Hair

They promised us Rapunzel’s hair with very expensive cosmetics. Science says the real secret has been in your kitchen for millennia

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Mythical representations of women, whether Botticelli’s Venus, the Hindu goddess Lakshmi or the maidens of Arthurian legends, often share an unmistakable trait: long, flowing and seemingly unattainable hair. It’s easy to think that such lengths are confined to the realm of mythology, untouched by the harsh reality of split ends and frizz. However, just swipe through TikTok or Instagram to find content creators sporting hair that would rival Rapunzel herself. Many of these influencers They promise that your hair has grown at a dizzying rate thanks to a specific technique: hair oiling or hair oiling. But, faced with shelves full of exotic formulas and luxury serums, an inevitable question arises: do we really need expensive products or has the ancient secret always been hidden in our kitchen in the form of olive oil? The resurgence of an ancient ritual. Although the term hair oiling It may sound like a modern invention packaged for Generation Z, the reality is very different. This practice was not born yesterday under the ring of light of a smartphone. Hair oiling is a technique deeply rooted in ayurvedic medicine from India, with Sanskrit texts from more than 5,000 years ago that already recommended infusing hair with natural oils to restore its shine and relax the mind. Likewise, in ancient Egypt also ointments were used based on animal fat or castor oil for similar purposes. What has changed then? The showcase. He hair oiling In a few months it has gone from being a “legacy trick” to an essential aesthetic ritual. Social media has choreographed it into a highly recognizable scene that includes a slow massage, meticulous application of oils before washing, a warm towel, and blow-drying to an incredibly shiny finish (glossy). Among the avalanche of coconut, argan and jojoba oils, olive oil has begun to reclaim its throne, not only because of its accessibility, but because it has historically been the cornerstone of Mediterranean cosmetics and the basis for extracting the properties of countless medicinal plants. The science behind the shine. Beyond visual aesthetics, the big question is whether slathering your hair in oil really works. The answer from science is a resounding yes, although with important nuances. Rocío Lajarín, doctor in Pharmacy and CEO of Alma Secret, explains in GQ that hair is made up of 90% proteins, mainly keratin. “When we use oils with structural affinity, we manage to reduce protein loss and reinforce the resistance of the hair shaft,” he says. The portal Healthline adds that regular oiling reduces “hygral fatigue” (the repetitive swelling and drying of the hair fiber when wet), acting as a cement that protects the cuticles. If we focus on “liquid gold”, clinical studies support its many benefits: Deep hydration and elasticity: An investigation of the Journal of Cosmetic Science demonstrates how olive oil It penetrates the hair fiber thanks to its high content of essential fatty acids, significantly improving hydration and resistance to breakage. A cocktail of vitamins: Virgin olive oil rejuvenates hair because it contains vitamin E, vitamin C (which stimulates collagen formation) and vitamin A (enhancers cell regeneration). Shield against damage and the sun: The International Journal of Trichology emphasizes that extra virgin olive oil contains hydroxytyrosol, a polyphenol that fights free radicals and cellular damage induced by UV-A rays. In addition, it is highly effective in reducing damage after subjecting hair to chemical processes such as dyes. Antifungal action: The same International Journal of Trichology points out that olive oil has an inhibitory influence on fungi that attack hair, such as Microsporum gypseum. The great debate: Does it make hair grow? This is where dermatology collides with internet myths. Dermatologist Andrea Combalia warns in Telva that at hair oiling “Many benefits are being attributed to it that are not real, such as hair growing faster or increasing its density.” Doctors consulted in Cleveland Clinic They agree that growth rate and thickness are predetermined by genetics, age and hormones. Oils prevent breakage (allowing length to be retained), but do not accelerate the growth phase from the follicle. However, dermatologist Ana Molina contributes in Trends a fascinating fact. It has been observed that the phytoestrogens present in olive oil can have an antiandrogenic effect by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (which converts testosterone into DHT). Since DHT causes miniaturization of follicles in androgenetic alopecia, “phytoestrogens may help prevent or slow its progression.” Roots or just tips? This is the point of greatest controversy. Oiling the scalp before washing protects the lipid barrier of the skin against the aggressive surfactants in the shampoo. However, hairdresser Daniel Gil in Marie Claire and Dr. Steven Walker in GQ They are blunt: if you have an oily scalp or suffer from seborrheic dermatitis, you should avoid applying oils directly to the roots. Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal of the Cleveland Clinic confirms this: if you are prone to dandruff, applying oil can worsen the problem by feeding the fungus Malasseziacausing more inflammation. In these cases, the hair oiling It should be strictly from medium to ends. A ritual with common sense. At the end of the day, olive oil is not going to rewrite your hair genetics or magically transform you into a Renaissance painting. What science tells us is much more pragmatic and, at the same time, liberating. The true value of this trend lies in understanding hair care as a ritual that respects our natural hair structure, and not as a compulsive accumulation of synthetic cosmetics. Olive oil is a powerful, accessible and dermatologically endorsed tool to defend our hair from pollution, the heat of straighteners and daily wear and tear. Applied with common sense, the liquid gold of our Mediterranean diet is also confirmed as the best cosmetic in our bathroom. Image | Photo by Curology on Unsplash Xataka | For years we blamed stress for baldness without understanding why. Science has just found the missing link

