How To Tell Someone They Need To Get Rid Of Body Hair

Body hair usually starts to increase at the onset of puberty. This is when the body undergoes major physical changes that involve the growing of hair in certain parts of the body.

A mature adult has typically armpit hair, pubic hair, leg, and arm hair, among others. Conventionally, most people nowadays remove their body hair.

But some people still have body hair, and in some cases, they may not even be aware that removing it is a possibility.

So, how do you tell someone they need to get rid of body hair without embarrassing both you and them?

There is no health reason for someone to remove body hair. It is just a modern-day fashion.

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Don’t tell someone

In the majority of cases, it is none of your business if someone else wants to grow their body hair. They have made a decision not to remove it and that is their choice. And, you should respect that choice.

Unless it is affecting them hygienically or medically, then there should be no reason at all that you even attempt to tell them.

Even if it is a medical or hygiene issue, you should just present that as a suggestion rather than telling them to do it. And realistically there are VERY few occasions when hair removal would improve health or hygiene.

Telling Someone Without Embarrassment

Telling someone to shave or remove their body hair isn’t easy. It’s a very private issue and you will need to know this individual on a very personal level.

You need to use logic to convince a person that they need to shave. So, you need to furnish them with information regarding the benefits of removing body hair.

In the vast majority of cases, the only advantage of removing body is that in today’s society, body hair is seen by some as less aesthetically pleasing.

There is really no benefit to removing body hair apart from aesthetic reasons.

Tell Them They’ll Look Better

It’s clear that most people remove body hair because they want to look better. The removal of body hair also helps to make the cleaning process easier.

As a result, dirt and dead cells will easily get eliminated from the skin.

It also means that their skin will easily get nourished by body lotions.

So, you can start by telling them how much better their skin will look.

It Makes Tanning Easier

A shaved body makes tanning much easier. If you want to look cute and well-bronzed, shaving body hair is usually advisable. Advise the person on how lack of body hair means a good tan will be easier. It should be noted that a body that’s covered with hair is significantly more difficult to tan compared to exposed skin.

An advantage of removing body hair is that it exposes more skin to the sun and therefore makes it easier to tan.

Eliminates body odor

It should be noted that hair in certain parts of the body contains secretion glands. Additionally, hair on private parts and underarms help to create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Besides that, the vagina also produces secretions.

The combined effect of all these can lead to a nauseating body odor.

If you tend to perspire a lot, then sweat and hair can result in an unpleasant body smell. So overall, removing hair helps to minimize the chances of bacterial growth and reduces body odor.

However, realistically, if you practice normal hygiene then it shouldn’t make a difference.

The importance of hygiene in your pubic area can not be overstated.

It produces a Smooth and Nice Feeling

Removing body hair, especially by waxing, provides a smooth feeling. This can be pleasant for a partner.

However, a person shouldn’t do it for another individual. You need to tell them that the personal satisfaction they will experience will be great.

It makes it Easier to Wear Certain Outfits

Wearing swimsuits, short dresses, or sleeveless tops becomes a hard task if you have body hair. Naturally, women are conscious of their bodies. But having body hair on legs and armpits can easily draw unwanted attention.

By getting rid of body hair, females can move around feeling confident.

Additionally, this can help to improve sensual experiences.

Improving Facial Profile

Is your friend having a bushy brow line that is making them look clumsy?

You can advise them to get that fixed at a beauty salon.

Tell them how a well-shaped brow zone can help to improve their whole face.

Note: Eyebrow hair removal is a global trend. This is something that has been happening in the beauty industry for decades.

Females from all walks of life normally trim their eyebrows to give them a personalized and neater look.

In some cultures, keeping your eyebrows neatly trimmed is very important both for men and for women.

It Helps to Enhance Feminine Beauty

Females, just like males, can grow body hair in areas such as the chest, breast, neck, legs, hands, and face. While body hair typically grows in these regions in small amounts in women, sometimes it may grow in excess.

If someone has excess body hair in these parts, you can convince them that the removal process can enhance their feminine beauty.

For Modesty Purposes

Research indicates that many people think body hair in women should only be limited to the pubic area. So, any slight display can highlight something different, including sensuality.

Body Hair Removal as a Form of Therapy

Some females don’t shave because of emotional turmoil. Stress and certain medical disorders can make a person neglect themselves. You can recommend the removal of body hair as a form of therapy.

Clean and smooth-textured skin helps to boost confidence. Generally, it can help to enhance the level of personal comfort.

Clean Hands and Legs are Attractive

Men love women with clean and well-shaved body hair. Normally, they consider them more attractive. So, you can tell a person that removing body hair can also get them special attention from men.

Improving the Skin’s Complexion

A lot of people don’t know that shaving can actually help to improve the skin’s complexion. Once you get rid of body hair, there are high chances that your skin will end up looking better.

So, you can convince someone that their skin’s overall health will actually improve and they will end up enjoying a bright and glowing natural complexion.

Reasons Why Some People Don’t Get Rid Of Body Hair

Removing body hair is considered conventionally sophisticated. That’s why modern women want to remove their body hair.

But, before you approach someone, understand that there are many reasons why they may not prioritize body hair removal.

It’s an Activity that takes Effort

To most females, shaving is a chore.

You need to create time and personal space in order to do this. Additionally, there is a strong reason to say that there is no point in doing it because the hair grows back within a couple of weeks.

It’s Painful

Some people fear the discomfort that comes with the removal of body hair.

Shaving, for instance, can result in cuts.

Other techniques can result in skin redness, inflammation, and irritation.

It should be noted that some of these techniques may require the use of a numbing cream or painkiller, e.g. threading. This is because they are extremely painful.

The Process is Time-Consuming

Research studies show that on average, females normally use 72 days to shave in their lifetime. Most females avoid the removal of body hair because the process is time-consuming.

The fast pace of modern life which is characterized by tight work schedules makes it harder for people to create time for themselves.

This means that some people may opt not to shave because there is so much that can be done within that bracket of time.

It’s Expensive

If you are shaving, you need to buy a pack of disposable razors.

This is because you will frequently be shaving.

Waxing and shaving creams are not cheap, either. You might need to use them alongside other essential oils.

Additionally, you need to have a moisturizer for your skin after you have removed the body hair. This is because body hair normally traps moisture which hydrates the skin.

So, once you have removed it, you need to get a good moisturizer to promote hydration. Lastly, some techniques such as laser treatment require expensive equipment and well-trained personnel.

Body Hair is Natural

It should be noted that body hair is natural. Human beings are mammals; hence they need body hair.

For instance, it’s crucial in regulating the body’s temperature. When the body temperature is hot, the hair usually stands to facilitate faster heat dissipation.

The converse of this process is also true.

When temperatures are very low, the hair lies down in order to trap air. This air is a good insulator hence it helps to prevent heat from leaving the body.

Reducing the chances of skin infections

Having body hair makes you less vulnerable to skin infections. For this reason, people with skin sensitivity issues or allergies often avoid removing their body hair.

The irritation, cuts, and redness that may arise from removal may flare up certain skin infections.

Protective Shield

Genital regions need to have pubic hair because it acts as a protective shield. Pubic hair is crucial in preventing access to bacteria and other forms of dirt.

Increased Production of Pheromones

A nice fragrance can be a huge turn-on. But did you know that some people keep their body hair to increase the production of pheromones?

It should be noted that the natural smell of some people can help them attract potential mates.

For instance, pubic hair normally enhances the production of pheromones thanks to their location.

Lower Chances of Skin Irritation

You notice that areas with high amounts of body hair normally have soft skin.

This is because the skin in those parts is sensitive.

So having body hair helps to reduce the chances of friction and irritation.

Additionally, these regions normally have coarser hair. This makes their removal even more difficult because you risk experiencing cuts and ingrown hairs.

Reducing Sweat

Both armpit and pubic hair can help to reduce sweat significantly.

We all want to smell nice throughout the day. But moving from one place to another as well as the external temperature, can lead to high production of sweat.

Body hair sometimes provides an effective and natural way of staying dry.

Sexual Sensation

There are females who find one of the best sexual feelings is getting your body hair stroked. Pubic hair, for instance, contains nerve endings. This means that slighting stroking it can heighten sexual tension and lead to better orgasms.

Breaking Societal Norms

Some females are not concerned with societal norms. Removal of body hair is a trend that these modern women adopt.

There is an expected idea that a woman needs to have a smooth, hair-free body. This is the only agreed form of beauty that everyone should follow.

Well, there are some people who are ready to change this conversation.

They simply want to exist as they are, without following or using societal norms. So, they don’t shave because they don’t want to.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways how to tell someone they need to get rid of body hair. However, it is usually not an easy process. This is because a person’s body belongs to them.

So whatever they choose to grow it, it shouldn’t be your concern. Sometimes, it may be seen as a rude way of intruding into a person’s personal space.

So, before you tell a person to shave their body hair, you need to consider your relationship.

Are you lovers, tight friends, or close relatives?

If so, do you frequently share personal or intimate information?

And if so, how can you tell them they need to get rid of their body hair?

The most important thing to do is to first ask them why they don’t remove their body hair.

It could be for medical reasons, negligence as a result of emotional turmoil, or lack of knowledge.

From there, you can proceed to tell them the benefits of getting rid of body hair.

Thereafter, you can recommend some of the most effective techniques to use. Make sure that you are polite and apologize beforehand for any offense.

