Dandruff
Everyone's had itchy scalp or
dandruff at some time or another. Dandruff is the presence of small white
flakes usually appearing on the scalp and the hair. It is known by medical term
"pityriasis" which is most commonly found in people between the ages
of 12 and 80. The direct cause of dandruff is the excessive shedding of
outermost cells. The indirect causes are
1.
Poor blood circulation
2.
Improper diet
3.
Un-cleanliness
4.
Use of strong shampoo
5.
Insufficient rinsing of hair after shampooing
Types of Dandruff
1.
Dry type
2.
Greasy or waxy type
Cause for dry dandruff
1.
Poor blood circulation
2.
Lack of nerve stimulation
3.
Emotional disturbance
4.
Glandular disturbance
5.
Not producing sufficient oil
Treatment of dry dandruff
- Scalp treatment (ozone treatment)
- Herbal shampoo
- Hot oil therapy
- Use of antiseptic lotion
- Henna treatment
Waxy type dandruff is mixed with
sebum which makes the scalp itchy. If the scales are torn off, bleeding or
oozing may occur.
Treatment
The best thing to do is to keep
the scalp clean, and do oil massage twice in a week.
Herbal Treatment
- Massage scalp with essential oils like rosemary,
cedar, lemon and eucalyptus to reduce flaking itchiness of the scalp.
- 'Methi' seeds are also helpful in fighting dandruff.
Soak them overnight, grind the next morning, mix in the juice of neem
leaves and apply on the scalp .
- In half cup of olive oil, put a small amount of
camphor warm it lightly and apply to the scalp parting the hair straight
and give a circular massage for the entire scalp.
- Avoid fatty foods and red meat.
Graying of Hair
Causes :- The colour of the hair depends on the presence of pigment
granules in the cortex of the hair. With age there is a gradual dilution of
pigment in the hair, so that in different hairs the full range of colours from
normal to white can be found.
Grey hair can some times appear
earlier. Rapid graying of hair may occur after severe emotional stress. In
certain internal diseases hair might gray early. This is especially true of
diseases of the thyroid gland and certain types of anemia's. Localised patches
of gray hair can appear in certain areas. Perming, colouring and bleaching work
to promote graying.
Cure :- The usual and the most effective way of dealing with
graying of hair is dyeing it. There are several types of dyes available. The
oxidative dyes are the most versatile and the most frequently used. But dyeing
has its drawbacks- once you start dyeing it is seen to increase gray hairs.
Henna is also used because apart from its safety, it is a superb conditioner.
Having calcium pantothenate in the dose of 200 mg daily is a good treatment.
Split Ends
Causes :- The most common causes of spilt ends are; use of heated
appliances (Hair dryers) and chemical processing (like using dies), using the
wrong type of brush and comb and general neglect.
Cure :- Since hair grows 1.25 cm. a month, a trim of 6.3 cm. every
five weeks should suffice. Switching to
a wide -toothed, non-metal comb or brush with a padded base and widely spaced
bristles to prevent getting trapped at the base of the brush. Avoiding the
hottest temperature setting on your hair dryer. Using a conditioning treatment
on the ends of hair.
Dull Hair
Causes :- In healthy hair, the cuticle lies flat and reflects the
light. Harsh chemicals and environment assaults can cause healthy hair to
become rough and damaged, spoiling the reflective surface. The cause of dull
hair is a build-up left by styling products or the conditioning agent that
two-in-one products contain. Some times an illness, like flue releases toxins
from the body through the sebaceous glands in the scalp, coating the hair,
eventually leading to listless hair.
Cure :- The most important rule is to keep your hair clean. It is
better to follow a well- balanced diet -protein and iron are essential for
shiny hair, as is vitamin C.
Dry Hair
Causes :- The main reason for dry hair is the over use of heated
appliances, perming, colouring, bleaching, incorrect use of products and
environmental damage.
Cure :- Switch to a shampoo and a rinse-out conditioner for dry
hair. Don't apply conditioner to the roots, it will leave hair heavy and limp.
At least once or twice a week, use a deep conditioning treatment to
re-moisturise. Alternatively, you can rub hair oil between your palm and then
massage it into dry areas. Avoid rollers and tight elastic bands on the brittle
hair as they may cause it to break.
Hair Loss
It is quite natural to lose about
fifty to hundred a day. More than this amount of hair loss could result from
any one of a number of factors and may be cause for concern.
Causes :- Daily repetition of certain hairstyles, like hair tightly
pulled back, braided or wrapped around rollers can pull out individual hairs.
Such pulling can damage and destroy follicles completely and the hair will not
grow back.Emotional stress may bring on
alppecia areata, a disorder that results in bald patches on the scalp
and may be associated with changes in the immune system. Emotional stress can
also cause hair to fall from parts of the scalp. Body stress is also known to
cause excessive hair loss. Hair loss can result from pregnancy or begin when a
woman stop taking birth control pills.
Cure :- It is better to see a trichologist if handfuls of hair fall
out after shampooing. For mild hair loss, use products that tone and invigorate
the scalp and stimulate the growth. Scalping massage is good, which aside from
being relaxing and reducing stress levels, loosens and stimulates the scalp and
promotes healthy hair growth.
Most hair loss is temporary, but
when the follicles are destroyed by serious scalp burns, excessive exposure to
x-rays, or vital infection, hair loss can be permanent.
Dry Scalp
Causes :- It may or may not be a cause of dandruff
Cure :- Dry scalp can be controlled by using a very gentle shampoo
and intensive conditioner regularly.
