Tips For Men New To Using Testosterone Gel
Being diagnosed with low testosterone can bring up a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, you might be glad to finally have an explanation for the varied symptoms you've been struggling with. On the other hand, it can be dismaying to know that the issue boils down to your hormones; it can feel really personal. The good news is that low T is fairly easy to manage these days. You don't need daily shots. You don't even have to take pills. Many men just use a low testosterone androgel, which they apply daily to their skin. Using this gel can take some getting used to, but the following tips should help a lot.
Don't worry too much about rubbing it in.
When you first start using T gel, you may assume you need to rub it in like lotion. But doing this won't really help it absorb any faster, and it will cause more of the gel to be absorbed through the skin on your hands. Most T gels are alcohol-based, so they absorb pretty quickly without you having to rub. Just rub the gel on gently, and leave the area uncovered. The gel will disappear within a few minutes.
Don't wash the area for a half-day or so.
Even once the gel is visibly absorbed, a lot of the testosterone is still in the outer layers of your skin and not yet absorbed into your bloodstream. Washing your skin at this point could wash away this free testosterone, which your body is meant to absorb and use over time. The label on your gel should tell you how long to wait between application and washing. The waiting period will be at least several hours.
Stick to the recommended application sites.
Most T gels should be applied to areas like your shoulders, upper arms, and stomach. The instructions should give you a list of acceptable application sites. It can be tempting to apply the gel in other areas. Sometimes men assume it will go to work quicker, for instance, if they apply it on their groin region. But the testosterone gel makers recommend certain application sites for good reasons. These are areas where you have blood vessels at the right depth for the T to be absorbed well. Don't deviate from these recommended sites, or your T may actually be less effective.
With the tips above, you can gain the maximum benefits from your T gel and adapt to using it well.