Female Body Hair Removal

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Introduction

All healthy human beings have body hair. Whether it’s an infant or an older person, these hairs are spread throughout the body. What causes a difference in their concentration and causes excessive body hair is age and gender. Both girls and boys normally begin to experience a higher level of concentration at the onset of puberty. However, the amount of body hair may decline with age. But is it possible to hide body hair? Is body hair removal an option, and if so, what are some hair removal methods?

Although we will not discuss hair removal methods at length, below is an overview of different types of body hair removal techniques you can use to hide them completely.

Types of Body Hair

They are two (sometimes 3) types of women’s body hair, and they include:

1. Terminal Body Hair

armpit hair — Terminal hair is found in the armpit or in other regions that start growing hair around puberty.

This is a thick and long hair that’s pigmented. Although hair is found on the face and scalp, you can still find terminal hair in the armpits and the pubic region. This type of body hair is sometimes referred to as puberty hair. This is because a change usually influences its growth in hormones that occur at puberty.

Puberty usually ranges between ages 8-15 years. During puberty, the growth of this type of hair is mainly on the pubic region and the armpits. For boys and young men, their facial hair will grow during the later stages of puberty.

2. Vellus Body Hair

This type of hair starts to grow during early childhood. Vellus is a wispy type of hair that normally covers all parts of the body. Its main role is to keep the body warm. But besides that, it helps to protect the skin. The thickness and length of vellus hair will differ from one person to the next.

Some people have visible vellus hair, and you can even see it under natural light. This is particularly the case with facial hair. On others, it won’t be visible because it’s thin and the hair is less pigmented.

It’s possible to confuse vellus and terminal hair. This is because both of them have the same structure. It should be noted that both terminal and vellus hair grow from hair follicles. However, the latter doesn’t contain the medulla – the hair core’s portion which helps to strengthen and enhance its growth.

3. Lanugo Hair

Lanugo Body Hair — Lanugo hair covers a fetus and is fairly unusual in grown adults, although it can be connected to anorexia.

What Is Lanugo

Lanugo is the first type of hair that grows from hair follicles and is usually unpigmented. It is very thin, soft, downy hair. It has some deep resemblance to fur. But this temporary hair is normally replaced by vellus hair before the baby is born.
This type of hair is common in human babies, people who suffer from congenital tumors (aka teratomas), and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Lanugo Baby

This is a unique or special type of hair that normally covers the fetus and newborns.
During the development of a human fetus in the womb, lanugo grows as a natural part of gestation. Its purpose is to hold the vernix to the skin and protect damage to the skin from the amniotic fluid.
Lanugo usually sheds before birth but often remains after birth and falls off later.

Lanugo Anorexia

You can also find lanugo hair in anorexic women.
A tell-tale sign of malnutrition such as anorexia or bulimia is lanugo because lanugo’s function is to protect the skin and body.
This is the same reason why lanugo re-surges in older adults. To protect their skin.

The Distribution of Body Hair

Different parts of the body have different types of body hair. Below is a comprehensive outline that highlights the distribution of body hair. There are many different ways to remove body hair. However, we have tried to concentrate on the best ways to remove body hair from different parts of the body.

Pubic hair:

This is usually coarse hair that’s found in the genital areas. The growth of pubic hair is a sign of sexual maturity, and it occurs in both sexes.

Armpits hair:

It is just like pubic hair because it’s coarse. Armpit hair also signals the start of adulthood. With the release of the safety razor, people now shave their armpits frequently.

Arms hair:

It normally grows on the elbow and forearm area. The type of hair that’s found here is terminal.

Chest and abdomen area:

Both men and women normally grow vellus hair in these regions. It should be noted that women can also grow terminal hair on their breasts around the areola. Men normally have lots of vellus hair around the chest and abdomen compared to women. Note that the concentration of this hair may increase with age.

Facial hair:

It’s more prominent in men, although women also have it. Facial hair may start as non-vellus. Men naturally can grow beards. However, some women may also grow them as a result of menopause. Many women take the option of body hair removal to solve this problem.

Feet and Leg Hair:

They normally start growing at the onset of puberty. However, they are more prominent in men compared to women. It should be noted that most people shave their leg hair because of societal pressure. In today’s world, women with hairy legs are usually frowned at.

Body Hair Growth Pattern

It’s important to know how to hide body hair. However, it’s also crucial to know the growth patterns. This will make the process of hiding them easier. The two main types of body hair that humans have are terminal and vellus hairs. They have the same growth patterns, which normally happen in three phases.

1. Anagen:

During this period, hair growth is at its peak. It’s generally a period of active growth, and the hairs normally grow longer. However, terminal hair usually has a longer anagen period compared to vellus hair.

2. Catagen:

This is a transition phase. Catagen is characterized by the hair follicles retracting. The process means that there will be a limited blood supply, and therefore, it’s very easy for hair to fall out.

3. Telogen:

This is a period where the body’s hair stops growing. It’s a resting phase.

How to Hide Body Hair And Body Hair Removal

It’s possible to forget shaving your legs or any other body part. However, sometimes we intentionally avoid shaving because of demanding schedules or medical issues. So, what if you have not shaved and need to attend a public event? As much as some people may find body hair a turnoff, this doesn’t mean that you should shave. So, how can you effectively hide or completely remove body hair?

1. Makeup Application

The use of makeup foundation can help to hide body hair. Darker foundation can come in handy, especially if you are trying to hide facial hair. It helps to cover thick and darker hair effectively. On the other hand, a lighter foundation means that the body hair will easily stick out, thereby creating a mess.

2. Stockings

If you wish to safely and effectively hide your leg hair, then use stockings or pantyhose. These are light clothing which you can wear with nearly all types of clothes. They are also easily available to find in petrol stores, supermarkets, and other local convenience stores.

3. Fully Cover-Up or Wear Darker Clothes

You can wear shirts with long sleeves and trousers to cover up. Additionally, darker clothing can be efficient in hiding unwanted body hair. Besides that, they help to shade the color of the body hair perfectly. This is because they generally make your skin appear darker.

The Politics of Feminine Body Hair

There is so much pressure for females to look in a certain delicate way. That’s why so many women go through rigorous regimes to look their best. For starters, let’s take a look at the pubes. Unless you are in a bikini, there’s no way someone can get a glimpse of what’s there. But people normally shave their pubes completely. Others even do waxing.

Having clean genitals is definitely very important. But have you ever wondered what some of the benefits of pubes are? Well, having body hair in your private region is for protective purposes. Pubic hair helps to protect the sensitive vagina. This helps to reduce the chances of bacterial infection.

Normal Vs. Abnormal Hair Growth in Women

Naturally, women have vellus and terminal hairs. So, it’s not easy to determine excessive hair growth. It’s a normal thing for a feminine person to have fine hair all over the body. It’s also usual for them to have armpit and pubic hair. Some of them even have hairy legs and faces.

However, some may have abnormal hair in excess. This is usually characterized by thicker and darker hair in regions such as the chest, chin, and stomach. Abnormal hair growth in women involves thick hair growing in many parts of the body. In fact, they may have a pattern of male hair growth.

Interesting Facts about Body Hair

Covering body hair can come in handy, especially if you don’t want to shave. To help you understand more about it, here are some interesting facts:

Body Hair Lasts for a Short Period

Compared to the hair on your head, body hair lasts for a shorter period. Its lifespan is usually around 6 months. Additionally, they only grow a few inches long.

You Shed Them Daily

A normal human being normally sheds between 100 and 150 strands of body hair daily. However, the same hair strands will grow within a day or so. The recycling process happens daily. This body hair removal is natural.

Boob Hair Is Not Something Strange

Today I learned…unporn is actually a thing! But seriously, we have to obey stringent rules of conduct, so this will have to do.

If you are a woman, do not be alarmed because you have hair on your breasts. This is a common thing that almost every woman experiences. Girls in puberty normally grow hair in the region that’s near the areola.

Body Hair Consists of Muscles

It’s interesting to know that body hair also contains muscle cells. In fact, this is what makes them stand on their end.

Technically, there are three types of body hair. Although terminal and vellus hairs are the most common, lanugo is also considered body hair.

The Color of Your Body Hair Can Indicate Genetic Disorders

It is said that women with blonde hair have a higher concentration of estrogen. Additionally, it said that they also higher chances of experiencing learning problems. On the other hand, brunettes are more likely to smoking addicts.

Pubic Hair has a Weird Smell.

Pubic hair is a terminal hair that contains the sebaceous gland. Note that these glands normally produce sweat. Additionally, they produce secretions that protect the private parts from germs, but the secretions also create body odor.

Your Eyelashes Might Have Mites

Demodex are types of mites that are found in eyelashes. A large percentage of people have them, but they are harmless.

Over 50 Percent of People Shave Their Armpits and Pubic Hair Or Use Another Type Of Body Hair Removal

Studies show that most women normally shave their pubes. Additionally, over 50 percent of guys prefer women with no pubes. However, it should be noted that less than 20 percent of guys actually shave their pubic area.

Benefits of Body Hair

Some people don’t want to shave their body hairs. This is why they are clearly interested in finding techniques on how to hide them. Well, if you are going to keep your body hair, here are some of the benefits you can experience.

