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Young Wrexham

Health

No health problem is unique, but it is unique to you. Whatever your problem – a lot of other people are also worried by it, or suffer from it.

Common health concerns and queries for young people include:

Every day there seems to be a new health scare and how do you know if you are at risk, how can you protect yourself and where can you go for help? How do you tell if something is ‘normal’ or needs medical attention? How do you enjoy life and stay healthy?

Perhaps you have a disability or an illness and you would like to know more about it and how to cope with it.

Stop worrying and take action! There are lots of places where you can go for information and there are lots of people you can talk to. Take a look at all the contacts below and choose the ones that you think will be best for you.

You’re Skin

Whether yours is dry or greasy, spotty or clear, it’s likely you’ve got some kind of issue with your skin.

Because the face is the first thing anyone looks at, it’s this area of skin that can stress you out the most.

Everyone gets the odd spot, but longer-term skin conditions can affect your level of self-confidence, especially if they are on your face. If you are suffering from acne or dry skin, don’t worry. There are lots of easy treatments around that can help.

Most young people get spots, and they always seem to break out when you really don’t want them to. They are caused by your glands producing too much sebum which is a substance your body produces to stop you’re hair drying out. Too much sebum makes your skin oily and causes spots. There are some things you can do to prevent spots or to help make them disappear

If your spots don’t seem to be clearing up, you may be suffering from acne.

Acne

Acne is a chronic skin condition that affects most people at some point during their life. It causes spots to develop on the skin, usually on the face, back and chest. The symptoms of acne can be mild, moderate or severe.

Acne is thought to be caused by changes in hormones that are triggered during puberty.

Acne is the most common type of skin condition. It is most widespread among older children, teenagers and young adults. Most acne cases in girls occur between the ages of 14 to 17, and in boys the condition is most common in 16 to 19- year-olds.

Acne is different from getting a few spots. It can appear on your back, shoulders and chest as well as your face and can sometimes be painful. Some people can get relatively mild forms of acne, where outbreaks are months apart. Others can get quite serious forms of the condition that can lead to scars.

Acne can affect you emotionally; it can also affect someone’s self-confidence or body image and can cause stress – which in turn can make acne outbreaks even more severe.

Although special face washes and creams can help some people, serious acne usually needs to be treated with specialist medical treatments. These treatments are only available with a prescription. Make an appointment to see your doctor who can diagnose how serious the acne is, and decide the best course of action.

Moles

If you’ve got a mole, you’re probably more conscious of it than everyone else. You should keep an eye on your mole; if it changes size, shape or colour you should let your GP know.

If you can’t live with it, you might be able to have it removed, but it could leave a scar. Your GP will be able to tell you more.

If you have lots of moles or freckles, you’re more likely to develop skin cancer, so you need to take extra care. Don’t use sunbeds and avoid getting caught out by sunburn. Use shade, clothing small plasters and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 20 to protect yourself.

Dry spots

Many people get dry skin occasionally, especially in the colder weather when it’s cold outside and everyone’s got the central heating up to max.

If it’s something that doesn’t seem to be going away, try and see your GP, otherwise, to help combat dryness, make sure you moisturise well. Avoid using soap-based face cleansers, because some can dry out the skin.

Hair today gone tomorrow

For the boys, shaving is a part of life. Once guys hit puberty, they get the first appearances of facial growth pushing through.

If you decide to shave, wash your face first and then make sure that you use a shaving foam, gel, or oil to lubricate the face and also make the hairs easier to shave.

Rinse your face thoroughly once you’re done and moisturise to avoid your skin drying out.

If you’re a girl and you’re getting facial growth, it might be a good idea to see a doctor to see what’s happening, even though it’s probably nothing to worry about. You mustn’t shave your face. It is natural for women to have hair on their face as well as men, but women’s are usually fairer so are less visible. You can also seek advice from beauticians who can advise you on a treatment.

If it is bothering you and you are worried why not speak to your doctor will be able to suggest ways of removing or disguising the hair.

Sunbed use in Wales

A ban on the use of sunbeds by people under the age of 18 in Wales came into force on 8 April 2011. The ban is designed to reduce the incidence of skin cancer by protecting under 18s from the dangers of overexposure to ultra-violet radiation.

So what does this mean?

You can’t always see the damage that UV does straight away. It builds up over time. But every time you use a sunbed you are harming your skin and worsening its appearance in the long run. And this damage is permanent. Melanoma is the second most common cancer amongst 20-39 year olds and can be fatal. Using sunbeds before the age of 35 increases your risk of developing skin cancer by up to 75%.

