The excess mucous and inflammation that result from a cold will make singing uncomfortable. So, if it isn't important to to sing, it may not be worth it. Colds can also cause headaches and sinus pressure. You can alleviate these somewhat with medication, but singing is still not likely to be a lot of fun. Performing when your body is ill denies it the rest it needs to recover. You may be prolonging your illness by deciding to sing. Regardless of whether you feel personally up to singing, another important question to consider is whether your cold will ruin your performance. Sometimes a bad performance is worse than none. When you have a cold, excess mucous can drip onto your vocal cords. This can distort or muffle your singing, as the vibrations produced by your vocal cords will be affected. A cold can also cause a sore throat, or pharyngitis. The pharynx is essentially the resonating system for your voice, and inflammation can make it difficult to stretch the tissue as necessary to produce the desired sounds. In rare instances, the inflammation from a cold can move down into the larynx, causing laryngitis. Laryngitis can result in a temporary alteration or loss of one's voice. If this occurs, there is usually no point in trying to sing. Although rare, it is possible for singing with a cold to harm the vocal cords. This is especially true among singers who lack formal training. Prolonged singing when your voice is strained (as it can be with a cold) can produce vocal nodules, or callouses on the vocal cords. If this occurs, you will need a prolonged vocal rest (or, in an extreme case, surgery) to regain your singing ability. This isn't common, but it's a possibility to consider. If you are experiencing severe vocal cord swelling or hemorrhage, do not sing under any circumstances. Seek immediate medical attention. Ultimately, in deciding whether or not to sing, you'll need to make your own decision about whether these discomforts and risks outweigh the importance of the performance. If it's a very important performance and you think you can carry it off, it might be worth going ahead. Sometimes cancelling a performance is the professional choice. Losing your voice or fainting on stage are probably worse than not performing at all.

Summary: Consider the symptoms. Contemplate how your performance will be affected. Think about the possibility of vocal cord damage. Weigh the importance of the performance.

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and allows your skin to regenerate. Exfoliating two or three times a week may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation especially dark spots and acne scars. Do not exfoliate more than three times a week, as this can cause microtears, excessive shine, or break outs. Physical exfoliation uses a rough surface to gently roll off dead skin cells. Types of physical exfoliation include wash cloths, sugar or fruit scrubs, and konjac sponges. Wet your face, and scrub it with your chosen exfoliant before rinsing off. Be extremely gentle to prevent microtears. Chemical exfoliation uses low doses of acid to remove excess skin cells. BHA and AHA are the primary acids used. If using a chemical exfoliant, start by only using once a week to build tolerance. Before use, apply a pH-adjusting toner to your face. Use a cotton swab to apply the acid, and wait twenty minutes before applying other products. After a few weeks, you can start using it two or three times a week. Do not overuse, or you may cause a chemical burn. Sunscreen is the best way to prevent future sun damage, dark spots, wrinkles, and other age-related hyperpigmentation. Use an SPF of at least 30 every day underneath your makeup. Even if you don't plan on going outside much, daily use of sunscreen can protect your current dark spots from worsening and future ones from developing. You should use at least a nickel-sized dollop of sunscreen on your face and two tablespoons on the rest of your body. Hydrocolloid bandages heal acne by absorbing water from the wound or pimple. They are effective at reducing acne without the subsequent hyperpigmented scarring. Apply the bandage to the pimple, and remove when it is healed. If you have lanced a pimple, the hydrocolloid dressing can prevent scarring. Sometimes you may only need to wear it overnight. Hydrocolloid bandages are widely available. They are sometimes marketed as blister bandages or pimple stickers. If the bandage is too large for the pimple, cut it to size. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, can lighten dark spots and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is also sometimes used to treat acne and rosacea. Vitamin C can be found in serums, moisturizers, patches, and spot treatments. If using a Vitamin C serum, apply after you wash your face and before you apply your moisturizer. If you are using a cream or serum that has niacinamide in it, it may react with the Vitamin C. This will render both ingredients useless, and it may cause your skin to flush red. Wait at least thirty minutes between applying each product. A dermatologist can help diagnose exactly what is causing your dark spots. They can also prescribe powerful topical remedies to reduce the dark spots on your face. Hydroquinone and retinol are common prescriptions meant to reduce hyperpigmentation. Both may dry out your skin, so make sure that you pair them with a good moisturizer. If your dark spots are severe, ask your dermatologist about laser treatments or chemical peels. These are much stronger treatments that, while expensive and harsh, can have dramatic effects.

Summary: Exfoliate your skin. Wear sunscreen. Use hydrocolloid bandages on pimples. Use Vitamin C on your face. Visit the dermatologist.

(If you have no autistic friends, then go find some and come back.) Explain that you think you may be autistic, and that you're wondering if they've observed any signs of autism in you. They may ask you questions to better understand your experiences. Explain that you've been curious about your early childhood, and ask when you met different developmental milestones. It's normal for autistic children to hit their milestones late or out of order. See if they have any videos from your childhood that you could watch. Look for stimming and other signs of autism in children. Consider late childhood and teen milestones too, like learning to swim, ride a bike, cook, clean a bathroom, do laundry, and drive. Explain that when you read it, it reminded you of yourself. Ask if they also see similarities. They may point out things that you didn't realize about yourself. Keep in mind that no one understands what's going on inside your head. They do not see all the adjustments you make to appear more "normal," and thus might not realize that your brain works differently. Some autistic people can make friends and interact with people without anyone realizing that they are autistic. once you feel that you're ready. Consider seeing a specialist to get diagnosed. Many health insurance plans will cover various therapies, such as speech, occupational, and sensory integration therapy. A good therapist can help you improve your skills to best adapt to a neurotypical world.
Summary: Ask your autistic friends about it. Ask your parents or guardians about your developmental milestones. Show a close friend or family memberan article on signs of autism (such as this one). Talk to your family