All posts by Frances Cates

All, Common Myths

Does shaving make hair grow back thicker and darker?

by Aneisha Gupta

It’s one of the most persistent grooming myths out there: if you shave your hair, it’ll grow back thicker, darker, or faster. This belief has shaped how many people approach hair removal, but is there any science behind it? Let’s think twice before accepting this common claim.

Hair might appear thicker after shaving because the razor slices it at the surface, leaving behind a blunt edge (1). This edge can feel coarse or stubbly as it grows out, creating the illusion of darker or denser hair (2). However, multiple clinical studies have confirmed that shaving doesn’t change the color, thickness, or rate of hair growth (3).

A foundational study from 1928 published in Anatomical Record and reaffirmed in Journal of Investigative Dermatology decades later found no measurable difference in hair regrowth after shaving (4). The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic agree, what you’re seeing is just the natural texture of regrowing hair, not a biological response to shaving (5, 6).

Experts explain that hair growth is controlled by hormones and genetics, not razors. Shaving simply cuts hair at the skin’s surface, without affecting the follicle beneath (7). The angle and bluntness of the regrowth may make it look darker or thicker, especially on areas with denser hair like the legs or face, but the properties of the hair itself remain unchanged.

So, does shaving make your hair grow back thicker and darker? Nope. It’s a visual trick, not a physical transformation. Next time you hear this myth, think twice, and shave with confidence.

Sources

University of Texas at Austin. “Fake Follicle News.” https://sites.utexas.edu/think-twice/2019/02/19/fake-follicle-news-does-shaved-hair-grow-back-faster/

Mayo Clinic. “Hair removal: Does shaving affect hair growth?” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hair-removal/faq-20058427

PMC. “Hair Follicle Structure and Regrowth.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7984395/

Journal of Investigative Dermatology. “Re-examination of shaving and hair regrowth.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5459955/

Cleveland Clinic. “Does Shaving Make Hair Thicker?” https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-shaving-make-hair-thicker

Mayo Clinic. “Hair removal myths.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hair-removal/faq-20058427

PMC. “Anatomy and physiology of hair.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7984395/

All, Women's Health

Is your menstrual pain “normal”?

Written by Mansi Patel

It can be argued that, in part under the influence of patriarchy, women may have felt the need to suppress their emotions and behave according to accepted gender norms (1,2). For instance, women may tend to default to an assumption that their level of menstrual pain is average and expected (2). This may limit the potential for women to benefit from helpful diagnoses and treatments to alleviate menstrual pain (1).

The diagnosis of dysmenorrhea is based on severe and frequent pain in the lower abdomen that may radiate to the inner thighs and back during the menstrual cycle (3). Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and even fainting (3). There is evidence that most women fitting these characteristics (up to 86%) in the U.S. do not seek care (1).

Reasons to consider seeking care include the potential for correctable pathophysiologies such as secondary dysmenorrhea or treatable associated conditions such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts (4). Endometrial ablation, destruction of the uterine lining, or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be available treatment options to prevent further complications of any underlying conditions (3).

Given that most menstrual pain is not pathological, it can also be helpful for women to be aware of simple techniques they can use to alleviate menstrual pain. For instance, numerous randomized trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of relaxation exercises for alleviation of symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, mostly within four weeks, compared to control groups receiving no intervention or regular care (5).Nonsteroidal medications can also help alleviate symptoms (3,5).

Accommodation and personal health agency are effective health strategies that are helpful no matter the diagnosis identified, and treatment selected. Women can be aware of the option of medical care to be sure specific treatable pathophysiologies are not overlooked. Beneath what may appear to be part of an expected monthly cycle that women accommodate, there is the option to seek care or try treatments at home. Before assuming nothing can be done for strong menstrual pain, think twice!

References:
1. Chen CX, Shieh C, Draucker CB, Carpenter JS. Reasons women do not seek health care for dysmenorrhea. J Clin Nurs. 2018; 27: e301–e308. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13946

2. Getahun, S. B., Berhe, S., Mekonnen, B., & Melaku, G. (2023). Reasons for Not Seeking Healthcare Among Students with Dysmenorrhea: A Qualitative Study. International journal of women’s health, 15, 1733–1744. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S437233

3. John Hopkins Medicine. “Dysmenorrhea” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/dysmenorrhea

4. Coco A. S. (1999). Primary dysmenorrhea. American family physician, 60(2), 489–496.

5. Tsai, I. C., Hsu, C. W., Chang, C. H., Lei, W. T., Tseng, P. T., & Chang, K. V. (2024). Comparative Effectiveness of Different Exercises for Reducing Pain Intensity in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Sports medicine – open, 10(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00718-4

All

Is eating raw eggs good for you, and can it help build muscle?

Recent social media trends have shown influencers consuming raw eggs, particularly after workouts. That has been popular at times over the years, and was featured in the original Rocky movie. It has returned and become a phenomenon to include raw eggs in protein shakes or smoothies. However, given the potential consequences of eating raw eggs, it is important to think twice about this issue. Is it good for you to eat raw eggs, and can it really help build muscle mass?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is not safe to consume raw eggs under any circumstance (1). Most eggs are pasteurized, meaning they are heated in a warm water bath to kill bacteria that could make you sick. However, even pasteurized eggs can still contain Salmonella, which can lead to diarrhea, cramps, or more serious illness. In a 2019 report by the European Food Safety Authority, eggs and egg products comprise 5.3% of all foodborne Salmonella outbreaks and are the foods most commonly associated with Salmonella (2). Therefore, physicians recommend eating eggs that are both pasteurized AND cooked.

Another reason physicians recommend not consuming raw eggs is that you can receive the same benefits from eating a cooked egg. One study compared muscle growth in 45 young men randomly assigned to consume 5 raw eggs or 5 hard boiled eggs after exercise (3). Between the two groups, researchers found no significant difference in muscle protein synthesis rates between young men who ate raw versus hard boiled eggs, suggesting that eating raw eggs did not offer an advantage for building muscle.

In this vein, another study showed that raw egg is more poorly absorbed during digestion than cooked egg, and cooking eggs can facilitate more complete digestion (4). However, this study investigated digestion of 5 participants, so more research is needed to conclude how raw versus cooked eggs are digested. Nevertheless, cooking is known to increase digestion of many foods.

Given this research, you don’t need to follow influencers by consuming raw eggs or put them in protein shakes to build muscle mass. A hard- boiled egg will do the trick! Remember to always Think Twice!

Sources

Cleveland Clinic. “Is Eating Raw Eggs Bad?” April 6, 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-you-eat-raw-eggs

Oh, Hyemin et al. “Quantitative risk assessment of foodborne Salmonella illness by estimating cooking effect on eggs from retail markets.” Journal of animal science and technology vol. 65,5 (2023): 1024-1039. doi:10.5187/jast.2023.e18

Fuchs, Cas J et al. “Raw Eggs To Support Postexercise Recovery in Healthy Young Men: Did Rocky Get It Right or Wrong?.” The Journal of nutrition vol. 152,11 (2022): 2376-2386. doi:10.1093/jn/nxac174

Evenepoel P, Geypens B, Luypaerts A, Hiele M, Ghoos Y, Rutgeerts P. Digestibility of cooked and raw egg protein in humans as assessed by stable isotope techniques. J Nutr. 1998 Oct;128(10):1716-22. doi: 10.1093/jn/128.10.1716. PMID: 9772141.