more than 2,000 years without hair and a sacred mission in the underworld

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When I did the 1930s Mexican nationalism began to reclaim its pre-Hispanic past and rescue icons of the country. one in particular which stood out for its symbolism: the xoloitzcuintle. His name may not mean much to you, but you’ve probably seen him in photos or movies like ‘Coconut’by Pixar. He xoloas it is commonly known, is a dog breed originally from Mexico that stands out for two great reasons. First, because of his appearance, bald and athletic. Second, because of its history, which dates back to several millennia ago and connects with the Aztecs. For them the xoloitzcuintle was not just a pet, but a symbol associated with death and the last companion of the deceased on their journey to Mictlanthe Mexican underworld. A name that says it all. It seems like a tongue twister, but “xoloitzcuintle” is not only the name of a breed of dog native to Mexico. The word, from nahuatlthe language of the ancient Mexica, is in a way a description. There is who believes which is the combination of ‘Xolotl’the god of fire and death, and ‘itzcuintli’, which means dog. Others consider that the first part of the word is more of a nod to the hairless appearance of the animal, so it would be translated as “strange or wrinkled dog”. In either case, it is a fantastic business card for the ‘xolo’, a breed that has been linked to Mexico for millennia and stands out both for its exterior appearance and for its history and symbolic value. Hence, in the 1930s, the country’s nationalist movement “exalted her as a national symbol,” comment Raúl Valadez Azúa, from the Anthropological Research Institute (IIA) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM. No hair or premolars. Its symbolic value may not be obvious, but as a breed the Xoloitzcuintle is unmistakable. Although there are examples of different sizes and varieties with and without hair, usually their specimens are distinguished by two characteristics: They are hairless and lack premolars. The reason must be sought in their genetic pool. During their first embryonic phase, three layers are formed in the xoloitzcuintle, like remember from the UMAN: the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. The latter, however, is affected by a mutation that affects the teeth and fur. “It cannot be denied that a hairless dog is at a disadvantage. For example, when fighting with other dogs or in the face of climate changes. Despite this, after 2,000 years, it is still here,” reflect Valadez. Its peculiar condition also presents some advantages that have favored its bond with humans. Since it lacks hair, it is easy for us to feel its heat, which in the past caused xolos to be used with therapeutic purposes to relieve rheumatism or muscle pain. Just like huge hot water bottles. “A decision of the gods”. “The people of the region considered that, although the bald dog was a strange animal, its appearance responded to a decision of the gods and that therefore it was not up to them to kill it or decide its fate. Thus, they accepted it like the other dogs and called it xoloitzcuintle,” duck the UNAM expert. The result is fascinating: a characteristic that a priori could have represented a disadvantage compared to other races, ended up becoming a sign of identity that strengthened its symbolic value and the bond with men. An ancient race. If the appearance of the xolo is peculiar, its history is no less so. Experts believe the breed can date back to at least 2,000 years ago (there are those who place it even further back, to 3,500 years ago), emerged in western Mexico and after 500 years it began to disperse following two routes: one took it to South America, the other to Tula, Teotihuacán and Mayan territories. Its link with humans is also very old. Researchers have found remains dating back to 7th century and they seem to associate it, already at that time, with funerary contexts. They even suggest that he was attributed a role as guardian of sacred spaces. The Aztec dog. The remains of bones and ceramic fragments have allowed experts to better understand the role that dogs had in pre-Hispanic Mexico, where they were used for both eminently practical and symbolic purposes. Valadez remember For example, there are testimonies that speak of ritual sacrifices of hairless dogs in times of drought or during mass ceremonies, as well as others that reveal how their scavenging habits ended up associating them with death. “These animals were linked to the underworld because somehow what they ate in the underworld was converted into fecal matter, organic waste that was incorporated into the earth to pass to the underworld and, subsequently, returned to the earth as fertilizer that nourished the plants and, therefore, life,” reflect the expert However, if the xolo stands out for something, if something has earned it the nickname ‘Aztec dog’is the spiritual role that was attributed to it. The last companion. Its role in pre-Hispanic religiosity was so relevant that even today they highlight it the Mexican authorities, who have even designated the October 27 as ‘National Xoloitzcuintle Day’. Mythology claimed that when a person died, their essence undertook a journey to the underworld (Mictlán) that forced them, among other things, to cross the river Chiconahuapan. For that journey, however, he needed the help of the xolo, who would lend him a hand (or not) depending on how he would have behaved in life. Over the last few decades, researchers have found remains of dogs in graves, which has allowed them to confirm the belief that the deceased should be buried accompanied by a dog. Of course, with an important nuance: although at first it was believed that xolos were the favorite breed for that rite, the really relevant factor was the color of the coat. It had to be toasted. Other meanings were attributed to white or black hair that made them invalid for the journey to the afterlife. … Read more

