While there is no dearth of products for anti-ageing but people are turning towards essential oils for this particular concern as they are natural and more than just skin care they have a holistic effect. As people age, the skin begins to break down and lose elasticity. This natural process causes wrinkles and fine lines to appear on the face around the forehead, mouth, and eyes.

Although essential oils will not eliminate wrinkles completely, they may be able to reduce their appearance. They are also a natural alternative to chemical creams and lotions. They may also:

• boost collagen
• even out skin tone
• help your complexion
• reduce inflammation
• promote skin cell turnover
• protect your skin from environmental damage

Now that we spoke so highly of essential oils for anti-ageing let us look at the oils, we can turn to for this –

Sandalwood

Sandalwood essential oil is one of the most fragrant of all oils that have been used widely in the beauty industry. It possesses a unique earthy aroma and holds a significant role in healing skin woes. The strong antioxidant nature of this oil is effective in scavenging free radicals from the skin and reduces oxidative damage. Furthermore, it flushes out the toxins from the skin and uplifts overall skin health and glow.

Lemon

Lemon is well-known for its vitamin C content and potential health benefits for the immune system. However, lemon oils are also used in a variety of commercial skin care products to help reduce the signs of aging, such as wrinkles. All citrus essential oils, including lemon and grapefruit, make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. It is essential to avoid sun exposure for several hours after using citrus essential oils, so it is wise to apply them before bed.

Rosemary

The potent antimicrobial and antioxidant traits of rosemary essential oil help to cure skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea. It is beneficial in maintaining the overall health and beauty of the skin. Rosemary essential oil is known to avert the alteration of the natural lipids of the skin surface and slow down signs of ageing.

Frankincense

Frankincense oil is well known for their potential to promote cell regeneration, fade away fine lines and wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement during his presentation of the Karnataka State Budget 2026-27, proposing a ban on social media for children under 16 years of age, has sparked intense interest among parents and professionals alike. As the first state in India to attempt such a sweeping measure, the government has invited us to reflect upon this proposal.

We are in an age where technological advancements have blurred the lines between online and offline worlds, blending them seamlessly. While this is the norm in the world of adults, it has silently reshaped childhood with increased screentime.

Concerns about digital dependency, anxiety disorders in children, and reduced focus in academic and non-academic tasks have already made it to research papers and therapy rooms.

But Karnataka has now shifted the focus from debate to discussion and action. While a ban may reduce certain risks of social media exposure, children’s psychological needs like social connection, belonging, peer group and individual identity, besides guidance, must be nurtured if such protections are to be meaningful.

The Pediatric Perspective: A Medical Minefield

From a psychological perspective, the idea of an age-based social media ban is both promising and complex. On the brighter side, reducing screen usage can help address problems of poor sleep schedules, heightened anxiety, and trouble concentrating in studies or tasks. These problems have become increasingly common among not only adolescents, but very young children too.

However, age alone cannot be used as the single measure of readiness to implement this proposal. Two children of the same age may differ vastly in maturity levels, coping skills, and the ability to use technology responsibly.

The deeper issue is not simply “how much time” children spend online, but “what they do there”. Creative exploration, learning, and connection can be enriching, while endless scrolling reinforces dependency and stress.

A ban can reduce such harmful patterns, but in order to have real impact, such a move should be paired with support for children’s psychological needs to help them combat loneliness, handle peer pressure, and guiding their search for identity. Addressing these issues along with the ban can make the protection well intended, more meaningful and long-lasting.

The Silent Crisis: Nocturnal Anxiety And Doom-scrolling

Late-night scrolling (doom scrolling) is more than just a disruption of sleep. It is a psychological trigger for worry and overthinking. In the quiet of the night, children are left alone with a flood of unfiltered information, which can heighten anxiety, and unwanted exposure to inappropriate content.

An effective way to combat the dangers of unsupervised social media access could be “digital sundowning” i.e. setting clear screen time guidelines for children. Families can create screen-free zones, especially in bedrooms, bathrooms, and at dining tables, or create “phone parking zones” – a specific place in the house to keep all phones so no one is carrying them around all the time. This can encourage children towards healthier routines.

Unlike government-imposed bans, household practices can set healthy and firm boundaries, reinforce self-regulation and reduce the anxiety that comes from constant connectivity and information overload.

