Recently, several schools have reported an outbreak of MRSA, the drug-resistant staph infection which has been causing havoc in hospitals. MRSA is on the rise in hospitals, and now it's showing up in schools.

Physicians caution that this infection is not something that you can get from just the air. It takes physical contact, such as sharing grooming supplies, or coming in contact with open scrapes.

Soap and water — "common sense hygiene" is the best defense against MRSA in schools.

Beauty giant Maybelline (owned by L'Oreal) will extend its brand of Garnier hair care into skin care in the United States, early next year. The fifteen product facial care line, named Garnier Nutritioniste, is already available in Europe, and will compete in the US against companies such as Procter & Gamble (Olay), Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena), and some lines of its parent company, L'Oreal.

For people with diabetes, living a regular life becomes very difficult, in some ways. Diabetics have to monitor what they eat and need to check their glucose levels regularly. Diabetes can wreak havoc on the skin, in several different ways.

Diabetes can lead to dark patches of colored skin, and can lead to skin disfigurement on the legs. It also can increase the number of fungal infections the person experiences.

A new study of perchlorate, a chemical commonly used in rocket fuel, pyrotechnics, road flares and explosives has been shown to slow down thyroid function in women. Perchlorate is widespread in the US, and is found in drinking water, ground water, and foods, including milk, grains, vegetables, and fruit.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that high levels of perchlorate led to low thyroid functioning in women, but not in men. The women who were most effected had low iodine intake.

You've probably heard more than once that fish is a great source of the Vitamin A and essential fatty acids your skin needs to retain its shape and hydration. Fish oil, in fact, is added to many skin care products, and some of the more popular skin-friendly nutritional regimens involve eating fish almost every day to manage various skin problems.

While fish has always been good for you, the rising levels of mercury in fish were not. Consumers were warned to check mercury concentrations in fish to keep from ingesting too much mercury and facing potential toxicity.