make hair of all bald Spaniards

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When the Spanish government refused to join in supporting the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, something unexpected happened on Turkish social networks: an avalanche of memes, declarations of affection and promises of discounts at hair transplant clinics. The phenomenon is neither spontaneous nor capricious: there is a history of concrete gestures behind it, and it says a lot about how geopolitics is processed on the internet today. No to war. Sánchez’s Government has refused from the first moment that the United States uses the bases of Rota and Morón de la Frontera, located in the south of Spain and operated jointly between the US and Spain under an agreement signed in 1953, but whose sovereignty remains Spanish. Washington’s reaction was immediate: in a press conference at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump called Spain a “terrible partner” and announced that would cut all commercial relations with the country. President Sánchez responded by referring to the now legendary slogan of “No to war”, and the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, was even more direct: Spain “will not be a vassal” of any other country. Novel. This is an unprecedented position in the European context: the United Kingdom, which initially also refused to use its bases to attack Iran, ended up authorizing them under the “collective defense” formula in the face of Iranian counterattacks. France and Germany also did not directly condemn the US attacks. Spain, however, called the intervention “unjustifiable” and “dangerous,” and aligned its reading with that of international law, not with that of its Atlantic partners. The position has generated both the rejection of parties such as PP and Vox and the alliance, even if it’s in the form of a memeof ultra-leftists and ultra-rightists under the same flag. The memes arrive. Among the most unique reactions that have aroused this positioning There is the wave of affection that, via meme, is arriving from none other than Türkiye. open declarations of love across the Mediterranean, unconditional support without losing humor and offers for bald Spaniards who want hair implants. It is a movement that has arisen spontaneously and regardless of whether they reach us distorted from here (most are in Turkish and refer to their own memetic mythology), but the wave is fascinating. Although it has very clear precedents. Help in fires. One of the reasons that Turks use to worship Spain is the shipping in August 2021 of two Canadair aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism together with a team of 27 people. Spain was not the first country to respond, but it acted quickly. The fires that summer were the worst in Türkiye’s modern history: almost 95,000 hectares They had burned at that point in the year. The affected areas (Antalya, Muğla, the Turquoise Coast) concentrated part of the summer tourism and entire rural communities saw their forests burned in days. Internal indignation was considerable, because Erdoğan’s government admitted not having firefighting aircraft, and foreign aid acquired great symbolic weight. Recognition of Palestine. In May 2024, Spain made the recognition effective of the Palestinian State together with Ireland and Norway. Israel immediately withdrew its ambassadors in Madrid, Dublin and Oslo, but the reaction of the Arab world was the opposite: Saudi Arabia called it a “positive decision” that affirms the right to Palestinian self-determination, Egypt described it as “a welcome step” and Qatar welcomed it as a move towards the solution of the conflict. Turkey does not have an Arab majority, but it does have a Muslim majority, as well as a historical position of support for the Palestinian people and a foreign policy that, under Erdoğan, has maintained increasing distances from Israel. Spanish recognition in 2024 placed us as one of the few Western European countries willing to pay a real diplomatic cost for a cause that generates massive support in Turkish society. It was, furthermore, a decision of the Spanish government with a broad social support. They like memes. The political meme in Türkiye has a long tradition of using high-intensity irony. Turkish internet culture (one of the most active in the region) has produced memes about relations with Russia, about Erdoğan and the opposition or about Turkey’s position in NATO. Because Turkey is a member of NATO but maintains trade relations with Russia, opposes military intervention in Iran and has been critical of Israeli policy in Gaza long before that position was popular in Europe. On that map, Spain appears in 2026 as the only major Western European country that speaks the same geopolitical language as Ankara. The climax: the bald men. Perhaps the perfect distillation of the memes that capture the romance between Türkiye and Spain are those that refer to Türkiye as a hair implant superpower. The Turks have grabbed notorious bald men from Spanish folklore (that is, footballers) and planted them lush manes or have played before and after. Nothing unites people more than styling soccer players as if they were Famosa dolls. Header | @1907medya__ in X In Xataka | Going on vacation to Greece is not unusual. The strange thing is that there are thousands of Turks going to a Greek Lidl

We have been believing for decades that wet hair makes us sick in winter. Science knows perfectly well that it is a lie

