Many people believe that the modern-day skincare trends are a scam made by the big pharma companies who wish to make more money. This is a recent trend of ‘Anti-Aging’ skincare that keeps yourself on toes for the innate need for women to stay ‘young’ if they wish to be desirable. The beauty industry, in a way, feeds on such societal-made insecurities. But the recent rise in the trend has taken a different turn. While before people did it before to look prettier or fairer, now people are looking at this skincare routine as a way of taking care of themselves rather than doing to match someone else's beauty standards. This is why, this trend has resurfaced in the skin care community. This is the blue light routine.

In today's digital age, where we spend countless hours looking at screens, from phones and tablets to laptops. This constant screen time exposes us to blue light, which research suggests can have negative effects on our skin. It also leads to premature aging and dark spots. The screens also leads to stress, which could further cause harm to skin. While ditching our devices isn't realistic, a growing number of skincare products claim to protect against blue light. But do these products actually work?

What is Blue Light Skincare?

You can find many skincare products that say they protect against blue light, like sprays, creams, gels, and sunscreens. Some promise to undo the damage blue light might cause, while others try to prevent it in the first place. Blue light sunscreens are special because they protect against both the sun's UV rays and blue light. This is what regular sunscreens don't do very well. Regular sunscreens, whether they use chemicals or minerals, don't block blue light as effectively.

However, tinted sunscreens are different. Tinted sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher can protect your skin from blue light, as well as UVA and UVB rays from the sun. This is because of the coloring in the tint. Some newer sunscreens also have special ingredients that help protect against visible light, including blue light. While scientists are still learning about how blue light affects skin, many skin doctors have found it to be helpful for skin.

What is Blue Light and Why Might It Be a Problem?

Blue light comes from screens, TVs, and even the sun. While we used to worry mostly about how it affects our eyes and sleep, now we're learning it might also affect our skin. Some studies show that too much blue light can damage skin cells and speed up aging, leading to wrinkles and uneven skin tone. It can also cause dark spots on the skin. This happens because blue light can cause something called "oxidative stress" in the skin, which is linked to aging. It leads to dead skin cells. Blue light goes deeper into the skin than the sun's UV rays and can make skin cells produce more pigment, causing dark spots. It's important to know that not all blue light is bad. There is a difference between the blue light that comes out of the screens and the blue light that is used from a certain blue light wavelength as a therapy. The latter is used by doctors to treat acne and some skin cancers.

Changing lifestyles, career priorities, financial planning, and personal choices are leading many couples to marry later than before. While late marriages are becoming increasingly common, fertility specialists are observing a parallel rise in delayed pregnancy planning and age-related fertility complications. Many couples now begin trying to conceive only after the age of 35, when fertility in both men and women naturally starts declining.

Currently, there is a growing trend of late marriages due to career priorities, financial stability goals, higher education, and changing lifestyle choices. Many couples are choosing to settle professionally and personally before planning a family. However, this delay can also lead to postponed pregnancy planning, often at a stage when fertility naturally starts declining. Increasing stress, underlying medical conditions, and lack of fertility awareness are further contributing to challenges in conception among couples in their mid to late thirties.

What are the complications that can occur in a pregnancy after turning 35?

“The increasing trend of late marriages (30–35+) is directly leading to delayed pregnancy planning. Most couples start trying to conceive after 35, when fertility has already begun to decline significantly. By the time many patients seek medical help between 36 and 39 years, several are diagnosed with low ovarian reserve (low AMH) or conditions such as oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and azoospermia.

Lack of early fertility awareness often causes women to miss the window for timely intervention or fertility preservation options like egg freezing. Advanced maternal age pregnancies (40+) are steadily rising and are often associated with complex complications and lower treatment success rates. Currently, nearly 75% of fertility patients are above 35 years of age, while 25% are above 40. Only around 20% of patients are in their late 20s,” said Dr. Jyotshana Palgamkar, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Virar.

Dr Jyotshna further added, “One of the biggest concerns linked to late pregnancy planning is reduced ovarian reserve in women. By the time many women seek medical help between the ages of 36 and 39, their anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, which indicate egg reserve, may already be low. This reduces the chances of natural conception and can also affect the success rates of fertility treatments. Male fertility is also being affected. A large number of men are diagnosed with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), a condition in which sperm count, motility, and morphology are affected.

Consequences of delayed fertility evaluation

Delayed fertility evaluation often means that couples lose valuable time before beginning treatment or considering assisted reproductive options. Another major challenge is the lack of awareness about fertility preservation. Many women remain unaware that egg freezing at a younger age may help preserve fertility for the future. By the time they start exploring fertility options in their late thirties or forties, treatment becomes more complex and emotionally stressful. Advanced maternal age pregnancies, especially above 40, are also increasing. These pregnancies are often associated with lower conception rates, higher miscarriage risk, pregnancy complications, and reduced IVF success rates,” Dr Jyotshna explained.

Male fertility treatment options depend on the underlying cause of infertility and may include lifestyle changes, medications, hormonal therapy, or surgical procedures. “Conditions such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, abnormal morphology, raised DNA fragmentation index (DFI) affecting sperm quality, varicocele, or azoospermia can often be managed with timely medical intervention. Assisted reproductive techniques like IUI, IVF, and ICSI are also commonly used to improve the chances of conception. Early diagnosis and proper fertility evaluation play an important role in selecting the most effective treatment option for men,” said Dr Palgamkar.

Understanding fertility timelines, seeking timely evaluation, and discussing preservation options early can help couples make informed decisions and improve their chances of successful parenthood in the future.

