In women hair loss isn’t as straightforward as it is in the majority of men. For men, nearly 90 percent of all hair loss cases are associated with male pattern baldness. However, female hair loss may be triggered due to a variety of circumstances and conditions. Some women even experience hair loss as a result of health problems or menopause.

If you have started noticing that you are losing more hair than usual, you might be researching what’s causing the problem. There are a number of ways to diagnose hair loss. One of them is through a scalp biopsy.

Scalp Biopsy

In this procedure, a small portion of the scalp is removed from the head of the patient. That portion is then examined by a dermatologist under a microscope to determine what’s causing hair loss.

The dermatologist will first clean and disinfect the area that needs to be biopsied and then mark it. Any hair that is present there will be trimmed and then the area will be anesthetized. After that the dermatologist will place a punch tool on top of the area and using a needle, they will remove the excised skin. The small opening, resulting from the procedure, will then be closed.

How the Diagnosis Is Made?

After the removal of biopsy, it’s either snap frozen with the help of liquid nitrogen or stored in some kind of chemical solution. The specimen is then sliced for examination using a specialized tool. The slices are very small and each one is used separately for further examination. Each slice is examined under a microscope. Once the samples have been examined, they are stored or preserved, destroyed or sent for further testing

One important thing that dermatologist will look for is how much hairs are there in the telogen phase. Only 10 to 20 percent of hair should be present in this stage. If there are more, it means that there is a problem. Another thing that the dermatologist will look at is the health and state of the hair follicle. Are there any structural abnormities or is miniaturization occurring in any sample? These could be signs of recession and thinning resulting from Androgenetic Alopecia or other problems that affect the growth cycle.

Is a Scalp Biopsy Worth It?

A scalp biopsy may allow the dermatologist to determine what is causing your hair loss which is why it’s worth it. In order to properly treat your hair loss, it is important for the dermatologist to know the cause. When they have this information, they can target the problem and treat it more effectively.

After you receive the results from the dermatologist, you can decide how to move forward with hair loss treatment. The treatment options available to you will depend on the cause/type of hair loss. For example, if Androgenetic Alopecia is causing hair loss, the dermatologist may recommend Propecia or Rogaine.

If you have a hair loss problem, consult with your doctor and get a scalp biopsy done if they recommend it.

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As a busy mom, sitting down to watch TV isn’t always an option; you’re too much on the go for that. Between dropping off the kids at school, picking them up again and taking them to different events, any music or knowledge needs to be acquired through the audio medium. Podcasts are one of the best ways to do this because you can listen in the car, at home, or running errands.

Here are the best four podcasts in 2019 for busy Moms.

Atlanta Monster

To give you a bit of a mind twisting thriller, Atlanta Monster, covering the Atlanta Child Murders, have raised their game for 2019. Now they’re after the Zodiac Killer in their Monster: The Zodiac Killer podcast. Matt Fredrick is the host with Payne Lindsey as executive producer.

The Zodiac is infamous as an unidentified criminal who killed couples on lovers’ lanes in the 60s and 70s. He sent cryptic messages and ciphers some of which have never been solved to this day. Many people have been suggested as the Zodiac, but despite his DNA being on file, the crime remains unsolved.

Dare I Say

The Dare I Say podcast is designed to bring together a couple of BFFs who happen to be celebrities and listen in. The likes of Jane Fonda, Oliva Wilde (she’s the host) and Rosario Dawson let loose on a range of interesting topics. Some of these topics include various types of activism, the taboo subject of sexuality and the more accepted ‘body positive’ perspective.

When you’re listening in, be sure to catch every word by using quality headphones. You can find the best headphones reviewed here to decide which ones to pick up.

The Mom Hour

The Mom Hour is a good podcast for mothers who need a bit of focus or encouragement. There are plenty of stories from other mothers who share their experiences dealing with their own children and when they were babies too. Other subjects like health scares that sent them off to see their doctor are covered as well; they don’t only talk about the pleasant topics.

They also think beyond taking care of children with their ‘More than Mom’ episodes which is now an ongoing series, and they discuss other topics like future careers and more. It is a well-rounded podcast for busy moms.

Murderville

With the catchy title, Murderville rides the wave of true crime dramas that are taking over TV and podcasts. Gripping eager listeners keen to learn about a cold case, this podcast followers that trend. It was originally only available to Stitcher Premium subscribers but now anyone can listen to Jordan Smith and Liliana Segura investigate the slaying of Donna Brown, a night manager at Taco Bell. One person, Devonia Inman is already incarcerated for the crime that happened in Adel, a town with a population of only 5,000 people.

We hope you like our selections. Two are specifically mom-related and the other two are true crime, which is all the rage right now. What are your favorites? Maybe you can recommend some to our readers?

To read more on topics like this, check out the life hacks category.

Your dog may be your best friend, but using a crate for them is far from being cruel. Crate training is considered to be one of the fastest and least stressful ways to teach certain behaviors, and it alleviates a number of other problems that an unruly dog can run into. In other words, it can keep your trusty companion happy and stop you from worrying all the time.

