Reprinted from: Compression Stockings and More
Why Don’t Men Need Compression Stockings?
By Gregory
Because Guy’s legs…
■ Don’t get tired or achy from standing or sitting for long periods of time
■ Don’t swell (edema)
■ Don’t get varicose veins or spider veins
■ Don’t have any risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)
■ Don’t have any risk of venous issues
■ Don’t get circulation problems in the veins
This all sounds pretty silly doesn’t it? Nevertheless... it is of course all not true. Wouldn’t it be awesome if this was actually all true and we could always be a beacon of health and have strength like Superman?
Unfortunately for many of us things don’t go that way. Men and women alike may have to deal with some or all of the above stated conditions and discomforts at some time of their life. It is also pretty clear that the longer one ignores seemingly minor symptoms like achiness, tiredness, mild swelling or smaller varicose veins the worse things may become as time marches on.
Many men try to be real “Macho” when they get an ache or pain and just suck it up. However, with some things just sucking it up or dealing with it may not be the best course of action. When it comes to venous issues preventative care and treatment measures for more minor symptoms and conditions could really make a difference. Taking action early on could prevent more serious and agonizing problems that may likely occur down the road if things are left unattended.
The point I am trying to get to here is that men can benefit from wearing compression and support hosiery just as much as women. Men definitely need to pay attention to their leg health too. We only get one pair and they have to last us a life time. Most of us make sure our cars get regular care and maintenance but many men tend to neglect caring for their legs and in particular their leg veins.
Before you think about shopping for compression stockings or support pantyhose you do need to discuss your symptoms with your physician. He will also be able to help you determine which level of graduated compression or support hosiery you will need. Before you can purchase compression hosiery you will have to accurately measure your legs for proper sizing and fit of your compression stockings.
For additional information please also read our posts…
Can Real Men Wear Compression Stockings?
NYLON GENE NOTE: I really enjoyed the author's little bit of facetiousness in pointing out the inconsistencies in we men's outlook on wearing something that could have such a huge beneficial impact on our health.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Men Don’t Need Compression Stockings and Support Hose or Do They? | Compression Stockings & More
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Venous Disease Called Silent Killer | ScrippsNews
Venous Disease Called Silent Killer | ScrippsNews
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Spanx For Men: Mantyhose Comparison
The 9tailors article begs the question: If ManSpanx are such a great thing, why would full-length tights or hose for men be so very bad? Let's compare the two.
Both are intended to provide some moderate degree of compression--around the midsection, and the legs. The only difference is SFM are limited only to the upper thighs. However, what about guys who have lower leg circulation problems, suffer from tired, achy legs, etc? Wouldn't ManSpanx that extended down to the lower legs also be beneficial in that situation? So, why would someone be accepting of ManSpanx and yet be so critical of mantyhose? I would suggest it's based less on rational thinking and more on ingrained mental paradigms that only need to be shifted. Probably the most significant difference between ManSpanx and mantyhose is whether they have feet in them. Obviously, ManSpanx do not. For some reason, this seems to be the biggest sticking point many people have with male legwear. It can be nearly indistinguishable at a distance from women's footless tights--but if they have feet in them, some have difficulty getting past this. For those who would draw an absolute line in the sand at wearing any sort of footed legwear, there are quite a few styles of mantyhose offered by ActivSkin, et al, that are footless. In addition, an overlooked benefit of footed hosiery is that it can make socks unneccessary, which also helps avoid feeling too hot. If footed legwear is worn with socks in cold weather or workplaces, they can provide supplemental warmth beyond what socks alone provide.
Another difference is that some forms of hose for men are sheer, like the pantyhose with which many are familiar. Yet, before rejecting sheer legwear for men out of hand, consider this. Sheer fabric is much lighter weight, and therefore cooler, than the material ManSpanx--or runner's tight--are made from. If you wear them under your pants, you'll be less likely to feel overheated throughout your day. Some of the 'early adopters' have already come to the realization that they can also be worn with shorts in settings where short pants are appropriate. The vast majority of people don't even notice sheer hosiery worn with shorts if a skintone-matching color is worn. For the time being--until more men gain enough confidence that societal perceptions have changed greatly--those wearing mantyhose with shorts remain in the minority.
So, I welcome the proliferation of Spanx For Men. I hope it will further the continual evolution of the public mindset, and cause that segment that is still ignorant of the realities surrounding the men's legwear trend to further educate themselves and therefore open their minds just a bit more. This will result in fewer being quick to reject this emerging phenomenon.
As I say in the tagline for The Nylon Gene: we continue to, "change hearts & minds: from pantyhose... to mantyhose."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Stars & Stripes | Can Nylon Stockings Prevent Blisters on Marches? - Military Use for Pantyhose
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| Soldier being treated by medic for blisters |
The article's author readily admits his days of long marches are well past, so he can't speak with firsthand authority on this. So he consulted Army Lt. Colonel Christopher Garver, among others, to see how widespread wearing of nylon hosiery is in the military, and whether it works.
Col. Garver, a 10-year infantry veteran, reported “There were guys I know who wore nylons because it worked for their feet.” Currently serving as a spokesman for the Army, he notes that some wear pantyhose and others wear specialized socks that also wick away sweat. The choice depends primarily on individual preference.
Dr. Stephen Pribut, a podiatrist in Washington DC, recommends the socks over pantyhose because the Coolmax socks can keep the moisture away from the feet--which can also contribute to blisters. Of course, in hot climates, pantyhose are going to be cooler than socks.
Pribut stressed that servicemembers should use whatever solution works best for them. “If someone has successfully used pantyhose, it's OK with me. The main thing is it's really important to go with what’s worked well in the past.”
The takeaway from the article is that if wearing pantyhose under socks keeps soldier's blister free, the author says to 'go for it.' He suggests we call them "Freedom Stockings."
