Personal Hygiene

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when the oil-secreting glands in the skin are clogged and become inflamed or infected. Ninety percent of teenagers get acne.

Aspirin The oldest over-the-counter standby, aspirin has a long history of providing comfort and relief from fever, headache, and the minor pain of menstrual cramps, muscle strain, and arthritis. Since 1897, when the German chemist Felix Hoffman first made the drug in its current form—acetylsalicylic acid—aspirin has held a prominent place in medicine cabinets, first aid kits, purses, and briefcases.

Cold and Cough Medicine The key to relief, say experts, is to figure out what symptoms you have and then find a product that tackles just those ills. You might be tempted to just grab a product that promises to treat everything, but if you don't have every single symptom, you'll just be overmedicating yourself and flirting with unnecessary side effects.

Dental Floss Even with a proper brushing, you only clean about three-fifths of the surfaces on your teeth. The areas in between teeth that you can't reach with a toothbrush are best cleaned with floss or interdental cleaners.

Glucose Monitors help you measure the level of glucose in your blood. An accurate blood glucose reading can tell you how well your medication is working and help you make adjustments to your treatment regimen, if necessary.

Lice Treatments The Food and Drug Administration has approved two anti-lice agents—permethrin and pyrethrins such as pyrethrum—as effective and safe for children because the body doesn't absorb them.

Motion sickness happens when the body, inner ear, and eyes all send different signals to the brain, resulting in confusion and queasiness. You can get motion sickness in various degrees in planes, boats, trains, and cars.

Mouthwash contain active ingredients that kill bacteria and prevent them from attaching to your teeth.

Nicotine Gum is sold over the counter, without a prescription. Nicorette is the only brand name on the market, although you can buy generic products sold under the name "nicotine polacrilex." The gum comes in two dosages: 2 and 4 milligrams. The higher dosage is for people who smoke more than 24 cigarettes a day.

Rogaine Most over-the-counter hair growth treatments are topical lotions that you apply to your scalp twice daily. You'll be wasting your money unless you buy brands, like Rogaine, that contain minoxidil, which is the only nonprescription medicine FDA-approved for the treatment of hereditary hair loss.

Shampoo contain surfactants, or detergents, that lift dirt and oil off the hair so they can be rinsed away. Most shampoos clean your hair very well. Where they differ is how your hair feels afterward. Some surfactants are stronger than others, and might strip away too much of your natural oils. Most shampoos also contain a bit of conditioner, which can make a difference in how your hair feels afterward.

Shaving cream include a mixture of ingredients known as moisturizers and protectants. These ingredients work by attracting and keeping moisture in your skin, which makes for a softer, smoother shave. Aloe, an ingredient often found in shaving creams for sensitive skin, is a moisturizer. Stearic acid, another ingredient common in shaving creams, is a softening protectant.

Sunscreen is formulated with ingredients to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to the sun increases your risk for skin cancer. Although sunscreen doesn't offer complete protection from all skin cancers, experts say most brands offer invaluable protection against UVB radiation — the part of the ultraviolet spectrum that causes tanning and burning.

Toothbrush There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from (none with hog hair), all designed for one purpose—to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth, preventing tooth decay and gum disease and keeping your smile bright.

Toothpaste can help keep your mouth healthy by fighting tartar, attacking plaque, and even wiping out the bacteria that can cause gum disease.