health The Habit Expert “Like all fixations, nail biting develops out of repetition and reward. If you bite your nails one day when you’re feeling anxious, you may news feel slight pain, which is distracting. That’s the reward. The next time you feel anxiety, you do the same thing—until it becomes routine. Try substituting biting with another action, such as chewing gum, every time you feel the urge.” Ask Dr. Ashton - Wendy Wood, provost professor of psychology and business at the Q “Can wearing wet Q “What does a breast University of Southern period panties lump feel like?” California all day give me a yeast A_ A marble, a grape, a pea…even infection?” a grain of rice. Lumps can vary in A_ Yeast thrives in moist areas, size but typically have smooth so having anything wet near your edges and move in between your THREE WAYS TO CURE... lady parts for hours on end can lead fingers as you feel around them. If to a flare-up. When you have your you notice something like this, period, menstrual blood also stay calm. In young women, breast Compulsive changes the pH levels of your vagina lumps are often benign cysts and vulva, making you even more called fibroadenomas. The most Nail susceptible to an infection. That important thing is to familiarize said, period underwear won’t create yourself with what your breasts an issue in all women. For many, feel like so you can detect and Biting a little extra yeast in the vagina isn’t report any changes to your doctor.

cause for concern. If, however, you SOURCE: JENNIFER ASHTON, MD, OB-GYN AND ABC NEWS CHIEF are prone to the itchy condition, it’s WOMEN’S HEALTH CORRESPONDENT best to avoid spending extra time in any type of soggy bottoms, be they period panties, wet bathing suits, or damp gym clothes. The MD “Learn the consequences Healthy Obsession of your behavior: Chronic nail biting and skin picking can lead to Adidas UltraBOOST X All Terrain numerous problems, including infec- STOCKSY. MORROW JESSE tions, pain, even disfigurement. Although Calling all treadmill haters! Adidas has trans- not the coolest option, covering your fin- formed its running shoes into the snuggly gertips with medical tape for two weeks will sneaker/slippers of your dreams, allowing you help you completely break the habit. Over- to jog outside all year long. The cozy knit the-counter products that have a foul taste, such as Mavala Stop and Resist Nail uppers wrap around your ankles and repel Bite Inhibitor, can also work.” water, while rubber bottoms—that work like - Chris G. Adigun, MD, dermatologist snow tires by increasing traction— and nail specialist in Chapel keep you from eating ice. $220, adidas.com Hill, North Carolina EL THOMPSON EL TRUNKARCHIVE. PIZZA:GIRLEATING HANDS: MICHA HANDS:

COSMOPOLITAN JANUARY 2018 By Caitlin Carlson 84 HOW BAD IS IT? Eating

The Life After 10 P.M. Coach “Hypnotherapy can help, but It’s never a smart idea. Totes it takes anywhere from one to sev- Research suggests that Fine eral sessions. Here’s something simi- near-midnight larly effective that you can try at home: munchies may cause Repeat positive affirmations (e.g., ‘I can your body to store even bite my nails if I want to, but I’m choosing good-for-you calories not to’). This will instantly give you more as fat, since your diges- power over the situation. Telling your- tive system is already in self ‘No, don’t do that’ actually makes sleep mode. Perhaps you want to do it more.” more worrying, late- - evening eats can wreak Alexandra Janelli, hypnothera- pist and life coach in havoc on your belly’s New York City all-important micro- biome. “We know that gut bacteria affect everything from your immune system to your odds of getting diabe- tes, heart disease, even cancer,” says anesthe- siologist Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, author of the Doctor’s THE PERCENT Detox Diet. (So let BY WHICH these bacteria get their YOUR CERVICAL zzz’s…or they may turn CANCER RISK on you.) MAY DROP IF YOU Since every per- USE AN IUD, son’s body is different, PER A RECENT there’s no universal STUDY IN food last-call time. In OBSTETRICS & general, the earlier you GYNECOLOGY. stop eating, the bet- DOCS SAY THE ter. Try to cut yourself DEVICE COULD off at least one hour TRIGGER A before you hit the HELPFUL IMMUNE sack. If you’re seriously REACTION. hangry, have a small serving of something with protein and fat, like a few spoonfuls of unsweetened yogurt or a handful of nuts. Then brush your teeth—that acts like a psychological kibosh Just on further grazing. Don’t