Benefits of a Dog Crate

Also known as flight kennels, a dog crate is usually made of plastic or any collapsible metallic pen that can accommodate a small or large dog. Keep in mind that the pen you choose should have enough room to allow your dog to move around and turn in. Remember, the crate is NOT a punishment – it’s just a place where your pooch can hang around in without supervision. Read on to learn more about the benefits this simple pen can have for your furry companion:

Potty Training Made Easy

Potty training can be a messy affair, especially for inexperienced dog owners. According to the American Kennel Club, crate training is the best way to reduce that mess and make sure that your pooch can indicate when it wants to go. This is especially beneficial for puppies since they have little to no control over their bowel movements.

Before using a crate to potty train your dog, there are some things you should be aware of. If you have an adult dog, it can go up to 8 hours without peeing, but those numbers can differ according to its age. Puppies that are younger than 6 months should not be kept in a crate for more than 3 hours or they will poop or pee in it.

A Safe Space for your Dog

Your dog goes through a roller coaster of emotions when it is afraid or feeling stressed out. Dogs can feel anxious at your absence when you leave them at home for a while, get scared of the vacuum cleaner, and stress out if there are too many people around it. When we feel these emotions, we deal with them by isolating ourselves. A crate can give your dog that space to calm itself down and return to a peaceful state.

To ensure this, make sure that your dog has a comfortable crate to retreat to. The crate should have a soft and cozy blanket or a comfortable dog bed and some toys for the dog to distract itself with.

Stress-Free Travel

Contrary to popular belief, not every dog loves to travel in a moving vehicle. Even if your furry friend loves to go on long drives with you, allowing it to roam around the car while you are driving can lead to a serious accident. By crating them in the car in the back seat, you can prevent that from happening and still make your pooch happy.

A crate is also a good option for plane travel, but make sure that it is big enough to make your pet comfortable. Get a bigger one if your dog has outgrown the crate you have before traveling anywhere.

Modify Bad Behavior

A crate should never be used as a prison! If you make your dog stay in it each time it acts out, it will create a fuss and make your life miserable as well. Even though dogs love to snuggle up in comfy corners, if the crate makes them feel confined, they will try to avoid it at all cost.

To prevent that from happening, give your dog treats and speak to it calmly before taking them into the crate. Use it only when the behavior is completely unacceptable (such as barking at all hours of the night) or if you want to make sure it does not run around in fear during a thunderstorm.

The bottom line is that besides being a home for your dog, a crate can be a safe haven for it. Whether you want to confine it for a while for its own safety or to make it calm down, it is a pet-friendly option compared to a shock collar, for example.

What to Look For in a Dog Crate

Depending on the size and age of your furry friend, you have a range of crate options to choose from. Shopping for one for the first time may be overwhelming at first because of the varieties on offer. There are basically 3 you can choose from namely wire, plastic, and fabric crates.

If you plan on traveling with your pet, you should go for a crate that is made from fabric. These are ideal for unsupervised confinement and are quite comfortable. However, if you want one for your home, go for the wire or plastic varieties. These are sturdier and ideal for long-term confinement.

Of course, this does not mean you should get the biggest you can get your hands on! Your dog might use the extra space as its own personal bathroom. It should only have enough space for it stand up in, make a complete turn, and lounge in.

The bottom line is that the crate you choose for your dog should be its happy place. Introducing it to the pen aggressively or confining it even if it struggles to get in will only backfire. To make the crate a safe and comfortable place for your best friend, toss a treat inside and allow it to go in on its own to get it. Make the space more tempting by placing its favorite toys and a comfy dog bed in there. You can also place its feeding bowl in there to make the space more appealing.

A crate can be a second home for your dog and a safe space that you won’t stress out leaving it in when you have friends over or when you have to run a quick errand. However, make sure that the one you choose can fulfill your dog’s emotional and basic needs. That way you won’t suffer from buyer’s regret or feel guilty.

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Many people suffer from allergies, and it can be a source of frustration, irritation, and pain. While adults understand the effects of an allergy, it can be difficult for children to cope with. Take hay fever, for example. It produces itchy, watery eyes and sneezing due to the body trying to fight off pollen grains as if they are attacking the immune system. Adults will know that they should avoid rubbing the eye area as they may swell and become even worse. However, for a child, scratching the area can be impossible to resist. Similarly, conditions such as eczema are made worse by scratching the dry areas of skin.

While prescription and over-the-counter medications are the first port of call for severe allergy sufferers, if you have children who suffer from minor allergies, these tips may be helpful to relieve symptoms.

1. Apply Cool Packs

When an area of the body swells through inflammation, such as puffy eyes, applying something cool may help to reduce the effects. You can buy cool packs to keep in the fridge or freezer that are designed for skin application, or you can use a small bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Never apply directly to the skin without wrapping first as it can cause ice burns.

