Girl Talk: Periods At School

If you are a girl, it's going to happen, at some point you are going to get... your period. And whether we like it or not, it's going to happen at school at some point. I know, probably one of the worst places to have it right? You might feel like everyone knows, or you're worried about having an embarrassing accident. There may even be a time when you aren't at all prepared and then, BLAM! And then you need to desperately ask friends for a tampon (or a pad if that's what you prefer). I've been through it all. And it's not fun, but it doesn't have to be as bad as it seems. 

With school just around the corner, and i know that many of you may have already started school, I'd like to share some of my tips and tricks for dealing with the dreaded periods at school. I didn't come up with all of these on my own, I got a few from my mom and from some friends, and also a few from the internet. But I'd love to share all of my school periods tips with you for back to school. If you have any additional tips and tricks, feel free to leave them in the comments on this blog post. This post mostly focuses on school, and more general posts on this topic will come in the future. 

Being Prepared:

♥ Know when you're going to start- My biggest tip to being prepared for your period to start is to know when it's coming. To know when your period will start, count the days from the start of your period, to the start of the next, this is your cycle. The average cycle is 28 days long, but can vary from girl to girl. It can sometimes even be a little different through different cycles, especially when you are just getting your period. Be sure to mark your calender for the day your period may start so that you don't forget. You can also get apps for your phone or iPod Touch to remind you when you're period may start. I use Period Plus.

♥ Wear Pantie-liners as your period gets near- You may want to wear them a couple of days before your period starts, just in case you start a little bit early. These can also be worn all month to keep your undies fresher! Wearing a pantie-liner will help to protect your undies for a small amount of time if you start at school. But if you start to feel a little damp (gross right?), you'll want to get the the bathroom to put on a proper pad or tampon ASAP! If you know your period will start that day, you can even wear a light pad so you don't need to try to make an immediate trip to the bathroom (though you'll still want to change it as soon as you can if you were already wearing the pad, just for cleanliness). 

*NEVER WEAR A TAMPON UNLESS YOUR PERIOD  HAS ALREADY STARTED!

♥ Always have supplies on hand- It's best to always keep a couples tampons or pads in your purse at all times, just in case. You can keep them in a small make-up bag so people won't see them. Whether it's close to that time of month or not. It could sneak up on you, or a friend once in a while. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a small emergency kit (I may do a full emergency kit blog sometime) with enough pads and tampons, and maybe even a clean pair of undies in your locker. Better safe then sorry. This will save you from having to ask somebody else for one, and you can help someone else out. Just don't forget to restock this as needed. 

Staying Fresh:

You WILL need to change your pad or tampon at school. You can almost get away with not changing your tampon (they should be changed every 6-8 hours, or even earlier if your flow is heavier), but it's still best to change it and stay fresh. Pads will need to be changed at least every 4 hours, or less on heavy flow days. You'll usually know when your pad or tampon needs changing. Try to do this between classes (if possible) or during lunch break to avoid taking class time. If it can't wait a little longer, or you don't have enough time between classes, you can try to ask your teacher at the beginning, or end or class. Since I know that not all teachers will allow you to go to the restroom, I'll do a future post on how to deal with that. But most teachers will let you go if you tell them you are having a female emergency. It might be awkward, but both female AND male teachers will know what it means, and will generally understand. 

Don't worry about anyone hearing you change your pad or tampon. Usually nobody is even paying attention. But since (obviously, LOL) you are in the girls bathroom, all of the girls in there will go through it at some point or another as well. But it's not likely they'll even notice, unless you tell them. And of course it's better to have people know you're fresh and clean :) It's always better then embarrassing leaks and feeling icky. DON'T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS AFTERWARDS! 

Many girls worry that everyone will know when they are on their period. But really, as long as you change your tampon or pad when needed (you can even wear both together for extra protection, or even just wear a pantie-liner with a tampon just in case), nobody will ever know unless you tell them. Here are a few things you can do if you are worried about leaks:

♥ If you use tampons, wear a pantie-liner, or even a light pad with it in case of leaks- (Like mentioned before) You'll want to change your tampon if you start leaking. But this will protect you undies, and give you extra protection. 

