How to Get Rid of Pimples -- Fast!

Don’t know the first thing about zit zapping? Whether you get the occasional pesky pimple or all-out acne breakouts, here are the best ways to banish blemishes and rid yourself of pimples for good.

Step 1: Wash your face.

You must use a gentle cleanser (not harsh soap!) on your face in the morning and at night. Keeping skin clean is imperative to zapping zits and preventing more outbreaks. Just lather the cleanser into your hands or a soft cloth -- nothing coarse, which could irritate -- and gently apply to your face (keep away from eyes!). Rinse well and dry with a clean towel. Toss the cloth and towel into the laundry, as reusing them can spread pimple-producing bacteria.

Step 2: Try a home remedy.

If you only have a few zits to zap, some people swear by tea tree oil (available in health food stores) or toothpaste. Just dab a little on the affected spot and leave on overnight. (Do not try these remedies if you have sensitive skin.)

Step 3: Hit the drugstore.

Are your pimples persistent? Head to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter treatment. Choose a product that contains hydrogen peroxide or salicylic acid -- both antibacterial agents -- then carefully follow the directions on the product packaging.

Step 4: Go easy on the makeup.

You might be tempted to cover up your zits with makeup, but cosmetics tend to worsen the problem. If you insist on wearing any makeup, go with oil-free water-based products -- and be sure to wash it off before you go to bed. Also, keep your hands and hair, which carry oils, away from your face. Updo, anyone?

Step 5: See a dermatologist.
If you’ve tried everything but you’re still losing the battle to chronic acne, talk to your parents about making an appointment for you to see a dermatologist. This is a doctor who specializes in skin care, and he or she will prescribe effective medication or another appropriate treatment regimen faster than you can say “Buh-bye, blemishes!”

On Your Period? Pamper Yourself!

What is menstruation in all its glory? Bloating, cramps, attitude … the list goes on. But instead of moping and moaning and groaning and grrrrrrr, celebrate your fabulous femininity by taking care of your sweet self! Hey, we’re betting you could get used to this every month.

Take a Soothing Bath
Nothing is more calming than soaking in a warm tub, so call dibs on the bathroom for at least 45 minutes. (Your little bro banging on the door can really kill a bathtime good vibe.) As you fill the tub with warm water, pour in 2 cups of Epsom salt and a couple of drops of essential oil or olive oil. Make yourself a cup of hot tea, then sit back in your bath and relax … aaahhhh.

Make a Movie Date
Have a low-key movie marathon night at home with the family or just by yourself. Rent a few DVDs, or turn on the movie channel. When you’re on your period, you tend to crave salty and sweet foods. So pop some popcorn and toss in a few handfuls of any of these extras to make a yummy snack mix: chocolate chips, peanuts, raisins, mini-pretzels, sunflower seeds. Now dim the lights, curl up with a soft blanket and chill out in front of the TV.

Dress up … or Way Down

Sometimes when you feel really icky, dressing up can be a real mood lifter. Pull your hair back with a pretty headband and pick out an outfit that’s dressy but comfortable. You’ll feel so good about yourself that you’ll forget you feel blah. Or on the flip side, wear your most baggy pants all day … even if it’s the sweats you usually only sleep in. Throw on a tank top, hoodie and pair of cute flats. To finish the look, put your hair in a messy pony and consider it comfy couture.

Stuff Your Face

Satisfy those food cravings we mentioned before. You already feel bloated, so what’s the big deal? Sure, the calories still count -- but a once-a-month treat isn’t going to make you or break you. Get dressed up or throw on those sweatpants, and head to your favorite casual diner or cafe with a friend. Order whatever your taste buds desire. Don’t forget dessert. (Chocolate seems to be the indulgence of choice for most girls on their periods.)

How TV Distorts Your Body Image

There’s a sneaky force taking over the minds of girls everywhere. Sound like the evil plot of a dark fictional cartoon? Fact is, TV and other forms of media, like teen magazines, have a huge influence on the health of teen girls. What you watch on the tube affects your self-esteem, shopping decisions and even facial expressions (eye-roll much?). But most of all, it affects how you feel about your body.

According to a recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute, nearly three-fourths of girls fess up to comparing their looks to those of girls in the media.

The “Ugly Betty” Complex
On ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” the main character is forced to face her insecurities as a misfit working in the perfectionist world of fashion magazines. Surrounded by stick-thin models and cosmetically enhanced editors, Betty embraces a unique sense of style, which, along with her size, sparks ridicule from her co-workers. But here’s the thing: Betty is the most normal one of the bunch, braces and all!

Props to America Ferrara, who plays the lead role, for rocking the same healthy attitude in real life that Betty portrays on the show. America, like Betty, doesn’t get blinded by the glitz and glam of celebrity culture. And Betty, like America, feels OK about herself despite her superficial surroundings. Maybe that’s because she knows models are thinner than a whopping 98 percent of us!