Of course, they may not be aware there are options available that are more specifically designed for men than off-the-shelf pantyhose. ActivSkin has long been a supporter of the military, and tries to offer discounts to servicemen and their families sending care packages to them. If you have a male member of the military stationed overseas, consider sending them a pair of ActivSkin to try out. When a father living in my neighborhood shipped out to Iraq last year, I donated two pair of A677s and they seemed to be well received.
An additional item of note: the value of nylon legwear to soldiers on long marches is directly transferable to outdoorsmen as well. A hunter or camper hiking over rough terrain into a distant campsite or deer stand can benefit in the same way. Not only will pantyhose protect from blisters while hiking, they are also effective at keeping ticks off the lower body, and horseback riders report beneficial effects at avoiding or minimizing saddle sores, as well.
So, the rumors are true. Some of our military men have been wearing pantyhose, and they're seeing benefits from it. If you are one who thinks pantyhose equals feminine, I wouldn't recommend saying it out loud to the next Marine you meet... at least until you make sure his M16 is unloaded.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
SkinKiss Caffeinated Mantyhose - National caffeine | Examiner.com
Restrictive caffeinated pantyhose work out with a fury - National caffeine Examiner.com
The article links to clinical testing results on the SKIN KISS website, which provide further details for those interested. According to the blog author (and the test results), the caffeine in the hosiery also have the effect that most of us are accustomed to when we drink coffee--"resistance to fatigue". Who would've thought you could keep yourself awake with a pair of pantyhose? But, apparently that's the case.
I noted with some interest that the author apparently had few if any qualms about trying out pantyhose while researching this article. As a guy who's been wearing them for better leg circulation for years, I can attest to how much they can benefit guys who don't suffer from stereotypical hangups that can close us off from things that could be helpful to us. I suspect his willingness to give them a try is a product of the big shift in public perception of the men's legwear concept (aka, mantyhose) in recent years.
Ten years ago, hardly any male would dare admit having even TRIED wearing pantyhose--even if researching an article--let alone actually consider taking it up. Today, however, if a guy walks down a busy downtown street wearing hose with a pair of shorts, hardly anyone gives so much as a second glance. I can attest to this from firsthand experience, as anyone who's read this blog for any length of time is aware. Men's legwear may not have become commonplace yet, but it's certainly lost those misinformed association as for women only. If people pay any attention at all, they typically assume there must be some sort of medical/leg health reason behind it.
He seemed to be somewhat taken with the concept, but wished for some caffeine mantyhose that were designed for the male body (fly opening, more room in front, etc.). He may not be aware how many sources now sell tights and hose that ARE made specifically for men--although none are caffeine-infused (yet). Who knows, maybe that'll be the next big idea from ActivSkin?...
Friday, August 20, 2010
Pantyhose For Longer Life...
A reader shared this link to an old story from 2003. Not sure how I missed it, but I'm reprinting it here for he benefit of all Nylon Gene readers. Needless to say, this certainly bolsters the reasons behind the latest mantyhose trend. [-Steve]
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Photo courtesy of The Nylon Gene |
March 1, 2003
By: AP Medical Correspondent (from CNN.com Archives)
NEW ENGLAND – A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine today touted some remarkable claims in life extension and cancer research.
Describing the discovery as "nothing short of a breakthrough", Dr. Brian Schiff took to the podium for yesterday's press release. "We may have a few doctors smirking now, but of most them have not yet seen the research."
Schiff explained that the research project has been on-going for the last 15 years, compiling data, reviewing medical records, and conducting case studies. "Our team includes some of the most respected medical professionals from around the world. -When we say this reseach is valid, we are staking our reputations on it".
The theory behind the study comes from a Johns Hopkins University study that found a correlation between telangiectasias (spider veins) and longevity. An ancient oriental cure was to bind the legs of the afflicted person. It not only aided, but often cured this malady. The side-effects of which were noted to be: reduced sicknesses, longevity and a recovery of strength.
"The trick to 'ancient leg binding' was not to bind the legs too tight", explained Schiff. "restiction of blood flow (arterial insufficiency) is not what is intended here. Systolic blood pressure in the two major arteries of the body has to be increased, but not restricted. Pantyhose seem to achieve this perfectly. The correct systolic blood pressure (systolic blood pressure is maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts) forces the plaque build-up out of the heart and arteries harmlessly into the liver to be filtered. It also prevents cancerous cells from attaching themselves to the pulminary walls or other cells".
"We are talking about two major blood arteries (pathways) sped up by mild constriction, similiar to a garden hose when gently squeezed. The increased speed of the blood flow without constant calistentation (extreme excersize) not only improves the purifying process but also (in effect) 'wipes clean' the interior vascular (vein) linings". Dr. Schiff also noted that even patients with existing heart conditions due to plaque build-up in arteries -sinus and atrioventricular nodes, may benefit. "We're finding increasing proof that the use of a mild arterial restiction during sleep can actually increase health".
"Whether this study is embraced is not our goal. Our findings are clear and we will continue our research.".
Saturday, January 30, 2010
GoGo Therafirm Legwear
I read a post on "Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma" about this graduated compression legwear. The tights, pantyhose, and trouser socks that GoGo Therafirm sells are for women, which would not normally be a topic of conversation here on The Nylon Gene. However, I liked the discussion of benefits provided by compression hosiery. It reads very much like the reasons behind male legwear, or 'mantyhose' that we've been discussing and promoting for some time now.
Longtime Nylon Gene readers are aware of the means by which compression hosiery facilitates improved leg circulation (Leg Troubles Know No Gender Boundaries). The Ruminations posting describes the following activities that are made more comfortable by wearing a pair of GoGo Legwear:
In addition to the foregoing, GoGo Healthy's website includes two additional activities where women with tired, achy legs can benefit from wearing them:
Our Twenty-Something Momma blogger describes women dealing with all sorts of unpleasant discomforts at the end of the day: tired, aching legs, swollen feet, appearance of varicose veins or spider veins over time. She identifies GoGo Therafirm hosiery as a solution. I say, "you bet!"
legs as you go!