2. Dry Laundry

If you dry your laundry outside, you may be trapping pollen grains and other allergens within the fibers. Try drying your children’s clothing and bedding inside to reduce their exposure to allergens in the outdoor environment. However, if your allergies are caused by indoor factors, such as dust, drying laundry indoors could make some allergies worse.

3. Keep a Food Diary

Get into the habit of writing down what your child eats throughout the day. This helps to build up a picture over time so that when you notice their allergy symptoms are worse, you are able to look back through the food diary and see if there are any foods that could be triggering an allergic reaction. For example, you might notice that cow’s milk is always present in the diary on the days when your child develops a rash. Once you have singled out a problem food or drink, you can cut it out of the diet or replace it, such as getting milk from a camel milk farm instead of the grocery store.

4. Talk to your Children

If your child has an allergy that stops them from normal activities, like playing outside with their friends, it can be a source of frustration and upset. Keep an open dialogue with your child so that they understand what is happening in their body, and that it is ok to feel angry sometimes. Try to have other things for your child to do instead, or have play dates at home where allergy symptoms are more manageable.

It is not nice for any parent to see their child’s quality of life being affected by an allergy, and although they can often be managed by medicines, it is not ideal. One positive thing is that childhood allergies often become less severe as they get older. In the meantime, help them manage by following the advice from your doctor and trying out some of these tips.

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Do you know how to maintain your home plumbing? A few simple steps can save you enormous amounts of time and money. Here are five tips you need to know.

Owning a home is a lot of responsibility, and you need to make sure that you keep up with it. Unfortunately, if you don’t, you could end up in trouble.

An untended home can make you sick and cost you enormous amounts of money. While your usual maintenance does cost a little bit of time and money, it’s worth it in the end because you save a lot more than you ever spend.

Wondering what it takes to keep your home plumbing in top shape? Here are five plumbing tips that will help you keep everything flowing smoothly.

Manage Your Drains

Your drains take wastewater, sewage, and odors away from your home. If you don’t maintain them, though, they will send all of that material into your home.

The best way to keep your drains in order is to work with plumbers in Richmond Hill to have an annual plumbing inspection. They can see what problems are starting to form and take care of it before it becomes a big deal.

If you notice slow drains, you probably have a clog that needs attention. You can prevent clogs with mesh drain covers, but once you have one you’ll need to treat it right away. Otherwise, it can build up and cause blockages, cracks, and leaks.

Check For Leaks

Leaks can come in a drip or in a pour, and both are dangerous. In fact, drips go unnoticed longer, which can cause even more damage than an obvious crack in a pipe.

How can you tell if you have a leak? You may be able to hear it, even behind a wall. You can also notice dark spots on the walls or ceilings near where a leak is happening. If you notice mould or odour, that’s another sign.

To find and repair leaks quickly, check for water, rust, and mould near plumbing fixtures regularly. Look under the sinks, in the basement, and near the water heater. If you notice anything, contact a plumber to fix the issue right away.

Be careful when drilling holes or using nails in your walls – it’s vital to make sure you don’t puncture any pipes in the process.

Be Careful About Flushing

Your toilet should be used only for human waste and toilet paper. Never use your toilet to dispose of any other waste. People are sometimes tempted to flush hair, sanitary products, paper towels, or a variety of other types of trash down the toilet.

If you do that, you’ll risk clogging the toilet and causing serious problems with your sewage system. Even “flushable wipes” that are advertised as being toilet safe can cause backups in your system.

Take Care of Your Water Heater

Your water heater does a lot to keep things comfortable in your home. Without hot water, you don’t have warm showers, clean clothes, or shiny dishes. However, if your water heater is not properly maintained, it can cause significant damage to your house as well.

Wonder how to take care of a water heater? You should have it inspected and maintained annually during your plumbing checkup. However, there are things to do yourself as well.

First, lower the temperature a bit. If you keep it near 49°C, you’ll save a lot of money on energy costs. Plus, you’ll lower the chance of scalding yourself when using hot water.

Secondly, work to remove sediment a few times a year. You can do this by draining about 25% of the tank into a bucket – until the water runs clear. This will not only help keep things clean and extend the life of your water heater, it will help the unit run more quietly.

Finally, check the anode rod every few years. You need to replace the rod if it’s less than 8cm long, coated with calcium, or has more than 15cm of core steel wire exposed.

Be Careful If You DIY

Some minor repairs can be easy to handle on your own. However, there are mistakes you can make as well. To avoid damaging your plumbing more than you help it, follow these tips.

Avoid overtightening the joints when you install plumbing in your home. This can result in broken bolts and stripped screws. Just stick with hand-tightening with the help of some plumbing tape.

Remember to shut off all water lines before you begin a project. It seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many homeowners forget to do it. You’ll end up with a huge mess!

Finally, be sure that you match up your piping if you make any replacements. There are a wide variety of materials for pipes, and sizes can vary too. Don’t just “make it work” with tape or silicone. You’ll end up with leaks and failed pipes that cause enormous problems.

If you have any doubt about your project, call in a professional plumber. It pays to have things done correctly!

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