Skin lightening products can be dangerous for consumers when they contain harmful ingredients that are illegal for over-the-counter sales, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday. The potentially harmful ingredients are hydroquinone or mercury, the agency said in a news release. People who have used products with hydroquinone have suffered side effects that included…  read on >  read on >

It might seem incongruous, but new research suggests that teens who engage in more physical activity may vape more frequently than their less active peers. In the study, high schoolers who reported being physically active had a higher risk of using vaping products than their peers who were active just one day a week or…  read on >  read on >

Writer Jenny Block and her chiweenie, Aurora, are on a health kick. “We walk at least 1 mile and up to 4 miles in the early morning, before it gets too hot,” said the Houston-based author. “She needs it, and I need it, so it works out great,” said Block, who has shed several pounds…  read on >  read on >

A rule requiring high school girls who play lacrosse to wear protective headgear is paying big dividends in Florida. Their risk of concussion is lower than that of players in states without such a mandate, a new study reports. Most states let players decide whether or not to wear protective helmets. The National Federation of…  read on >  read on >

It’s never too late to benefit from regular walks. A new study suggests that a 10-minute daily stroll can prolong life in folks well into their 80s and beyond. “Adults are less likely to meet activity recommendations as they get older,” said study author Dr. Moo-Nyun Jin of Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital in Seoul,…  read on >  read on >

Looking for a new reason to work out? Here’s a good one: Regular exercise appears to significantly reduce your risk of getting COVID-19, a large international research review has found. And, if you do get COVID, the study found, routine moderate and/or intense exercise dramatically lowers your odds for serious illness, hospitalization and/or death. “There…  read on >  read on >

Whether the goal is bulging biceps or just a bit more strength and mass, a relatively light workout several times a week beats a more intense one done just once a week. That’s the conclusion of a small Australian study in which researchers spent a month tracking muscle-building progress among 36 college students. “We have…  read on >  read on >