The only thing I would add: If women who engage in the foregoing activities suffer from these things and can benefit from compression hosiery, wouldn't the same thing be true for men?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Informative Article on Support Hosiery
The following article appeared on the Jobst website: The Benefits of Compression Socks - Dealing With Varicose Veins. Jobst is a maker of medical compression hosiery, targeted toward those with more severe leg circulation problems. Although they provide products for those with beginning stages of leg problems, anything more than support socks for men seems to be treated as an afterthough--which I will discuss later.
The article provides useful information on leg circulation problems and how support hosiery can help alleviate them. It's worth reading as long as you include a few caveats while doing so...
First, the articles are primarily directed at those suffering from more advanced leg conditions, which tend to require more specialized (and more expensive) products like those in which they specialize. The effect of non-medical grade support hosiery is given only only passing notice. This is understandable since there is less experimentally-quantifiable information available regarding the contribution of non-medical grade support hosiery on leg circulation. That's not to say there is none, however.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, "The single most important thing a person can do to slow down the development of new varicose veins is to wear graduated compression support stockings as much as possible during the day." They also list "wearing elastic support stockings" as a means of reducing the chances of getting new varicose and spider veins. In addition, a 2001 study cited by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery concluded that, "Use of lightweight (low compression), ready-to-wear gradient compression hosiery is very effective in improving symptoms of discomfort, swelling, fatigue, aching, as well as leg tightness."
As I have written elsewhere on this blog, the article acknowledges that a significant portion of the population will eventually suffer from some sort of leg circulation problem, including venous insufficiency and related issues. And, of course, it's important to consult your physician when these problems become worse and varicose veins begin to appear, to make sure medical intervention is not necessary.
The article is also limited in that it focuses entirely on compression socks, although I've seen similar ones that include discussion of support hosiery as well. The trouble with focusing only on compression socks is that oftentimes the problems extend above the knee. In those cases, thigh-high or waist-high hosiery is obviously more appropriate. This is where the advice given in this article and others like it becomes confusing and a bit awkward.
The awkwardness comes from the fact that there are multiple varieties of waist-high support legwear styles (e.g., tights and sheer pantyhose) offered for women suffering from poor leg circulation. But when it comes to men, very few of the companies offer anything above the knee. Those that do have very limited options and one has to read between the lines to discern which are intended for males.
One could infer from the product offerings that there is a physiological difference between men and women that precludes any sort of venous insufficiency from occuring further up than the calf. Of course, there is no reason to believe anything of the sort. In fact, studies indicate that men are nearly as likely as women to suffer from some sort of leg circulation problem by the time they reach age 50 (see above: Health & Human Services). Yet none make any distinction about men's problems being confined to below the knee.
Why, then, would there not be equal numbers of men's products available to address those with leg circulation problems higher up? The answer seems clear. Prior cultural inhibitions against men wearing tights (sheer or otherwise) have prevented them from availing themselves of a viable solution to the aching and cramping of which so many complain. I personally discovered this when I was first directed by my doctor to try wearing support socks. I found that the elastic band at the top binds at the knee, and they did nothing to relieve achiness higher up. My doctor subsequently responded by suggesting I try wearing L'eggs Sheer Energy pantyhose.
This was because there were no male products offered by Futuro, Jobst, Ames-Walker, or other providers of medical compression hosiery--unless one is suffering from more serious leg problems. Products directed towards those conditions are very expensive, ranging from $50 a pair and up--and also quite uncomfortable to wear. You have to be in a lot of pain and discomfort to make the trade-off to wear these. Fortunately, I discovered ACTIVSKIN around that time, and was able to buy comfortable, inexpensive legwear that alleviated the chronic leg aches and heaviness I was feeling.
Although ACTIVSKIN does't claim to provide any sort of standardized compression in its legwear, for comparison sake I've tried on the Ultra Sheer by Futuro in 8-15 mmHg. To me, it feels very similar in compression to ACTIVSKIN's Style A2019 or A677. The UltraSheer cost around $20, placing them at the very low end of the medical compression hosiery price scale.
As for men's products from other companies, little has changed in the ten years since I first started wearing support hosiery. If you look at a Jobst Product Guide, you'll see that 8-15 mmHG compression (mild) is recommended for tired, aching legs; or minor ankle, leg and foot swelling. For women, the guide recommends UltraSheer pantyhose and for
men: the Men's Dress product (socks).
Moderate compression (15-20 mmHG) is recommended for minor varicosities; tired, aching legs; and minor ankle, leg and foot swelling. For women, the guide recommends the same products, plus their Opaque compression socks. For men, it recommends a heavier support sock. There is an added category of Unisex, which includes two kinds of socks (ActiveWear and Relief) and one type of waist-high legwear, called Custom Seamless Soft. However, the product page for Custom Seamless Soft doesn't give any indication that is intended for men as well as women. One has to look very closely to discover that Jobst has any thigh- or waist-high products intended for men.
Ames-Walker, another leading seller of medical compression hosiery has little different to offer men with upper leg circulation problems or a dislike of elastic bands in support socks. Although they offer 17 varieties of support socks, there is only one waist-high product available for men, the Men's Waist Leotard that retails for about $90.
Solidea comes the closest to providing leg support products specifically tailored for men, with their 'Panty Plus'. It's a full-length, body-hugging compression pant with a built-in fly opening. At $110 each, men will be hard pressed to buy more than one, however. Otherwise, their offerings are either calf-socks or shaper briefs.
The bottom line is that Futuro, Jobst, Ames-Walker, Sigvaris, et al, are an excellent choice if you suffer from serious leg circulation issues and your doctor recommends compression therapy with a higher level of compression, say 20 mmHg or more. Although they don't cater to men who need above-the-knee products they do have something that can help if you look closely.