Welcome to “The Real World”
Here’s something that might shock you: Celebrities are human! That’s right, the celebs you see on TV get zits, wake up with dark circles under their eyes and have frizzed-out hair days. So why do they always look so put together on camera? Well, you’d have a celeb-perfect look too if you had an entourage of professionals -- makeup artists, hairstylists, custom spray-tanning pros -- to help you get ready for school in the morning, right? And then there are all those other tricks of the TV trade: lighting, camera angles, digital editing.

Glance around your classroom, and you’ll see girls of all different body types. Does TV represent this? Hardly. Even “reality” shows like “The Real World” on MTV almost always cast only those who photograph the best. (Realize too that the most photogenic people are not necessarily the most beautiful.)

Over “The Hills”
Heidi Montag, star of MTV’s “The Hills,” serves up a cautionary tale. The 23-year- old got sucked into the “perfect beauty” myth and recently underwent a 10-hour marathon of plastic surgery to drastically alter her appearance. Among other procedures, Heidi had her breasts increased to DDD size; liposuction on her neck, waist, hips and thighs; and a butt augmentation. On top of the changes to her bod, she had so many alterations done to her face that she’s barely recognizable as the fresh-faced young girl she used to be.

“She was so pretty before, and now she looks weird,” says 11-year-old Megan, a Girl World Daily reader. “TV can be a big influence, but I’ve learned it’s basically kinda fake. Nobody is perfect!”

Beating Eating Disorders

It’s completely normal and OK to gain several pounds when you’re going through puberty and becoming a woman. But as they become overly obsessed with their weight, many girls in their teens all over the world are at greatest risk of developing eating disorders. Yikes!

Here’s the Skinny …
“I started my eating disorder at age 13, the moment I noticed a little pocket of fat at my bikini line,” says Elizabeth, now an adult survivor of anorexia. “I was wearing a turquoise swimsuit with a ruffle -- a swimsuit that I loved and felt so feminine in -- but with that negative thought that "fat is bad".

No wonder a whopping 81 percent of 10-year-old girls say they’re “afraid of being fat.” A “body-perfect” illusion, promoted by the media and fashion industry, has girls tricked into thinking they should be unrealistically stick-thin.

“It was when I noticed that little pocket of fat that I decided to eat less,” says Elizabeth. “Very quickly, my entire self-worth became wrapped up in my body size. I became obsessed with thin models in magazines.”

Harsh but True
Elizabeth, quite literally, was starving herself. “I felt so in control while restricting my food intake and losing weight,” she says, “but then out of control when my body became so hungry that I would eat everything I could after several days of restricting.” Elizabeth was in the throes of anorexia nervosa, a disease defined by self-starvation and extreme weight loss.

Another dangerous disorder is bulimia nervosa, in which sufferers binge on large quantities of food in a short period and then purge by ridding calories through unhealthy means such as vomiting or taking laxatives (ew).

While there are other serious eating disorders, such as binge-eating disorder (this differs from bulimia in that there is no purging), anorexia and bulimia are the most dangerous and, well, life-threatening. “It is time to talk about eating disorders because people die,” states Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, which receives calls from all over the world.

Elizabeth, who finally sought help for her disease at age 20, became so thin that her teeth chipped, skin broke out and hair became brittle and started falling out. The brutal fact is, of all mental illnesses, eating disorders are the No. 1 killer. 

Ditch the Body Drama

When it comes to body issues, it seems every girl wants what she doesn’t have. Whatever you’ve got, it’s all femininely fab. So work with it!

 “I’m completely flat-chested and hate it”
There’s a shot your chest isn’t finished developing yet. But what’s wrong with being small-breasted? No sagging. You often can go (gasp!) braless. And there are all kinds of cute tops that look phenomenal on little boobies. Boobs are awesome no matter what their shape or size. Don’t think so? Tell that to Keira Knightley, Kate Hudson and Selma Blair -- all hotties with itty-bitties.

 “I think my butt is the size of a continent!”
Again, size doesn’t matter. As long as you’re fit -- and wearing clothes with a proper fit -- embrace the beauty of your booty. You’re probably self-conscious about something nobody else notices. If, on the other hand, you are truly overweight, rather than bod-bashing, make healthy lifestyle changes. Eat more veggies and less fat-filled food, and vow to keep active.

 “All my friends have their periods, but I don’t. Am I normal?”
The average age for a first period is 12, but girls can start menstruating as young as 8 and as old as 15. Usually, menstruation comes about two years after your breasts begin to bud. If you’re mid-teen and haven’t gotten it, speak to a doc. Otherwise, look for signs it’s on its way: cramps, breakouts, sore breasts. Or maybe your only warning will be a sudden moist feeling between your legs. Be prepared by keeping an emergency kit in your backpack with clean undies, maxi pads and panty liners.

“I’m sprouting hair in places I don’t care to mention”
You mean, your underarms and pubic area? Maybe your upper lip? Yeah, that happens during puberty. What you want to do about it is a personal choice. Some girls wear their body hair proudly. Others prefer fur-free. If you don’t like the fuzz, you can remove it by shaving (not the lip or arms!) or waxing, or make it less noticeable with bleaching. Here’s a thought: Talk to your mom, aunt or older sister about your hairy situation.