SkinEvidence check
Urea Cream for Cracked Heels: What the Comparisons Show
Trials of 25% and 40% creams do not establish that stronger is better. A diabetic heel-fissure study also separates improvement from complete healing.
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Intimate HealthEvidence check
Vaginal Vitamin E for Dryness: What the Suppository and Cream Studies Tested
Small trials tested prepared vaginal products. Their results do not establish a dose, long-term safety or equivalence to estrogen.
PeriodsEvidence check
Vitamin B1 for Period Pain: What the 87% Cure Claim Leaves Out
An older trial's headline combined results after both groups had taken thiamine. Later studies report pain relief, with substantial reporting limitations.
PeriodsEvidence check
Do You Need Vitamin C With Iron Pills? What the Anemia Studies Found
A 440-person trial found comparable hemoglobin recovery with iron alone. A later review found a small benefit, while US and UK guidance disagree.
Intimate HealthEvidence check
Does Vitamin D Prevent Recurring BV? Two Trials Asked Different Questions
Raising vitamin D levels did not reduce recurrence in a U.S. trial. A favorable Iranian study involved symptom-free BV, a different dose and a different outcome.
Odor & SweatEvidence check
Do Zinc Oxide Socks Reduce Foot Odor? What Two Trials Found
The trials measured odor ratings, effects on daily life and pitted keratolysis. A benefit on one measure does not establish a benefit on all three.
Bloating & DigestionEvidence check
Are Home Gut Microbiome Tests Accurate? A Lab Test of 7 Services
Mail-in gut microbiome kits promise a readout of your gut bacteria and a plan to fix them. When US government scientists sent the same standardized stool sample to seven consumer services, the results disagreed so much that the differences between companies were as big as the differences between different people's guts. Here is what that means before you spend money on a kit.
SkinEvidence check
Are You Using Enough Sunscreen? What Studies Show
The SPF on the bottle is measured with a thick layer of 2 milligrams per square centimeter. In everyday life, studies find people apply about a quarter to a half of that, and protection drops fast: in a Danish test, using half the amount gave roughly the square root of the SPF. People also miss parts of the face, especially the eyelids. Here is how much to use and simple ways to close the shortfall.
SkinEvidence check
Brittle, Splitting Nails After 50: What Helps? What Studies Show
Brittle nails that split, peel and break affect up to 1 in 5 people, especially women over 50. An international review of nail experts says the first step is ruling out a cause, then moisturizing and protecting the nails, with biotin and nail lacquers as options. The trials behind those options are small. Here is what the evidence shows and when nail changes need a closer look.
Bladder & Pelvic FloorEvidence check
Can Cutting Salt Stop You Waking to Pee? What Studies Show
Salt may be an overlooked cause of night-time bathroom trips. In a Japanese clinic study of 728 people, those eating more salt had about 3 times the odds of nocturia. When people with high salt intake cut back, their night-time trips fell from about 2.3 to 1.4 a night, while those who didn't cut back saw no change. It wasn't a randomized trial, but it's an easy thing to test. Here is what the research shows.
Sleep & NighttimeEvidence check
Checking the Clock at Night? What Clock-Watching Studies Show
Checking the time when you can't sleep feels harmless, but experiments suggest it isn't. In London studies, people told to watch a clock while falling asleep worried more and took longer to drop off, whether they were good sleepers or had insomnia. In a US sleep center, clock-watching went with worse insomnia and more sleep aid use. Here is what the research shows and what to do instead.
Sleep & NighttimeGuide
Essential Oils in a CPAP Humidifier? Check the Device Instructions
The AirSense 11 guide prohibits scented additives. Bring dryness or congestion to the sleep team instead.
