We’ve all had embarrassing health issues pop up; whether that be as small as a pimple or as large as a clumps of hair coming out in the shower. 

Regardless if you admit experiencing these annoyances, I know you have been in one of those positions at least once before. So, here are some other commonly unspoken problems that college students go through and as well as some personal remedies. 

Muscle Twitches

There you are standing in front of the elevator waiting to go to the third floor of Snell Hall and all of a sudden, your calf starts twitching. Instantly, you fidget a bit trying to ease your nerves. Surely, the stranger next to you must not have noticed. 

I am talking about the eyelid twitching that pops up out of nowhere. Oh, and the calf twitch which makes your legs feel like water. Not to mention how your hands begin to shake involuntarily after writing up a long essay. Are these symptoms that sound familiar? 

These are signs of nutrient deficiencies that indicate a need for action. Two things to cut down on are caffeine and stress. Some things to increase consumption of are Vitamin D, Vitamin B and water. On a side note, you also need to up your Calcium and sleep game. 

Hair loss

Have you ever brushed your hair and easily pulled out a little more than a couple of strands of hair? Did you feel like you were going bald? Don’t worry. A lot of people go through this. However, you don’t have to. 

This hair loss can be either triggered due to your stress about upcoming exams/events or simply due to a lack of crucial nutrients. Something to test out would be increasing intake of biotin. Another helpful nutrient is Vitamin B3. 

Apart from that, meditation or exercise can help you manage your stress and in turn, your hair loss.

Additionally, something that is overlooked is the hard water coming from your shower head. Yes, the water you use to wash your hair has a big influence on your hair’s health. It may be the root of your hair loss. Consider buying a hard water filter to counteract this issue.

Dandruff/itchy scalp

This one is a bummer, especially when you are sitting in class. Feeling that unwanted itch in your head can cause your focus to go haywire. It’s like that itchy feeling just can’t stop. Well, it needs to. 

Here is how you can make it stop; consume more foods with zinc. Legumes like chickpeas and lentils are great sources of zinc along with seeds like pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

Inflammation

Another important nutrient that plays a role in our wellbeing is (drumroll please)….Vitamin C. It is commonly known to be the life saver among students as it increases your immunity. However, few people know that you can also apply vitamin c to your skin to relieve certain conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation.

Through its anti-inflammatory potential, conditions like acne and rosacea can be treated. Not only that, but vitamin C can also aid in the wound healing process and help prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Definitely consider it for your skincare. However, it doesn’t end here. Topically applying it is even more necessary because excessive exposure to the sun reduces the availability of vitamin C in the skin.

This crucial nutrient can come in two forms: L-ascorbic and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. L-ascorbic acid is recommended for oily or normal skin. For dry and sensitive skin, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is the best option.

To be noted: care should be taken while applying vitamin C around sensitive areas like the eyes.

Commentary writer Vidhi Parekh can be reached at [email protected].