Problem: Article: Before you touch your face or injured lip, place your hands under warm water for at least 20 seconds and lather them up with antimicrobial soap. If you are outside and without water access, run an alcohol wipe over your hands before proceeding. This minimizes the germs that could transfer from your fingertips to the cut. Place your lip under the faucet and let the water run into the split area, cleansing it of dirt or debris. Apply a bit of microbial soap to a cotton swab or ball and gently dab the injured area. Wash the soap away with water. Avoid scrubbing the split spot or you may cause it to break open further. Be aware that lip wounds that are not properly cleaned are more likely to scar or require further treatment. If your mouth or lips feel swollen or bruised, put a small ice pack on the area for a few minutes until the swelling begins to subside. If you can't find an ice pack, a bag of frozen vegetables or a clean hand towel run under cold water have the same effect. Give children a popsicle to suck on to numb the pain and minimize bleeding. The cold should also minimize bleeding, so that you can take a closer look at your injury. If the wound does not stop bleeding after a few rounds of cold compresses and mild pressure, then reach out to your doctor. Avoid putting an ice cube directly on your lip, as it can damage the surrounding skin. Likewise, don't hold a cold compress to your lips for more than a few minutes at a time. If you're concerned about possible debris in the wound, especially glass, don't apply any pressure to the area. Now that you can see clearly into the split area, get in front of a mirror and try to assess the depth and extent of the injury. If the cut is very deep and you are worried about it not closing properly, or if you're having trouble speaking because of it, then contact your doctor for advice. If you decide to treat the injury yourself, then reassess it every day. If the split seems severe, consider seeing a doctor or plastic surgeon immediately. The split will most likely heal quickly, and from that point on, any scarring will be difficult to get rid of. Once you are satisfied that the split is clean, protect the area from infection by applying a small amount of analgesic or antibiotic ointment. Place a pea-sized amount of the ointment on a cotton swab and then apply it to the split. Reapply as directed on the package. If the cut is shallow enough for you to treat, then purchase a plastic skin bandage kit or a box of sticky suture strips. Both of these are designed to hold wounds closed. If you're using a liquid bandage, shake the bottle and swipe on a thin layer onto the injured area. Apply a second coat after the first one dries. The liquid bandage will be flexible enough to accommodate your split healing and should last for a week. Keep the applied layers thin or they will peel off. While these methods typically work well for healing split lips, they can be difficult to put on yourself. It's best to seek medical attention if you want the best cosmetic result. If the split is deep enough so that the two sides cannot easily come together, then you may need stitches. If the split is located in the corner of your mouth and continues to bleed without stopping after ten minutes of pressure, then a doctor should assess the injury. The same goes if you are concerned that an object or debris may be located in the wound. If the split was caused by an object injury or if you're concerned about possible debris in the wound, see a medical professional ASAP. There's a chance that you might need to get an x-ray or tetanus shot.
Summary: Wash your hands. Wash the wound with water and mild soap. Place a cold compress on the split. Assess the injury. Dab on a topical analgesic ointment. Apply a liquid bandage or suture strip. Seek emergency treatment.

Problem: Article: You might feel like your guy's inability to open up to you is a sign he's not interested, but this is not necessarily the case. Shyness is a personality trait, so don't take it personally. Understand that he likely wants to open up to you, it just takes him more time than other people. Your shy guy isn't going to open up to you over night. Breaking down the initial barriers can be one of the most difficult parts of dealing with a shy guy and it can take time. He probably doesn't let many people into his inner circle, but if you are patient with him and give him time to open up at his own rate, he'll eventually let you in. Your guy will probably feel pretty vulnerable any time he starts to open up to you, so make every effort to show him that you enjoy talking to him and learning more about him. For example, if he tells a joke, laugh out loud. If he talks about how he likes to play the guitar, let him know you'd love to hear him play sometime. If he tells you an embarrassing story, assure him it will stay between the two of you and then tell him one of your own. Being too enthusiastic about his stories, jokes, hobbies, and so on, can sometimes come across as fake. While you should make every effort to make your interest obvious, don't fake a laugh or any other reaction if it's not what you're actually feeling.
Summary: Don't take it personally. Be patient. Be genuinely accepting.

Problem: Article: There are numerous charges and fees connected to credit cards that you cannot avoid by paying off the balance on time. These include annual fees that are incurred regardless of how much you use the card. By shopping around you can find a card that doesn't have these unavoidable service charges. You can search through a database of hundreds of credit card agreements that are available from a variety of companies online. The database is available on the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/credit-cards/agreements/ It's important that you spend some time reading up on the all small print before you sign up for a credit card. Read it again before you activate a card, and call the company if you don't understand something. Be sure you know the interest rate and how finance charges are determined. Find out if there are ways for the lender to raise the interest rate, and if anything seems questionable, avoid working with that company. Check to see what fees there are for balance transfers. When you use the "checks" that arrive with your bill, these are considered balance transfers and are often subjected to additional fees. When you are looking at different credit card agreements you should note whether or not they have a universal default clause. This type of clause gives the credit card company the right to raise the interest rate on your card if you are late paying your credit card bill or any other creditor. The credit card provider can monitor your credit report and alter your rates during the contract. This clause can also be activated for a high debt-to-income ratio. Remember that a higher interest rate or APR on your card results in high finance charges. If you have a card with this clause, pay all your bills on time.
Summary:
Choose credit cards that do not charge annual service charges. Read the fine print. Determine whether there is a universal default clause.