However, if your problem doesn't rise to the level of medical treatment, and you want to proactively help 'energize' tired, achy legs by improving circulation, ACTIVSKIN may be the ideal solution for you. I know it's helped me keep my legs in good shape after the beginnings of spider veins began to creep in. They've not progressed in the 10 years since I've been wearing support hose. At the time I first started wearing them, I never dreamed I'd end up working for the company that sold them. If I weren't such a believer in what we do, I wouldn't be here now.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Men's Legwear: Library of Articles
I've written a number of articles, in press release form, over the past nine months or so, with the intent of having them published to a wider audience. However, I thought Nylon Gene readers may appreciate having access to them here on the blog. The links will take you to my Google Docs storage location, where you can read or download these documents. I would encourage you all to share them with acquaintances, colleagues or family members who might benefit from the many and varied practical benefits of legwear...
Click on links below to be taken to a downloadable PDF document. [NOTE: The list is not yet complete. Check back frequently, as I will post the remainder of the documents soon]
Men's Hosiery: A Little Background
Leg Circulation Problems Know No Gender Boundaries
For Runners, Mantyhose Fends Off Chill, Energizes Legs
For Cyclists, Mantyhose Fends Off Chill, Energizes Legs - July 20, 2009
Hunters Turn to Mantyhose for Relief From the Elements
Mantyhose: Golfers' Latest Weapon Against Weather, Fatigue
Ladies, Does Your Guy Wear Pantyhose? Maybe He Should.
Civil Engineer to Mantyhose Marketer: A Very Unusual Career Transition
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
'Mantyhose' Interview on Broad Topics/LA Talk Radio
Just finished the latest interview, this time with the ladies of "Broad Topics" on LA Talk Radio and it went very well. My sincere thanks go out to Laura, Joan, Kelly and Jillian for making it such an enjoyable experience. We had fun as we chatted for about 17 minutes on air about a wide range of topics related to legwear ... [NOTE: Audio/slideshow link now available--see below]
We started out with me describing how I made the transition from civil engineer to marketing men's pantyhose, and they thought it was pretty cool how I took that risk to follow something so different from what I'd done up to that point. From there, we moved on to a discussion on how support hosiery helps promote good leg circulation and ease discomfort that so many men complain of as they enter their late thirties and beyond.
After that, the discussion ranged from what sort of reception I received from people I encounter while doing my job promoting 'mantyhose', to what's different about men's pantyhose, or how my wife felt about my new career path. Their follow-up discussion was very positive, too.
Basically, we had a lot of fun with the interview. If you didn't have a chance to listen live, follow one of the links above to the show and download the audio. The beginning has a good intro, and the rest of the interview begins at 30:00. I'll be making my own recording of the audio available in some format as soon as I can. A podcast will be posted on the Broad Topics website at the following location (http://broadtopics.podomatic.com/), keep checking back as it wasn't there the last time I looked.
AUDIO/VID LINK: You can listen to the complete audio here (Length = 22:29):
The audio was previously made into a video slide show on YouTube also. To listen/watch the slideshow, either go to YouTube or you can see each of the three parts by clicking the embedded links below (YouTube limits uploaded videos to a maximum of 10 minutes in length, so the interview had to be divided into three segments.):
PART 1 OF 3:
PART 2 OF 3:
PART 3 OF 3:
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Ladies, Does Your Guy Wear Pantyhose?... Maybe He Should
I've published a new article on The Examiner as titled above. It deals with the issues wives and girlfriends may have when they first discover that their husband or boyfriend has begun wearing sheer or opaque legwear for one of the various reasons for which men have been taking up the trend of late. The full article can be found on my Columbus Men's Legwear Examiner page, or by clicking here. Please feel free to ReTweet this or share it on your Facebook pages, etc. as much as you like.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Athletes Hope Stockings Can Improve Blood Flow
The following article appeared this week in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. It does a pretty good job of describing the benefits that support hosiery--such as ACTIVSKIN Legwear--can provide to runners and other athletes.
Athletes hope stockings can improve blood flow - Hawaii Features - Starbulletin.com
Several of the various studies cited found performance enhancement from improved bloodflow in the legs, although not all of them confirmed this result. However, most did find that 'athletes experienced reduced muscle soreness and recovered from exercise more quickly." Since the majority of athletes tend to fall into the 'weekend warrior' category--rather than elite athletes such as those studied--we might expect this to be a significant benefit to potential ACTIVSKIN customers.
The article didn't focus on this, but I've posted articles here before noting the climate control benefit of nylon/lycra legwear for runners, cyclists and other outdoor athletes. In addition to the aforementioned leg compression benefits, sheer or thin opaque legwear initially provides a moderate degree of insulation for bare legs when it's cold out, yet does not cause overheating when the internal body temperature rises during exercise.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Leg Problems Know No Gender Boundaries
The following article on leg health benefits of men's legwear was originally written as a press release several months ago, and more recently published as an Examiner.com article, as referenced from The Nylon Gene last week. Here is the article as it originally appeared.
by Steve Newman
GRANVILLE/OHIO, USA – September 21, 2009 — If you’re nearing your forties, chances are you’re a man who suffers from leg cramps, achiness, or varicose veins, or you know one who does. You may even be one of those unfortunates to whom Mother Nature chose to send her wake-up call even earlier, possibly in your thirties. If you work in an ‘at-risk’ profession, the problem is even more pervasive. Although most leg support products are directed toward women, up to 45% of American men also suffer from some form of vein problem[i].