Regulating of Body Temperature

Regulating Body Temperature Is Very Important

Body hair helps to regulate temperature. When the temperature is low, they will stand up and trap air. This helps to create an insulation surface. As a result, the trapped air prevents warmth from leaving the body. When it’s hot, the converse happens. The hair lies down to ensure that the body releases as much heat as possible.

Improving Your Chances of Getting Orgasms

Having pubic hair can help to improve your chances of getting orgasms significantly. Did you know that each hair follicle has tiny nerve endings at the base? So, slight friction can help increase sexual sensation. This means that shaving actually reduces your chances of experiencing orgasms.

Increased Production of Pheromones

Research studies show that body hair helps to enhance the production of pheromones. These hormone-like chemicals can help to attract the attention of potential sexual partners.

Lower Chances of Skin Infection

Shaving, waxing, threading, and other forms of hair removal increase your chances of getting skin infections. This is because they normally leave the skin exposed and susceptible to bacteria. Additionally, the whole process can cause cuts and skin irritation.

Reduced Chances of Unwanted Rashes

If you engage in intense physical activities, then the chances are that you sweat a lot. But having armpit hair helps to reduce unwanted rashes as well as the chaffing that comes with sweating.

The Bottom Line

Societal pressure means that a lot of people normally shave their body hairs. In fact, several methods can be used for body hair removal. Some have a short-term effect, while others are long-lasting.

Demanding schedules and personal preferences are actually some of the reasons that make people not shave. However, having body hair isn’t bad. In fact, it has a lot of benefits. All you have to do is to ensure that your body is clean. Besides that, you can wear certain clothing or makeup foundation to hide them.

Does Removing Facial Hair Make It Grow Back Thicker?

There is a myth that if you remove facial hair, then it will actually grow back faster and thicker. But is that true?

The answer is no.

The reason for the myth is surprising but also understandable why so many people think that.

Many think that by removing facial hair, it will grow back thicker. But is that actually true?

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But why does this myth continue to flourish?

After shaving or waxing, you may feel that your hair is now thicker, darker, or coarser. However, understand that looks can also be deceiving.

Here is one reason. Instead of carefully observing, it’s evident that most of us resort to our mental feelings. That’s why a lot of people mistakenly believe their hair is thicker after shaving.

The act of cutting or shaving facial hair is what makes it thicker. But it doesn’t grow thicker.

It’s important to understand that the shaft of human hair is shaped like a pencil. So, this means that it’s thicker at the bottom and thinner at the tip. So, when the tip is removed, the thicker base remains.

Note that the base of the hair is near the follicles. So, it’s bound to grow thicker and darker.

Illustration of a hair follicle, showing clearly the difference in thickness between the tip and the root.

This is why you will feel like your hair is thicker after shaving, but it will thin out after a couple of days. Understand that shaving or the removal of unwanted hair does not change the process of hair regrowth.

So, if you have tapered hair, you will get it back after a few days. This is highly evident in shaving and waxing.

Chemicals and Pollutants

Another factor to consider is exposure to chemicals and pollutants. The tip of the hair is usually the closest to the external environment. This means that cleansing products with chemicals and pollutants usually make them thin.

On the other hand, the bottom of the shaft is usually protected. So, hair in this region is bound to receive the least impact of pollutants. Generally, these hairs are well-nourished and thicker.

So, after shaving, you will find thicker and slightly darker hair. But this doesn’t mean that it’s now growing to be thicker.

If this was true, don’t you think that people would have massively thick hair after every shaving phase?

Benefits of Removing Unwanted Facial Hair

Both men and women usually remove unwanted facial hair. Sometimes the dark and thick hair which grows on the face can be annoying or affect your appearance negatively.

So, what are some of the benefits of removing them?

Clearer skin

Shaving and other techniques help to make the skin clearer. Note that too much facial hair makes removing dead skin cells difficult. As a result, it usually leads to debris buildup over time. Because of this, most people end up suffering from skin breakouts.

Help to Nourish the Skin

Topical creams, for instance, help to nourish the skin. They contain antioxidants and vitamins which help to improve the skin’s texture and appearance.

Easier Makeup Application

Removing facial hair makes the process of makeup application easier. If you are using foundation, hair-free skin is usually frictionless. As a result, your makeup will smoothly glide over your skin.

Skin Rejuvenation

Excessive facial hair prevents the underlying skin from getting vitamin D. This is an essential nutrient that the skin needs for healthy development.

It should be noted that too much hair leads to the accumulation of dirt and dead skin cells.

Shaving helps rejuvenate the skin, enhance collagen production, and increase blood flow.

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that shaving or removing facial hair does not cause it to change its thickness. The removal process usually leads to the development of new stubbly tips, which may feel thicker. However, this only lasts for a couple of days.

Several medical research studies have been done to establish the truth. And studies show that hair removal doesn’t cause changes in thickness. Some techniques usually lead to the growth of finer and thinner hair. This is because of the repeated trauma which affects the hair follicles.

Perfect for sensitive skin.

If you want a great way to remove hair all over your body from home, then you should take a look at the Tommy Timmy Smoother Skin:

Menopause and Body Hair

Menopause is a time in a woman’s life where inevitable changes are happening to her body. One of her main superpowers of giving birth to a baby is about to be taken away. And it affects her. It affects her physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and physically. The changes that take place inside her body also manifest themselves outwardly affecting her appearance, including her skin and hair.

When women reach a certain age, they enter their menopause.

It is important for a woman to understand what menopause is and what changes it may bring, so she can face it with confidence: To see it as a new phase in her life that brings new possibilities, new challenges, new opportunities, as well as new blessings. Menopause need not be feared or dreaded, albeit a really difficult phase, but welcomed, as you arm yourself with the knowledge of what it is and where it will take you.

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What is menopause?

Menopause is the season in a woman’s life after she has had her last and final menstruation. There is some subjectivity to it since you can only tell if a monthly period was your last one if you no longer have another after that. However, menopause may be viewed in retrospect as the last monthly period you had in the last 12 months. The interval (12 months) between your last menstruation and the determination of menopause is part of a longer phase usually referred to as perimenopause.

There is the menopause and the perimenopause stages

Perimenopause or transition menopause is an extended phase that begins when a woman is somewhere in her 40s. It extends up until the last two years (including the 12 month interval) before she reaches menopause, usually in her 50s. It’s a long season when your body starts to slow down, particularly in its reproductive capacity. However, in the last year or two of perimenopause, you may begin to experience the outward changes associated with menopause with more consistency. The most significant being your long period of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).

What happens inside your body during menopause.

A woman’s body slows down somewhere in her 40s. During this period her ovaries begin to produce estrogen in an irregular manner, particularly in terms of its frequency and intensity. This means either your monthly periods become fewer and far between or they vary in the strength and the amount of shedding (menstruation).

The role of estrogen and progesterone in the reproductive cycle.

Estrogen is the female hormone largely responsible for your ovary’s releasing of an egg cell during ovulation. Progesterone, another female hormone, follows suit and prepares the uterine lining for possible egg fertilization and pregnancy. During this stage, when the lining of the uterine wall thickens, estrogen levels are low. This prevents eggs from being untimely produced and released by your ovaries.

When fertilization occurs, progesterone will continue to support the maintenance of the uterine wall as well as the development of the placenta; progesterone preserves the integrity of the uterine lining and prevents shedding during pregnancy. Estrogen, on the other hand, stimulates growth in the breasts and stimulates milk production in preparation for child birth and breast feeding.

Progesterone prepares the uterine lining for possible egg fertilization and pregnancy.

When no fertilization occurs, progesterone level drops and the lining of the uterine wall and the blood break down and are shed. This is the start of menstruation. At this point, the woman’s ovaries are gearing up (anew) for the next cycle of ovulation. At the proper time, estrogen levels will once again peak signalling the ovaries to release an egg. This, basically, is the normal reproductive cycle of a woman.

This is how crucial the balance between estrogen and progesterone is in a woman’s reproductive cycle. Estrogen largely dominates the first half of a woman’s reproductive cycle; while progesterone does the latter, in non-pregnant women. Generally speaking. Many serious health issues result when an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels prevails. But during menopause, estrogen production significantly drops. This drop in estrogen not only affects your reproductive cycle, but other functions as well.

Estrogen is also responsible for the maintenance and support of other body functions, including:

1) Female phenotype structure. This distinguishes a woman from a man in stature and physical development. A woman’s bones are generally smaller and shorter than a man’s. A woman’s body normally has wider hips and thighs. Also, the voice box develops narrower to produce a distinctly female voice. Girls develop mature female breasts. This is largely due to the predominance of estrogen.

2) Fat storage. Estrogen controls and coordinates where women are most likely to store their fats. This is why a woman’s hips grow wider than a man’s.

3) Skin condition. During menstruation, when a woman’s estrogen level is low, the dermis (middle layer of the skin) becomes thinner. Also, estrogen is known to suppress sebum production (oil secretions), which makes a woman’s skin less oily than a man’s. This is the reason it is less likely for females to develop acne.

4) Hair quality. Women have finer hair than men, and the hair on their heads are more permanent than in men.

5) Also, generally, estrogen helps maintain brain function, bone strength, energy balance, and heart health.

Increase in androgen in menopause.

The significant drop in estrogen production during menopause also seriously affects these bodily functions. This drop in estrogen is responsible for many of the symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain. It also accounts for the proportional increase of androgen levels in the bloodstream. Androgen is often referred to as the male hormone. Women may not be aware, but their ovaries also produce androgen.