♥ Wear dark colored pants- Leaks will be less obvious on darker pants then light pants. You'll still want to wash them as soon as you get home, and even cover it if you have a leak. But it'll be a little harder (though not invisible) to see without looking closely. Dark denim or even better yet, black work amazing. 

♥ Have your bestie do a butt-check- If you are worried you may be leaking, ask a trusted gal pal do a butt check. It might seem awkward but she knows the feeling. And it's a lot less awkward then trying to look back at your own behind, or walking around with a spot on the back of your pants all day. 

♥ Carry a hoodie or jacket that can cover it up- If your hoodie or jacket is long enough it can cover the spot all you have to do is put it on. You can also tie it around your waste to cover up the spot. 

♥ Change your pad or tampon when you feel needed to avoid leaks almost all together!

Dealing with cramps at school:

Taking a nap, or even light exercise can really help with cramps. But both of these things would be rather hard to do at school when you need to sit in class. And sometimes the pain from cramps can make it harder to focus on school. Cramps shouldn't keep or send you home, unless they are REALLY bad. You may also want to see a doctor about unbearable cramps. I generally get the worst or my cramps on the first of second day of my cycle.  And I'll generally take some pain medicine like Advil to keep the pain low, or completely away. Since most schools don't allow any kind of medicine on school property (and don't risk it, you could get into HUGE trouble), you'll want to take it before you leave for school. Drinking water can also help a little bit with cramps. Sometimes just placing your hand on your lower tummy can help a little bit too. Wearing loose fitting pants can also help to relieve a little discomfort. 

So these are a few of my tips for dealing with periods at school. This isn't everything I have on periods in general, that's for another future post. But this is what I like to do to stay fresh at school. Feel free to leave any additional tips, and questions in the comments. And feel free to answer other peoples questions. Please note that I am not a doctor, or a professional or any kind. I speak out of personal experience. And never be afraid to ask a woman you trust questions. 

This may also be the last blog post in my back to school blog series, but I'm not sure yet. Though I will still post many school blogs throughout the school year. But along with other posts as well. Keep on the lookout for blogs on homecoming in the next month!

From A Senior To A Freshman

With summer coming to an end, and a new school year beginning, I feel that now is a good time to share a few small bits of advice for those who are about to start high school, or middle school, or that are moving to a new school. These should also be remembered no matter what grade you're in, or how long you've been going to a school, and even in some other places beyond school. We all want to make a good impression on people, and we want the others kids to accept us. There can be many pressures in middle and especially high school. It's important to always stay true to who you are, and keep your goals in mind. 

The most important thing is to be yourself, and don't try to be someone you're not. People can tell when you are being fake, and nobody likes a fake. It's better to have friends that like you for who you are, rather then people who like you for what you're not. If someone can't accept you for who you are, you really don't need them as a friend. Friends are people you can be yourself and be silly with, and never have to worry about it. Being popular is not what it seems cracked up to be. There is often more drama, and a lot more pressures in these groups then what you may see. You'll be a lot more comfortable, and happier being yourself, and having friends who like the REAL beautiful you. :)

Never give into peer pressure when it comes to things you don't feel right about. Real friends would never pressure you into doing something that you know is wrong. Don't drink, try drugs, or do anything with a guy just to fit in, or to get them to like you. The potential consequences are not worth it, and can get between you and your dreams. You could get into serious trouble with the law, and with your family. Surround yourself with friends that you can trust, and people who know your dreams and encourage you to go towards them. Anyone who would try to get you to do something you aren't comfortable with, or anything illegal or dangerous for the matter, is not worth it. (This includes a boyfriend that doesn't respect your values. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, and guys who would respect you. You don't need to stay with a jerk.)

You should never let bullies or haters get to you. These people are only jealous of you and insecure of themselves, and they try to bring others down to their level with harsh, and immature words. They really aren't worth the time or any pain. Some mean comments can even be turned into compliments in a way, just get creative! I'll write another post on how to handle bullies in the future. But never stoop to their level and make comments back at them, this makes you a bully as well. If you feel that the bullying is out of control, or if it's really hurting you, you'll want to tell a trusted adult. Whether it's a parents, teacher, or any other adult in your life. Don't try to handle a serious situation on your own. Don't wait until things escalate further, or turn violent. And remember, you have a lot going for you. Don't let anyone try to take that away from you. And don't forget to treat others the way you wan't to be treated.