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“Don’t go out with wet hair or you’ll catch pneumonia” or “put on your coat or you’ll catch a cold” are very grandmotherly phrases that almost all of us have been told in our childhood and that have been burned into our brains. But the question we can ask ourselves: is this true? The reality is that not directly. The culprit. May we have a cold or flu It doesn’t exactly depend on the cold. The culprit in this case are infectious agents such as viruses, the most common being rhinovirus. The fact that this microscopic germ accesses our body and overcomes our defense barriers causes it to begin to replicate and generate its effect that In the long run it’s really annoying when accompanied by fever, cough and a host of other symptoms. In this way, the equation is quite simple: if there is no exposure to the virus, the external temperature is irrelevant. To understand it, if we put ourselves in the situation of going out to Antarctica with our hair soaked and naked, we would surely die of hypothermia, but we wouldn’t catch a cold unless a penguin sneezed rhinovirus on us. The same thing happens if we are in an environment completely isolated from viruses and at a very low temperature: no infection would occur. The experts. Just as it isExperts from the Mayo Clinic explain and disseminating pharmacistscold alone does not have the ability to spontaneously generate a pathogen. Cold is a physical condition, not a biological agent. And science has been trying to explain this for decades. One of the most cited and relevant studies is the one carried out by the University of Rochester where they separated volunteers into two groups. One of them was exposed to low temperature and cold conditions; the other was kept in a warm and comfortable environment. Subsequently, they were exposed to rhinovirus that causes colds. The result. In this way, it was seen that between the two groups there was no significant difference in the contagion of the virus or in the symptoms they presented. The group subjected to the cold did not have a harsher cold, so the factor in getting sick was solely and exclusively the virus. Getting sick in winter. It is a reality that when winter arrives the rates of people with colds or flu increase greatly, as we are seeing in Spain these days. This makes us think that the relationship really exists, whatever science says. And this is where we give a little point to ‘grandmother’s advice’. Science suggests that rhinoviruses they replicate better at the temperatures we usually have in our noseswhich ranges from 33 to 35 °C. But in addition, the cold temperature also causes our defenses to lower, so it is much easier for the virus to access our body and begin to spread in a much simpler way. And that’s why winter is where we see a higher rate of colds. Other factors. But he is not the only one. The social factor is also a big culprit, because when it is cold the truth is that it is better to be locked up at home with Netflix. But in these cases we would be in an interior space with little ventilation (because it is cold) and very close to other people. In this way, if a person has the virus, the probability of contagion skyrockets in a heated indoor place much more than in an open-air park at 5°C. Another point is the dry environment that exists at this time due to the cold outside and the indoor heating. This causes the nasal mucous membranes to dry out, which is a serious problem for the mucus, which is our first line of defense at the entrance to viruses and bacteria. If the mucosa is dry, its effectiveness decreases and facilitates the entry of pathogens. Wet hair. A special distinction must be made for this myth since today there is no evidence to justify a relationship between wet hair and an increase in viral infections. Going out with wet hair causes a great loss of body heat (since the head has a lot of vascularized surface), which generates notable thermal discomfort. This translates into a feeling of very cold, feeling cold and perhaps accompanied by a headache due to muscle tension derived from the cold, but the humidity on the scalp does not attract germs or facilitate infection. Images | Dmitriy Kievskiy Brittany Colette In Xataka | H5N1 bird flu unleashes a massacre in Antarctica: half of the female seals have already disappeared

We’ve been hearing for years that washing your hair too much causes it to fall out. It’s exactly the other way around

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Enter the shower, wash your head and when looking at your hands or the floor find a tangle of hair. A scene that can be everyday for some people and that can lead to conclusions, such as if you wash your hair very often. falls more and can lead to alopecia much earlier. Something that is nothing more than a myth that is quite widespread, but that dermatology tries to disprove. We don’t tear it off. The idea that you can have in mind with this scene that we have related is that by rubbing your head you are pulling out your hair from the roots. But this is a serious misconception, as you remember the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) when pointing out that hair loss in the shower is not related to the mechanical action of rubbing. The hair that we see between our hands or on the floor was already loose before entering the shower as it found itself in what is called telogen phasethat is, fall or rest phase. The only thing washing does is make it come off more easily, something that also happens when we comb our hair or when we rub the pillow. Because that hair was already unsalvageable. This is something that the Spanish dermatologist Óscar Muñoz himself defends, who in a recent interview which stated that “h“There are those who believe that when they wash their hair falls out more, but the only thing they are seeing is the hair that was already destined to come off.” A bad idea. At the point of not washing your hair in order to save it, it is not the most advisable thing to do. Especially because it can have the completely opposite effect. All this because the fat accumulation or sebum in the hair, beyond being an aesthetic problem, it is also a breeding ground for fungus like the Malassezia which can give us more headaches. All this because a fungus on the scalp It generates a response from our body as it is a threat that results in seborrheic dermatitis that generates a state of inflammation in the scalp that aggravates androgenic alopecia, which is what we are seeking to control. The medical recommendation is clear: regular hygiene (even daily if necessary) with mild shampoos to keep sebum and inflammation at bay. The stress. A clear culprit It has nothing to do with shampoo. The. scientific literature confirm that there is a clear link between stress levels and the follicle since when cortisol, the classic stress hormone, is triggered, it is also generated an inflammation which can cause the follicle to go into a shedding phase. Although this effect is not seen at the time of upset or peak stress, but 2 or 3 months after the stressful event. The good news is that it is a reversible condition, but a sustained state of stress can create a vicious cycle that perpetuates the problem. What works. Although we have seen that the myth of not washing your hair does not work to prevent hair loss (it even aggravates it), the question we ask ourselves is what works. Science has a great battery of options such as broccoli and soybeans. In this case there are interesting studies in mice where broccoli extracts either phytoestrogens Soybeans modulate hair growth. Although logically eating more broccoli does not stop androgenic alopecia, it does open up very interesting avenues for further research in the field of aesthetics. The drugs. Beyond diet remedies, which can be more homemade, dermatologists have a range of treatments that offer great results. The first-line ones are finasteride and minoxidil, which have demonstrated with robust evidence behind them a good ability to stop miniaturization and improve capillary density. Although the fear of sexual adverse effects exists, trials indicate that the incidence rate is low. Images | Donald Teel Towfiqu barbhuiya In Xataka | When they told us all the advantages of intermittent fasting, they forgot one small detail: that it could make us bald.

