How can my family keep fit and healthy over the holidays?  All ages  Holiday meals are commonly associated with an excessive intake of food and drink. Here are some sensible recommendations for more health-conscious holiday choices, especially when it comes to athletes in your family. Involve children in meal preparation. With more school-age children on […]

My youngest child has been really itchy lately. Could it be eczema? All ages Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that can cause the skin to become itchy, irritated, inflamed, or have a rash-like appearance. It is also known as atopic dermatitis. So, what exactly is eczema?  Eczema is a chronic skin […]

What are some ways to help keep my kids safe this Halloween? All ages As a cancer physician caring for immunocompromised patients and a mom of young children, I’m grappling with this question myself. Last year, big Halloween festivals, parades and parties were a no-go in most areas, which means so many kids are excited […]

I’m worried about sunscreen use for my family given the recent recalls. How do I know what is safe?  All ages July’s FDA recall of Johnson & Johnson’s sunscreen brands Neutrogena and Aveeno for the presence of benzene — a potentially harmful and cancer-causing chemical — is raising concerns about sunscreen. While the recall is […]

How do I talk to my young child about active shooters? Elementary age The world is seemingly becoming a more dangerous and violent place post-pandemic. We can’t seem to turn on the news without a story of an active shooter or violent event somewhere in the country. As parents, it can be difficult to cope […]

Are we having a worse allergy season in 2021?   All ages The answer can be complicated. Yes … and no. No: Face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially reduced not only the number of communicable viral illnesses but also allergy symptoms. A recent study (by Dror et al.) showed that self-reported nasal allergy symptoms […]

We hope this summer will be full of water and fun. But are there any precautions we should take as a family?  All ages The CDC has advised that pools and beaches are relatively COVID-safe — but is your family water safe enough to hit those pools and beaches? As people emerge from their homes […]

How do we balance gaming and screen time with off-screen activities? All Ages Let me be clear. I’m not a gamer. But I do spend many hours looking at screens. What are the pros and cons of gaming and screen time from the viewpoints of education and health? And who is to decide what’s too […]

How can I keep my child healthy and on the field? All ages  Outdoor sports have officially returned to Orange County. With all of the time away from their sport, what is the best way to keep your athlete healthy and on the field? Although many young athletes have been training, conditioning and playing games, […]

With money being tight these days, is there some kind of financial aid we can apply to for our college-bound teen? Teens and adults To maximize financial aid (free money), students need to file the FAFSA and the CSS Profile annually to qualify for grants/gifts and scholarships. The FAFSA can be filed annually starting Oct. […]