetics and Skin Care – a teenager's guide
The teen years are a time of experimenting with looks and self-image. For many girls, this includes the use of cosmetics. Although make-up ads are everywhere, there isn’t much in the way of guidelines. It can help to know some of the basics for choosing skin care products and using cosmetics safely.

The Female Physical Exam - what a young woman can expect
Knowing what to expect in your first physical exam can make the process easier. Regular physical exams help maintain or improve your health, preventing future problems. They keep both you and your family doctor updated on any new or old health issues. This is a time to talk about changes in your health and ensure that you and your doctor are on the same page.

First Period - The Role it Plays in Coming of Age
Some girls look forward to getting their periods while others dread it. Most have mixed feelings. The first period is an exciting rite of passage. At the same time, dealing with menstruation and the responsibilities that come with it can be an enormous pressure.

Growing and Changing - normal Adolescent Growth and Development
Adolescence brings many changes in a person's life. A child enters this life-stage and leaves several years later as an independent adult. The years between can cause concern for everyone around adolescents and often for the adolescents themselves.

Growing Up Sexually Healthy
Parents may feel uncomfortable when their young child asks, "Where do babies come from?" When they were children themselves this was called talking about the birds and the bees and the word sex was avoided.

Health Care for Teenagers
As children reach junior high school age, they meet many changes. One of the major changes is their need for a different approach to their health care. There are no hard and fast rules about what they might need because each teen is different

How Divorce Affects Teens
Today's teens face challenges like never before. Rising education costs, fewer jobs, economic worries, HIV ... the list goes on. Now, added to the list is the high rate of divorce.

Internet Safety - Do you know what your kids are doing online?
The Internet has become a part of our world. It is an amazing resource for communication, information, social networking, commerce and entertainment. Many Canadians use the Internet daily. It is closely linked with traditional telecommunications networks. More and more electronic devices connect to it. Smartphones easily access most if not all web content, much as a desktop computer does. More televisions, Blu-Ray players, and gaming devices are network-enabled.

Mononucleosis - the facts about this 'kissing' disease
Often just referred to as 'mono,' Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) is a common illness in adolescence. The Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis. It is spread by contact with saliva from a person who has or is recovering from the disease. (This method of spread is how it earned its nickname "the kissing disease.") Mononucleosis can also be spread from a person who had IM months previously. The incubation period (time from contact to development of symptoms) is usually between 30 and 50 days.

Not My Kid! - Drug use is more common than you think
Sometimes, teens can be very straightforward about their thoughts and feelings, telling adults directly if they feel anxious or depressed. However, they also express themselves through behaviour and attitude. This can confuse and worry adults who care about them. Depression reveals itself in various ways and can be life-threatening. Keeping an eye on all aspects of a teen's life is important.

Parent Teen Communication - how to learn to like the teenager you love
These two quotes mirror the conflict that occurs as you and your child pass through the turbulent teenage years. Until this time, parents have been the all-knowing, all-powerful figures in their child's life.

Parent-Teen Interaction - How to recognize and change negative patterns
The door to her room slammed! Rita and Jim looked at each other in stunned confusion. It had happened again. Their daughter, Melinda, aged 16, had come in 45 minutes later than her 10 p.m. curfew. She'd had one of the usual excuses: car trouble, a friend in crisis or a broken watch.

Problems at School - help your child towards success
Have you ever heard your teenager say, "I don't feel like going to school today?" Have you ever heard yourself reply, "I don't care how you feel, you're going!".

Psychological Assessment of Children and Teenagers
Could a psychological assessment help your child? Psychologists are specialists in human behaviour. They help people understand themselves. They provide insights into people's own abilities, behaviour, achievements, interests and personal qualities. One method they use when people are having difficulties at home, school or in the community is a psychological assessment.

Self-Esteem, Body Image and the Modern Girl
As humans develop and mature, they go through many stages of how they view themselves. Young children are happy when rewarded with smiles for discovering their noses and toes.

Self Esteem and Teens
Esteem: The dictionary definition of esteem is a verb meaning, "to regard with respect" or "set a value on," or a noun meaning "a high regard" or "a favourable opinion."
Self Esteem then means to have a high regard or respect for oneself. Those with high self-esteem believe themselves to be worthy of happiness, health, wellness, respect, friend-ship, love, achievement and success.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases - protecting yourself and your partner
There are many things to think about when you are deciding whether, or when, to become sexually active, and with whom. You must decide whether you are ready to become pregnant or to become a father. If not, you need to find out about birth control and use an effective method.

Taking Care of Business - A teen's guide to finding a job
Teenagers work for many different reasons. Some want experience, while others need spending money. Some want summer jobs and others are looking for full-time employment. Knowing where and how to start can be a challenge. Understanding how the system works will help.