To add insult to injury, if you’ve complained to your doctor about it, you’ve probably been told to either try support socks or, if the problem extends above the calf, to use expensive medical-grade compression hosiery. Many men subsequently return to their doctor and either report that the socks don’t address higher up problems, or the medical-grade hosiery are too tight, hot and difficult to put on. Having no ‘middle road’ to offer, medical professionals typically resort to sending their patient to the local drugstore to pick up a pair of L’eggs® Sheer Energy® pantyhose, or something similar. While this is certainly a workable solution, most men are squeamish about wearing women’s hosiery, and as a result, many go without anything to alleviate their pain and discomfort. Of those who have worn women’s brands, they would prefer support hosiery designed for the male body. The new men’s legwear includes such features as a fly opening and sizes up to 6’-4” height.
Some men opt to just ‘grin and bear it’ hoping they can just work through the discomfort. While this may seem to be a workable—albeit unpleasant—solution, when you ignore issues with leg circulation, the consequences do not just go away. Instead, they generally become progressively worse.
The Problem, In A Nutshell
Venous circulation problems arise from a variety of causes. If you are sedentary—sitting for extended periods of time without elevating your legs, or spending many hours standing (cashiers, chefs, surgeons, et al)—these constitute additional risk factors. The veins in your legs do a lot of work carrying all that blood upward to the heart, working against gravity the whole way. To avoid backflow, they are equipped with tiny one-way valves all along their length. When your muscles contract they assist those little valves in forcing blood through your veins. As you age, vein walls can begin to weaken and stretch, making the valves less effective at moving blood, which can begin to pool in the lower legs. Pooled blood places added pressure on the vein walls, exacerbating the problem further and leading to the ‘heavy’ feeling experienced by many men, as well as women, who have venous insufficiency. Weakened blood vessel walls can then begin to bulge under the strain, creating visible signs of varicose veins.
Cramping and achiness generally accompany these visible symptoms, as well. Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions occurring mainly in older adults. They can disrupt sleep, cause tenderness, muscle fatigue, and spasms. They are very common, affecting up to 70% of people over age 50, and some studies suggest that roughly one in two persons over 50 suffer from varicose veins[2]. In many cases it is impossible to determine the specific cause, because they can arise from many sources.
Treatment Options
In addition to massage, exercise, improved diet, and drugs—elastic compression therapy can also help when your veins have trouble doing it on their own. This is simply the wearing of nylon/spandex hosiery during the day, which applies sufficient pressure to provide support to leg muscles and veins to facilitate good circulation. Wearing compression legwear enhances blood flow, which gets more oxygen to your leg muscles, energizing them all day. As a result, leg cramps can be diminished or even eliminated altogether by this simple measure.
Not to mention the support provided to weakened blood vessels associated with varicose veins. It doesn’t take much compression to provide some relief. Although they won’t ‘cure’ varicose veins that have already formed, wearing support hosiery can help prevent the condition from progressively worsening, requiring more invasive procedures to treat it. Prevention is the key, because once they appear you can only keep them from getting worse. The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services’ FAQs on varicose veins states, “The single most important thing a person can do to slow the development of new varicose veins is to wear graduated compression support hosiery as much as possible during the day[3].”
New Solutions for Men
Women have long realized the benefits of support hosiery, having dozens of brands of support tights and pantyhose to choose from. Unfortunately for men, our cultural bias has associated full-length hosiery or tights strictly with women’s wear, and this has prevented many men from discovering an effective solution.That has changed considerably in the past 10 years, since ActivSkin (http://www.activskin.com/) arrived on the scene and began selling sheer and opaque hosiery designed especially for men. During that time, barriers have fallen and mental paradigms have shifted, as the company has worked tirelessly to develop a masculine concept for legwear that sheds those unwarranted stereotypes, and in so doing provides an avenue for men to proactively pursue improved leg health. Now, men can confidently wear a product that can help ward off advancement of varicose veins and other effects of poor venous circulation. Although several European companies have begun selling men’s hosiery in the ensuing years, ActivSkin is still the only U.S. company doing so, and remains the market leader and innovator in men’s legwear. Their sheer Styles A577, A677 and A2019; and opaque Styles A869/A879 are the most popular for men with leg circulation problems. Style A4012 provides a unique combination of patterned dress socks on the lower leg with a semi-sheer upper portion that is cooler than opaque tights in the warmer months.
As the population ages, we’ve become much more attuned to preventative health measures—preferring proactive to reactive. When men begin seeing early signs of varicose veins, they want to take countermeasures to help prevent it from advancing to a point where they must resort to invasive treatments.
Today’s man has become more confident in his masculinity, too. He is much less prone to be squeamish over products that women have long known to be beneficial. The emerging mindset is, “if it’s helpful, I don’t care if it’s a ‘girls’ or ‘guys’ product. Does it get the job done?” Toward that end, men’s hosiery has emerged from a fringe concept, and is moving past the edges of consumer awareness on it’s way to becoming the next big thing.
Today, men are also more attuned to the aesthetic benefits of support hosiery. ActivSkin legwear comes in a variety of colors and sheerness levels, so men don’t have to forego their shorts just because they’re wearing support legwear. Many an older guy is surprised and flattered when a female acquaintance compliments him on how good his legs look. Unless he opts for colors that contrast his skin, most people don’t even realize he’s wearing hosiery. And when they do, they are often complimentary of his self-confidence for not being restrained by outdated stereotypes. Once upon a time, men weren’t supposed to ‘care’ about their appearance, but that has changed considerably of late, with men using moisturizers, facial cleansers, hair coloring, hair removal, etc. to improve their look and maybe squeeze a few more years of youthful glow out of their body. The same holds true for those guys who would otherwise be ready to hang up their shorts due to self-consciousness over the condition of their legs.
“Our sales for last year were the best ever,” says Steve Newman, director of marketing for ActivSkin. “As men are discovering that legwear can be a truly unisex product, they’re turning to support hosiery in a big way to help keep their legs feeling good.”
There are, of course, no guarantees that wearing compression hose will stop leg cramps, but the company has received dozens of testimonials to that effect (several of which are posted on their web site) and has helped hundreds, if not thousands of men find relief. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and look into it further.