Gray hair is not wear and tear, it is a cleansing of our tumor cells.

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For centuries, gray hair has been the universal symbol of aging, a simple aesthetic issue that reveals the passage of time or the excess of stress that sometimes occurs. it’s about covering with dyes. However, having gray hair can be good news for many people, since a study published in Nature Cell Biology just turned this idea on its head: white hair could actually be a biological defense mechanism. The fact that we begin to grow gray hair is for many people a great condemnation that reminds us that age forgives no one, and we even see young people with a lot of gray hair at an early age. But having gray hair can be a sign that is related to the risk of suffering from melanoma, which is one of the most aggressive skin cancers, especially when it is not caught in time. The dilemma of the cell. To understand why having a large amount of gray hair is good news, we have to go to the root of the hair. Here you will find the bulb of the hair folliclewhich is where the hair will grow. One of its fundamental components is the melanocyte stem cell, which is responsible for the pigment that gives color to the hair. That is why when these cells are affected is when you begin to have a color deficit. In this way, research indicates that when these cells suffer damage to their DNA, such as from exposure to the sun or according to agethe body activates a “checkpoint.” The mechanisms of action. When a cell with broken DNA appears on the scene, there is a chance that it will cause cancer if it begins to divide uncontrollably. In order to avoid this, stem cells use a process called “senodifferentiation” that causes the cell to stop dividing and be removed from the tissue. When these stem cells are eliminated, we are left without pigment reserves and the hair is born white, but the body has made sure to eliminate a potentially dangerous cell that could have generated a tumor if this defense system did not exist. The system may crash. Although our body has many defense systems to stop the proliferation of tumor cells, sometimes they fail and cancer is generated. Specifically, the study points to different carcinogens (including chemicals or UV radiation) that can ‘hack’ this cellular decision. Unlike pure radiation damage (which causes gray hair), carcinogens activate specific metabolic pathways (such as arachidonic acid metabolism) that force stem cells to survive and reproduce despite having damaged DNA. In this way, the stress of these carcinogens stimulates the stem cell niche to secrete a molecule called ligand KIT. This signal has the ability to block the “senodifferentiation” that we mentioned before, preventing damaged cells from being eliminated. The ‘good’ news is that the gray hair does not appear, but the bad news is that the damaged cells accumulate and expand, greatly increasing the risk of melanoma. There is, therefore, an antagonistic relationship: The fate of stem cells determines whether we will have gray hair or cancer. If the system works well, the cell is sacrificed and a gray hair emerges. If the system is circumvented by a carcinogen, the cell persists and the gray hair does not appear, but there is a greater risk of a tumor appearing. Aesthetic medicine. One of your goals right now may be avoid gray hair without the need for artificial dyes with the reactivation of these stem cells that have been ‘arrested’ and do not offer their pigment. But for these researchers we are facing a very bad idea. And they specifically point out that the repigmentation of gray hair in certain areas of the scalp could be, paradoxically, an early warning sign of melanoma, indicating that cells that should have ‘retired’ are returning to activity in an uncontrolled manner. In short, the next time you see a gray hair in front of the mirror, don’t just see it as a sign of old age. See it as a small victory for your body: a stem cell that decided to “retire” in time to protect you. Images | Alexandra Tran Natasha Brazil In Xataka | The rarest element on Earth aims to cure cancer. And Europe is already accelerating its production

