Minimum gross-out. (Body Q&A).

Yeah, school bathrooms stink (literally) but sometimes there's no other option. There are some precautions you can take, though, to avoid bacteria, dirt and nasty germs. To keep your hands clean, use the paper towels. Paper towels remove bacteria from hands, reducing bacteria by an average of 58 percent. Hand dryers actually increase germs by blowing out additional bacteria from inside the dryer. And, if you come across a paper towel dispenser with a lever, use your elbow instead of your hands--and don't touch the sinks, door handles or toilets after you've dried.

What's the best time of day to exercise? When will I burn the most fat?

Rise and shine! If you want to fuel your metabolism, working out in the morning is the time to do it, according to C.C. Cunningham, a certified personal trainer and spokeswoman for the American Council of Exercise. "Working out in the morning gets you burning calories all day," says C.C. "At night, you go from burning a lot of calories to minimally burning while you are asleep." Not exactly a morning person? Work out when you're most motivated. Burning calories depends more on how much energy you exert than the time of day.

I get really bad hiccups and can't make them stop. What should I do?

Everyone has some wacky method for curing hiccups, but who always has a paper bag or large glass of water handy in the middle of an exam or movie? That's why this acupressure trick is a winner. Hiccups are triggered by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, according to Michael Reed Gach, author of Acupressure's Potent Points. Michael recommends placing your index and middle fingers behind the jawbone, just beneath your earlobe. While breathing deeply, put pressure on the spot for two minutes. Ah, relief.

I have white spots on my nails. What are they from?

There's a name for that! It's leukonychia, and it's totally common. "The spots happen when you accidentally ram your nails against something, says dermatologist Dr. Soren White. To help prevent the spots, keep your nails in top form by moisturizing them nightly with lotion and limiting the amount of nail polish remover or harsh soaps you use. So next time Mom asks you to wash dishes, tell her the harsh detergent is bad for your nails. We're sure she'll buy that!

Ew, I think I have a cold sore! It's ugly--how long will it be there?

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused by a virus. The sores appear most often on or around the mouth and are usually triggered by stress, fatigue, fevers, colds or hormonal changes. Even dental work, like getting your braces worked on, can be the culprit. Typically, a cold sore lasts for eight to 10 days, but some can last up to three weeks. As with all viruses, once contracted there is no cure. But you can use an over-the-counter active zinc oxide product, like Novitra, to cut your healing time and help sores look less icky!

RELATED ARTICLE: FACT or FICTION?

IS IT BAD TO EAT LATE AT NIGHT?

FICTION. It's only bad to eat nosh late at night if that after-supper snack turns into a fourth meal, says C.C. Cunningham. Usually people who snack at night consume more calories than they should, so they gain weight. If you get home late because of after-school activities or whatever, it's totally OK to eat a late dinner.