[1] U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, The National Women’s Health & Information Center ((http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/varicose-spider-veins.cfm#C)
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid, (http://www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/varicose-spider-veins.cfm#K)
###
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
News-Press Article, "He's Got Legs! It Takes a Real Man to Test Latest Fashion Trend"
The Santa Barbara (CA) News-Press ran an extensive story on men's legwear and shapewear on Monday of this week (Sept. 14th) on the front page of their Life Section. The article focused extensively on ActivSkin legwear and the recently introduced Core Precision undershirt by Ecumen, and how they can serve as 'shaper' garments for men looking to shave a few inches off their bodies, without resorting to all that exercise stuff. You can access the article by clicking on this link, or the one provided in the "Legwear In the News" list in the right-hand column of this blog.
While we don't spend a great deal of effort promoting the 'shaper' qualities of our legwear, several styles do in fact 'suck things in' enough to help a guy fit into his clothes a little easier, and thus improve his appearance a bit. We sent the reporter/editor a couple of pairs of our legwear for use in the story. The two styles they used were A582 (in black) and A2019 (in tan). The A582 has a very snug shaper brief that was probably the pair that the test subject (Mr. Johnson) tore up in his first trial.
We always try to provide very specific instructions for putting on legwear--especially when guys with absolutely no experience in donning hosiery are testing it out for a newspaper story like this. This time was no different, either. But, as the reporter told me later during our interview, they purposely did not share the instructions with him for the first trial, just to see how he would do on his own. Thus, there's little surprise he shredded the first pair. For the second, he was provided with the instructions, and it seems to have made a big difference.
We were very pleased with the article. It was a very in-depth look at men's legwear, which was reflected in the very lengthy interview I gave over the phone. The reporter asked a wide range of questions that showed he was truly interested in learning more about men's legwear.
For those who are interested in our other shaper products, we offer a nylon/spandex brief nicknamed, "Ab-Sense" (Style A313, $13.99 each) that comes up high on the abdomen and can be counted on to suck in the ol' beer gut a bit, and will stay up without rolling down around your waist. So, click on the link and enjoy the article.
Monday, September 14, 2009
He's Got Legs! - Santa Barbara News-Press
He’s got legs!
It takes a real man to test the latest fashion ‘trend’—shapewear for guys. Pete Johnson, co-owner of The Brewhouse, is just the man to do it.
read on for the text from the Santa Barbara News-Press article that featured ActivSkin Legwear...
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
By DAVE MASON
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
It happens to women all the time, and now it's happening to a big guy who likes to make beer.
“Oops,” Pete Johnson says from behind a bedroom door at his Santa Barbara house. “I've got a run in them already. They're like pantyhose.”
He had just leaped into “mantyhose.”
Things are now so quiet at his home that you can hear the birds softly chirping outside and the tick, tick, tick of a nearby living room clock.
Mr. Johnson, 54, is thinking.
“Hmmm,” he says, after finding out that putting on the ActivSkin Legwear for Men isn't like throwing on a pair of jeans.
Softly grunting, he tries bunching up the hose. Now he's got it!
He puts shorts on over the leg wear and a T-shirt over a Core Precision undershirt. A few minutes ago, he was wearing the shirt backwards before figuring out which side is the front. It's tagless.
“I feel skinnier already,” Mr. Johnson had said after correctly getting into the shirt, part of men's shapewear. At the News-Press' request, Mr. Johnson agreed to wear a special undershirt and men's leg wear to see their impact on appearance and comfort. The newspaper picked him because he's a fairly big guy at 5 foot 8 and 210 pounds. He admits he has a beer gut. And he's a good sport with a good sense of humor.
In other words, he's the right man for this job.
Now fully dressed, a smiling Mr. Johnson walks proudly out of his bedroom. He doesn't seem to mind the panty– er, mantyhose. “It almost looks like a good tan. I can almost get by; people will think it's just my legs.”
Wearing shorts, a T-shirt and short boots, he walks out to his driveway and puts a tape measure around his waist: 42 inches.
“I lost 2 inches from my belly,” says Mr. Johnson, who already had lost 10 pounds during the past month of dieting and swimming.
Looking again at his legs, he notes, “It doesn't look too bad.
“Actually, it's pretty comfortable,” he says, looking up again. “They're not hot. My clothes go over them pretty easily. It feels fairly normal. It's not grinding. It seems to move naturally.
“I'm going to a Dodgers game,” he says, adding that he might keep them on for that.
His shorts cover the run he had put in the stocking's left leg. “I didn't realize how tight it would be in my leg. I guess it's a skill putting on pantyhose.” He explains he learned quickly to bundle them up.
Did he have any hesitation about trying them on?
“A little bit, but it sounded silly and fun,” Mr. Johnson says. “I make beer for a living; how serious is that?”
Still, “I've never been a fashion model before,” he says with a slight grin. “It did seem kind of strange.”
But not only does he put on the special garments; he keeps them on for most of the day and keeps an informal log about it.
“... 9:35 (a.m.) Sitting, eating is no problem. Still pretty comfortable,” he writes a few minutes after the News-Press leaves him to his adventure.
“ ... 9:55. Clothes slide over these things easily. In fact, my shorts keep falling down. I'm forced to punch a new hole in my belt to keep them up.
“ ... 10:15. I show my wife (at her office at Vista del Monte, a retirement community). Jean (Johnson) doesn't see much change.” (After this, Mr. Johnson drives to The Brewhouse, which he co-owns.)
“ ... 10:55. Starting to itch around my armpits.
“ ... 11:02. I need to use the restroom. Those of who drink beer regularly would appreciate a fly in these things.” (Well, there are some styles with that special feature, Steve Newman, ActivSkin marketing director, later tells the News-Press.)
