Surprising Facts About Dandruff

 

If you've spotted the telltale flakes in your hair, read this myth-busting article about what causes dandruff and how to get rid of it. 

If you have an itchy scalp or flakes in your hair, you may be tempted to just reach for the nearest dandruff shampoo. Before you do, read on to find out common misconceptions about the irritating condition — and get experts' advice on dealing with it.
Dandruff is not caused by dryness.
If the skin on your body or face becomes scaly or itchy, your first instinct is probably to reach for a moisturizer. When your scalp is flaky, though, it’s usually the result of too much oil rather than too little. “It’s a common misconception that dandruff is caused by dryness; in reality, it’s usually due to an overgrowth of a harmless yeast,” explains Jessica Wu, M.D., a Los Angeles dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California Medical School. “In some people, the yeast starts to feed on the excess oil and dead skin cells on the scalp, causing the skin cells to shed more frequently and clump into flakes.”

 

You should wash your hair more often.
Normally, dermatologists warn against shampooing your hair every day, the concern being that you’ll strip the scalp and hair of natural oils and cause irritation. Dandruff poses the opposite problem. “Not shampooing enough will only make your dandruff worse — it causes more oil and dead skin cells to accumulate on your scalp, which the yeast and fungi just continue to feed on,” warns Beverly Hills dermatologist Stuart H. Kaplan, M.D. To rid your scalp of dandruff, you need to clean out all the gunk, which a regular shampoo won’t do. Dr. Kaplan recommends a medicated dandruff shampoo (which you can find at drugstores) every day, one that contains ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or zinc. If your hair is coarse, though, and you’re concerned that daily shampooing will make it more brittle, you may want to use a dandruff conditioner too.

A flaky, itchy scalp does not always mean dandruff.
If you don’t see any improvement after washing for a week or two with a medicated shampoo, there might be another culprit. “You could have psoriasis or a skin inflammation. Some hair treatments and certain products with harsh chemicals can create an allergic reaction or sensitivity that dries out your scalp,” says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson, vice president of research and innovation at Englewood Lab. So then, in this case, the flakes would have nothing to do with dandruff. “When dandruff shampoos aren’t cutting it, you’ll want to see a dermatologist, who’ll be able to diagnose your specific condition and prescribe the right remedy to treat it.”

You can get dandruff on your face and body too.
Those oily flakes are not necessarily restricted to your scalp. It’s not uncommon for women to discover dandruff flakes in their eyebrows, around their ears, and along the sides of their nose — anywhere a lot of oil is produced. Usually such scaly patches occur in addition to a flaky scalp — if you have these extra skin-shedding spots, use your dandruff shampoo to gently clean them when you wash your hair.

Dandruff can’t be cured, but it can be controlled.
Unfortunately, if you’re prone to dandruff, it’s most likely a problem that will continue to recur. Still, you don’t have to wait for flakes to make an appearance to start treating them — you can take preemptive action to avoid flare-ups. “Diets high in saturated and trans fats cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which makes dandruff worse,” explains Kaplan. “Avoiding these fats, as well as incorporating varied fruits and veggies that contain zinc and B vitamins, will help keep the flakes at bay.” You may also want to consider taking a probiotic — any of a group of beneficial bacteria that can be found in yogurt or can be taken as a supplement — to combat the overgrowth of yeast.

 

Source: Surprising Facts About Dandruff

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Eight Secrets to Reverse or Cure Hair Loss Naturally

 

How do you Reverse or Cure Hair Loss Naturally?

Not all issues of Hair Loss are permanent and irreversible, some are actually as a result of various factors where we can do something about and are thereby reversible.
Factors such as Lifestyle, Diet, and Nutrition are known to contribute to the case of Alopecia. Yet these can be controlled and reversed Naturally although the change must really have to start from you. If natural means though are not enough, do not lose hope as technology and medicine is also coming up with better discoveries to cure baldness.
However, while conditions that cause baldness such Androgenic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness / Female Pattern Baldness) is not something that can be reversed (although there are claims that says otherwise), it is certain to be a condition that can be prevented from worsening with proper health practice.
The following are Eight Natural Ways you can apply to yourself as a means of Hair Loss Cure should you encounter sudden issues of Hair Loss even though when you think your likelihood of getting bald (based on family history, et cetera) is low:

1. Maintain Good Nutrition

Nutrition is an important aspect of living life to its optimum wellness. Our body is always on the process of wear and tear as we go through our activities in the day and is a process necessary for growth.
However, getting the optimum nutrition required for our health requires a balanced sense of diet which some, if not most, of us are unable to accomplish in a day.
Ultimately, we end up undernourished which significantly affects ourselves overall, including the health of our scalp.
Nutrients that are known commonly to be the cause of Hair Loss among individuals involved Iron, Protein, and B Vitamins. Other nutrients such as Vitamin C, Copper, Zine, and Sulfur are also said to be essential in maintaining a healthy scalp and hair.
If you are a person clinically diagnosed to be Anemic, suffering from conditions resulting to protein deficiency in the body, as well as lack of needed B vitamins in the body, then you are more than likely to suffer hair losses in life.
But experiencing Hair Loss simply as a result of the mentioned nutrients, it can be remedied by making adjustments to one’s diet rich in any of the mentioned nutrients.