Sex drive and libido.

The science behind the relationship in the decrease in estrogen and increase (in proportion) of androgen is a bit confusing and a little tricky. Some say that if this is the case, i.e. that there is proportional increase in androgen during menopause, why is it that a woman’s sex drive or libido diminishes? Isn’t androgen (e.g. testosterone) responsible for strong sex drive and libido? But general observation abounds that during menopause, there is a decrease in the sex drive and libido of women. This much is clear: menopause diminishes a woman’s libido and desire for sex.

Older people still make love and have sex. However the libido does reduce with age.

One of the reasons, it is suspected, has nothing to do with the interaction of estrogen and androgen; but has everything to do with the cessation of progesterone production in menopause. One of the roles of progesterone, it is believed, is to promote sexual desire in women. Also, it is believed that progesterone is actively involved in the sexual fulfillment of men. But another reason associated with the lack of sexual desire in women is the thinning and dryness of the vaginal walls associated with menopause; which makes sexual contact uncomfortable. This directly relates to the significant decrease of estrogen, since estrogen is largely responsible for keeping the vaginal walls thick, lubricated, and elastic.

Menopause and body hair.

The significant decrease in the production of estrogen is also seen outwardly in the loss of hair. This is because estrogen is responsible for hair growth, and hair follicle maintenance.

1) The hair on your head.

You may have observed your hair thinning out or falling as you take a bath or comb your hair. Also, you may have noticed more of your scalp showing as you look in the mirror. In some instances, women have experienced localized baldness beginning to set in near the hairline or at the top. There are two causes why your hair thins out all over.

One is that, estrogen deficiency causes a weakening of your hair follicles. It is estrogen that stimulates the nourishment and growth of your hair follicles. When this fails, your hair follicles weaken and eventually some of them die, causing hair loss. Another reason is: when estrogen level drops, androgen can still stimulate new hair growth; but the hair quality is inferior, not as thick and strong as the female phenotype hair, and easily falls off.

The proportional increase of androgen is also largely responsible for the occurrence of localized baldness in some menopausal women. Androgen dominance is something women share with men who experience baldness beginning near their hairline or on the crown of their head towards their temples. In many cases, this is also associated with terminal hair growth in menopausal women.

2) Armpit and pubic hair.

Armpit and pubic hair is another area affected (positive?) by the drop in estrogen. Armpit and pubic hair is strictly regulated. Their growth is controlled, in that their length has limits. But during menopause, some women’s armpit hair have completely vanished. The shave (wax) and regrow cycle has all but completely stopped. The absence of armpit hair you experience is similar to your pre-puberty days. On the other hand, it is common experience for menopausal women for the strands of their pubic hair to become thinner and more diffuse or sparse; though majority would have nothing left completely in more elderly (post-menopausal) years.

3) Body hair.

Body hair is less obvious in women, generally, than in other parts where terminal hair grow more distinctly, e.g., armpits and pubis. The loss and thinning out of body hair seems to be a result of ageing in general than it is of estrogen deficiency in particular; although both are the main contributory factors. As the body grows older, there is poorer circulation of blood and nutrients around the skin.

Androgen and masculine hair growth.

If you have observed masculine hair growth in certain parts of your body (viz. your face) during menopause, it’s most probably caused by the proportional increase of your androgen levels. You may have observed it under your chin, or you may have noticed you’ve grown a thin mustache, or some sideburns. Androgen are the main cause why men grow mustaches and have goatees; and why some men have sideburns and all.

Now that your estrogen levels are low, your androgen are showing signs in places where they are welcome. As nature has it, you were made to (also) receive androgen influence in those areas; but were prevented to because of the dominance (before) of your estrogen. But now that your estrogen has become latent and largely inactive, the androgen your ovary produces are exerting their influence.

Recommended treatment for menopause and body hair loss.

If any of this — hair loss and masculine hair growth — begin to bother you; you should talk to your health care provider or doctor. They should have a better understanding of the science behind menopause and body hair loss and masculine hair growth. They would be more qualified to recommend remedies or treatments to help you overcome specific issues. Also, they should be able to rule out other probable causes of body hair loss and hair growth not related to menopause.

1) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often recommended, but caution is advised in this course of action for its side effects, e.g. swelling of breasts, headaches, nausea, and vaginal bleeding. HRT is usually a combination of estrogen and progestin, and is designed to supply the hormonal balance to alleviate the symptoms of menopause and body hair loss. ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) on the other hand, is HRT that consists only of estrogen. Estrogen stimulates hair growth.

2) Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment. In PRP, blood is taken from your scalp and injected in areas where there is an absence of hair growth. The plasma that contains the growth factor in your blood is used to stimulate hair growth.

Have a positive outlook.

The outward changes often associated with menopause can have a psychological impact on women. Understanding the changes that happen inside your body should help you face the difficulties and challenges with confidence. Also, many of the inner struggles women face during menopause can be overcome with a positive outlook in life.

Live a healthy lifestyle.

Eat a balanced diet. Whatever diet plan you follow, choose health promoting foods.

Exercise regularly. This helps your blood circulate and your joints flexible.

Get enough sleep. Stop worrying too much, if you do. It doesn’t help.

Laugh. Go out with friends. No matter how old you are, you’re never old enough to laugh.

Travel. Travel while you still have strength in your bones. Seeing new places is refreshing and good for your soul.

Play with your grandchildren. They add a dimension of youth to you, and give a spark of daily happiness.

Believe. Have faith and live your life to the full.

Menopause has its difficulties and challenges. That’s why understanding how it works is important, because it frees you from fear of facing it. Embrace it. Menopause need not hinder you from living a rich and meaningful life.

Menopause And Hair Loss

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Hair Loss During Menopause

Menopausal hair thinning is a common condition that most women suffer from as they enter the perimenopausal and menopause stages. Hormonal changes, weak immune system, hereditary factors, and nutritional changes are some of the things that can trigger hair loss. Although this condition is usually considered to be subtle in women (unlike men who normally have bald spots), its effects are typically distressing when it becomes worse.

Below is an overview of hair thinning in menopausal women, its effects, treatment options, and also management techniques.

The Menopause

When women hit their mid-40s, they start experiencing biological changes as their bodies evolve in anticipation of menopause. However, apart from actually reaching that age, external factors can also cause hair thinning and loss.

Causes Of Hair Loss

Hormones

Hormones are the primary cause of thin hair and sometimes hair loss in menopausal women. It should be noted that estrogen is required for the healthy development of thick hair. For instance, during pregnancy, women tend to have high levels of female hormones. During this period, women normally have fuller, thicker, and healthier hair.

But what happens exactly during menopause?

During this phase, the level of estrogen in the body starts to decline. On the other hand, the production of androgens, i.e. the male hormones, begin to increase. The compounding effect of this hormonal change is that hair follicles start to produce thinner hairs.

It should be noted that genetics also plays a crucial role in determining the strength of your hair. So, the combination of genetics with low levels of estrogen will lead to the development of progressively thinner and weaker hair follicles.

Hormonal change is the main culprit of thinning hair during menopause.

Thyroid disease:

Both menopause and thyroid disorders share the same symptoms. It is also worth noting that women who are at the menopausal age are more likely to develop thyroid disorders, i.e., hyperthyroidism. A prolonged and severe state of hypothyroidism can make your hair thinner and even lead to hair loss.

Nutritional changes:

The human body contains estrogen receptors, which are found in the hypothalamus gland. These receptors are responsible for controlling the way that the body uses its energy. They are also crucial in determining the rate of metabolism and hunger pangs. Once a woman reaches menopause, the level of estrogen rapidly declines. This has a direct impact on the way the estrogen receptors in the brain function. Overall, the resulting effect is that a female is highly likely to change their diet. They may be attracted to fast foods that are highly processed and sugary. These foods usually lack the essential nutrients and as a result, cause iron deficiency. The low iron content in the body is what sometimes causes thinning hair.

Illnesses:

The low levels of progesterone during menopause can trigger several illnesses. During this stage, a woman’s immune system is usually weak, and they are at a high risk of contracting infections. Menopause brings typically the onset of autoimmune disorders, which may damage the hair follicles and cause hair to thin or fall out. For instance, Lupus, Crohn’s disease, alopecia, and psoriasis are some of the autoimmune diseases that may cause hair thinning and sometimes hair loss.

Stress:

Besides illnesses, chronic stress is another condition that’s also common at this point. Due to other factors, people at this age tend to become more stressed. Clinically, there is a direct link between stress and hair thinning. High levels of stress in the body usually causes hormonal changes. The resulting impact of this is often visible through the hair in the form of thinning, and sometimes hair falling out.

Effects of Hair Thinning

The effects of hair thinning and hair loss during menopause can be devastating. Many women end up suffering from low self-esteem. According to physicians, society typically attributes healthy and thick hair to beauty and youth. To many women, having healthy hair makes them feel beautiful, and losing it can do the opposite.

It should be noted that psychological studies associate thinning hair to anxiety and depression. Furthermore, it can result in social withdrawal. But it doesn’t matter if your hair loss is caused by hormonal changes, diet, or an underlying medical condition. It’s still possible to restore hair thinning in menopausal women.

