Child Health: Using 3D to Spot Vision Problems

3D movies are all the rage. From Alice in Wonderland to The Avengers, moviegoers get to see many newer movies using the magic of 3D. Put on a pair of glasses and you're good to go. But 3D is doing more than simply entertaining the masses. Thanks to the power of 3D movies, many people are discovering that they have permanent vision problems, and sometimes these are problems that could have been corrected in childhood if they had been detected early enough.

If your children see a flat image or two of one character instead of the 3D effect when watching a 3D movie, your child may have what's called binocular vision disorder. This disorder, which affects up to 10% of the population, is really a blanket term to cover a problem with the way the two eyes work together. For example, if the muscles in one eye are stronger than the other, the brain may actually "shut off" the weaker eye. This can be corrected, but in most cases intervention must happen before the age of seven.

Many other conditions are just as easy to treat. Muscles that are too weak to properly turn one eye toward the toher can be strengthened by playing special video games designed for this purpose. Surgery is an option of last resort, but it really can save the vision of many children, including my older son who almost went blind when he was three years old. The trick is knowing there's a problem in the first place.

If your child complains about not being able to really see the 3D effects on any movie (when wearing the 3D glasses), take him or her for an eye exam immediately. If you've never taken your child for an eye exam, start now and repeat annually. A basic vision checkup can catch many problems, and some of these are easy to fix.

Child Health: The Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Every year flu clinics pop up across the country offering flu shots to eligible people. This inevitably sparks a debate among parents. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate your child against the seasonal flu? There are well-educated people in both camps, both with valid arguments. Some simply don't want their children to become ill and go get the vaccine in hopes of preventing season illnesses. Other parents would rather not have another vaccine for an illness that is short term and mild in most children.

Flu viruses (yes, there is certainly more than one seasonal flu virus) start showing up when the colder days of fall set it. If you're going to vaccinate, you really need to do it in early fall and not wait until winter is in full swing. But it's important to realize that not every child can or should get the flu shot. For example, my younger son has a medical condition for which he is medicated daily. Because of his medication, he cannot get the flu shot.

Of course, there are certain groups of children who could almost certainly benefit from the flu shot. These kids are generally those who are at the highest risk of serious illness. How do you know if your child is at risk? Talk to your health care provider. But, in general, if your child is between 6 and 24 months or has respiratory or immune problems (like some former preemies), you can consider your child at risk and may want to get him or her vaccinated against seasonal flu. There are also situations where you might want to have a child who is not at risk vaccinated. For example, everyone surrounding someone with immune problems should be vaccinated to protect the at risk person. Pregnant women are often vaccinated, as are those surrounding them. Consider this when making your decision.

Please note, however, that any child under 6 months of age should NOT be vaccinated against the flu. It's basically pointless because children this young have immune systems that are too immature to respond appropriately to the vaccine.

What can you do if you opt not to vaccinate your child against the flu? Well, everyone, vaccinated or not, should practice what I like to call flu etiquette. Teach your children to cough or sneeze into a tissue or the fabric at their elbow and not into their hands. Wash hands with warm water and soap frequently and carry a hand sanitizer for those moments when water and soap are not available. Also, stay home when you're ill and have your children stay home from school when they're not feeling well. If everyone stayed home when they were ill, viruses would not spread they way they do now, so let the kids stay home when they're ill.

The choice to vaccinate against the season flu is up to you and should be discussed with your health care provider. Personally, I don't vaccinate either of my children against the flu (though they certainly are vaccinated against other things as per my pediatrician's recommendations). My younger child cannot be vaccinated and my older one never gets sick. Ever. While all the other children are out sick due to the flu or even chicken pox, he's outside playing like a whirling dervish. But there are children who should certainly be vaccinated, so talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of having your child vaccinated against the seasonal flu.

Taking Care of Yourself: Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips

Busy moms don't have a lot of time. Add the sleeplessness and stress that comes with having children and you have a recipe that will truly take its toll on your skin. There's nothing wrong with any mom taking some time to take care of herself, but with limited time, you have to make the most of it. Especially when it comes to skin care and keeping our skin looking youthful.

Because none of us have any time to spare, keep your skin care regimen simple. Choose multi-purpose products so you don't have to spend all morning applying product to your face. Look for things like exfoliants you don't have to rinse off (Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer is a good choice, though there are others) and moisturizers that double as sunblocks (Smashbox Sheer Focus is my favorite). These types of products will save you time and even help save you money.

Being a mom ages your skin. There's no two ways about that. And many of us like the idea of those anti-aging lotions that are out there. But let's face it. We can't turn back the clock and we can't undo the aging process. You can, however, improve the appearance of your skin by moisturizing it. If you want to making your skin look great, you don't necessarily have to invest in those expensive anti-aging creams. Instead, wash and moisturize your face twice a day, exfoliate twice a week, and wear sunblock every time you step outside. Here's where using a moisturizer with sunblock will pay off. Avoid most anti-aging creams.

Why? Take a look at the claims made by these products. Do they actually claim to reverse the aging process anywhere on the packaging? No. They're not allowed to claim something that isn't true, and you simply cannot anti-age anything. Instead, the creams claim to improve the appearance of skin. This can be done with products that will not break the bank, products available at your local drugstore.

Look for products that contain vitamin A (which is sometimes called retinol) and glycolic acids. These two products have been proven to enhance the appearance of your skin, especially when used together. Other good ingredients in your moisturizer include vitamin C and hydroxy acid. Vitamin C helps your sunscreen work better and improves those annoying brown spots. Hydroxy acid, on the other hand, exfoliates the skin and makes your skin appear brighter and more youthful. Still, none of these products are anti-aging, so don't waste your money on a cream that won't do anything more than your average moisturizer.

So what products might you choose that won't cost a lot of money but still get the job done? Well, I've already mentioned two I like, but there are others I've used with great success. Products such as Neutrogena and Reversa are inexpensive but worth their weight in gold. I'm sure you'll have your favorites if you visit your local drugstore and test out a few. I like Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, which handily has enough SPF protection for those long winter days.

And my skin? Well, it glows and is blemish-free. I'm now into my 30s and my skin looks just like it did 10 years ago. And all without those expensive anti-aging creams that don't work anyway.