The News-Press catches up again with Mr. Johnson at a table in the Brewhouse at 2 p.m., just after he talked about the special leg wear with customers. Still wearing the undergarments, he says no one noticed his stockings until he pointed them out. He had talked to three women and four men, a mix of his customers and employees, about it.
“You'd think that would make a visible difference,” he says about being suddenly slimmer. “People diet for a year to lose 2 inches.”
But a bartender expresses surprise as the News-Press tells her Mr. Johnson is wearing hosiery.
“Oh, wow, I didn't notice,” says Amy Roarty, 29, of Santa Barbara, with a genuine look of surprise. “I think it's awesome.”
She adds she doesn't think it makes Mr. Johnson less manly. “Not in this age.”
In fact, a customer, Sheri Benninghoven of Santa Barbara, sitting at a nearby table, compliments Mr. Johnson. “He looks fabulous,” she says, then immediately adds, “He makes quite good beer.”
Terren Braen, the wife of Mr. Johnson's brewery assistant Paul Nichols, is sitting at the bar and says Mr. Johnson had told her that he would be wearing the undergarments.
“I thought he looked pretty good, but if he hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed,” she says. “He looks pretty relaxed.”
Not that she's surprised he would wear the garments. “Pete? No, he'll try anything.
“I was teasing him that he should wear it (the manty hose) under lederhosen,” she says, chuckling.
She adds she could imagine other men, including those going to their 20-year high school reunion, wearing the shapewear to look slimmer.
As Mrs. Braen talks, Mr. Johnson doesn't seem embarrassed about wearing the garments.
“I'm fairly secure about my masculinity,” he says, now sitting at a table with a manly drink, a mug of dark beer. “A man does what he pleases and doesn't worry about what anyone else thinks.”
Now there's a little twinkle in his eye. His voice gets a bit softer.
“As long my wife doesn't mind, of course.”
His smile grows bigger.
But Mr. Johnson has changed his mind about one thing: He's not wearing the manty hose to the Dodgers' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. For one thing, he says, it would be awkward to go into the stadium restroom in Los Angeles.
For another, “I would feel silly sitting there (and watching the game) in pantyhose,” he says.
After getting photographed by the News-Press in his brewery, Mr. Johnson walks toward a rear bathroom to take off the underwear.
He's a little more experienced. Taking off the shirt requires a technique.
“Instead of pulling it over your head, you drop your shoulders and pull your arms out,” he says just before walking into the restroom.
As a few customers chat away in the background, Mr. Johnson quietly removes the mantyhose and shirt. This time he doesn't put a run in it.
“The hose comes off really easily,” he says from behind the bathroom door.
And on that note, with the undergarments now a memory, he leaves for the Dodgers game.
A few days later, Mr. Johnson, who still has the mantyhose and the special shirt, hasn't put them on again. “You know, I'd be surprised if I wore them,” he says by phone. “If I were young and trying to impress women, I'd be likely to, but the main reason I'm attempting to lose weight is to feel better and be healthier. I'm past the time of trying to impress people with my appearance.
“My wife already knows what I look like, and she's the only one I'm trying to impress,” he says.
On the other hand, the undershirt did take 2 inches off his waist. “It's easier than giving up beer,” he says.
And, Mr. Johnson says, the undergarments aren't uncomfortable. “But I'm not wearing high heels.”
Would he, if the News-Press asked him?
“Probably not,” he says with a big smile.
This man will go only so far.
e-mail: dmason@newspress.com
COPYRIGHT ©2009
SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS
FOR MEN'S LEGS
Wearing “mantyhose” makes the legs feel better.
So said Steve Newman, 49. Mr. Newman started wearing ActivSkin Legwear for Men before he became the marketing director in March for Granville, Ohio-based GLS Hosiery, which has manufactured the leg wear since 1999.
He said the mantyhose has helped his and other men's legs to feel more comfortable during workouts such as long bike rides. He credited the leg wear for reducing aches and cramps, improving circulation in the legs and compressing the leg muscles so they don't bounce during a workout.
He noted football players like wearing the hosiery for games in cold climates and that he likes to wear them during his runs on cold mornings. In addition, he said, horse riders like the hosiery because it prevents chafing.
The ActivSkin line began when Steve Katz, a friend of Mr. Newman, started GLS Hosiery to provide a product for men who had, for various comfort-related reasons, been wearing pantyhose.
Sales have grown consistently and are up 20 percent from last year, Mr. Newman said. But he noted many men haven't wanted their friends and family to know they're wearing the leg wear. “They were afraid of being teased about mantyhose. But that has started to change. We've heard from our customers that a lot of them are wearing them more openly.”
As more men wear the product, the stigma has decreased, he said. Today, about 40 percent of ActivSkin customers are men ages 45 to 55 and 35 percent are between 35 and 45.
Not sold in stores, ActivSkin Legwear for Men is available at www.activskin.com. Prices vary from $6.99 to $17.99.
Customers ordering at the site can get a 10 percent discount by typing in the code word, GNRA22.
Styles are both sheer and opaque, and colors are tan, black and beige. Some of the opaque hosiery is footless.
For more information, read Mr. Newman's blog at http://www.nylongene.com/.
SPECIAL UNDERSHIRT FOR MEN
Men have seen their waist reduced by as much as 3 inches after putting on Core Precision undershirts, according to Corie Chung, Ecumen co-founder and marketing director.
And the shirt compresses flab elsewhere and makes everything firmer, Miss Chung said by phone from New York City.
Core Precision undershirts are being sold at www.ecumen.com and www.Saks.com. The nearest Saks Fifth Avenue store that sells them is in Beverly Hills.
Ecumen, which manufactures the shirts through a plant in Israel, is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Prices are $89 for tank tops, $99 for short-sleeved shirts and $109 for long-sleeved tops.
Customers have credited the shirts with improving their posture, Miss Chung said. She added the shirts may help customers relieve their back pain. She said her company worked with a physical therapist in designing it.
