Ladies, did you know that in the U.S., the average woman spends more than 30 years of her life trying to prevent pregnancy? True story.

You probably know that there are a lot of birth control options available at your local Kinney pharmacy, including oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills.

Most are combination pills that contain both estrogen and progestin hormones which stop ovulation and can help regulate your monthly cycle.

Until recently, oral contraceptives were only available by prescription.

Not anymore! Meet Opill®, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive (birth control) available in the United States.

It differs from other oral contraceptives because it is a progestin-only birth control pill (sometimes referred to as POPs or the mini pill).

Opill® should be taken once a day at the same time.

Opill® is NOT an emergency contraceptive (like a morning-after pill) and it also does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Just like any medication, it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal, so be sure to talk to your Kinney pharmacist for recommendations.

And that’s the Kinney Skinney on birth control and Opill®! 

If you or someone you love is expecting a baby, congrats! So exciting!

Less exciting is morning sickness – which is actually a misnomer because symptoms can occur at any time of day. Lucky mamas!

About 80% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting early on, but usually gets better after about 12–14 weeks gestation.

So, what’s going on? The cause isn’t entirely known, but it’s believed to be a mix of low blood sugar, increased hormones, and changes in blood pressure and metabolism.

It can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety, being overtired, eating – or even smelling – certain foods, overheating, or motion.

You can deal with it by getting lots of rest and water and eating lots of small snacks to keep your blood sugar regulated.

Also, try to eat foods rich in Vitamin B6, which has been shown to help significantly.

Find B6 in wholegrain wheat and other cereals, seeds and nuts, fruits such as bananas and papayas, fish, and lean meats.

If none of that sounds super appealing, I get it!

Centrum also came out with Morning Sickness Relief Gummies that are endorsed by board-certified OBGYNs and expecting mamas alike.

The gummies are yummy, and they contain lots of B6 and ginger, another natural remedy for nausea.

We like them because they have no common allergens including wheat, milk, soy, egg, peanut, true nuts, or shellfish.

They also have zero high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or sweeteners, or synthetic dyes and are vegetarian and gluten-free.

You can take one gummy per serving up to four times a day – and we hope you feel better soon!

Now you know the Skinney on morning sickness – and Centrum gummies! 

If you’ve lived, you likely have some scars to prove it!

Scars form when your body builds tissue to repair injured skin.

Over time, most scars fade, but if you’ve got some that really bug you, Kinney has treatments that can make them less noticeable.

“Yeah, right!” you say. Seriously, one brand is a physician and pharmacist favorite because it visibly reduces the appearance of scars.

It’s called Mederma, and it’s suitable for both facial and body scars.

There are Mederma products for old scars as well as new ones, and they can be used as soon as a wound has completely healed.

The active ingredient in Mederma products is allantoin, extracted from the comfrey root, which has been cultivated as a healing herb since Roman times.

Many specialized Mederma products are available such as Advanced Scar Gel, Scar Cream Plus SPF 30, PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream.

And check this out: Quick Dry Oil for Stretch Marks!

Yes, stretch marks are scars! They develop when skin stretches or shrinks quickly, causing the supporting collagen and elastin to rupture.

We also really like the Medical-grade Silicone Scar Sheets, because they reduce redness and discomfort, and visibly improve the appearance of a scar in just four weeks.

So, now you know the Skinney on minimizing scars with Mederma!