How to Treat Hair Loss And Hair Thinning

Menopausal women treat their thinning hair. Some of the effective treatment options include:

Using Hair Thinning Shampoos

Some shampoos can help to increase hair volume, making it thicker. These shampoos contain amino acids and vitamins which nourish the scalp and enhance the generation of healthier hair. To achieve the best results, use the strengthening shampoo every day.

Folic Acid Supplements

These supplements contain B-vitamins, which are vital for the generation of new cells. When dealing with hair thinning, folic acid supplements help the hair follicles to generate new hair effectively. However, there is a need for more research to determine the effectiveness of B-vitamins and hair thickening.

Minoxidil

It’s also known as Rogaine. This is an FDA-approved hair thinning and hair loss treatment that’s sold over-the-counter. Minoxidil enhances the thickening of thin hair. For better results, it should be applied on the scalp every day. If you are going to use minoxidil, you need to take it for almost 4 months to get tangible results. Additionally, you can use it in the form of foam or liquid.

Note: Minoxidil should be used consistently every day, or you may fail to see tangible results. Additionally, it may have adverse effects on some people. They include unwanted hair growth in areas such as the neck region and face. Furthermore, scalp irritation is a common side effect.

Home-based Laser Therapy

Previously, the FDA approved the use of laser therapy by dermatologists only. However, you can now use it at home. Home-based laser therapy designed for hair helps to enhance the development of new cells. As a result, it promotes the regrowth of thick healthier hair. But just like minoxidil, it may take several months before you get any positive results.

Note: As much as home-baser laser hair therapy is good, it’s actually costly. The equipment used in this process usually costs hundreds of dollars. This is obviously a significant investment, and you need first to consider other options.

Spironolactone

It’s also known as Aldactone. This is a prescription drug that’s normally prescribed to people, including menopausal women, suffering from hair thinning caused by androgen production. Spironolactone is considered a “water pill” and its also an anti-androgen.

It’s one of the better remedies for thinning hair in women who have reached menopause. This is because it helps to regulate hormonal fluctuations in this phase. However, the doctor needs to carry out blood tests before prescribing this drug.

Biotin

Biotin is also known as vitamin-B7. Biotin is a nutrient that’s considered water-soluble, and you can find it in various foods. As a solution for hair thinning and loss, it’s recommended that the affected person uses a biotin supplement. It promotes the breakdown of enzymes and can, therefore, lead to the development of thick hair.

Note: Biotin contains vitamin B7; hence, it shouldn’t be used together with Vitamin B5 supplements. This is because the combination of these vitamins typically reduces the effectiveness of one another.

Essential Oils

These are natural but highly effective liquids which are obtained from specific plants. They are commonly used in alternative medicine, including aromatherapy. One of the best types of essential oils for hair thinning is lavender oil. Evidence suggests that it can effectively minimize balding spots. When lavender oil is combined with thyme or rosemary, it often leads to the growth of thicker and healthier hair.

Fatty Acids

Fatty acids include omega-3 and -6. Fatty acids are also referred to as essential fatty acids because they can’t be produced naturally by the body. They are useful in facilitating the growth of thicker hair. It should be noted that omega-3 fatty acids help to fight inflammation. So, if your hair thinning is a result of an underlying medical condition, then this essential fatty acid can help to improve your condition. Omega-6-fatty acids, on the other hand, help to improve the skin’s health. Therefore, it can help to improve the scalp’s health and lead to the growth of thicker hair.

Corticosteroids

Just like omega-3 fatty acids, Corticosteroids help to fight underlying inflammation. The prescription drug can help to treat hair thinning thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps to improve the quality of your hair. Additionally, it makes it thicker and more pronounced on the head. Generally, hormone replacement is a form of therapy that helps to reduce the negative effects of menopause. It helps to increase the level of female hormones in the body and restore it to normal levels.

Note: Women can only undergo estrogen hormone replacement therapy if they have removed their uterus. This is because this medical procedure increases the risk of uterine cancer, and doctors won’t allow patients to use it due to safety issues.

Other Management Techniques

Transitioning to menopause is not easy. The body comes with a lot of physical changes. Besides that, there are a lot of emotional effects that occur. All these experiences can leave you feeling depressed with low self-esteem. Apart from the remedies mentioned above, some of the management techniques that you can use to prevent hair loss during menopause include:

Exercising

Exercising is not directly related to hair thinning, but it can be beneficial. Engaging in physical activities can help to improve your general health. Remember that stress and diseases usually peak during this phase.

Furthermore, they are among the major causes of hair thinning. But by exercising, you can minimize the severity of stress and reduce your chances of getting inflammatory diseases. This way, you will end up protecting your hair indirectly.

Avoid Stress

As stated above, menopausal women are at a high risk of developing chronic stress. The psychological effect of menopause is usually draining. However, stress causes typically adverse health effects, including hair thinning. It creates a decline in estrogen production, which generally leads to hair thinning or hair loss.

So, it’s essential to avoid stress. Engage in stress-reducing activities that can help to calm your body and relax your mind. They include yoga, meditation, tai chi, and Pilates, among others.

Drink Adequate Water

The effects of menopause also include physical appearance. Apart from skin changes, most women end up with hair loss/thinning. To reduce its impact, it’s important to drink adequate water daily. Ensure that you drink at least 8 glasses of water. It helps to flush out toxins in the body, which leads to inflammation.

Watch Your Diet

When a woman is in menopause, their diet matters. Their physical and emotional well-being requires that they attend to their nutritional needs. A significant percentage of their daily diet should be composed of fruits and vegetables.

Additionally, calcium-rich foods such as milk and yogurt are important for the development of bones. On the other hand, iron-rich foods like eggs, fish, and red meat supply the body with fiber. It’s important to avoid spicy food. Furthermore, cut your alcohol intake and ensure that you avoid caffeinated drinks.

Scalp Massage

This is a cheap management technique that’s readily available. Scalp massage enhances the development of thicker and healthier hair. You can do this when you wash your hair. Simply apply a gentle pressure on your scalp using your fingertips. Scalp massage enhances the flow of blood and also removes dead skin cells, which may hinder healthy hair growth.

Conclusion

According to research studies, more than 50 percent of women in menopause normally experience hair loss and thinning. This is a common condition that affects a large part of the population. Although hormonal change is usually considered as the main culprit, there are still other factors that can cause hair thinning.

Therefore, it’s important to consult a trichologist to determine the cause of hair thinning. Apart from prescription drugs, you can also use OTC medications. Furthermore, there are also home-based management techniques that can help nourish your hair. If you are a woman in menopause experiencing this condition, remember that you’re not alone. Also, don’t forget that it IS possible to grow your hair back thicker and healthier.

How You Can Safely Cut Off Skin Tags With Scissors

Cutaneous skin tags are small, entirely benign pieces or sacs of skin that can appear pretty much anywhere on the body but are most common in high friction areas. They are flesh-colored, painless, and very common though many people find them irritating or unattractive.

Despite their common nature, we know very little about skin tags other than the fact that they are of cosmetic concern to many people who develop them.

Over-the-counter remedies and medical treatments for skin tag removal have become increasingly popular over the last few decades.

Many people choose to cut off skin tags with scissors or a scalpel at home. So, should you be cutting off skin tags with scissors?

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Are there special skin tag removal scissors?

Picture of scissors — You should be aware of several warnings before cutting off your skin tags with scissors, especially if you are using skin tag removal scissors.

There isn’t necessarily a need to remove skin tags, whether you undertake a costly medical removal procedure or do it at home. After all, skin tags, also known as acrochordon, pose no risk to your health and well-being. The exception to this rule is in cases of infection or suspected melanoma.

When to Worry About Your Skin Tags

You will seldomly need to worry about skin tags as they are almost always harmless. However, skin tags can become infected if the skin tears after being caught on clothing or jewelry. If your skin tags become red, swollen, sore, or weep cloudy liquid, it would be best for you to see your doctor.

There is also a chance that a skin tag could be an epidermoid cyst, in which case you should see a doctor rather than trying to remove it at home. Epidermoid cysts also tend to be benign and are located under the skin rather than hanging onto it by a thin strip of flesh.

Attempting to remove or lance an epidermoid cyst at home can cause infection and severe scarring. Using scissors, in this case, is probably not such a great idea.

woman with a cyst — Before cutting off a skin tag, be sure that you are not cutting off a cyst.

Difference Between Skin Tags And Cysts

You can tell the difference between a skin tag and an epidermoid cyst in a few ways. A skin tag will be soft and attached to the skin, whereas an epidermoid cyst is a hard lump under the skin. Skin tags also tend to appear in high friction areas like the armpits and neck, whereas cysts are most likely to form on the face and neck. Finally, you should be able to grip and gently pull a skin tag away from the skin to show the thin strip of flesh, which attaches it to the rest of the skin.

Unlike skin tags, a raised mole or freckle should not be removed at home without consulting a medical professional. While they may resemble large skin tags, they will bleed and scar heavily if cut from the body. They can also cause intense pain.

Should You Cut Off Skin Tags With Scissors?

You have three options when it comes to skin tag removal.

Firstly, you can go to your doctor or a clinic to have your skin tags removed professionally for a fee. They will numb and sterilize the area and then snip them off for you. This is the safest and most efficient invasive method.

Secondly, there are over-the-counter treatments designed to remove skin tags chemically. These will freeze or otherwise shrink the tag over time and present the lowest risk of infection, though they take more time than cutting.

Thirdly, you can remove the skin tags at home with scissors or a scalpel. This may be more painful than a professional removal and is invasive, unlike chemical at-home treatments.

