INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Steroids are injected straight into the scar tissue to help decrease itching, redness, and general discomfort. Some doctors note that the treatment of these symptoms with steroidal injections can also reduce the appearance of scars. Steroid injections (triamcinolone) are given every two to six weeks until improvement is seen. Occasionally, injections can cause a network of surface veins to develop (telangiectasias), or lightening or thinning of the surrounding skin. Research has shown that cryotherapy can decrease the thickness of the scar tissue by up to 58%. The earlier the treatment and thinner the keloid scar, the better the results. Cryotherapy is performed in the physician office using medical instruments that instantly freeze the tissue and kill it on contact. Cryotherapy can cause burns, more scar formation and damage to nearby healthy tissue if done improperly. When cryotherapy is used to treat keloid tissue, further preventative methods must be used as the area heals, such as silicone dioxide, silicone gel sheets and steroid injections. Another option for reducing the appearance of keloid scars is radiation therapy. Some plastic surgeons avoid this method of scar removal due to concerns about causing tumors, but studies have shown that this is a safe method as long as surrounding tissues are protected. By itself, surgery can often cause further aggravation and create more scars, but if performed in combination with a number of other treatments (e.g. silicone sheeting and silicone dioxide), surgery can reduce the visibility of such scarring. Once the surgical excision has healed, discuss the use of silicone gel sheets to reduce the recurrence of the scar formation. If you decide to go the surgical route, ask your doctor about Imiquimod. It is a cream that enhances healing and is often used after surgery to prevent scarring. The cream is applied on alternate nights for eight weeks after surgery. Although the trials have been small, the post-surgical recurrence rate averaged only 28 percent over a six- to nine-month follow-up period, with best results (2.9 percent recurrence) in low skin tension areas such as earlobes.

SUMMARY: Ask your doctor about steroid injections. Try cryotherapy. Ask about radiation therapy. Discuss surgical excision with your doctor.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This will draw attention away from your cheeks and pull it towards yours lips instead. To contour your lips, apply some highlighting powder along the top of your cupid's bow and a dab of bronzer just below your bottom lip. Blend well and apply some bright lipstick. These will make your head appear longer than it is wide, giving the illusion of a thinner face. Even a baseball cap that is higher than normal can help make your face look longer. When choosing earrings, go for ones that go past your jaw; this will draw attention away from the sides of your face. The more angular the earring is, the more will contrast with your face shape, making it appear thinner. If you are wearing your hair in an up-do, you can frame your face by wearing some long earrings. This will draw the eye downward, pulling attention away from the width of your face. Long necklaces will also give the illusion that your neck and face are longer. Necklaces that are too short will pull the eye upward and draw too much attention to the width of your face. If you do wear short necklaces and chokers, remember to frame your face by wearing your hair down or lettings your long bangs hang by your cheeks. Try to find something with a rectangular shape, but that still has rounded corners. Glasses that are wider than your face will make your face appear more narrow. Shirts with a longer neckline will make your neck (and thus your face) appear longer. High-collared shirts, on the other hand, will make your neck appear shorter and pull attention upwards towards your jaw and the width of your face.

SUMMARY: Consider contouring your lips with highlighting powder and bronzer to make them appear fuller. Put on a hat with a high crown or a small brim. Try on some long, dangly earrings but avoid studs, posts, and chunky pieces. Choose longer necklaces and skip shorter ones. Go for the wider frames when choosing sunglasses and glasses. When choosing shirts, go for V-necks and scoop-necks and avoid high-collars.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The easiest way to begin a conversation with someone you want to talk to is to ask a favor. You don't know this person yet, so you don't know what you have in common. Asking a favor is a neutral way to enter into conversation without boring them with something they don't care about. Make sure it's a small favor that won't put her out. For example, ask to borrow a pen or read their class notes to see something you missed. If you don't have your textbook, ask to look on with her. That way, you can sit closer to her, too! Since you don't know her very well yet, you might not know what she likes. The only thing you know for sure that you have in common is the class you're in with her. Even if you understood the class lecture perfectly, ask her to clarify something the teacher said. As opposed to asking a favor, which can result in a very quick interaction, asking someone to explain something to you will probably result in a longer conversation. Keep the conversation going by asking follow-up questions. If she didn't understand either, show solidarity! Let her know that you're in it together, and that you have something in common. Girls love guys with a sense of humor, so try to make her laugh. Make eye contact with her when somebody says something silly, or roll your eyes when the teacher assigns homework. Make sure you're not disrupting class, though, or drawing the teacher's attention. Getting in trouble will not impress her! You're looking for anything that begins a speaking relationship with her, so make her feel like you want to know what she has to say. Ask her something related to class, like what she thinks is going to be on the next test, or how many hours she's planning on putting into preparation for a presentation. Don't talk over her when she gives her opinion. Let her talk for as long as she wants, and show interest in what she has to say. Giving compliments is a lot trickier than it sounds. You may think "who doesn't like getting a compliment?" but you should always be respectful of girls when complimenting them. Always complimenting girls on how pretty they are sends the message that you only like them for their looks, and most girls don't like to be made to feel that way. Compliment her on something she actually had to work for, rather than something she was born with. This might be related to her appearance or not. Compliment her on her hairstyle on a particular day instead of her eyes. Compliment her on an outfit she put together. Tell her you liked her answer to a question in class. Congratulate her for doing well on a test if you see she got a good grade. Don't bother her with questions or favors if you see that she's concentrating on something or she's late and has to run to her next class. If you have a class with her, you're going to see her every day, so wait for a time when she seems relaxed and in a good mood to break the ice with her.

SUMMARY:
Ask a small favor. Ask a question about something the teacher said. Make her laugh. Ask for her opinion on something related to class. Give her a compliment. Choose the right time for your icebreaker.