The world is changing quite quickly. Your niece or daughter may be begging for Polly Pocket one day and a tween at Sephora looking for an exfoliant the next. Does that, however, benefit young skin? Experts are cautious, and this week they have commented on issues beyond merely teenagers’ growing interest in skin care.

The health news roundup for this week includes a wealth of insightful insights from professionals regarding contemporary issues impacting wellness. For instance, because cannabis is becoming legal in more states around the nation, you might be enjoying it. But you shouldn’t drive just because you could be substituting an edible for a drink. Fortunately, a peaceful nature stroll doesn’t require you to visit the dispensary; recent studies indicate that it may enhance your problem-solving skills.

Dermatologists caution tweens against using excessive amounts of skin care products.

Tweens are discovering more high-end skin care products at Sephora and posting their regimens on TikTok. However, teenage skin care regimens that feature expensive “glow drops” and “pore tighteners” might not be the greatest choice. Dermatologists caution that because these formulas are frequently made for more mature skin, skin that is younger and more sensitive may respond negatively to them.

For their birthday, is your tween pleading for the entire Drunk Elephant collection? You may wish to inform them that they may be causing further harm to their skin. That does not imply that they must completely forego skin care: Experts stress that most tweens can get by with a basic skin care regimen of a mild wash, moisturizer (if needed), and regular sunscreen.

Writing by hand could enhance education.

A recent study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology suggests that taking handwritten notes may facilitate the assimilation of knowledge. 36 college students participated in the brief study, which was published in Frontiers in Psychology, and were instructed to write or type words that appeared on a screen. There was an increase in the connections between various brain regions when the individuals wrote by hand, which is important for learning and memory formation. The study suggests that, in contrast to typing, the more sophisticated and advantageous neural network in the brain may be facilitated by the fine motor skills required for handwriting.

To maximize learning, the researchers advise using handwriting in educational settings; however, you don’t need to be enrolled in school to take advantage of these findings. It could be easier for you to comprehend the duties at hand if you write down key information by hand in a conference instead of typing it up.

Kimchi could prevent obesity.

Open looked into the possibility of a link between consuming kimchi, a well-known Korean meal made of spiced fermented veggies like cabbage, and a decreased risk of obesity. When kimchi was consumed in moderation—up to three servings per day—the risk of obesity was found to be 11% lower than when it was consumed in smaller amounts. Men who consumed three or more servings of cabbage kimchi per day had a 10% lower risk of obesity, but women who consumed two to three servings per day had an 8% lower risk.

While the researchers emphasized that kimchi’s high sodium content should be consumed in moderation, there are a few ways you can include this fermented cuisine in your regular diet. Kimchi is frequently used in meals like tacos and quesadillas, as well as salad or rice bowl bases.

Eating fermented foods is generally beneficial to your health: Probiotics, or good living bacteria, are included in several meals and help maintain a healthy digestive system. An optimally balanced gut enhances nutritional absorption, boosts immunity, and facilitates better digestion.

Walking in the outdoors might improve your focus.

More time spent in trees is what University of Utah researchers are urging. Ninety-two individuals in all, half in an urban and half in a natural setting, walked for forty minutes as part of their study. Through the use of electroencephalography, a method for monitoring brain activity, scientists examined the effects of these walks on the brain systems responsible for thought, judgment, and problem-solving. The findings demonstrated that those who took walks in the outdoors performed better in these domains, indicating that taking walks in the outdoors may increase attention spans in general.

There are other studies that support the benefits of outdoor activities. Living close to “blue” spaces—like lakes or the ocean—and “green” spaces—like parks or forests—decreases the risk of having a mental health disorder, according to a study published in the in October. However, you don’t have to leave the city for a more luxurious location: Less than an hour in a natural environment can enhance brain function, as this University of Utah study indicates.

In order to protect everyone, including yourself, don’t drive after taking cannabis.

Concerns around cannabis use and vehicle safety are intensifying as cannabis legalization spreads. A recent study that concentrated on drivers over 65 found that 30 minutes after smoking or vaping cannabis, there was a noticeable impairment. The study’s subjects reported feeling too high to drive safely even three hours later, when blood THC levels had dropped significantly.

Experts discussed the safe use of cannabis while operating a vehicle. Although the danger of driving while intoxicated decreases at least four hours after the last edible hit, it is advised to wait eight to twelve hours to drive after ingesting edibles because their effects take longer to take effect than those of smoking or vaping.

The researchers advise care and stress the need for additional research to provide guidelines for safe driving after consuming cannabis edibles. When in doubt, they advise taking the “wait it out” approach. That means, much as with alcohol, if you want to indulge in cannabis outside of the house, it’s a good idea to have a sober driver on call.

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