The popular hair drug hides a big problem behind depression

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Finasteride has long been a popular solution for the treatment of androgenic baldnesswhich has long been a very popular solution to stop hair loss. However, behind its apparent cosmetic success hides an alarming reality that has taken more than twenty years to receive greater attention: a significant association with depressionanxiety and suicide. The analysis. Published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by Professor Mayer of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, systematically reviews the accumulated evidence and exposes what he describes as “a systemic failure of pharmacovigilance.” The study concludes that both the drug’s manufacturer, Merck, and regulatory bodies, such as the US FDA, failed to take relevant action despite growing danger signals about serious health problems. The evidence. Although concerns about depression associated with finasteride arose as early as 2002, it was not until the last decade that the evidence became overwhelming following studies done after the product was marketed. Brezis’ analysis is based on eight large independent studies published between 2017 and 2023, which used two main methods: disproportionality analysis in adverse event reporting systems and analysis of massive health registry databases. The results. The study carried out in countries such as Sweden, Canada and Israel points to very consistent results: the use of finasteride is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior. All of this with a good statistical significance that shows that it is not due to chance. The human cost of this two-decade delay is devastating. The report estimates that, globally, “hundreds of thousands of people may have suffered from depression, and hundreds, or even thousands, may have died by suicide.” The data. One of the main reasons why it took so long to react was the massive under-reporting of cases. In 2010, the FDA was already discussing internally the possibility of including depression as a side effect, but noted that reported suicides were lower than expected in such a large user population. Brezis’ analysis puts figures on this discrepancy: For 2011, with a base of 4.6 million users worldwide, between 6,440 and 12,880 suicides were expected over a period of 10 to 20 years. However, only 18 cases had been reported to the FDA system (FAERS). By 2024, reported suicides amounted to 320, compared to the 19,320 that would be expected over a 30-year period. FDA inaction. The report is especially critical of the manufacturer and the regulator. Despite suspicions, none of the eight studies analyzed were conducted by Merck or requested by the FDA. This is striking, since Merck itself had validated in 2006 the usefulness of the pharmacovigilance tools used in these investigations, concluding that they had “sufficient sensitivity and specificity.” For its part, the FDA was disconcertingly slow. In 2011 it recognized depression as an adverse effect and in 2022 it added suicidal ideation, but not as a formal warning on the label. It took the agency five years to respond to a citizen petition requesting the drug be removed from the market. Internal FDA documents from 2010 show entire sections redacted as “confidential,” hiding key data about the drug’s safety. The case in Europe. In addition to the report issued by the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also launched an alert following its research on this same medication and suicidal tendencies. This is something that the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has collected on its website, pointing out that from now on the packages of finasteride 1 mg will include a patient information card with the aim of reinforcing these warnings. In France they wanted be much more critical with the recommendations made by the EMA to confront this serious problem. Specifically, they have pointed out that the introduction of this alert card or the dissemination of a letter to professionals is not enough. Especially considering that the latest recommendations made by the regulator have not reduced the incidence of suicidal ideation in treated patients. Because. The relationship between finasteride and mood disorders is not a simple correlation, but has a plausible biological basis. The drug inhibits the enzyme 5α-reductase, reducing the conversion of testosterone. This process also decreases the synthesis of brain neurosteroids, such as allopregnanolone, which are crucial for mood regulation. For some users, the effects do not go away when they stop treatment. The so-called “post-finasteride syndrome” describes severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that persist for months or years after stopping the drug. Call to action. Brezis emphasizes that, as it is a medicine for a cosmetic indication, the balance between benefit and risk is radically different. “It wasn’t about a life-or-death medical need. It was about the hair,” he emphasizes. Images | Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 In Xataka | A natural, safe and already approved sweetener for consumption: the new and unexpected solution against baldness

After the hair industry, Türkiye is becoming a power of something much more extreme: paying to grow

