Don't sweat it! - Q&A - advice on grooming and health for girls

Girls' Life, June-July, 2003 by Kristen Kemp

None of my deodorants work, even when I use the strongest smelling ones. My B.O. is so bad! Even my friends tell me I smell. What should I do?

You have puberty to thank for your new personal scent. Sweat, your body's way of cooling itself off, doesn't usually emit an odor until you hit 10, 11 or 12. That's when your aprocrine glands, located under your arms and around your privates, go into action. These glands regulate your body temperature, but they also produce a milky, oily kind of perspiration. The problem is bacteria thrive in this type of sweat, causing offensive body odor, explains dermatologist Dr. David Leffell, a professor at Yale University. Try his tips for staying stink-free: 1) Wash daily with an antibacterial deodorant soap, such as Lever 2000. 2) Always wear clean clothes that are free of old sweat and bacteria. 3) Use a deodorant that's also an anti-perspirant--it covers odors and dries up moisture. 4) Cut down on caffeine, which sends your aprocrine glands into overdrive. 5) After bathing, dust your body with a light talcum powder to absorb moisture. 6) Drink plenty of water to flush weird-smelling toxins from your system. Still s melly? See a dermatologist. It's not uncommon for some girls to need a stronger prescription deodorant to take care of the prob.

I have very fair skin, and I look like a ghost! Is there any way to get a healthy tan without using self-tanners?

For starters, "healthy" and "tan" do not belong in the same sentence--no matter what your complexion. Getting a tan is harmful, even to those with dark skin, explains Dr. Alan King, a New York City dermatologist. The sun's rays, especially the ones you soak up as a kid, can cause wrinkles and deadly skin cancers when you are older. A tanning bed is even worse! So give up the quest for a tan. When you go out in the sun, protect your gorgeous fair skin with a 30 SPF sunscreen. If you feel you must get more bronzed, self-tanners are the only safe way. Meantime, embrace your beauty. Some of the most beautiful celebs--Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Julia Stiles--are fair-skinned and tan-free.

Is it normal to have hair between your breasts and around your belly button? swimsuit season is here, and I am worried about people staring at me.

If you're sprouting hair in other places, some will likely also crop up around your belly button, upper lip and, yes, even near your breasts. "Around age 11 or 12, certain hair follicles respond to the hormones that are surging through the body," explains Dr. Adelaide Nardone, a gynecologist and spokesperson for Vagisil Women's Health Center. "But hair that's not in your armpits or pubic area should be very fine, even if it is a little darker than before." If it's coarse, show your doctor. You could have a hormonal imbalance that's treatable with medication. But a little bit of fuzz is normal--and some girls get more than others due to genetics. If your fur makes you self-conscious, bleach it (try Sally Hansen Creme Hair Bleach), or use a gentle hair remover (like Nair).

Stumper of your own? E-mail it to questions@girlslife.com, or write to Body Q&A, Girls' Life, 4517 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214.

RELATED ARTICLE: FACT or FICTION?

I'm Very allergic to nuts. I've heard I can get a reaction from kissing a guy who just ate peanuts.

FACT. If you have major allergies, you already go out of your way to avoid certain foods. And it's true that you might need to avoid certain "nutty" boys, too. Well, at least for a few hours. Researchers in California got couples--one partner with an allergy, one without--to smooch. A small percentage of the sensitive people did have reactions after kissing. The good news is the reactions were mild, and most only suffered from itchy mouths and blisters. But, hey, why take chances? Find out your BF's menu of the day before giving him any lip.