Summer is on its way, and teens everywhere are already envisioning bronzed bodies and how to get the best tan. However, while tanning may give people a desirable look, there are some hazards to be aware of before leaping to the salon or the nearest beach. Skin cancer is stemming from tanning beds, sun lamps, and sun exposure. Here are the safe tanning tips to keep in mind, as well as the alternatives available for those wanting to still get the look.

Everyone has had to deal with some zits in their teen years. But guess what, it's not just girls who sometimes use make-up to cover them up. While they may be embarrassed to admit it, boys also purchase products such as concealer to hide zits. There are products for everyone out there, and it's no laughing matter.

When we think about the relationship between teenagers and the government, we get the feeling that the government is run by our parents. Driving, smoking, drinking, and voting—the government tells young adults exactly when and how they can participate. But what about piercings? When it comes to sticking potentially lethal chunks of metal into your body, the government says it's up to you to make the right choice. The federal government doesn't have age restrictions or certification for piercers. Reporter Rebecca Pfliger investigated the matter.

Everyone has been in the studio for only five minutes, but by the look on most of their faces they want to peel themselves off their mats, grab water bottles, and run for the door. The white walls, hardwood floors, and requested silence in the studio make it hard for anyone to focus on anything other than the heat pouring from the ceiling panels as they lie on their backs and wait for the instructor to enter. Welcome to Hot Yoga for Teens.

Eyes glued to the screen. Fingers stuck to the mouse. Alix Malkin clicks on the pages of her new addiction, Facebook. The Grade12 student spends an average of four hours a day on the popular Web site, sending messages and looking at pictures. Some days she will spend up to eight hours on the site. “It seems like if you’re not constantly on Facebook, you’re missing something,” she said. Facebook, the popular Internet social-networking service, boasts more than 10 million members. While it can be a great way to meet people, Web sites like these are becoming highly addictive for some.

“My relatives always say I’m too skinny when they come over to visit.” “All the other guys on the basketball team have broad shoulders, and I just look scrawny.” If this sounds like you, you may be considering ways to gain weight. But before you hurry to spend extra time at the gym or seek more food, consider whether you really need to gain weight. Fact is the majority of teens have no reason – medical or otherwise – to try and gain weight. Maybe you should be more focused on keeping fit and keeping a healthier diet.

Madison Alejandria hasn’t been lucky with condoms. At 17, after only her second time having sex, she discovered the condom that her boyfriend had worn had split open at some point amid the passion, and she had become pregnant. The ‘morning-after pill’, also known as Plan B, could have possible saved her from becoming pregnant. But like many teenagers, she didn’t know about it. Plan B can be up to 89 per cent effective; however, it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for proper protection during sex. Find out more about the pill and its effects.

Drinking alcohol can seem like fun when done at parties or outings. But when it begins to consume all your time and energy, it can lead to a serious addiction. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down one’s nervous system, which is why alcohol is in the same classification of drugs as medical tranquilizers. It produces a wide range of physical, mental, and behavioural changes within the drinker as the alcohol is immediately absorbed into the blood stream, slowly altering and deteriorating everything the liquid encounters.

Counsellor Cheryl-Lynn Roberts desperately wants to stay on the phone. If she hangs up, she’ll lose her connection with the 17-year-old boy who’s alone in a washroom threatening to kill himself. Roberts, a counsellor with Kids Help Phone, a free 24-hour confidential helpline for children, has heard from teens calling about various issues in their lives such as abuse, bullying, peer pressure, sex, drugs, and divorce. Find out why so many youth are seeking help and the various confidential crisis lines available to assist them.

At 16 years old, Karen Chung would rather have been dead than fat. Her skeletal frame betrayed a manicured appearance and honour-roll grades. Her hair fell out, her skin went yellow, and her heartbeat dipped dangerously low. Chung was part of a world of secret suffering that makes 27 per cent of young women aged 12 to 18 in Canada sick, according to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). Reporter Lisa-Marie Bahrey investigated why so many youth are giving way to eating disorders and what can be done to help them.

IPod – $200. Jeans – $75. Laptop – $1,200. Cancer immunization—wouldn’t you say priceless? There’s no mega-shot to ward off the C-word. But there’s a new vaccine that prevents four types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV, the only known cause of cervical cancer, and it costs $405. Gardasil, produced by Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., is a three-part immunization against four strains of the most common sexually transmitted disease, HPV, which spreads through skin-to-skin contact. HPV infects eight out of 10 sexually active people and is more common than AIDS, herpes, and chlamydia. But the vaccine isn’t yet covered by OHIP, and most students at Toronto high schools don’t even know about it.

Outside, the snow is piling high; inside, it’s dark and dreary. You sit at your desk, four grey walls around you, staring at the blackboard, tube lights buzzing overhead. You find it hard to concentrate and can’t work up any energy for school, even worse than usual! It feels so much better to just lie down on your desk and take a short nap… This is the reality of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition that causes depression, loss of energy, and anxiety.

Do you feel restless, irritable, or dehydrated? Maybe you suffer from lack of concentration or frequent headaches. If so, you may be one of the many teenagers suffering from a caffeine addiction.

Has someone close to you passed away? Are you still dealing with the confusion, anger, or other emotions you built toward the situation? Many teens have endured the pain of losing a loved one. However, most of them do not know how to deal with the loss, or what to make of the situation.

According to Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website, about 90,000 Ontario youth try smoking every year. While cigarette smoking among youth appears to be slightly decreasing, it doesn’t change the fact that cigarette smoking still causes six times more deaths than murders, alcohol, car accidents, and suicides combined. In your face and interactive, the Ministry’s stupid.ca campaign, designed to convince youth that smoking is unwise, appears to be just what those who smoke need to change their deadly habit.

Worried about how you’ll pass your courses this year? Stressing over whether you’ll ever be able to achieve financial security in the future so you can raise a family? Finding that not one day passes when you’re not buried in worry over something? You may be dealing with a case of unhealthy worry that can drain your physically and emotionally and affect how you cope with everyday life situations. Find out how to better manage your worries and overall stress in Part 3 of One80’s ‘Beat the Stress’ series.

Even in this ‘politically correct’ day and age, there is a lot of stigma around the issue of mental illness. That’s why the Center of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health is recognizing the importance youth, too, play in this and has created the Dare to Dream program. The program provides grants up to $1,000 for youth to initiate projects aimed to promote mental health awareness amongst their peers and communities as well as reduce the stigmas.

Yoga and pilates have managed to steal the hearts and breaths of everyone, including teens. The strengthening exercises and balance these fitness methods work to restore have spread from local practices to fitness classes and lately to school activities over the last few years. They have become so popular that the fashion scene has exploded with active wear – often beyond a reasonable price range. But what makes yoga and pilates more special than a regular gym membership or playing sports? Find out why they’re just so hard to resist.

Suffering from back pain? Feeling exhausted after sitting at your desk to do homework? You may be using a poor work environment. Find out about some of the proper and healthy ways to do homework and arrange your work space.

Is it already time to hand in that essay? Is it already time for bed and you’re left wondering why there aren’t 48 hours in a day so you could complete all of your tasks? Struggling to manage one’s time better isn’t always easy, especially in today’s age when people seem to be doing more in a day than ever. Some have given up hobbies, while others can’t find time for family and friends. Discover some time management techniques that will keep you on top of your game while still enjoying the process in Part 1 of One80’s 'Beat the Stress' series.