And of course don't forget to enjoy these years. High school years fly by really fast, trust me, and once they're gone you can't get them back. Make memories, and enjoy each day. Join a sports team, or a school club and make new friends. Try new things. Take an interesting class. And don't forget to have a dream to shoot for beyond high school, and work towards it as you enjoy these years. Keep those grades up! School might suck sometimes, but it's always important.  Keep your head up girls, and stay glambitious! :)

What advice do you have for anyone moving on to middle school or high school? Or moving to a new district? 

Here is a video I found on YouTube. This song is really inspirational. And this guy actually came to my school last year! The song is called Won't Back Down sung by Ryan Holliday. It's about not giving up, no matter what happens. Check it out if you'd like!

Girl Talk: A Girl's Must Have App

Hey girls! Today's post is a little about something that every girl will go through at some point in her life, periods. I won't be going into much detail on that time of month when cravings, moodiness, and well... period stuff, rear their ugly heads today (more posts on that will be coming in the very near future). But I would like to mention a great way to keep track of that time of month and prepare for it, period predictor apps. 

Recently I was curious about an app that could better help me prepare for that time of month, and give me an alert when that time is coming around. And somewhat without surprise, there are many period predictor apps available in the app store! (Paid and free, I went for free, LOL!) After trying a few, I found the one that I liked best, and worked best for me, Period Plus. This app allows you to keep track of several factors: breakouts cramps, weight, flow, and more. You can even create a custom factor if you wish. You can set this app to notify you of your period starting up to 5 days before your period is estimated to start. And as you enter more periods and cycles (the amount of days from the start of your period, to the start of the next) the prediction will get more accurate, and make changes based on what you enter. You can even password protect this app if you don't wish for others to view your content. 

There is a paid version of this app ($2.99 american dollars), but the free version works just fine. Also feel free to check out other apps available on the app store. This app will run on iPhone, iPod touch, and I believe iPad as well. Feel free to check out other apps if this one doesn't work for you, the app can be easily deleted from your device if you don't like it. You may also be able to find many similar apps on the android market if you don't have an iPhone. But even if you don't have any of these devices, you can still keep track of your period. Simply mark your calender when your period starts (it doesn't have to be anything fancy, a dot, heart, or any shape you like will do. plus not many people would know what it's for other then you) and mark it each time your period starts. The days from one mark to the next is the length of your cycle, so you can use this to estimate when your period may start. 

The average cycle is 28 days, but EVERYONE is different. You may be a little longer, or shorter then other girls. Your cycle may also sometimes be longer of shorter then usual, you may even miss a cycle (this is very common when you just start having your period). This is completely normal, and you shouldn't worry about it to much. However, you shouldn't miss more then 3 periods in a row. And if you have any concerns, don't be afraid to see a doctor. And never be afraid to ask your mother, older sister or friend, or another woman you trust questions.

Do you use a similar app? How do you keep track of your period? Feel free to ask any questions, as well as answer any questions other girls may leave on this post. I'll try to answer questions the best I can. I'll also be doing many more posts on this topic. I am not a doctor, nor am I trying to be. What I know comes from personal experience and research. 

***FTC Disclaimer: This was a free app in the iTunes app store, and is free to everyone. I am not being paid to write this post. All opinions are my own.***

Girl Talk: Acne, Pimples, Zits, OH MY!

Hey girls! For my first Girl Talk blog, I figured I post on something that just about every teenager (even boys!) can relate to. Those icky little bumps that appear on your face, and even on other areas of your body such as your neck, shoulders, back, and chest. ACNE. Just about everyone will have acne at some point in their tween and teen years, and even in their adult years. Some may even have more severe acne then others. If you feel that your acne is effecting your social life or self esteem, or you have really severe acne, you may want to set up an appointment with a dermatologist to help control your acne. 

Causes of Acne:

-Overproduction of oil (sebum), your body naturally produces oil. (Your skin would be really dry without it, and dry skin can cause break outs as well.) When to much oil is produced, it could clog the pores in your skin.