Symptoms In The Clinic: Beyond The Screen

In therapy rooms and schools, counsellors are addressing more and more concerns about children and adolescents spending excessive time with their screens. Some of the common ones are highlighted here:

• Social Isolation in Hyper Connectivity: Children may appear socially active online but withdraw from face-to-face interactions, leaving them paradoxically isolated.

• Body Image Concerns: Exposure to curated images on social media can fuel anxiety about appearance among growing children, who are already socially awkward during adolescence. This goes beyond normal teenage insecurity and can spiral into unhealthy self-image or self-criticism.

• Academic Fatigue: Digital content trains the brain to expect constant novelty and quick changes within a short time span of seconds or minutes, which makes textbooks and traditional classroom driven problem-solving feel slow and tiring. This leads to academic fatigue, where children struggle to sustain focus for deeper learning.

• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Constant checking of devices reflects a deep-seated need for validation and belonging. FOMO keeps children’s nervous systems on a constant loop of high alert, thus undermining emotional stability.

What Comes Next: The Prioritization Framework

For this ban to have a lasting impact, it needs to draw on psychological principles. Restrictions work best when paired with meaningful alternatives, as children are known to engage positively when they feel supported rather than restricted or scolded. A framework needs to be set up where learning and guidance is prioritized and alternatives offered are strengthened. Some pointers:

Digital Literacy in Schools: Children should be taught not only to limit screen time but also to understand how online platforms work. Lessons on algorithms, advertising, and curated content help them understand and evaluate what they see, so they become more resilient to digital influence.

Parental Guidance Programs: As with other trained behaviors, parents play a central role in shaping healthy digital habits too. Guidance programs can provide resources and strategies for families to showcase balanced device use. When adults demonstrate mindful online usage and behavior, children are likely to follow.

Physical and Social Alternatives: If digital spaces are restricted, offline opportunities must be strengthened. Sports, arts, and community activities help children gain a sense of belonging and enjoyment beyond screens, thus building confidence and social skills in real life.

Collaboration with Tech Companies: Lasting change requires cooperation of technology providers and social media platforms. Stricter age verification systems and design changes at the source are needed, rather than placing usage responsibility on children. By remodeling platforms, risk of unsupervised penetration of digital content can be mitigated so children may still be allowed safe, and age appropriate engagement on social media.

As Karnataka moves into this new territory, one thing is certain – the intention is noble. However, the execution of such a ban will require a fine balance of protection and empowerment, as it attempts to re-imagine childhood experiences in an age where the “virtual” and the “real” are meshed together. Whether this becomes a guiding model for the rest of the country, will depend entirely on how thoughtfully it is carried out.

Karnataka’s proposed ban is a bold first step, but its true impact will depend on how parents, teachers, and policymakers align on this, because healthy childhoods thrive not on restrictions, but through resilience, support, guidance, and strong offline connections that nurture growth and belonging.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems among women, but in the juggle between professional and household responsibilities, a majority of women tend to ignore their health. However, the detecting the mild symptoms in the beginning can help boost treatment and improve quality of life for women, said experts, while stressing the need for timely screening, ahead of International Women's Day.

International Women's Day is observed globally on March 8 every year.

According to health experts, in a month, around 5 out of 10 women between the ages of 30 and 45 visit doctors with complaints such as persistent weakness, headaches, and tiredness. These symptoms are often linked to iron deficiency and put women at risk of developing anemia.

“Iron deficiency is a matter of concern among women, because the symptoms, such as fatigue and weakness, are neglected until the condition becomes serious,” said Dr. Upasana Garg, Regional Technical Chief, Apollo Diagnostic Mumbai.

Dr. Garg said iron deficiency can be detected through simple blood tests that will be advised by the expert and will play a pivotal role in early diagnosis and timely treatment.

These include tests for

• Hemoglobin levels -- are carried out to measure the amount of oxygen-carrying protein in the blood and indicate if a woman has anemia

• Serum ferritin and iron levels -- to gauge the amount of stored iron in the body and help detect iron deficiency even before anemia develops

• A complete blood count (CBC) -- to measure red blood cells, including their size and number, which checks if the body is producing healthy blood cells.

Anemia In Women

Anemia is a major public health concern, mainly affecting young children, pregnant and postpartum women, and menstruating adolescent girls and women.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 40 percent of all children aged 6–59 months, 37 percent of pregnant women, and 30 percent of women 15–49 years of age worldwide are affected by anemia.