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In a hotel on the outskirts of Istanbul, a man listens to the alarm of his phone and smiles. It is time to turn the key that separates the metal rods embedded in their femards. The procedure seems taken from a medieval dungeon, but for Frank – 38 -year -old patient – it means approaching, millimeter to millimeter, to his dream: stop feeling low. According to The Guardianeach turn causes intense pain and, nevertheless, insists on doing it more times than recommended to win a few extra centimeters. Türkiye, the new Mecca of the centimeters. The country was already famous for Medical tourism of capillary grafts. Now adds something much more extreme: leg elongation surgery for aesthetic purposes. What was born as a technique to correct bone deformities today attracts patients from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia and all of Europe. According to the Wanna Be workshop clinicThey come willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the promise of growing. In an extensive report for The Guardian They quoted an Indian consultant who projects that the global market will reach 8,600 million dollars within five years. Türkiye’s appeal lies in its price, since with $ 32,000, it includes hospitalization and months of physiotherapy, compared to $ 50,000 to $ 150,000 that can cost in the United Kingdom or the United States. Dr. Kevin Debiparshad, founder of the Limbplastx Clinic in Las Vegas, I told GQ that the business has shot from the pandemic, with up to 50 new patients a month. Its customers include Google, Amazon and Microsoft engineers, in addition to executives, doctors and even celebrities. The last acceptable prejudice: be low. Why risk everything for a few centimeters? The testimonies collected by different media always point to the same direction: height remains a social stigma. In an article for vice, A 17 -year -old summed up without surroundings: “The only reason why someone would lengthen their legs is for women.” Another patient assured in The Guardian that “being low is the last acceptable prejudice in modern society.” Evidence supports these sensations. An Australian study of 2009 collected by GQ He showed that low men earn less than their high classmates and have less job promotion options. In the Netherlands, another investigation revealed that only 7.5% of couples the woman exceeds the man. Even Tinder came to try filters of height, According to The Guardian. And it is that obsession can become pathology. Elaine Foo, Interviewed by the BBChe confessed that since adolescence he suffered a fixation: “Being higher means more beautiful, more opportunities.” Psychiatrists call it body dysmorphia: a fixation with defects imagined in appearance. A brutal procedure itself. Although today it is sold as an aesthetic procedure, the technique originated in the 50s in the Soviet Union. The surgeon Gavriil Ilizarov devised a method to repair fractures and correct deformities. The beginning, As Mayic explainsis the osteogenesis by distraction: cut a bone and gradually separate it so that the organism generates new tissue that fills the void. The process begins with an osteotomy, the surgical cut of the bone, generally femur or warm. Then, the surgeon places an elongation device: an external fixative (a visible frame subject with bone nails) or an internal magnetic nail (inserted into the bone and controlled by a control). From there, the daily routine is to extend the device around one millimeter per day. The body responds by filling that space with new bone. The hard lengthening phase of two to three months. Then comes the consolidation phase, when the bone hardens, which can take another three. In total, complete recovery easily exceeds a year. During all that time, patients should use crutches or wheelchairs, undergo intensive physiotherapy and support constant pain. When growing almost costs life. Not everyone achieves their goal. How do you collect in The GuardianFrank’s case that traveled in the hope of moving from 1.70 to 1.75 meters. In the process he suffered a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot and was about to die. In the end he had to stop the elongation in 7.3 centimeters, without reaching his goal. The same medium reported the death of a Saudi patient at 16 days of the operation, also for a clot. However, Elaine Foo’s story is even more extreme. According to BBC, After paying 50,000 pounds to a private clinic in London, he suffered successive complications: a metallic nail crossed his femur, the bones did not consolidate and ended up undergoing eight surgeries in different countries. Eight years later, drag mobility problems, permanent scars and a post -traumatic stress disorder. Complications are not rare. Risks include infections in nails or incisions, nerve injuries, joint stiffness, chronic pain and insufficient bone consolidation, According to Cleveland Clinic. Self -esteem, the most fragile bone. Beyond the operating rooms, the question is what pushes so many men – and some women – to undergo such brutal surgery. Dr. Dorr Paley, pioneer in this field, He summarized it for vice: “It took us a long time to discover what plastic surgeons always knew: they were dealing with body image problems.” The background is really a crisis of self -esteem. The Guardian He recounts How Frank felt “almost damn” for his low stature, convinced that society favors the highs. In GQ, John Lovedale explains that he did it because “the highest people seem to have the world at their feet.” Most patients are men, crossed by an idea of masculinity associated with size. However, As the British media remembersthere are also women who resort to the procedure: some to lengthen and others, in very rare cases, to shorten their legs. Between secret and status. Interestingly, despite sacrifice and spending, many patients prefer to hide it. According to GQ90% does not reveal anyone who operated. Invent stories: a ski accident, a fall in the bathtub, a hip fracture. But others begin to exhibit it as a sign of status: an Asian youtuber paid for the operation with Bitcoins and documented the process … Read more

Repairing scratches with Mercadona’s hair lacquer is as effective as it is not recommended

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A small one in the front bumper. Another in the right rear wing. And one who did not give importance at the driver’s door and now bothers you. Small friction and damage In the body without much importance. No, at least, to call insurance, however they reduce the image of our car. Because who likes to have the car as a new one always has in those little taps, in some frictions that seemed of little entity, some notches for which they end up suffering. Here we collect some tricks to remove the lighter damage. A small without importance That is what we usually think when these types of small shocks or blows that end up leaving our cars full of notches that at first seemed to go unnoticed. To solve it there are a good number of small tricks and homemade solutions that multiply through social networks. Some more or less recommended. The first thing to consider is the depth of the scratch. If this is deep and has crossed more than one paint layer, it is best to go to a professional if you want to eliminate the same Without leaving a mark. It will be necessary to paint the area and it is essential to use the same tone as in the rest of the body so that it is not striking or obvious that something happened there. When rubbing is not deep, there are various recommendations. From Xataka We propose to get a Specific product for this task. Ha of various types. Some include a simple suede to remove the excesses of the product but others also with polisher and polisher To leave everything as new. Although this, we point out, we believe it is the best option, there are some homemade tricks that can be useful in a timely manner but that are not recommended when you want to make intensive use of them. One that has gone viral on social networks is to apply Mercadona lacquer. The idea is apply hair lacquer on the body and pass a microfiber cloth. The rubbing should disappear but the damage is done and is only a cosmetic improvement that reduces its visibility. Juliwheels on Instagram (More than 350,000 followers) Explain the process and close with a resounding “Flip how it looks.” The problem is that this type of lacquer can contain chemicals that damage the body of the car and, therefore, kill the brightness of the paint or in the worst case to cause its fall. It is not something that will happen with a single punctual application but they are risks that are being repeated in time. These types of tricks, such as using an antigrase product or Vinegar for car wheelsThey usually have little aesthetic route but, in addition, they usually damage the protective layers of the vehicle itself, putting its aesthetics at risk over time. There are multitude of similar cases. It is about applying a slight layer of olive oil, sodium bicarbonate or removing alcohol and, subsequently, conscientiously clean the surface. All of them, as we said, are remedies to get out of the way. The same can happen if we apply toothpaste, which is used as a puller when rubbing it against the surface. This last remedy, for example, is also usually used to polish the headlights of the car, something that works aesthetically but can cause dispersions in the beam of light and, therefore, worsen visibility. Photo | Volodymyr Dobrovolskyy and Mercadona In Xataka | A simple circle painted on the save lives of motorists: the project that praises the DGT but that only Catalonia tests