Burning or going red under a sunbed is a sign that you have seriously damaged your skin. UV can penetrate deep into the skin’s layers and damage the DNA in our skin cells. Cells damaged by UV are at greater risk of mutating and then dividing uncontrollably which is what happens when you get cancer. If you have fair or freckly skin that tends to burn, you are at even greater risk of damaging your skin cells. Make sure you never burn

Know the facts

Excessive exposure to UV is the main cause of skin cancer. Each year, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in the UK as well as a further 8,000 with malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Using a sunbed once a month or more can increase your risk of skin cancer by more than half.

Every day, six people die from skin cancer in the UK.

Things to look out for

Diameter
Your mole is wider than 6mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser

Colour
The colour of your mole is uneven, with more than one shade.

Border
The edges of your mole are irregular, blurred or jagged.

Asymmetry
The two halves of your mole do not look the same.

If you notice any new moles, changes in the size, shape or colour of existing moles, or other abnormal skin changes, don’t delay – get them checked out by your doctor.

Support and Advice

www.sunsmart.org.uk/advice-and-prevention/sunburn/

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/852.aspx?categoryid=87&subcategoryid=87

New Rules www.wales.nhs.uk/news/18571

Weight

Most of us, at some time in our lives, feel unhappy about the way we look and try to change it. Being underweight or overweight is a big worry to all of us.

Staying a healthy, normal weight

Our bodies need a healthy diet, which should include all the things you need to develop normally

There are some simple rules that can help you to stay a healthy weight. They sound quite easy, but might be more difficult to put into practice. You can ask your family and friends to help you to stick to these rules – and it might even help them to be a bit more healthy!

If you follow these suggestions, you will find it easier to control your weight, and you won’t find yourself wanting sweet foods all the time.

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/eight-tips-healthy-eating.aspx

Body Image

How do you see yourself when looking in the mirror? You may think you’re too fat or too skinny, too tall or too short. You want bigger muscles, longer legs...the list is endless. But everyone feels the same way. You are not alone, so don’t put yourself down.

When you hit your teenage years, your body will start to change shape and grows bits you didn’t have before. Hips begin to change shape, breasts pop up, shoulders broaden, voices squeak and hair starts sprouting all over the place.

Through the media we are constantly bombarded with images of the perfect body or messages about how we ‘should’ look and what kind of person we ‘should’ be.

Our body shape is already decided before we are born. Each one of us is a unique human being with our own genes from our mum and dad. There is only one person in the world shaped like you.

You will be the right size and shape for you, if you…

You can still have an occasional indulgence, like a bar of chocolate…

Eating Disorders

There are several different types of eating disorder and they can affect both females and males, the most common being anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that all involve an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and often an intense fear of being overweight.

Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder that manifests itself through an intense fear of gaining weight and body fat, and results in behaviours such as extreme dieting, fasting and excessive exercising to burn calories.

What Are the Health Effects of Anorexia?

Severe weight loss, dry hair, nails and skin, a loss of hair or nails, anaemia (low levels of iron in your blood) low or reduced energy levels, a loss of muscle mass, a loss of menstrual periods, joint problems/pain and osteoporosis/brittle bones are all associated with anorexia. Anorexics may also become extremely sensitive to cold and feel cold all the time, with blue fingers, toes and/or lips to match and in an effort to keep themselves warm. Damage to the heart, liver and kidneys may also occur in time.

Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating disorder that manifests itself through binge eating followed by purging behaviours such as vomiting or taking laxatives.

What Are the Health Effects of Bulimia?

Many bulimics tend to be slightly overweight due to their binges and frequently suffer from sore throats and dental issues due to vomiting. Bulimia can lead to damage of the heart muscle and/or heart attacks.

Binge Eating

Those suffering from binge eating disorder regularly consume a large amount of food in one sitting but do not regularly purge this food by vomiting or taking laxatives/diuretics, nor do they routinely exercise excessively in an attempt to burn off these calories. Instead, most binge eaters usually become overweight or clinically obese.

What Are the Health Effects of Binge Eating Disorder?

Due to their excessive eating, binge eaters are typically overweight or clinically obese and therefore at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, joint and muscle pain and sleep apnea (this is where your body can not breathe when you are asleep forcing you to wake up). The large amounts of food consumed may also lead to stomach and gastrointestinal pain, gum infections and cavities due to large amounts of sugar and acid consumed, and constipation or diarrhoea.

Orthorexia

Orthorexia is a relatively newly diagnosed disorder that is given when the person become obsessive about their eating patterns. They allow themselves only healthy foods and scrutinise the nutritional content of every item that they eat. Calories, vitamins and nutrient become the focal point of the food and anything that is found to contain even just a trace of what is on the ‘not allowed’ list is not to be consumed.

Effects of Orthorexia

This disorder can have the same devastating effects as any of the more well known disorders. The person may start to isolate themselves from their peers and become distant as they become increasingly fixated on their dietary schedules.

