Hi, you're definitely not alone in wondering about this—what you're experiencing sounds totally normal, especially since it's only your third period.

Brown discharge with a little bit of red, especially at the start or end of your period, usually just means the blood is older and took longer to leave your body. That’s why it looks brown instead of bright red. It’s super common for periods to be a bit irregular or light in the first year or two, and it’s okay if some days there’s barely anything at all

It makes total sense that you’re feeling unsure. When someone shows you kindness and interest, especially if you haven’t experienced that much before, it can feel confusing or even suspicious. You might start wondering, “Why me?” or “Is this real?”—but that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It just means you’re protecting your heart, which is totally human.

The truth is, you deserve to be liked and loved for who you are, no matter your size, your skin, or your health. None of those things make you less worthy of someone’s care or attention. If this boy is being respectful, kind, and genuinely wants to spend time with you, try to let yourself believe that maybe...just maybe, he really does like you for you.

It’s okay to take things slow. You don’t have to fully trust someone right away. Let him show you through his actions that he means what he says. And most importantly, be kind to yourself in the process.

Think about your friendship for a second... Does it make you happy?

Do you have fun together? Can you talk about personal stuff and trust each other? Do you like similar things and support one another?
If you’re saying “yes” to most of these, then you’ve got a pretty solid friendship!

But if you’re not really feeling that way, it might be time to talk to your friend. Try to keep it positive, say something like, “Hey, I feel like we’re not as close as we used to be. Do you think we can work on that?” Give a few examples of what’s been bothering you, but in a kind way.

If they don’t want to fix things or don’t think there’s a problem, that’s okay too. It might be time to start hanging out with other people who you click with more.

That doesn’t mean you have to totally stop being friends. You can just spend less time together and let the friendship naturally fade if it’s not working anymore.

Hi, a framed photo of you both or a happy event you both travelled to is a good one, as is a friendship bracelet with both your initials on.

Make a diary of events for the last few days, try to cram in a much as you can so a) you have little time to feel homesick and b) you get the most out of the place you are visiting, after all you may never visit this place again and it would be such a pity to miss out on fun things.

Sprays are handy for the face, but I really recommend using a cream with SPF 30 or higher. Pop it on about 20 minutes before heading out—even before you leave your room—and don’t forget to reapply it a few times during the day. Always buy your sun cream from a trusted brand and retailer to make sure it actually has the right SPF and does what it says on the bottle.

Hi, it’s fairly normal for a healing scar to turn red again, especially if it’s been irritated by sun, skincare products, or friction, this can be part of the natural healing process 

I would recommend using a scar cream such as Solution for Scars to help reduce the redness and irritation and if it becomes painful, itchy, or looks very different, it’s best to let a parent or doctor know just to be safe.

Hi Isla, period pain isn’t always limited to the tummy area, many people also experience cramps in their legs and thighs. This happens because of the way nerves are connected in and around the pelvic region, and while it can be frustrating, it’s completely normal. Staying active, as with any type of period pain, can really help ease the discomfort.

Some people use toilet roll to dry down there after using a bidet, some use a towel and some bidets have a built-in dryer. It's really a personal choice.

Yes, I like to think anyone going through puberty and needing some guidance can come and ask a question.