Picture of a scalpel — Instead of using scissors, you may want to use a surgical scalpel.

Many people opt to remove small skin tags at home, either with an over-the-counter treatment or by snipping them off with skin tag scissors because it’s relatively easy and safe.

Cutting skin tags off at home is not ideal, and there are some risks.

The Risks of Removing Skin Tags Yourself

The most medically pressing risk of a home removal, so long as you are sure it’s a skin tag, is the chance of infection. If you get an infection following a home removal, you are far more likely to have a lasting scar, even if it’s a minor infection. More than this, you are likely to need medical intervention if your home removal ends in infection.

There is also the small chance that a skin tag may be something more serious. Acrochordon is generally harmless, but it can look similar to some types of melanoma. Do not seek to cut away skin tags unless you are sure that’s what they are, and if you have recurring tags on the same spot, make sure to raise this with your doctor.

So, should you cut off skin tags with scissors? The truth is that this is the wrong question to ask. The right question is how skin tags can be cut away safely at home.

Tools for Safely Removing Skin Tags at Home

If you’re going to remove your skin tags at home, you should prepare thoroughly to ensure you remove them safely and efficiently. Firstly, you will need sterile surgical gloves, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, and a sharp pair of scissors or a razor blade. If you’re using scissors, a pair of cuticle scissors or sharp hairdressing scissors would be best as thick kitchen scissors may trap additional skin. You can also use special skin tag removal scissors.

You want to cut the skin tag at its thinnest point, which should be closest to the rest of your skin. Any damage to the surrounding skin increases the risk of infection and scarring.

Instead of getting a skin infection, you want to make sure that you correctly remove your skin tag.

It would be best to have sterile cotton pads, antiseptic cream, and a bandaid to hand for after the removal. If the tag has a wide stem, you might find it bleeds a little and requires a dressing. Plus, it’s always a good idea to have these items to hand during such procedures if there’s an accident.

How to Safely Remove Skin Tags with Scissors

Once you have your tools laid out before you, you can begin removing your skin tags.

Here’s how you can remove your skin tags safely;

1. Check that your scissors or razor blade is sharp enough. A dull blade will not provide a clean cut, and this will increase the chances of infection. A new razor blade, scalpel, or set of cuticle scissors is the best option, but sharpening your tools is a good second.

2. Numb the area thoroughly with ice. Removing skin tags isn’t very painful, but numbing the area will make the process more comfortable and allow you to focus.

3. Sterilize the blade thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer before beginning.

4. Sterilize the skin tag and the area around it with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and put on disposable gloves.

5. Pull the tip of the skin tag to expose the stem and carefully cut it from your body with a razor or scissors. Be careful not to nick the healthy skin. If you do, treat the wound quickly and only remove the tag after it has healed.

6. Get rid of the tag and stop any bleeding. Also, put antiseptic cream on the wound. If the wound has bled, you will need a bandaid, but if it doesn’t, you can leave it to dry in the air.

The cut should heal within a few days and leave no noticeable scar so long as you do not pick at the scab or otherwise tamper with the wound as it heals.

Is Cutting With Scissors the Best Way to Remove Skin Tags?

If you make sure that you’re using sharp implements and sterilize them well, cutting off skin tags yourself can be a very effective removal method. This is undoubtedly the case for small tags, though larger tags can bleed and become infected more easily.

If you have large skin tags, if you have many skin tags, or if you’re not sure that they are skin tags, then it may be best to consider the other options open to you.

If you have concerns about just what the tags are, your first port of call should be with a local doctor who can assess them accurately. Skin tags are almost always benign, but some more serious conditions present themselves in the same way, so it never hurts to check it out.

If you are worried about your ability to get sharp tools or you’re concerned, you might be unable to sanitize them thoroughly (or even if you’re concerned about the pain), there are other ways.

You can always use pharmaceutical remedies that are less prone to cause infection.

These methods remove the tags without breaking the skin, which means that it takes longer, but it is also safer (in fact, it’s the most reliable way to do it without seeing a doctor). However, the downside to this is that it takes longer to remove the tags, and you will have to be very careful not to get the chemical mix on any healthy skin.

Will There Be Scarring?

When you’re cutting skin, there is always a chance that a scar will form, but if you’re using sharp tools on a small tag and the wound does not get infected, any scar is likely to be small. Nonetheless, those who remove skin tags at home are the most likely to be left with a scar. Those who use chemical removal methods or who visit a doctor seldom have noticeable scars.

Many people are unwilling to risk cutting off skin tags in noticeable places such as the neck or shoulders due to the possibility of scarring. Furthermore, if you find skin tags on susceptible areas such as the face, eyelids, or genitals, you should always have them removed by a doctor.

Be careful of any scarring on your skin.

The most dangerous part of removing skin tags at home with scissors is, unsurprisingly, the fact that you run the risk of cutting healthy skin. If you do cut yourself, it is imperative that you immediately assess the wound. If the cut is clean and shallow, you should clean and dress it, letting it heal before attempting to remove the tag again. If the cut is deep or ragged, you should consult a doctor to avoid infection and scarring.

However, if you are careful, there is no reason you can’t remove skin tags safely at home. Remember that removing tags does not prevent them from forming again or forming on other parts of the body. Finally, never attempt to remove moles or cysts with a razor as you will cause bleeding, scarring, and potentially serious infection. A doctor should always undertake the removal of such things.

Summary:

1. Cutaneous skin tags, or acrochordon, are benign, fleshy growths that form most commonly on high friction areas of the body and are mostly removed for cosmetic reasons.

2. A doctor should assess skin tags if they become inflamed, swollen, painful, or seep pus.

3. Epidermoid cysts can be distinguished from skin tags by their texture and place under the skin; such cysts should not be cut or lanced at home.

4. Skin tag removal can be done at home with scissors or over-the-counter remedies or in a clinic by a medical professional.

5. Infection is a real risk of skin tags are poorly removed.

6. When cutting away skin tags at home, sharp scissors or blades are needed, and sterilization is necessary.

7. The tag area should be numbed and sterilized before cutting; pulling the skin tag away from the body allows for a clean cut.

8. If the wound bleeds, it is necessary to cover it with a band-aid after applying antiseptic cream.

9. Home removal with a blade is not the most recommended treatment method, especially if you doubt whether the growth is actually a skin tag.

10. Scarring is always a risk but can be minimized by a clean and efficient removal; larger tags are more likely to scar on removal than small ones.

How Long Does It Take For Laser Hair Removal To Work?

If you are trying to decide whether to do laser hair removal at home, then you are advised to know what the treatment consists of how long it will take to work. This will help you to plan your laser hair removal session. Please do note, though, that not everyone responds to treatment in the same way.

There are specific guidelines and general indications of an approximate duration of the process, which we will cover in this article.

What happens after a laser session?

Usually, hair loss occurs between one and three weeks after the depilatory session rather than happen immediately after the procedure.

The reappearance of hair is what can be confusing for many people, but this is perfectly normal, and this isn’t an indication that the laser was not effective. On the contrary, it means that your hair follicles are expelling the remaining hair so that it will disappear for good. The process can be accelerated by gently exfoliating the treated area. Still, it’s very important to be careful, since the skin will be irritated due to the effects of the laser.

After a month and a half, hair starts growing again. So it’s at this time when your next laser hair removal session can be performed.

Black Dots

After laser treatment, black spots may also appear in the area where the laser was applied. These are the remains of burned hair, and this doesn’t indicate any complications.

With proper hygiene and gentle exfoliation, the remains can be removed. Remember that when shaving after laser hair removal, you shouldn’t tear your hair off because in that follicle, a hair root will grow again, and it’ll have to be removed later. So don’t use wax or tweezers to remove blackheads; shaving will do the job.

It’s important to keep your skin hydrated between sessions. Protect it from the sun and avoid skin-irritating products. This will minimize risks.

How much time is needed to get rid of the hair completely?

The most accurate answer is: it depends. The total time needed to remove hair from an area depends, to a large extent, on the quality and quantity of the hair.

Another variable to consider here is the part of the body from where your hair is going to be removed. For example, the face is always a place where it’ll be more challenging to get rid of hair completely since it’s a part of the body with high hormonal activity.

An average amount of time needed could be around a year, or a year and a half, for you to see permanent hair removal.

It’s often recommended to patients to get checked by their specialist at least once a year because follicles are continually being stimulated, and new hair could appear over time.

7 Foods You Can Eat For Thinner Body Hair

Do you find that your body hair grows thicker than you want? Or maybe it sprouts up in embarrassing places? Unwanted body hair is a common problem that no one wants to experience. It can happen on areas like legs, arms, and armpits, or in more visible areas like your face and back. Finding an effective way to thin out undesirably thick hairs is difficult, especially if you don’t want to remove them entirely. But, there are many foods you can eat aid in thinning unruly body hair.

Hirsutism is the word that describes excessive hair growth. Several things including hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, menopause, and polycystic ovary syndrome, exacerbate this problem. Diet also plays a massive part in excessive hair growth, and eating certain foods will naturally thin your overly thick body hair.

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How exactly does your diet affect hair growth?

There are many ways that food influences how much hair your body grows. Firstly, overeating will make you gain weight, and being overweight is a contributing factor to an increase in your androgens and testosterone production. These two hormones directly link to an increase in the way your hair grows. A diet too high in carbs and sugars makes it likely that you may develop insulin resistance. To lessen the chance of developing hirsutism, eat fewer sugars and white flour.