Help and Support

You can visit your GP who can find specialist help.

Beat Helpline 0845 634 1414
www.b-eat.co.uk/HelpandSupport

Outside In Counselling 01978 358900
www.youngwrexham.co.uk/help/counselling.htm

Healthy Eating

A diet based on starchy foods such as rice and pasta, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and lentils, and some milk and dairy foods (and not too much fat, salt or sugar) will give you all the nutrients that you need.

When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions.

The eatwell plate shows how much of what you eat should come from each food group. This includes everything you eat during the day, including snacks.

So, try to eat:

plenty of fruit and vegetables

plenty of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods – choose wholegrain varieties when you can

some milk and dairy foods

some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein

just a small amount of foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar

Look at the plate to see how much of a whole day’s food should come from each food group and try to match this in your own diet. Try to choose options that are lower in fat, salt and sugar when you can.

For more information on eating a healthy diet, visit: eatwell.gov.uk

Supermarkets and shops are making it easier for us to see what in our foods:

Traffic light colour coding, as shown in the image above, tells you at a glance if the food has high, medium or low amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt.

Some front of packaging labels also provide information about Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs). Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) are guidelines about the approximate amount of particular nutrients required for a healthy diet. Because individuals require different nutrients for energy, GDAs are not intended as targets. Instead they are there to give a useful indication of how a particular product fits into your daily diet. Information about GDAs on nutrition labels is often presented as a percentage.

Safe Sex

Working out whether you’re ready is one of life’s big decisions. You’re the only one who can, and should, decide. Sex isn’t the only aspect of a relationship, and there are other ways of enjoying each other’s company besides having sex.

Whoever you’re thinking of having sex with, it’s important to talk about contraception and condoms before you have sex. Both of you have a responsibility to have this conversation.

What are the risks of unsafe sex?

Technically, all sexual activity with a partner carries some risk, though the danger of infections is reduced if the two people are completely faithful to each other, although if you have had previous partners and have not been for a check up at a sexual health clinic there could still be a risk of contracting an infection as some STI’s do not show symptoms.

If you’re going to have sexual intercourse with someone who is not a regular, faithful partner, you should always use a condom, there are male and female condoms and they act as a barrier contraception and is the only one that significantly reduces the risks of contracting an STI or becoming pregnant. You are also at risk with oral sex too so condoms and dental dams (sheet of latex which acts as a barrier between the vagina or anus and the mouth) should be used to reduce risks.

One of the greatest risks to your health is having sex when you’ve drunk too much alcohol. Are you really in control of your body when drunk? Can you remember everything you do on a night out with your friends, can you remember having sex with someone and can you remember if you used condoms??? If your answer to any of those questions is no you are putting yourself at risk. Always make sure that you are prepared for things, carry condoms, don’t get too drunk so you don’t know what you are doing and make sure you stay safe and that your friends know where you are.

If you’re on a boozy night out, and you’re in doubt as to whether it would be safe to have sex with someone – don’t!

If you would like to speak to someone regarding safe sex check the opening times for the clinics in Wrexham.

Tattoos and Piercing

Having a tattoo or a body piercing is a big decision, and in a lot of cases, a permanent one. It is important to arm yourself with as much information as possible.

How Old Do I Have to Be?

There is no legal age of consent for body piercing, and so it’s legal for someone under the age of 18 to have a piercing as long as they have consented to it.

The Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 makes it illegal for anyone to tattoo you if you are under the age of 18.

If you are thinking of having a tattoo or piercing then here is a safety check list for you. It may be an idea to speak to your mates or family members who have had a tattoo to see if they can recommend a reputable tattoo shops, one where they are qualified and show their safety certificates on the walls?

  1. Always insist on clean and sterile equipment.
  2. Needles should be single-use only. Make sure your tattooist removes new needles and tubes from sealed bag in front of you.
  3. Be certain that your tattooist pours fresh ink into new disposable ink caps. Under NO circumstances should ink that has been poured out or used, be poured back into ink bottles.
  4. Your tattooist should be clean in appearance and sober.
  5. All tattooists should wash their hands and put on a new pair of gloves when starting a tattoo.
  6. Make sure that any item that may be touched during the tattoo process is covered by plastic or barrier film, to avoid cross contamination. Cross contamination is the act of spreading potential pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms from one item or surface to another.

Feel free to question the tattooist about any of these basic guidelines and procedures. If a tattooist is a professional, they will have no problem complying with these standards. If for any reason you feel uncomfortable or if a tattooist appears evasive when questioned – go elsewhere!

Piercing

You have decided to have your body pierced and you are asking yourself, "I want it done now, so where do I go?" You must be very careful who you have perform your piercing!