The specially designed Lycra-polyester shirts compress “love handles” and other flab by pulling back on the shoulders, she said. The focus, she explained, is on the body core, which includes the waist area and the back behind it.
“It adjusts your body mass to all the right places,” she said.
The shirts, which are similar to gym workout tops, pulls moisture away from the body, she said. “The fabric is very breathable. “It actually makes you feel thinner,” she said. “It's shaped like the body you'd like to have, and you can use it to get the body you'd like to have during workouts.”
She said sales have grown as more men have become aware of the shirts. “We don't use the word ‘shapewear.’ We call it precision wear, fitness wear. ‘Shapewear’ is more of a female term.”
Men, she said, are concerned about having a sculptured, muscular look.
“It does show off your muscles,” she said, but added, “It's not faking; there's no padding.”
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Leg troubles know no gender boundaries
Leg troubles know no gender boundaries Just a quick note to introduce The Nylon Gene readers to the newest writer for The Examiner, your truly... I was recently accepted as one of their writers and will be writing on men's issues, with a special focus on men's legwear. In fact, my title appears as, "Men's Legwear Examiner." Make sure and stop by to read the article. And keep your eyes open for more to come...
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
ACTIVSKIN Introduces New Style
ACTIVSKIN is pleased to introduce another new product and a totally new concept in men's legwear. Style A560 is now available for immediate shipment. A560 is like no other legwear we know of, and we've sampled a lot of hose in the past 10 years! They are somewhere between opaque tights and sheer pantyhose. The fabric is less transparent than typical pantyhose, yet much more sheer than opaque tights. These are full-support legwear and feel great as they massage your legs all day. When we first tried the prototype shipment, I was very pleased with how well they energized my legs, and I'm sure you'll be glad you tried them as well. You won't want to take them off!The most noteworthy feature is they're sheer to the waist (STW). Typically, STW pantyhose do not provide good leg support, tear or run easily, and tend to slide down throughout the day*. These are very durable, provide good leg compression, and stay up as well as any control-top legwear. They also have a wide, comfortable waistband and sheer toe (known as 'sandal foot' in women's pantyhose). With such robust fabric, the A560s don't need reinforced toes. I don't think I would be exaggerating at all if I said this is one of our best products yet!
The A560 fabric has only a moderate degree of shine. Because of the opaqueness of the material over the skin, the Tan-colored variety appears darker than our more sheer products when you put them on. They feature a crotch gusset (a diamond-shaped piece of material to avoid stress concentrations) for strength and longer life. Although STW, the hip and waist area still provides comfortable control to hold up the abs and minimize the flab. A560 comes in five sizes (M, L, XL, XXL, and T) and three colors (TAN, BEIGE, BLACK). The photo at right shows how they'll look in black if you wear them with shorts. It's a sharp look for autmn, as we start to get into those first few chilly mornings.Best of all is the economical price. Despite generous amount of costly spandex, these are priced at only $11.99. There's no telling how long the introductory price will remain, so hurry and order a few pairs today. You won't regret it. As with all our products, ACTIVSKIN offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, meaning if you purchase and do not like the product it can be returned for a full refund of purchase price within 10 days.
You can check it out at: http://www.comfilon.com/catalogsheerpantyhose.asp [SCROLL DOWN TO A560]
TWITTER DISCOUNT: Attention all Twitter users! I've been posting Tweets announcing the new Style A560. Get on Twitter and follow me at 'newmansa' and look for one of my posts. I'm offering an Offer Code that's good for a 10% discount (until Aug. 31st) on any order of three or more products that includes at least one pair of A560.*NOTE: Tights and pantyhose tend to slide down because the material is stretched when you pull them up to your waist and they want to contract back to their original shape. STW legwear provides very little (beside the waistband) to prevent this. Control-top (CT) pantyhose do more than hold in your stomach. They also squeeze your hips and waist and tend to resist that sliding down tendency. Although they are STW, ACTIVSKIN A560 tights resist sliding down because they fit so snugly against the body.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Health Fair Notes
Our display attracted the attention of all of the attendees, who I had a chance to speak to as they visited and asked questions. One of the remarkable things I noted was how virtually invisible my ActivSkin legwear was to all who stopped to chat with me. As I greeted them and shared information about the emerging men's legwear trend, I would mention how much more comfortable these that I was wearing were than the medical grade compression hosiery often prescribed for more serious leg circulation issues. When I mentioned that I was wearing them right then, without exception they would look down and exclaim that they had not thought I was wearing them. Often this was followed by remarks as to how they had been looking at my legs as they walked up and thinking to themselves that, "he's not wearing them". These folks were very surprised when they learned I did in fact have them on. I was wearing ActivSkin Style A2019 in Tan. This is a full support style that is somewhat dark in color, and not one of our sheerer styles.
I don't typically consider this to be one of the styles that would be so hard to notice on someone, but the experience at the health fair certainly reinforces the notion that guys can wear skin colored ActivSkin legwear and need not be concerned with calling attention to the fact they are wearing it. Many guys are like myself and prefer to wear shorts when possible. So if need to wear support legwear to find relief from leg circulation issues they need not feel they need to give up their shorts in the process.The attendees all seemed to be quite interested in the men's legwear trend, and most had not heard of it before this. As we find in so many venues, they were fairly open-minded about it all, too. Some even had a little fun with it as well. While the event organizer was holding a microphone for me while I was drawing tickets for the door prizes we gave away (two free pairs of ActivSkin legwear), an older lady who had been by the tent earlier came running up to me. As I looked down in puzzlement, she rubbed her hand up and down my lower leg to prove to herself that I was really wearing them! It was a hoot.
So, while we didn't get the chance to tell hundreds and hundreds of people about ActivSkin and men's legwear in general, we did get to try out our setup for participating in these sort of events in the future, which will make us well prepared for larger ones the next time.
View Steve Newman's profile
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