Foods You Can Eat For Thinner Body Hair.

1. Green Tea:

Green tea is an extremely healthy drink that you should try to consume daily. Numerous research studies suggest that polyphenols from green tea lessen the presence of a hormone linked to thicker body hair. If you add lemon to your drink, it will up the EGCG that your body absorbs, making it even more useful.

2. Lettuce:

Leafy lettuce is a helpful food for thinning overly thick body fuzz. Salad has much chromium, a mineral that regulates blood sugar and lessens the amount of insulin your body produces. Lettuce is also a smart weight-loss food, which means you should be eating more of it every day. Greens like lettuce are high in magnesium, which is proven effective at thinning excessive body hair.

You should try eating a fresh salad for lunch or as a side with dinner. Doing this will be beneficial for your health in general and will help you to shed any unwanted body hair. Adding a salad to meals is also an excellent way to fill up without gaining any weight.

It is important to watch what kinds of dressing you opt for because some are high in calories. Balsamic vinegar makes a great topping and has practically no fat when you compare it with other varieties of store-bought dressings. Or, you can always choose a low-fat option to compliment the weight-losing benefits of eating greens.

3. Apricots:

Apricots are full of healthy B complex vitamins. You get plenty of Vitamins B3, B5, and B6 from eating just one apricot per day, which is why you should consume one every chance you get. These three vitamins combined promote weight loss and reduce hair growth in unwanted places like the face and back. B vitamins also help to balance out your hormones, which will thin your body hair even more.

4. Barley:

Whole grains like barley are incredibly beneficial to your overall health. Barley has a minimal GI ranking, which means it doesn’t play havoc with your blood sugars. Barley is the perfect carb for increasing energy that won’t cause your sugar levels to fly all over the board. Eating cereal or bread high in the grain is healthier than eating foods like white bread, which has the wrong kind of carbs.

White bread and other sugary foods have lots of simple carbs. These are the kind you want to avoid because they break down and turn to sugar very quickly once you consume them. Complex carbs like barley take longer for your body to breakdown after you’ve eaten them. The results are more energy and less sugar in your system.

5. Chicken

Skinless chicken breasts are healthy, protein-rich food. You can eat chicken breasts all day long and still lose weight, making it an excellent choice for hirsutism. Chicken breasts are also abundant in Vitamins B3 to B6, which both combat excessive hair. Try having chicken breasts for dinner with a side of spinach for a super-powered, hair-fighting entree.

6. Tuna

If you’re battling with excessive hairiness, try adding a little tuna to your diet. Tuna is a low-fat choice that offers carb-free protein. This means you can eat lots of it without weight gain. Fish is also high in B vitamins that lessen hair growth in unwanted places. Just be sure that you aren’t overeating the tuna because it contains mercury and other kinds of metals.

7. Spinach

Leafy green foods like spinach and lettuce contain healthy magnesium, though spinach is vibrant with 20% of your DV for every 100 grams. Many research studies suggest a link between magnesium deficiency with insulin resistance. So, not eating enough magnesium-rich foods could easily cause you to have unusually thick body hair. By increasing your spinach intake, it will combat the fuzz growing on your body.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the information on this page will help you in achieving your desired results and thin out any unwanted body hair.

It’s important to remember that eating a healthy diet filled with vitamins and minerals will help you to live a happy life. The proverb, “you are what you eat,” couldn’t be any more accurate!

Be sure to get lots of B vitamins from the foods you consume and try to avoid sugar and high-carb dishes. Junk food is the worst thing for your body and promotes unwanted hair growth in places like your face, back, and body.

With the right diet, you will notice incredible results and feel more confident once your body hair has toned down. It’s tough dealing with excessive hair, especially for women.

Get Rid Of Facial Age Spots

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Are Age Spots Bringing You Down?

In this way, we will go over a few different ways to conceal your facial age spots and prevent further skin damage. As your skin ages, you will notice more age spots that are also called liver spots and brown spots. They are mainly due to prolonged sun exposure. The spots are made of a cluster of melanin cells. Age spots look like enlarged freckles on the skin. Every time that you are in the sun without a sunscreen, you increase your chances of developing more age spots in the future.

The Affect Of Hormones On Age Spots

Later in a pregnancy women may notice a condition called Melasma. The Melasma will look just like your typical age spot. Although, in most cases, the Melasma will disappear after pregnancy. Occaionally though, women will still have them post-pregnancy. Other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne can also cause age spots. Even wounds can cause skin discoloration. Basically, anything that causes skin irritation can lead to age spots once you age.

Tanning beds are also a contributing factor to age spots. Tanning beds use artificial UV rays to tan the skin. Prolonged use of tanning beds and tanning products will eventually cause your skin to seem parched and when you are older give you more age spots. This is why the use of tanning beds is often discouraged if you want to avoid age spots.

Concealing Age Spots

A moisturizer or a cream with SPF should be an essential part of your skincare routine. It’s recommended to use at least SPF 15 but SPF 30 is a better option if you’re in the sun more. If you know you’re going to spend a whole day out in the sun, you should definitely put on SPF 50 or higher. Some great suncare brands include Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Neutrogena, Coola, and Bare Republic.

After sun care is just as important as putting on your sunscreen. Applying things such as aloe vera gel, apple cider vinegar, or a post tanning lotion is important for your skin.

When you’ve been in the sun all day, your skin lost a lot of its moisture. That is why post-sun care is so important because it brings the moisture back into your skin.

One of the products we recommend is Ulta’s After Sun Recovery Lotion. It is under $10 and leaves your skin feeling hydrated. It also smells like a tropical getaway! You should also look for foundations that contain SPF in them. More companies are offering foundations that have extra sun care protection. A few brands that have a foundation with SPF in them are Bare Minerals, M.A.C., Maybelline, Tarte and Clinique.

M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid is also excellent with SPF 15. Sun prevention is key to keeping your age spots at bay. So using a foundation with extra protection is an easy way to have flawless skin without the greasy feeling of sunscreen. There are even lightweight moisturizers that you can apply under your makeup before applying your primer. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with SPF 15 in it is the perfect lightweight moisturizer.

Neutrogena even now offers a Hydro Boost sunscreen. They have an SPF 30 and an SPF 50 option. Both have the same lightweight, hydrating, skin-like texture to them. These sunscreens are highly recommended to anyone who despises the heavy greasy feeling of typical sunscreens. Wearing sunscreen daily is just one of the steps in preventing age spots, sunburns, and potential skin cancers.

Using Makeup Products To Conceal Age Spots

One of the ways to conceal facial age spots is with makeup products. You must always first wash your face. After washing your face you will need to prime your skin for makeup application. There are many primers on the market right now, so finding the right one is very important.

When finding the right primer for you consider your skin concerns. A good one for age spots would be E.L.F’s Tone Adjusting Primer. That primer will tone down the dark spots and any redness you may have on your skin. The next step will be taking a peach or orange color-correcting concealer and applying it over the spot you wish to conceal. Apply the concealer with a small concealer brush or with a sponge. Then you will take your favorite concealer and apply it with the beauty tool you used to apply the color corrector. After that, you will take a full coverage or color correcting foundation to further cover your age spots.

Once you are finished with that, you are ready to apply a setting powder. Setting powders work to keep your makeup in place all day. A loose setting powder is a better option for more coverage and lasting look. If you’re wanting even more staying power, use a setting spray to lock in your look. The Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray will keep your makeup locked in throughout the entire day. Hence the name, All-Nighter, as it really will last through the night.

Another way to conceal facial age spots is by simply reducing the time you are in direct sunlight. The sun’s UV rays are at their worst anywhere between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The UV rays are also the worst if it’s a cloudy day. The clouds make it a lot easier for the sun to pass through. In fact, over 87% of the sun gets through the clouds. That is why you may find yourself with a nasty sunburn even on a cloudy day.

If you can’t avoid being outside during those times, you should make sure you apply your SPF at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. Make sure to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours. Even if your sunscreen is an SPF 50 or higher and promises to be water and sweat proof you should still reapply it.

Using A Dermatologist To Conceal Age Spots

If you want a more permanent solution to conceal your age spots there are many different procedures dermatologists can do. Although these procedures cost more, you will most likely see longer lasting results with these options.

Laser Resurfacing

To achieve a clearer complexion you could try a procedure called laser resurfacing. What laser resurfacing does is heat your skin layers that are deeper in your skin. When the skin layer is heated up, your skin produces more collagen. Collagen is a protein that helps to support your connective tissues, joints, and muscles. So with extra collagen production in your skin, you should notice dramatically smoother skin and an overall clearer complexion.

Like any procedure, you should always consider the possible risks.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are another good option if you’re wanting a cosmetic procedure that doesn’t hurt. A chemical peel is as it sounds, there are chemicals applied to the skin that an esthetician or dermatologist peels off the face. Once the chemical mixture is removed from the skin, you can expect some redness to occur at first. It will take some time for some of the skin to peel off after your procedure. After the peel is completed you will notice a brighter complexion with less noticeable age spots.

There is a fairly common method for clearing acne scars and helping uneven complexion. The results are visibly clear.

Dermabrasion And Microdermabrasion

Dermatologists or estheticians can also do a procedure called dermabrasion or microdermabrasion.