Back pain is generally considered a problem seen in old age, but of late, we are increasingly seeing younger adults suffering from back pain. Prolonged sitting hours, inadequate physical activity, smoking, and an unhealthy lifestyle have made back pain a common complaint even in people under 30 years of age.

What is a slipped disc?

In an interview with Health and Me, Dr Pramod Sudarshan, Spine Surgeon (ortho), Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, said, “Most commonly, we attribute this pain to a slipped disc or other disc-related conditions. However, they are just one among many reasons causing back pain. A thorough understanding of the other conditions that can lead to back pain, and knowing the ‘red flags’ to help identify them, will assist in seeking early treatment and preventing further complications.”

Muscle strain is considered to be one of the most common reasons for developing back pain in younger individuals. Daily activities like travelling for long hours, lifting heavy weights without proper technique, and carrying heavy backpacks can lead to muscle strain. Often, the pain due to muscle strain comes down with the help of medications such as muscle relaxants and rest.

Poor posture and back pain

Working professionals and students spend many hours a day studying, gaming, and working on computers without maintaining proper posture, leading to excess strain on the back muscles and, in turn, prolonged back pain. Having a properly ergonomically designed workstation/study table setup can prevent back discomfort and stiffness.

What are the causes of back pain?

Lack of physical activity and associated conditions such as obesity weaken our core muscles, which are considered the main pillars supporting our spine. Weakened core muscles will not be able to perform the functions expected of them, leading to back pain. Regular exercise, weight management, a healthy diet, and guided weight training will help strengthen our core muscles and reduce the risk of back pain.

Other than muscles, the spine also contains small joints known as facet joints, irritation or inflammation of which can lead to back pain. A structure known as the pars interarticularis acts as a clamp in the spine, holding two adjacent vertebral bodies, and any defect, such as a congenital defect or fracture due to repetitive microtrauma, as seen in gymnasts, can lead to the slipping of one bone over the other, causing back pain.

Though mechanical back pain is most common, there are other conditions such as inflammatory arthropathy, tumours, and infections. Conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and hyperuricemia/gout are some examples of inflammatory conditions in which an individual experiences early morning back pain associated with stiffness and may also present with pain in other joints.

Can tuberculosis lead to back pain?

Tuberculosis affecting the spine is considered the most common infection of the spine. Severe back pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, and night sweats are some of the common symptoms. Other bacterial and fungal infections are also seen affecting the spine, most commonly in immunocompromised individuals.

Tumours, though rare in young individuals, warrant further investigation when symptoms such as severe weight loss, night pain, and prolonged back pain are present to rule out the possibility of tumours.

Other conditions such as scoliosis (congenital/adolescent idiopathic scoliosis), which is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine, can cause back pain. It requires further assessment in the form of radiological investigations to assess the degree of deformity and to plan any surgical intervention, if required, based on the severity of the curve.

What are the symptoms?

Identifying some of the red-flag signs, such as weakness in the legs, numbness around the groin, bladder or bowel dysfunction, fever, unexplained significant weight loss, or severe pain following major trauma, is essential. These symptoms may indicate serious underlying pathology requiring medical care.

Fortunately, back pain in young people is largely preventable. Basic lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise, maintaining proper posture, avoiding prolonged sitting, maintaining a healthy body weight, undertaking monitored weight-training programmes, following a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep will help prevent as well as overcome existing back problems. Invest in your spinal health at the earliest opportunity to reap the benefits in the second half of life.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical firm Moderna have developed a vaccine that may prevent bowel and ovarian cancer. The first trial is to be this summer, and it will try to see if the vaccine can train the immune system to recognize and eliminate pre-cancerous cells in people with Lynch syndrome before cancer develops.

In the United Kingdom, one in 300 people has Lynch syndrome, an inherited health condition that massively increases the chance of contracting cancers like bowel and ovarian cancer.

What Is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the umbrella term for both colon and rectal cancer. As the name also suggests, colon cancers happen only in the colon, but if it is left untreated, it can spread to different organs in your body. Colorectal cancer begins inside the rectal tissues or the colon walls. It presents itself in the earliest stages as small masses, known as polyps. If a polyp becomes cancerous, it can spread cancer from the inner part of the colon to the lymph nodes or bloodstream. If this happens, cancer can then quickly move throughout the system.

Early Symptoms Of Colorectal Cancer

• Persistent changes in bowel habits, especially if they last more than a few days, must be taken seriously. Narrow or ribbon-shaped stools may indicate a tumor partially blocking the colon.
• Blood in the stool is one of the most common and concerning signs. While it might be due to hemorrhoids or fissures, it’s important not to assume. A proper evaluation is critical.
• Unexplained weight loss: Especially when unintentional.
• Abdominal cramps or bloating: Misinterpreted as common digestive issues.

What Is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological cancers and is often referred to as the “silent killer” because its early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for common digestive or urinary issues.

It develops when abnormal cells in the ovaries grow uncontrollably and may spread to other parts of the body. Survival rates are significantly higher when detected early—around 93 per cent of women diagnosed at stage one survive at least five years, compared to just 13 per cent at stage four, according to the American Cancer Society.

Unfortunately, many cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited, and outcomes are poorer.

• Early Symptoms Often Overlooked

“Ovarian cancer is commonly called a ‘silent disease’ because its early signs are vague and often resemble routine gastric issues,” Dr. Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson – Radiation Oncology, Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, told HealthandMe.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent bloating
• Feeling full quickly or reduced appetite
• Pelvic or abdominal discomfort
• Unexplained constipation or diarrhea
• Ongoing indigestion
• Excessive gas
• Abdominal heaviness

Dr. Parminder Kaur, Consultant Gynaecologic Oncologist at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe that the key concern is when symptoms become frequent, persistent, and unusual for an individual’s normal health pattern.