Skimm Well

I See You

I can’t remember the last time I changed my contacts. And I regularly wear them in the shower, the pool, and to bed. Basically, everything eye doctors tell you not to do — for good reason.

But I caught myself squinting at my shampoo label the other day and realized that my vision has officially entered elder-millennial territory. Which feels like a sign to take my eye health more seriously. So, here’s the game plan:

Book that exam: Optometrists can spot early signs of six health issues (not just vision problems). We didn’t see the last one coming.
Channel your inner eye doctor and avoid these questionable habits at all costs. People really do number eight?
It’s controversial, but maybe toss the sleep accessory linked to a higher risk of glaucoma. Spoiler: It’s not an eye mask.
Finally, we didn’t need a reason to buy more sunglasses, but the effects of eye sunburns (both long and short term) definitely gave us some.

— Anna “It’s Glasses Time” Davies, writer

What's Making the Rounds

Not every cavity needs to be filled. Dentists say these questions can stop the drill before it starts.

Send the “thinking of you” text. It’s a low-lift, high-reward way to stay connected when you can’t find time for a long catch-up. Music to our overscheduled ears.

Good news, early birds: Science just served up a guilt-proof excuse to turn down that 9 pm dinner res.

We love a fridge magnet, but the ways travel affects aging and immunity are the real souvenirs.

These days, Mel B says her Spice Girls group chat is less “zig-a-zig-ah” and more venting about the menopause symptoms she wishes would stop right now, thank you very much.

“Ping minimalism” cuts the constant notifications, and people swear their brains feel quieter within days. We’re listening.

Today's Recs For a Life Well-Lived

This is the most delicious way to take your multivitamin. Use code theskimm50 at checkout for 50% off.

Speks just launched these Silicone Slabs. They're the perfect fidget to keep on the back of your phone, on your desk, or on a water bottle.

Keep scrolling...more recs below

It’s All Connected

What do Lena Dunham and the fictional dragon rider Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing have in common? They both have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic disorder that weakens your body’s connective tissue. Its headline symptom is hypermobility, AKA double-jointedness. But depending on the type, it can affect everything from your skin to your blood vessels to your gut.

Why it matters: EDS falls under the broader umbrella of connective tissue disease, which includes many chronic pain conditions that can cause joint instability, easy bruising, and fatigue. The through line? Persistent symptoms that aren’t always recognized by doctors. Many patients report years of misdiagnosis or have their symptoms dismissed as “just stress.”

Why it’s back on your feeds: Visibility. As more high-profile women (real and fictional) share their experiences with EDS, they shed light on the realities of what it means to live with a chronic illness that often goes overlooked.

What makes EDS hard to spot: These conditions can overlap with more recognizable ones like ADHD (more on that below), anxiety, brain fog, and other neurological symptoms. That mix can blur the landscape and make it easier to dismiss what’s actually happening in your body.

Emerging research also links some connective tissue disorders, including EDS, to a higher risk of certain age-related complications. That raises bigger questions about long-term care and what support should look like over time.

For Your Sanity:

Know the facts. The Ehlers-Danlos Society offers a free app to help you understand symptoms and prep for doctor visits.
Flexibility isn’t always a party trick. Kids and adults who are very bendy often get praise — hello, gymnastics, dance, and other sports. But hypermobility paired with pain, frequent injuries, or fatigue is worth flagging to a pediatrician or doctor.
Don’t settle. If your symptoms get brushed off, push for answers. Ask about EDS and whether a specialist makes sense (often a rheumatologist or geneticist). Track patterns, like pain, fatigue, injuries, even GI issues, and get a second opinion if need be.

I take ibuprofen pretty regularly — is that actually safe long-term?

Featured Expert

Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD,

Primary care physician triple board-certified in internal, lifestyle, and obesity medicine and based in Boston, MA.

"Think of ibuprofen like a Band-Aid. It’s fine if you need it once in a while, but if you are constantly applying [them], there’s likely something else going on. It’s important to address the root cause of why you’re taking it.

Chronic, long-term use can significantly irritate the stomach and, in serious cases, cause ulcers or even bleeding. That risk increases if someone drinks a significant amount of alcohol, smokes cigarettes, or uses medications such as antidepressants.

Talk to your primary care physician about why you’re taking it — they may have safer pain control options in mind. They may also refer you to a specialist or order additional tests to help address the issue.”

PS: If NSAIDs like ibuprofen are in your rotation, it’s worth knowing what they actually do (and don’t do) for inflammation.

What’s the most common cause of side stitches during a workout?

You drank too much water before you started

Your potassium levels are too low

Reduced blood flow to the diaphragm

A cramp in your abs from overuse

More Recs for a Life Well Lived

This is the easiest way to apply scalp serum that we've ever tried.

The Amazon running bra that Skimm'rs can't stop buying. We can confirm it's pretty great.

You’ve Got Our Attention

By now, you’ve probably heard that ADHD diagnoses for women in their thirties and forties are on the rise. But here’s the part that often gets missed: Women are diagnosed about five years later than men.

Part of the gap comes down to how symptoms show up. Women (no matter their age) aren’t as likely to exhibit the hyperactivity most people still associate with ADHD. Instead, it can look like overwhelm, chronic procrastination, or feeling constantly off-track.

If that sounds familiar, it’s worth a closer look because new research suggests the condition can affect more than women’s mental health. Not everything needs a label, but if something consistently throws off your day, there are ways to better understand what’s going on — and what might actually help.

Dr. GPT? We Have a Problem.

If you’ve ever sanity-checked a symptom with ChatGPT, you’re not alone. But when researchers asked four different AI chatbots common questions like “Which supplements are best for overall health?” and “Do vaccines cause cancer?”, they got back “problematic” answers at an alarmingly high rate.

“Problematic” didn’t just mean wrong. Answers came back incomplete or with fringe theories offered alongside evidence-based science… without clearly separating the two.

Almost a third of Americans ask AI for health advice these days. And while only a small number of surveyed adults say they strongly trust its responses, even a little misplaced faith can lead to bad decisions.

It’s clear that AI is here to stay. So if you turn to it for health info, keep it general and learn to ask better questions. Specific prompts tend to get more reliable answers. Don’t treat it as a single source of truth, and run real concerns by your doctor.

Substantially Sweet

The time TikTok takes from your day? Occasionally repaid in recipes that are actually worth it to make. These three viral favorites are customizable, satisfying, and nutrient-dense without trying too hard.

Japanese Cheesecake (a remix)

Not traditional, but very good. The formula: Greek yogurt folded with crushed Biscoff cookies, then chilled until it sets. This frozen dessert is creamy, cold, high-protein, and low effort.

Brownie Batter Dip

It’s hard to believe, but the base of this chocolate treat is… chickpeas, which means you get a dose of plant-based protein with every bite. Blend until smooth, then pair with fruit for a snack that leans sweet but substantial thanks to the extra fiber.

Mandarin Orange Sorbet

Peel, freeze, blend. That’s the entire recipe. The result: a bright, naturally sweet sorbet you can dress up with toppings, or keep simple and eat straight from the blender.

The contacts habit eye doctors hate