TIME Health is reporting on several health-related topics, including the efficacy of retinol, caregiver well-being, and pharmaceutical costs. It said that while retinol is a popular skin care ingredient, dermatologists explain that consuming vitamin A-rich foods like carrots, often promoted in "retinol salads" on social media, does not provide the same skin benefits as topical serums.
TIME Health also addressed the health impact of caregiving, citing Diane Mariani, director of Caring for Caregivers at Rush University Medical Center. Mariani said consistent or persistent changes in sleep, eating habits, mood, exercise, or neglecting one's own medical appointments are warning signs that caregiving may be damaging a person's health. Angela Haupt, Editor, Health & Wellness, advised caregivers to identify small changes they wish to make and ask for specific help, or to contact a primary care doctor or caregiver support services if issues persist.
Separately, TIME Health is reporting that U.S. drug prices are 278% higher than in other countries, according to a 2024 RAND report. Senior Correspondent Alana Semuels said the Trump administration's recent "most-favored-nation" deal with pharmaceutical companies is expected to primarily lower prices for Medicaid programs and may not significantly affect consumers' out-of-pocket costs, according to experts.
In other health news, Angela Haupt at TIME shares strategies for packing school lunches that children are more likely to eat, noting that the average American child discards approximately 39 pounds of school food each year. Denis Campbell at The Guardian is reporting a "friendship recession" among young people in England, with a fivefold increase since 2014 in 16- to 21-year-olds reporting no close friends. Elisabeth Rosenthal for KFF Health News and CBS is reporting that healthcare system mergers are contributing to higher costs by directing patients to more expensive locations for medical procedures.