Well+Being - The Washington Post

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By Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD

Why your skin needs sunscreen all year long

Beyond the cancer risk, most of the skin changes we see as we get older don’t come from the aging process but from the sun’s UV rays.

By Sally Wadyka

The author and one of the friends standing in front of a tree. One side has its leaves falling off and wafting toward the reader; the other side is lush and green with flowers blooming. More flowers bloom on the bottom of the panel.

Guest column

Five things to try instead of ending a friendship

By Emma Nadler

Guest column

Like many doctors, I was once condescending to obese patients. I regret it.

By Prescott Lee

How choosing solitude can free your mind and lift your mood

By Jamie Friedlander Serrano

A doctor holding up an apple with the number "36" to her left.

Nutrition should play bigger role in medical training, panel asserts

By Ian McMahan

TikTok star Taylor Rousseau Grigg died of Addison’s disease. What is it?

The sudden death of TikTok star Taylor Rousseau Grigg highlights the dangers of Addison's disease.

By Amanda Morris, Richard Sima and Teddy Amenabar

Most ERs aren’t fully prepared to handle children’s emergencies

Increasing pediatric readiness would reduce mortality, increase life expectancy and improve young patients’ lives, the researchers write.

By Erin Blakemore

Have a question for a doctor? The Washington Post can help.

By Washington Post staff

Someone in a canoe crossing dark blue water, wearing a yellow striped shirt.

Fake meat, canker sores and dreaming in color: The week in Well+Being

I was surprised to learn that a common ingredient often used to make toothpaste foamy has been associated with canker sores in some studies.

By Tara Parker-Pope

NewsletterTHURSDAYS

Well+Being: Tips and guidance on food, fitness and mental health

latest from Well+Being

Why unpasteurized apple cider may carry health risks

A surgery center billed for two operations. She only had one.

Parkinson’s is often misdiagnosed. New tests may change that.

‘Office’ star Jenna Fischer had triple-positive breast cancer. What is it?

Got canker sores? Try switching your toothpaste.

Are plant burgers better than beef? Here’s how to decide.

Column

I’m a doctor. I limited social media and quickly saw health benefits.

DON’T MISS

How to protect yourself from mosquito bites

Health experts say the “gold standard” against bug bites is DEET, a chemical repellent developed almost 80 years ago to help the U.S. Army keep mosquitoes away.

By Teddy Amenabar and Lindsey Bever

What to know about 6 popular home tests for allergies, cancer and more

By Andrea Atkins

Ticks love hot weather, too. How to avoid these common tick diseases.

By Marlene Cimons

Confused by new mammogram guidelines? Here’s what to know.

By Lindsey Bever

Americans are sleeping more than ever. See how you compare.

By Caitlin Gilbert and Luis Melgar

meet the WELL+BEING TEAM

Tara Parker-Pope is a longtime editor and science writer who knows that well-being is best achieved through the small health decisions we make each day.

Anjuman Ali is an editor with a passion for health journalism who believes in empowering people with science-based information to care for their health.

Emily Codik is an editor focused on elevating expert voices through a variety of formats, including visual journalism and social media.

Anahad O’Connor is a veteran health reporter who writes about the science of food and the various biological and cultural forces that influence how we eat.

Gretchen Reynolds has covered exercise science for more than two decades, including the perils of inactivity and the benefits of moving just a little more every day.

Richard Sima is a neuroscientist turned science journalist committed to revealing the wonder and mystery of the brain — and why it matters.

Amanda Morris is a science reporter and hard of hearing woman whose reporting on people with disabilities and chronic illnesses challenges long-held stigmas and sheds light on health disparities.

Lindsey Bever writes with empathy and expertise on a variety of personal health topics, including chronic illness, mental health and navigating the medical system.

Teddy Amenabar explores the science and the myths behind the health information people are seeing, searching and talking about online.

Caitlin Gilbert is a data reporter and former neuroscientist who uses analyses, statistics and visualizations to better understand and explain how we live.

Trisha S. Pasricha writes the Ask a Doctor column. She is a physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Shirlene Obuobi is a second-year cardiology fellow at the University of Chicago medical center. Her comics about navigating health care appear on her Instagram @ShirlywhirlMD.

Chelsea Conrad is a designer, illustrator and art director whose vibrant visuals add explanation, depth and, sometimes, humor to well-being stories.

Garland Potts is a news designer focused on explaining health and well-being topics with engaging visual storytelling.

Maya Valentine is a photo assignment editor who produces visually rich stories that explore nutrition, fitness and other health topics.

Aaron Steckelberg uses his deep knowledge of graphics and visual storytelling to create health and science journalism that informs and delights.