Why can your hair damage according to experts

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Did you know that abusing Clean look and of the pigtails and polished bows Could you be damaging the health of your hair? Keep reading and we tell you how you can avoid it! There is no doubt that Clean look It has been One of the most viral fashions of 2024. As the name implies, it is a beauty trend that pursues Clean and purified finishes. But what is the risk of abusing them? © Getty Images If you constantly get hairstyles and straps pigs You can suffer what experts call traction alopecia. Rosi Fernández, director of the Ananda Ferdí Hall, says that the pigtails, braids and other hairstyles that require pulling backwards They exert considerable tension on the follicleswhich can end in pain. “These hairstyles can also contribute to traction alopecia if they are maintained for prolonged periods,” he confirms. This, in turn, causes The hair breaks and ends up losing. Dr. Carlos Portinha, medical director of the Insparya group, says that “traction alopecia, very frequent among women, is common in people who wear tight or tight hairstyles.” “It is advisable to avoid them and Include specific products in our routine For each type of hair, “explains the doctor, who also insists on the importance of Use thermal protectors If heat tools are going to be used. © Getty Images “Dangerous” products He Risk of traction alopecia intensifies with the use of fixativeswhich accumulate a lot of residue in the scalp. This is confirmed by Dr. Carmen Orozco, with Capillary Hospital. “If they do not retire properly, they can obstruct pores and weaken hair fiber,” he tells us. “Moreover, some fixers contain alcohols that can dry hair, which can lead to fragility and fall,” he adds. From DS Laboratories they recommend Avoid these products because they leave rigid hair And, being in this state, is more fragile and prone to break When touching or combing it. They recommend “Opt for soft or flexible fastenerswhich include conditioning and strengthening ingredients, such as glycolic acid, which helps to give strength to hair fiber and Reduces frizz“ © Getty Images Three alternatives to ‘Clean Look’ There is nothing wrong with wanting to look from time to time Clean lookhowever, it is important not to fall into his abuse and, perhaps, resort to him only for special occasions. Likewise, for our day to day, we can opt for Sater options for our scalp And that will make us look like A clean and elegant aesthetic. Since the dry shampoo firm Batiste they offer you three alternatives to Clean look They will avoid the risks for your hair. © Lilyjcollins The most comfortable: ‘Messy Hair’ style waves He Messy Hair It is the ideal option that will allow you to avoid any Bad Hair Day. In this case, waves with casual air, which leave behind rigid hairstyles and straps, are an excellent option. In addition to offering naturalness, the waves give a chic touch to the look. To perform them you just have to unravel your hair and use your iron. Apply the heat protective product, then see not very thick strands and hold the closed iron before turning it on itself turning around. Then slide the iron to the tips. For a more natural resultwhen the hair has cooled, You can pass the hair brush and apply Batiste Heavenly Volume that will provide that touch of volume. © Rosiehw Elegant as comfortable: semi -greeted If we want to choose to remove the hair from our face, but, at the same time, to wear a careful hair, The semi -grid They are the option you are looking for. To pick up the upper part of the hair and remove it from the face you will only have to help you with a comb. Once collected, perform a small ponytail and combing back. © Getty Images The classic that does not fail: a bun set by a clamp Yeah There is a hairstyle that has returned with more force That is never The classic bun set by a clamp. Easy and comfortable, this collected serves both for an informal appointment and for a more elegant event and that everything will depend on the accessory with which we accompany it. To do it, in the first place the hair stripe in the middle. After, Texturizes the hair. In this case you can help you a spray of Styling or of a dry shampoo, which will provide texture and more volume in just a few seconds. Next, a natural bristle brush passes to carry all the hair to the neck area. Recognize it with the hands and, instead of collecting with a rubber, do it with a clamp. As you can see, there are varied hairstyle options with which to look equally spectacular as with the Clean look. Although you don’t have to say goodbye to this hairstyle forever, how about changing from time to time? (Tagstotranslate) Beauty

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