How they reduce the appearance of facial age spots is by using a tool that has an end on it that sands away your outer layer of skin to reveal beautiful rejuvenated skin. Another form of dermabrasion is by using a spray that has aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate in it. The spray is attached to a vacuum-like tool that suctions the skin. The suction works similar to the tool with the abrasive end on it. Either option is a lot less invasive than the laser resurfacing procedure. Especially since it can be done at your local spa or salon.

Natural Remedies

If you’re a more natural skincare consumer, you should consider these natural remedies that can teach you how to conceal and lighten up your facial age spots.

Vitamin C

Any fruit or vegetable that has vitamin C or a hydrating complex to it will do the trick. Nature has a lot to offer our skin. It has so many benefits. Lemon juice is a great trick to eliminating age spots since it has so much vitamin C in it. An easy way to sneak it into your skincare routine is by squeezing all the juice out of the lemon then dipping a cotton ball into the juice. Then you will apply it on your age spots and let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

Cucumbers

A great vegetable you can use on your skin is a cucumber. Cucumbers have a lot of water in them, antioxidants, and tons of vitamins. The vegetable is used in many beauty products due to its amazing skin healing properties.

Here’s how to help your age spots disappear with an easy DIY face mask:

All you need to do is put a cucumber that is sliced up, a half-teaspoon of aloe-vera gel (natural or store-bought), and one tablespoon of lemon juice in your blender. You’ll want to blend it up until it is a fairly thin consistency. Then take a facial applicator or your hands and apply it to your face. Wait 30 minutes for it to kick in. After that, you’ll wash it off with water.

You can use this mask as often as you’d like since it is natural and great for your skin!

Other Natural Products

Other natural products you might like to use are oranges, honey, apple cider vinegar, yogurt, and even onion. Apple cider vinegar is a classic household item that is growing in popularity, from everything to haircare all the way to weight loss. This all-natural substance can reduce your age spots with its alpha hydroxy acid compound. The alpha-hydroxy acid compound has the potency to lighten the overall appearance of age spots.

To properly use the vinegar mix it with some olive oil and apply daily. Over time, you’ll start to notice a difference in your skin. All of those natural remedies will give your skin a healthy more even-toned complexion.

Keeping Your Skin In Great Shape

Our skin is the biggest organ we have, so it’s imperatively important to keep it in tip-top shape! You can prevent age spots by taking precautions. Never forget to apply your sunscreen daily and cover your skin up with clothing if possible. Doing that will almost guarantee you’ll have fewer skin concerns.

If you already have age spots, you can still take preventive actions. Also, be aware that although age spots are benign meaning they’re cancer-free, that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be paying close attention to your age spots. If you notice a spot that doesn’t seem right, you should visit your doctor immediately. Waiting too long to get a spot checked out is the worst thing you can do.

Conclusion

Those are just a few things you can do to conceal, prevent, and lighten your age spots. Just remember the sun is the enemy to our skin and we must do whatever we can to battle it. Put your shield up by always applying your sunscreen. Prevention is key when trying to avoid getting age spots in the first place. There are so many options and products out there for you to try. If you don’t see results right away, don’t worry. Everything good in life takes time, so don’t be discouraged right away. It may take a month or more for these tips and tricks to work. See what you like best, what works best for your skin, and most of all have fun taking care of your skin!

What Causes Skin Tags?

Skin tags are more of a mild irritation than a medical problem. Those tiny little pockets of skin that seem to grow out of nowhere are in fact harmless and in most cases don’t cause much discomfort although they may be a little weird and ugly.

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What causes skin tags and how to get rid of them?

Although scientists don’t really understand exactly what causes skin tags, several factors are associated with the growth of these little skin pockets:

1. Genetics

There does seem to be a genetic connection to the growth of skin tags. Some people are more genetically predisposed to skin tags than others. This basically means that some people are more likely to get skin tags than others. So if your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts or other family members have skin tags, it is more likely that you will get them too.

2. Age

Skin tags are not present at birth and rarely occur on young children. However, they are far more common in adults and the elderly. This means that skin tags are age-related and that the growths are far more likely to appear as you age. Skin tags mainly consist of collagen fibers and blood vessels.

Collagen is a protein that is found everywhere in the skin and is responsible for young, plump, beautiful skin. Collagen production decreases as we get older. It is thought that this may result in fibrous collagen presenting in skin tags as we age.

3. Type II Diabetes

Diabetics are more prone to getting skin tags. Increased sugar in the body also affects collagen production once again lowering the amount of the protein that is produced by the human body. There may be a link between increased sugar levels in the blood and the appearance of skin tags on the body. Poor blood circulation which is common in diabetics may also be responsible for causing skin tags

4. Friction

There is a large amount of scientific evidence that points to friction being the main cause of skin tags. Friction – or rubbing – explains why skin tags are most likely to occur in folds of skin where skin, clothing or other materials rub against the skin.

Skin tags are most likely to occur under the arms (armpits) or between the legs (groin area). They are also common under the breasts, on the neck and eyelids. Anywhere that constant friction occurs on the body may result in skin tags.

5. Weight

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to get skin tags. However, this is not so much attributed to their weight but rather to the fact that there are more skin folds and friction is a greater problem for individuals who are overweight. Increased sugar may be another contributing factor.

Obesity can result in the appearance of these tiny flaps of skin in less common areas than those described above. The tags are also more likely to become problematic in people who are overweight as the increased friction can cause them to get longer (elongated), break off or become irritated and uncomfortable.

6. Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with weight gain which results in friction and therefore there is a greater prevalence or occurrence of skin tags in pregnant women. However, hormonal changes during pregnancy may also be a cause of skin tags as hormones promote collagen production which is affected by pregnancy.

7. Dry Skin

People with dry skin are more likely to develop skin tags. Dry skin aggravates friction resulting in skin tags. It also leads to a buildup of dead skin cells that could contribute to the formation of a skin tag trying to break through the dead layer. While there is no scientific evidence to prove that dry skin causes tags, the fact that people with dry skin are more likely to have skin tags suggests that there is a link.

8. No Apparent Reason

Sometimes skin tags seem to appear from nowhere for no reason whatsoever. These are the types that the medical and scientific community have so much difficulty explaining. However, even then, it could be due to friction that is not noticeable such as sleeping in the same position every night and the pillow rubbing against your neck.

Collagen Due To Wounds

Collagen aids in healing and boosts the growth of tissue. The smallest injury could result in overstimulation of tissue growth resulting in skin tags. Even an imagined wound can send the body into healing mode sending collagen and all sorts of other cells to the rescue.

No Cause For Concern

If you have skin tags, there is no need for concern unless:

The skin tags become elongated or hang loosely and are at risk of being torn off or damaged.
The tags are causing discomfort or irritation.
They are located in an area where they are catching on clothing.
They are red and inflamed or swollen.
They become infected.

If any of the above are affecting you, it is recommended to make an appointment with your doctor. Should the doctor consider the skin tags to be problematic, they will be removed. Removal is a quick and mostly painless procedure.

If the skin tags are simply an irritation or you want to get rid of them because they are plain ugly, then you can request that your doctor perform an elective procedure for you. An elective procedure is where you choose to have the skin tags removed but there is no actual medical reason for doing so.

What can you do to prevent skin tags from forming in the future?

Since scientists don’t understand the cause, there is no medical treatment to prevent or treat skin tags. This is also because they are generally considered to be harmless. There are however some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of developing tags in the future.

1. Diet And Exercise

A healthy diet and exercise help your body maintain an ideal weight and provides it with all the nutrition that it needs to develop healthy skin cells. Reducing your weight and providing your body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs will help reduce the likelihood of skin tags developing. Remember that increased weight equals increased friction which is the primary cause of skin tags. A vitamin and mineral supplement designed specifically for the skin can also help promote healthy skin cell production.

2. Moisturize Your Skin

Moisturizing your skin provides a layer of protection and lubricates the skin to prevent the rubbing or friction that causes skin tags in the first place. Moisturize after a warm shower or bath to seal in the skin’s natural moisture. Pay careful attention to the folds of the skin and areas on the body where skin tags are most likely to develop. Moisturize as often as needed. In extreme cases, petroleum jelly or tea tree oil can protect the skin from skin tags causing friction.

3. Exfoliate Your Whole Body

Most people only think about the face when it comes to exfoliating or scrubbing the skin. The whole body can, however, do with a good exfoliation now and again. Use a loofah or a rough sponge with a small amount of soap or shower gel to scrub your entire body. You should pay special attention to the spots where skin tags are most likely to sprout. This should be done about once a week. Don’t forget to moisturize well after scrubbing your skin.

Diagnosing A Skin Tag

It is important to be sure that what you have is a skin tag and not some other formation on the skin like a mole or a wart – especially if you are about to take measures to remove a tag yourself. It is best to visit a medical practitioner to get an accurate diagnosis. Skin tags can often look very similar to warts or moles. It can be dangerous to try to remove these yourself as they have a different structure to a skin tag and may not be as harmless.

If you are certain that it is a harmless skin tag, there are safe ways to remove them whether for medical or personal reasons. Be aware that extreme bleeding can occur so make sure you will be able to control the bleeding when removing skin tags at home. Also, be very sure to sterilize the area where the skin tag is located as well as any instruments or materials that will be used in the removal procedure. This will help prevent infection from occurring.