Women can’t do without removing body hair. Be it the eyebrows, the upper lip or legs, they get unwanted hair removed at regular intervals. But different techniques have different outcomes. You need to use the best body hair removal techniques to get the most desired outcome.
Body hair removal used to be a female fad – until recently. Now, even men are willing to get rid of excess body hair. Nevertheless, the areas of undesired hair growth are different for men and women. While women tend to get rid of hair on the face, upper lip, eyebrows, legs, hands et al, men like to remove excess hair on the back, chest etc. Most often men and women use the same types of hair removal techniques. Different techniques have a different outcome. While the choices are many, the most desired outcome depends on the best body hair removal technique.
Shaving
If you shave with a razor, it will cut the hair at the skin level. Though this is the most common technique of hair removal, if you adopt this technique, you will see that the hair re-grows within 2 to 3 days. It also entails a risk of razor burn or after-shave irritation. However, if you use a shaving cream or a soap and shave with sharp blades, you can prevent razor burns to a large extent. Shaving is also the most inexpensive way of hair removal. Nevertheless, if you want to get rid of excess body hair, shaving can hardly be the best body hair removal technique.
Hair removal creams
Many women use hair removal creams. These creams are considered to be one the best body hair removal methods. These creams contain chemicals which break down the hair within 5 to 10 minutes of application. So you can remove the cream with a towel or a scraper 5 to 10 minutes after its application. If you adopt this technique you can go hairless for about one week. However, it is to be borne in mind that the chemicals present in these creams are strong. They can act as allergens for your skin. It is necessary to do a patch test before regular application. A patch test will help you understand if the cream has any harmful effect on the skin or not.
Waxing
Waxing is a common hair removal technique for women. In this technique, the wax is used to remove the hair from the root. It involves the application of warm wax over the area from where the hair is to be removed. After the wax is applied, a strip of special paper is used to remove the wax. As the wax solidifies, the hair gets stuck to it. As you pull the paper from your skin, the hair comes out along with the wax. Though you suffer few seconds of pain during the process, this is one of the best body hair removal techniques. The biggest advantage of this technique is that you can stay hairless for around two weeks. Moreover, when it regrows it does not grow like a stubble. It is more like a slender form of stubble. This makes the regrown hair less obvious compared to shaving. The one explicit problem with this technique is that you have to let your body hair grow to such an extent that it can be pulled out.
Electrolysis
In this technique, a short blast of electric current is used to remove hair. The current is delivered into the follicles of hair with the help of a needle. It results in permanent hair removal after a few sessions. It is useful for any type of hair and skin. Moreover, with this technique, you can remove hair permanently. However, you may have to undergo few sessions of it. The main advantage of this technique is that you can become permanently hairless. But this is a risky process. It can be the best body hair removal technique for you if done by a professional. You should never try to do it on your own.
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Here’s what you need to know about osteoporosis tests
Read moreOsteoporosis is a form of arthritis that causes the bones to weaken, which makes them increasingly fragile and highly prone to fractures. It is estimated that around two million fractures are caused by this condition annually. Although osteoporosis can affect any bone, it is usually observed in body parts like wrist, spine, and hip. Almost 80 percent of the osteoporosis patients are postmenopausal women. This is because, during menopause, a woman’s body experiences a significant hormonal change. Therefore, it is essential for women over 65 to get osteoporosis assessments on a regular basis.
How often should you get screened for osteoporosis?
The osteoporosis testing frequency depends on multiple factors like age, gender, underlying medical conditions, medical and family history. For example, if you are a woman in your 60s in the post-menopause phase with vitamin D deficiency, then you should get osteoporosis testing done every year. On the other hand, if you are a healthy woman in your postmenopausal phase, then you should get osteoporosis testing done in every two years.Moreover, osteoporosis testing is not only valuable for identifying the condition but also for monitoring it. If you are already dealing with osteoporosis, then the doctor might ask you to get screened in every few months to keep an eye on the progress of the condition and how well are the treatments working against it.
What does osteoporosis testing involve?
After you have discussed your symptoms, medical and family history with the doctor, a physical exam will be performed. If the doctor suspects any anomalies, she or he will recommend you with the following two tests for osteoporosis.- Bone density evaluation Like the name suggests, the bone density evaluation (DEXA test dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) gauges if the mass inside the bone tissue has reduced.
- Urine and blood exam Such type of tests allow the doctors to verify if bone loss is occurring due to an underlying health condition.
Likewise, QCT (quantitative computed tomography) is typically used for assessing any changes in the spine, however, it can detect bone changes in any part of the body. QCT for bone loss is done to review the effectiveness of the osteoporosis treatments.
Do insurance companies cover osteoporosis testing?
Yes, insurance providers like Medicare will cover expenses for osteoporosis testing like DEXA in every two years for:- Women who are 65 years or above
- Men who are 70 years or above
For younger patients, any private insurance company will cover the screening costs if they:
- Have suffered a low impact fracture in past.
- Are battling a disease linked to bone loss.
- Have been taking medications associated with bone loss.
- Are already fighting osteoporosis.
- Are receiving cancer treatments.
- Are eligible for an osteoporosis treatment.
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3 effective tips to quit smoking completely
Read morePeople pick up unhealthy habits due to a variety of reasons; it can either be peer pressure or some personal issue that forces them into developing this habit. One such addiction that claims 480,000 lives every year is smoking. Smoking is a highly-addictive habit that poses a great threat to the individual who smokes and those in the vicinity of smokers. In fact, passive smoking or secondhand smoking has resulted in about 41,000 deaths every year.
So, if a loved one is trying to kick the butt, they’ll need all they can get. Here are some handy tips that will help people quit smoking effectively.
Gear up before going “cold turkey”
One cannot quit smoking simply by throwing away the cigarettes out. Smoking is an addiction and it affects the brain as well. The brain becomes addicted to the nicotine, and without it, the individual will experience withdrawal symptoms. Which is why it is imperative to make arrangements in advance as the individual will need support to get through this phase. So, it is sensible to ask the doctor for ways to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, or join some quit-smoking classes, establish a solid support system, counseling, or opting for hypnosis or medication.Opt for nicotine replacement therapy
When someone decides to quit smoking, the nicotine withdrawal can give them headaches, fatigue, and mood swings. The craving will hit them hard, and the urge for “one last drag” will make all the efforts futile. If this is the case, opting for nicotine replacement therapy can help ease the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement therapy includes nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and lozenges, and these will improve one’s chances of quitting smoking successfully.Avoid alcohol and other triggers
Alcohol is known to weaken one’s resolve as people under the influence of alcohol aren’t capable of making sound decisions. It is harder to stick to the goal of quitting smoking if one consumes alcohol. So, it is imperative to try and limit the alcohol intake in the beginning, and stop it completely as the journey to quit smoking progresses. Instead of drinking alcohol, one can switch to tea for a few weeks and the urge to drink will subside eventually.Adhering to these tips to quit smoking will require a lot of conviction and willpower, and even if the individual fails the first time, the resolve to kick the butt should make them try harder the next time.