-Dead skin, your body naturally sheds dead skin cells, but irregular shedding of dead skin can result in irritation of the follicles in your skin.

-Bacteria buildup

Acne can be worsened by:

-Hormones. This is why your acne is usually worse in your tween and teen years as you go through puberty. You may also experience break-outs around the time of your period as your body goes through hormonal changes. Pregnancy and birth control  may also effect the amount of oil produced in your skin. 

-Some Medications may also cause acne. 

-Diet. Studies have shown that some foods, including dairy products, and foods full of carbs such as breads, chips, and foods that raise blood sugar may also be a cause of acne. It's been shown that foods such as chocolates, and greasy foods have little effect on acne. 

Facts: 

~Acne actually isn't caused by dirt. Over scrubbing and the use of harsh products can make acne even worse. Though it's still necessary to wash your skin to remove excess oil, dead skin, and bacteria. 

~Stress isn't actually a cause of acne, but can make it worse.

Here are the different forms of acne you could possibly get:

-Comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Probably one of the most common forms of acne. These are caused when the opening of the skin becomes blocked with oil, dead skin, or even bacteria. 

      -Blackheads are open at the skin surface and have a dark color. 

      -Whiteheads are closed at the surface and have a more skin colored appearance. 

-Pustules (pimples) are also common, these are the red tender bumps with white pus at their tips. 

-Papules may also be red and tender, these usually signal inflammation in the hair follicles. 

-Nodules are large, solid and painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin, caused by build up deep in the follicle. 

-Cysts are large, painful, pus filled, boil-like. lumps beneath the surface of the skin. These can cause scarring. 

Some treatments and remedies:

-Over the counter topical treatments. These are generally mild acne lotions that can dry up excess oil and fight bacteria. These generally contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or sulfur as their active ingredient.  These usually work best for mild forms of acne. Some initial side effects may include  dryness, irritation, and flaking. These usually improve after about a month.

-Prescription topical treatments. If your skin doesn't respond to over the counter products, you may want to see a doctor or dermatologist to prescribe a stronger treatment. 

-Antibiotics. For Severe or even some moderate forms of acne you may need to take oral antibiotics for a short term. Your doctor may have you slowly decrease your doses as your acne improves, or if the antibiotics aren't working. You may also be using these with a topical treatment. Antibiotics can cause side effect such as upset stomach, dizziness, and skin discoloration. They may also increase your skins sensitivity to the sun, and reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. 

-Isotretinoin. This is a very effective and strong remedy for deep cysts when antibiotics aren't enough. This is reserved for the most serve forms of acne. Patients will need close monitoring by a dermatologist to watch for severe side effects. This drug is known to cause birth defects and can not be used safely by women who are pregnant of may become pregnant. Women of reproductive age must participate in an FDA approved monitoring program to be prescribed the drug. 

*More information on these treatments and remedies, and a complete list of treatments can be found here.*

Do NOT try to pop blemishes! While it is very tempting, picking and squeezing can make them worse and even cause infection. (and it's icky anyways, LOL!)

Prevention:

-Watch what touches your face. Try to keep your hands off of your face as much as possible. Try to avoid resting your phone on your face as well. Also keep your hair clean and and as out of your face as possible.

-Wash with a gentle cleanser to wash away excess skin and oil. (Only was twice a day to avoid drying your skin out).

-avoid products that irritate your skin. including some cosmentics, hair products, and even some sunscreens. Though sun rays can worsen acne, and some acne products can make you more sensitive to the suns rays. Use a non oily sunscreen to protect your skin. 

-try to avoid putting on heavy foundation (especially in the summer when your more likely to be sweating). take off all make-up before going to bed. 

-shower after exercise to wash away sweat and oil.

So here is just some of the basic information on acne. Please note that I am not a doctor, nor am i trying to be. I am simply taking prior knowledge and research and simplifying it a bit for this blog. I may do several more posts on acne in the future to include further information. This is the first of many Girl Talk blogs that I'll be doing on Glitter Glambitions. Feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability, and also feel free to answer other girls questions. Also feel free to leave a topic you would like me to blog on, and I'll try to get to it in the future :) 

I got my information from here. More information on everything discussed in this post can be found here as well.