  1. This is the most important thing you need to do when checking out ANY potential piercing studio. If they don’t have an autoclave (a machine that sterilises equipment) run away! You can ask to see the autoclave and ask to see their spore test results. A spore test is the only way to know the autoclave is working properly. If they don’t run regular spore tests, don’t let them pierce you!
  2. This is one of the most important things you MUST check. Does the studio re-sterilise used needles? Make sure you see the piercer place the used needle in a sharps container. NEVER let a piercer use a needle on you that was soaked in a liquid. All needles should be in individual packages and should be opened while you are present.
  3. DOES THE STUDIO SEEM CLEAN?
  4. Ask your friends where they got pierced.
  5. If you don’t feel comfortable with the studio or the piercer you should leave.
  6. If you are going to have a body piercing and the studio is using an ear gun, run away! Plastic piercing guns can not be sterilised in an autoclave.
  7. All professional studios should give you an aftercare sheet explaining how to take care of your piercing. Read this sheet BEFORE you have the piercing done!
  8. Many cities require that the studio have a license. In most cases the license means that the studio meets minimum requirements and has passed some sort of inspection.

Although piercings can be removed make sure you are making the right decision and don’t jump into things without thinking them through.

Depression

Depression is a very common condition which affects more than one in ten people at any one time. Any of us, irrespective of age, gender or background can be affected at any point in our life.

Depression is a mental health condition which affects a person’s thinking, energy, feelings and behaviour. It can vary from mild to severe and can prove disabling in some cases, impacting on the individual’s family and work life.

When a person has depression they feel very sad or down, and the feelings don’t go away or get worse. Depression is different from feeling a bit sad or down for a day or two, which is how everyone feels from time to time.

Symptoms of Depression

Why do I feel this way?

Although depression can sometimes appear to come out of the blue, there are also lots of reasons why people become depressed. Here are some examples.

The more difficulties like these that a person has the more likely it is that they could become depressed. But Sometimes there appears to be no reason why you feel the way you do. If you are depressed don’t bottle it up – it is important you talk to someone – family, friend, teacher, youth leader, GP or counsellor.

Help and Support

Mind 0845 766 0163
www.mind.org.uk/help/depression_and_anxiety

Outside In Counselling 01978 358900
www.youngwrexham.co.uk/help/counselling.htm

Young Minds 0808 802 5544
www.youngminds.org.uk/

Association for Post Natal Illness: 020 7386 0868
apni.org/

CALL Community Advice and Listening Line (Wales): 0800 132737
www.callhelpline.org.uk

Childline 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Hopeline UK 0800 068 4141

www.papyyrus-uk.org
site for prevention of young suicide

Self Harm

There’s no such thing as a typical person who self-harms. It can affect anyone of any age, background or race. Some people self-harm on a regular basis, while others do it just once or a few times. For some people it’s a way of coping with a specific problem and they stop once the problem is resolved. Other people self-harm for years whenever certain kinds of pressures and problems arise.

Some forms that self harm can take include

Generally, people who self-harm try to hide what they are doing rather than draw attention to it, as they feel ashamed, afraid, or worried about how other people will react.

With something as private as self-harming, you’ll know the people that you can confide in safely; people you can trust. But if there is no one, there are lots of professional services out there that can help so don’t be afraid to ask

Help and Support

Visit your GP

Outside In Counselling 01978 358900
www.youngwrexham.co.uk/help/counselling.htm

Young Minds 0808 802 5544
www.youngminds.org.uk/

First Signs
www.firstsigns.org.uk/

Barnardos Tel: 020 8550 8822
www.barnardos.org.uk

Childline 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

www.nshn.co.uk – national self harm network – lots of downloads resources for young people and also friends and family for support

Smoking

Many people like the feeling that smoking gives them. This good feeling is from the nicotine in the cigarettes. Some people think smoking will help them lose weight or stay thin. Many people also feel like smoking gives them a sense of freedom and independence, and some smoke to feel more comfortable in social situations.

Smoking can cause serious damage to health, from gum disease and loss of teeth to terminal illness and death. If you want to stop smoking or are concerned about the amount of alcohol that you are drinking, help is available.

The law on buying and selling tobacco

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 in England and Wales to be sold cigarettes or other products like roll-up tobacco and cigars over the counter or at a vending machine.

So what in a cigarette?

There are more than 4,000 ingredients in a cigarette other than tobacco. Common additives include yeast, wine, caffeine, beeswax and chocolate. Here are some other ingredients:

Every time you inhale smoke from a cigarette, small amounts of these chemicals get into your blood through your lungs. They travel to all the parts of your body and cause harm.

Help and Support

NHS
www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=754

Health Challenge Wales
wales.gov.uk/hcwsubsite/healthchallenge/individuals/smoking/?lang=en

Stop smoking Wales

Or visit your Doctor