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Why Being Pregnant Makes Your Hair Fuller—And Giving Birth Makes It All Fall Out

Everyone who’s had a bun in the oven knows that one of the biggest pregnancy perks is that you suddenly look like you could be in an Herbal Essences commercial, but where exactly does that new hair growth come from? And what makes it fall out after the baby’s born? We went to Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale Medical School, for answers on this hair-raising situation.
“The prevailing wisdom is that hair grows so nicely during pregnancy because women are making a lot of the estrogen hormone,” says Minkin. That’s due to the placenta, which weighs about a pound and looks like a cross between brisket and cooked liver, says Minkin. “You can think of it as being attached to the uterus. It nourishes the baby through the umbilical cord and is also like a hormone factory that keeps pregnancy going and pumps out things like estrogen and progesterone.” While the medical world isn’t exactly sure how estrogen might be linked to hair growth, they do know it can stimulate follicles. “In general, people often don’t realize how much of a role estrogen plays in pregnancy,” says Minkin. “It’s also what gives your body the message to fill your breasts with milk, and it also helps trigger the milk’s release after the baby’s born.”
When you give birth, you’re pushing the placenta out after the baby, losing out on all that extra estrogen you were getting for months. Minkin suspects that sudden decline in hormones could be at the root of post-pregnancy hair loss. So can you use estrogen-based treatments to grow your hair back if you miss its lush pregnancy state? “Some people find them helpful, and some don’t,” says Minkin. Basically, it’s a toss-up.
Another factor that may be at play is that even though giving birth is a natural process, it can be somewhat traumatic. “Sometimes things like having surgery or getting anesthesia can trigger hair loss, but it could even just be the stress of the event of giving birth itself. We see significant hair loss with people who have undergone tremendous shocks or events, so that could be the cause,” says Minkin.
Although it can be terrifying to see more hair in the shower drain than usual, Minkin emphasizes that this is pretty normal. “The majority of women have some degree of hair loss,” she says. If you’re seeing more than you used to before you were pregnant, just think of it as your new normal until your body hopefully evens out. However, if you start pulling out entire clumps of hair or see major thinning, you can make an appointment with your gynecologist to get checked out. “Around three to five percent of women have more severe hair loss than normal after a pregnancy,” says Minkin. “In that case, I’ll perform a test to check thyroid function because its hormones can be involved.” Otherwise, check out these tips to fake thicker, fuller hair—whether you’re a new mom or not.

Source: Hair and Pregnancy

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3 Magical Tips for Soft and Silky Hair

Have you ever looked at some people in complete awe, wondering what they do to maintain such gorgeous hair? “Must be their genes,” you say to convince yourself. Interestingly, though a lot is inherited through the genes, there are people who hamper their health by not keeping track of their diet and lifestyle. They adopt unhealthy habits and most often fail to pay attention to the importance of external care.
Today, your basic hair-care regime is of the utmost importance along with periodical herbal spa treatments to give your locks that extra dose of nourishment. Imagine all that sweat, smoke, heat and pollution getting stuck in your hair, ripping it off its natural radiance and health. While many may succeed at keeping their hair healthy, acquiring that natural radiance and bounce is not an easy task. No matter how long or thick your hair gets, the lack of luster, shine and softness will make it more damage prone.

The significance of natural ingredients takes precedence when it comes to hair care. No amount of artificial application will give you long term result over the sustained nourishment of natural agents. They are easy on the pocket and can be put together in a jiffy to give you the desired results.
1. Diet
Dr, Deepali Bhardwaj, a leading Delhi-based dermatologist emphasises on the importance of a well-balanced diet, “Your diet plays a vital role; what you eat reflects outside on your face, hair and skin. For healthy, shiny and lustrous hair you must not forget those green vegetables, protein, Vitamin C, Omega 3, 6, 9, primrose oil, and Vitamin E among other nutrients,” she noted.

According to Ayurveda, our hair and nails are the extension of our bones. The dhatus or tissues responsible for the growth of our hair and nails come from the bones. Therefore, micronutrients like zinc, magnesium and calcium – essential to bone health – come into play to ensure healthy hair growth as well. According to Ayurveda, a handful of white sesame seeds eaten every morning will meet your daily dose of calcium and magnesium. Your regular diet should ideally be a mix of 1200mg of calcium, 600mg magnesium and 60mg of zinc to ensure optimum hair heath.
2. Protection
“The first step to ensure silky, smooth hair is to avoid any kind of damage to your hair. External application or internal supply of nourishment will all go in vain if your hair is exposed to damaging conditions on a daily basis,” noted Dr. Bhardwaj.
Wash hair on a regular basis and avoid accumulation of sweat and dirt. Keep a check on dandruff or fungal infections. Make sure your head is not suffocated and enough air passes through it.
3. Nourishment
Hair Mask
“Applying a nourishing hair mask right after oiling your hair will give that added nourishment to your hair, which is much needed to make it soft and silky. Natural oils are usually great for softening the texture of your hair. Mahabhringaraj oil is ideal for oiling. You can even apply a combination of pure almond oil and castor oil or, sesame oil with olive oil,” shared a leading beauty expert, Suparna Trikha.