Taking Chances - what is worth the risk?
It is not very hard to see that 'x' sports and risk-taking adventures have become a cool part of a lot of people's lives. Snowboarding, motor-cross and inline are just a few of the sports that have taken off because of the thrills and sometimes spills they can offer those brave (and some would say foolish) enough to try them. Despite this popularity, maybe one of the biggest adventures someone can experience is as simple a thing as being a teenager. Maybe there are no TV 'x' games for growing up, but that does not make it any less a challenge. Along with this fun, though, come risks not worth any kind of reward. No amount of popularity, conformity or thrill is worth some of the dangers that kids chance every day.

Tattoos and Body Art - The choice that lasts a lifetime
As culture and society change, so does the acceptance of some things once considered on the fringe. Body art, particularly tattooing and body piercing, is now much more mainstream. Whether or not to follow this trend is a serious choice for many of us; even more so for teens.

Teens and Risk Behaviour - concerns over sexual issues in the teenage years
The risks that teens take often cause great frustration to their parents, as well as being a source of genuine concern. Parents, teachers and the media try to teach teens about the harmful consequences of some risks. Why, we ask, do they continue to take them?

Teaching Respect - Safety in school shouldn’t depend on sexual orientation
Bullying in school is not new. About one in five kids are bullied at some point in their teen years. The number of kids participating in this harmful activity is nearly as high. Bullying is so common that every young person who attends school is exposed to it. Those who are not bullies or being bullied see it happening around them. Bullying happens in hallways, cafeterias, parking lots, in the gym, on sports field, and everywhere kids gather on school grounds. Sadly, it even happens inside classrooms, where students should feel safe and protected.

Teenage Blues
As if adolescence wasn’t difficult enough! The teen years can be filled with emotional turmoil. It is a time to establish independence, explore self, make decisions about the future and dive deep into the abyss of relationships. Unfortunately, it is also a time to watch for sometimes subtle signs of mental illness.

Teen Depression - help is available and important
Sometimes, teens can be very straightforward about their thoughts and feelings, telling adults directly if they feel anxious or depressed. However, they also express themselves through behaviour and attitude. This can confuse and worry adults who care about them. Depression reveals itself in various ways and can be life-threatening. Keeping an eye on all aspects of a teen's life is important.

Teens Behind the Wheel – Parents play a key role in teaching teens to drive safely
“Why are you slowing down?” my thirteen-year-old asks as I approach a yellow traffic light. “The light is yellow, that means slow, slow, slow,” I say, reminding him of the rhyme he learned in kindergarten. “You should have sped up. Now, we have to wait,” he says grumpily. I look at my son and realize that the time for kindergarten rhymes has passed. Next year he will be old enough to get his learner’s license. He will soon be making his own driving decisions.

Teenage Girls and Coping With Today's World
What is today's world like for teenage girls? How is this world different from the one that parents grew up in? How is it the same? What skills do teenage girls need to cope in this world? What can parents do to help their daughters survive?

Teen Immunization - Protection from serious disease
Remarkable change happens during the teen years, as a child develops into an adult. Many parents are most concerned with immunizing their children as babies. However, the teen years are an ideal time to bolster immunity against serious disease.

Teen Independence – Mastering the skill of guiding teenagers
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll - These are defining words for the generation that came of age in the late sixties and early seventies. It was then, and remains now, the creed of youthful rebellion. Your teen is being exposed to it, and together, you're both going to have to learn to cope with it. Do you ever wonder if you have the parenting skills to guide your child's passage through these unsettled waters or if your kids even want your help?

Teen Rebellion - keeping the lines of communication open
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll - These are defining words for the generation that came of age in the late sixties and early seventies. It was then, and remains now, the creed of youthful rebellion. Your teen is being exposed to it, and together, you're both going to have to learn to cope with it. Do you ever wonder if you have the parenting skills to guide your child's passage through these unsettled waters or if your kids even want your help?

Teens & Exercise
For decades, teens have been warned that tobacco is bad for health. Public health campaigns tell of the dangers of tobacco use. School programs aim to prevent kids from picking up the habit. Still, teens start smoking. Can anything be done?

Teens & Smoking
Exercise is a healthy choice for people of any age. When you are young it is difficult to look ahead and imagine a time when your health may not be as good as it is now. Your teen-age years are the perfect time to start a lifelong habit that may prevent so many health problem.

A Woman's Physical - an essential part of caring for your health
The words “complete physical exam” have long stirred up feelings of concern in many young women. Many wonder why on earth they need a complete physical exam, especially when they’re feeling well. Often, women put off having a physical exam primarily because of fear of the unknown. However, it is important for women, particularly, to have regular physical exams as part of maintaining their health. Knowing what to expect at a physical exam can make the entire experience easier.

Worries About Junior High - changes for kids and parents too
Many parents dread the arrival of the junior high years. They worry the child they know so well will turn into a stranger called a teenager. They worry they won't know how to cope and life will become chaotic and confusing. Parenting strategies that were successful once may no longer be useful.

Youth Violence
Case 1 - A 12-year-old boy has been missing school, complaining of stomachaches and headaches. Although his marks in elementary school were above average, now he seems to be struggling just to pass. He no longer listens to his Walkman or uses the new backpack he got for Christmas.