Beautiful Skin Starts from Within | Marla Ahlgrimm

It’s been said that beauty is only skin deep, but we all want to take care of the skin that were in. In today’s brief question and answer session, women’s healthcare pioneer Marla Ahlgrimm answers a few common questions on how to keep your skin at its best.

Q: What is the best type of facial cleanser?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There is no right or wrong answer to this question as it greatly depends on an individual’s skin type. Some women are prone to acne and may want to use a moisturizing cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Those with oily skin may want to stick with a natural milk-based cleaner.

Q: How does what we drink affect our skin?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The skin is the largest organ and, like other organs, requires water in order to operate properly. Women who drink mostly coffee and other caffeinated or sugary drinks, such as soda, may experience more acne than those who stick with good old-fashioned H2O.

Marla Ahlgrimm Discusses Infertility

There are a number of things that affect the reproductive capabilities of both sexes. However, according to health experts Marla Ahlgrimm, women have unique needs when it’s time to conceive.

Q: What is a hormone imbalance?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Hormone imbalance is a broad term to describe any number of issues that can occur in the endocrine system. Many hormone imbalances, such as those relating to the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone, can reduce a woman’s chances of conception.

Q: Do men suffer with hormonal disorders?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes, issues with the testes, pituitary gland, and brain can all affect a man’s output of testosterone and sperm.

Q: How are hormone disorders treated?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Thanks to advances in medical technology over the last two decades, many hormone disorders can easily be treated with prescription medications. The most common is clomiphene citrate, marketed commercially as Clomid. Other drugs, including Metformin and letrozole, have also been used to increase the chances of proper ovulation.

Marla Ahlgrimm on Taking to Growing Daughter about Changing Body

Marla Ahlgrimm is one of the nation’s premier experts regarding female hormones and related disorders. Here, the women’s health expert answers questions on how to talk to your daughter about body image, menstruation, and other female-specific issues.

Q: My daughter is nine. When should I have “the talk” about when she’ll start her period?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Young girls’ bodies are all different and some girls can experience the onset of menstruation by the end of third grade, or around nine-years-old. This is the perfect time to open up a conversation about what she can expect during puberty. Answer her questions openly and honestly, using anatomically correct terms. You don’t have to get into graphic detail at this age but she needs to know what is going to happen.

Q: What’s the right age to start talking about healthy eating habits?

Marla Ahlgrimm: It doesn’t matter how old your daughter is, there is no time like the present. You can instill healthy eating habits from toddlerhood on. Offer your daughter a variety of healthy snacks, fruits, and vegetables and don’t allow her to drink soda in between meals; soda and fruit juice should be a rarity.

Marla Ahlgrimm on Women’s Mental Health

In honor of National Women’s Health Week, Marla Ahlgrimm discusses ways women can take care of their mental health and why many who suffer with issues go undiagnosed.

Q: Why should women pay attention to their mental health?

Marla Ahlgrimm: If a woman doesn’t take care of herself, both mentally and physically, her overall health and wellness can be at risk. As an example, a woman experiencing major depression may suffer with insomnia, weight fluctuations, and loss of interest in spending time with her family and other previously-pleasurable activities. This can trigger a cyclic pattern of depression and anxiety which can take a major toll on a woman’s well-being.

Marla Ahlgrimm Answers Common Women’s Health Questions

In the following brief post, retired pharmacist and women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm answers a few of the most common questions she was asked during her forty years in the industry.

Q: Should I use birth control and which is the best one?

Marla Ahlgrimm: That is a deeply personal question that depends your needs and physical health. There is no one birth control that is most desirable for all women. Talk to your healthcare provider before making the decision. He or she will discuss with you your parenting desires, possible side effects, your overall health, comfort taking medication or using birth control devices, and sexual activity. Birth control methods include pills and patches, intrauterine devices, injections, and abstinence.

Women’s Health Topics | Marla Ahlgrimm

Women have unique health needs, says women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. Here, Ahlgrimm presents a few of the most common health conditions plaguing women today.

Yeast infection

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, yeast infections are common, with around 75% of women experiencing one at some point in their lifetime. A yeast infection is the result of a buildup of a certain type of bacteria in and around the vagina. Women who are pregnant, have diabetes, use high-estrogen birth control, douche, or are taking antibiotics have a higher risk of developing yeast infection. Common signs of a yeast infection include vaginal soreness, painful intercourse, discomfort while urinating, burning and redness, and thick, white discharge.

Marla Ahlgrimm | Pharmacist the Most Equal Job For Men And Women

In a world where gender inequality in the workforce is national hot button issue, there is at least one profession that seems to be immune, says Marla Ahlgrimm.

Physician remains a predominantly male title; nurses are almost entirely women. But, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, pharmacists are split down the middle. And, as the retired pharmacist explains, unlike other careers in medicine, there is not a huge pay gap between the sexes.

Women pharmacists, on average, earn a salary of approximately $116,000 per year, slightly less than men. However, the slight gap is not a product of discrimination, but a reflection on hours worked. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that many mothers who happen to be pharmacists work fewer hours than their male counterparts.