Anemia occurs when there isn’t enough hemoglobin in the body to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues.

In severe cases, anemia can cause poor cognitive and motor development in children. It can also cause problems for pregnant women and their babies. It is often caused by a lack of iron in the blood.

“Iron is a necessary mineral which helps the body to produce hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to different parts of the body. When the body does not have enough iron, it is unable to produce healthy red blood cells. This condition is known as iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia,” said Dr. Ritu Agrawal, Gynecologist, Zynova Shalby Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr. Agrawal said that women are more likely to experience iron deficiency when compared to men.

The major reason is blood loss during menstruation, and women who have heavy periods are at a higher risk.

During pregnancy, when the body needs extra iron to support the growing baby, the risk of anemia increases in the mother.

Other factors include poor diet, skipping meals, and not eating enough iron-rich foods.

Early Screening And Treatment

The common symptoms of anemia in women include:

constant tiredness,

weakness,

pale skin,

shortness of breath,

dizziness,

headaches,

hair fall

difficulty concentrating

frequent infections due to reduced immunity

Dr. Agrawal said that 50 percent of women tend to ignore early symptoms of anemia.

“In a month, around 5 out of 10 women between the ages of 30–45 visit with complaints such as persistent weakness, headaches, and tiredness, which are often linked to iron deficiency and put them at risk of developing anemia. If iron deficiency is not treated in time, it can lead to several health complications,” she added.

Severe anemia can also lead to heart-related problems, such as irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath.

The experts noted that detecting iron deficiency on time and initiating immediate treatment is necessary for women's better health.

Management of iron deficiency includes

• improving diet and taking iron supplements as advised by any expert
• Have iron-rich foods like spinach, beans, lentils, nuts, and dates
• Vitamin C–rich foods, such as oranges and lemons.

American TV personality Oprah Winfrey turned heads at the Paris Fashion Week with her slim figure and sparked talks on the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic.

The now viral videos show Oprah, 72, in jeans and a jacket. Usually seen in parted hair, Oprah also resorted to a ponytail and was wearing tinted sunglasses.

While several netizens expressed concerns about her health, others also spoke about the effects of Ozempic, widely used for weight loss.

“What in the Ozempic Oprah is going on here?”, wrote a user.

“I'm afraid Oprah may OD on Ozempic. Welfare check, please!” another added.

People also commented on the seemingly bigger head and frail body.

“Her head looks way too big for her body. Is it Ozempic or Oprah?” wrote a user.

“She looked good, but she seemed frail,” the netizens said, while another stated, “But having a head that big still is crazy”.

The video also showed Gayle King, another TV host and a longtime friend of Oprah, with a lean figure. Gayle, 71, also rocked a warm-brown look, paired with a fitted top and a black leather jacket.

Does Oprah Winfrey Take Ozempic?

Oprah has openly shared the use of a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss. However, she never mentioned any brand names.

“One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people just had more willpower, they ate better foods, they were able to stick to it longer, they never had a potato chip, and then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, 'Oh, they're not even thinking about it. They're only eating when they're hungry, and they're stopping when they're full,” Oprah said in a podcast early in 2025.

In 2023, speaking to People, she said she uses the weight-loss medication as a tool to quiet the food noise.

“I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing. It quiets the food noise,” she had told the publication.

Oprah's Strength Training Session

In an Instagram post in February 2026, Oprah also showcased her strength training evolution, highlighting the benefits of daily workouts for bone health and her impressive plank progress.

She told her fans that while in 2024, she struggled to hold a plank for more than 10 seconds, now she manages to do a 1-minute plank routine.

Can Ozempic Really Help You Lose Weight?

While Ozempic was originally developed and FDA-approved as an injectable medication to help manage type 2 diabetes, it has gained immense popularity for its ability to produce significant weight loss.

The drug is popular for its active ingredient, semaglutide, which works by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite.

However, there are several concerns over its side effects. The loss of lean mass, which includes muscle, has emerged as the biggest concern.

Studies have proven that it provides significant weight loss and also reduces major cardiovascular risks and boosts kidney health, among others.

However, common side effects include:

• gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation),
• pancreatitis,
• gallbladder issues,
• face sagging
• dental issues like tooth decay, erosion.