We have all experienced acne at some point in our lives, says women’s health expert, author, and hormone Specialist Marla Ahlgrimm. However, while a break out every now and then typically doesn’t do more than inconvenience date night, some women experience acne to the point where it affects their mental health. Read more below.

Q: What causes acne?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are many different reasons why a person may experience an acne outbreak. Typically, hair follicles become clogged and a rise in certain hormones, such as androgen, are the main causes. Pores can become filled with dead skin, oil, and even dirt, which can cause the face, neck, chest, arms, and back to be covered in red, swollen acne.

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Every year, it’s the same. Some of us get attacked by mosquitoes nonstop while our friends and family remain blissfully unaffected. But, the question remains: how do mosquitoes choose who to make a snack on? Is it women? Men? Marla Ahlgrimm answers below.

Q: Are mosquitoes more attracted to men or women?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Typically, mosquitoes are attracted to men and women equally. However, women who are pregnant are actually at an increased risk of being bitten by the tiny bloodsuckers. Science has yet to come up with a definitive reason for this, but it’s likely that it has something to do with elevated carbon dioxide levels output by women carrying a child.

Q: Why do mosquitoes target larger people versus smaller people?

Marla Ahlgrimm: This comes back to carbon dioxide, too. Larger people, such as men, output more carbon dioxide than their smaller female counterparts. A similarly-sized pair of opposite sex people, however, may find that the woman is bitten more often. This is because she likely shaves her legs and has less body hair, meaning there is more exposed skin for the mosquito to land on.

Q: Which mosquitoes bite?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Mosquitoes don’t actually bite. What they do is insert a small needlelike extension into the skin of their target prey. Female mosquitoes are the only ones that do this. Females are typically bigger than their male mates, and they live longer as well.

Q: How can I avoid mosquito bites?

Marla Ahlgrimm: You may not be able to completely avoid mosquito bites altogether. However, it’s possible to reduce the number of times you get fed upon by wearing long sleeve shirts and pants. You can also keep mosquitoes out of your yard by contacting your local pest control service and getting rid of any stagnant water that you have laying around.

Men and women are pretty evenly matched in many ways, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Intelligence is one of these. However, our brains are not necessarily alike, and they are designed to do different things.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the male brain is approximately 10% larger than the typical females. However, size doesn’t mean that men are smarter. One area where size does play a role in a specific ability is the inferior-parietal lobule, which is larger in men. This is associated with greater mathematical and speed judgment processing abilities.

Women, on the other hand, have more gray matter when compared to men of the same age. This holds cells that help the body process sensory perception and muscle control. Interestingly, Marla Ahlgrimm says that women’s gray matter decreases during gestation. This is a scientific explanation for what all pregnant and formerly pregnant women know as “pregnancy brain.”

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You likely paint and file your finger and toenails, says Marla Ahlgrimm, but how much do you actually pay attention to them? If you aren’t already inspecting them each time the polish comes off, it’s time to start.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, your fingernails actually tell you a lot about your overall health. Odd coloring and other issues can indicate all sorts of problems. Here are a few to look for:

Pale white skin underneath with dark rings at the tip of the nail. 

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the skin underneath your fingernails should be similar in color to the rest of your skin. A pale white discoloration, particularly if accompanied by jaundice, may be a sign of problems with the liver.

Yellow fingernails. 

Discolored fingernails, particularly those with a yellow hue, likely indicate a fungal infection. Very rarely, Marla Ahlgrimm says that yellow nails might also be indicative of psoriasis, thyroid disease, diabetes, or lung disease.

Ripples. 

Ripples in the fingernail, which look like tiny indentations running the length of the nail, could mean psoriasis. Marla Ahlgrimm also notes that these types of dips and divots might also signal that you have inflammatory arthritis.

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The ketogenic diet is like a dream for many people. If you can skip potatoes and sugar, Marla Ahlgrimm says going keto can help you lose weight, improve your blood sugar, and may improve your overall energy levels. But, is it right for all women?

Q: What is keto?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The ketogenic diet is a popular diet plan used by people from all over the world, and especially those that need to lose weight quickly. It effectively tricks your body into using fat as energy instead of sugar.

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Coffee and tea are both popular drinks, especially among women. But, are they healthy? And, if so, which one is the best choice? The answer, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, is that it depends on a person’s goals and tolerance for caffeine. Here, the women’s health entrepreneur answers a few common questions about our favorite caffeinated (and decaffeinated) beverages.

Q: What are the biggest benefits of drinking coffee and tea?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The obvious answer would be the energy boost you get from either of them. But, the truth is that that’s not even the most profound benefit of drinking a moderate amount of coffee or tea. Both contain antioxidants, compounds that help the body fight certain types of cancer. If you’re going solely for health benefits, green tea should be your drink of choice.

Q: How much caffeine is in coffee?

Marla Ahlgrimm: That depends on the kind of coffee that you drink. Regular brewed coffee contains 96 mg per every 8 ounces. Espresso has a whopping 64 mg per ounce. Contrary to popular belief, even decaffeinated coffee contains some of the energy-boosting compounds, with about 2 mg for every cup.

Q: How does the amount of caffeine in coffee compare to tea?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The average cup of coffee has more than twice the amount of caffeine as a cup of brewed black or green tea.

Q: Bottom line: is it unhealthy to drink coffee and tea?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Antioxidants are certainly beneficial to the human body. And, while there is nothing wrong with a few cups of coffee each morning, keep in mind that 400 mg of caffeine every day is considered the highest safe amount. This does not account for people’s body size and ability to metabolize caffeine.