Take 1 mashed avocado and mix it with 1 egg, 2 tsp mayo, 2 tsp honey and juice of half a lemon. Blend it and apply on hair after oiling. Let it sit for 45 minutes and wash off with a mild, herbal shampoo.
Natural Shampoo
“Instead of using chemical-based shampoo, opt for a mix of amla, reetha and shikakai to cleanse your hair and give it an enviable texture,” added Ms. Trikha.
Take 100gm of amla phalli (raw dried amla), 100gm of reetha phalli, and 100gm of shikakai phalli. Soak overnight in water (2 litre), strain and use as shampoo.
External application of ingredients like eggs, yoghurt, avocado, natural oils, bananas and aloe vera has long been associated with rendering hair that spellbinding shine and lustre. Nourish your body from within by eating right. Stay away from artificial and chemical treatments and styling. Live natural, live smart.


Source: 3 Magical Tips for Soft and Silky Hair


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What Causes White Hair at a Young Age?

Most people’s hair turns grey or white as they age, as the hair follicles cease to produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. But some people start seeing their first white hairs before they’re even out of their thirties. Having white hair at a young age can make you stand out from the crowd, but in a few cases it may signal a more serious problem.

Heredity

If your mother or father’s hair turned white at an early age, you may be genetically programmed for premature graying. Your genes determine when production of melanin stops, and your DNA may destine you to platinum hair at an early age.

Vitamin Deficiency

Premature graying could be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, especially a lack of Vitamin B. If you eat a balanced diet and don’t suffer from malnutrition, you may have pernicious anemia. In this form of anemia, your body is unable to absorb Vitamin B-12 from the bloodstream. Consult your doctor. If you test positive for pernicious anemia, you can have regular injections of B-12 to counteract the deficiency.

Source


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Understanding Skin Conditions and Alopecia Areata

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness; there are various types of alopecia, including alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata is a condition that causes a person’s hair to fall out. It is an autoimmune disease; that is, the person’s immune system attacks their own body. In this case, their hair follicles. When this happens, the person’s hair begins to fall out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter. The extent of the hair loss varies; in some cases, it is only in a few spots. In others, the hair loss can be greater.

On rare occasions, the person loses all of the hair on his or her head (alopecia areata totalis) or entire body (alopecia areata universalis).
It is believed that the person’s genetic makeup may trigger the autoimmune reaction of alopecia areata, along with other unknown triggers.

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disease. In some people, hair grows back but falls out again later. In others, hair grows back and remains. Each case is unique. Even if someone loses all of his or her hair, there is a chance that it will grow back.

Who Gets Alopecia Areata?
Anyone can develop alopecia areata; however, your chances of having alopecia areata are slightly greater if you have a relative with the disease. In addition, alopecia areata occurs more often among people who have family members with autoimmune disorders such as diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease.

Can Alopecia Areata Be Cured?
Alopecia areata cannot be cured; however, it can be treated and hair can grow back. In many cases, alopecia areata is treated with drugs that are used for other conditions. Treatment options for alopecia areata include:

Corticosteroids: Anti-inflammatory drugs that are prescribed for autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids can be given as an injection into the scalp or other areas, orally (as a pill), or applied topically (rubbed into the skin) as an ointment, cream, or foam. Response to therapy may be gradual.
Topical contact allergens or sensitizers. This type of therapy may be used if the hair loss is widespread or if it recurs. The inflammation that the treatments cause may promote hair regrowth. Another name for this treatment is topical immunotherapy.
Rogaine (minoxidil): This topical drug is already used as a treatment for pattern baldness. It usually takes about 12 weeks of treatment with Rogaine before hair begins to grow. Results can be disappointing.
Other drugs that are used for alopecia areata with varying degrees of effectiveness include medications used to treat psoriasis and other autoimmune disorder.


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8 Strategies to Battle Baldness

Know how to handle and control hair loss

When a man begins to go bald, two things go down the drain—his hair and his confidence. Some 62 percent of balding guys in a Spanish study said losing their locks could deflate their self-esteem. This isn’t 21st-century superficiality: “Thick hair has always been associated with youth and masculinity,” says Albert Mannes, Ph.D., a University of Pennsylvania researcher who’s studied perceptions of balding. “Hair loss signals aging.”
But baldness can be deceiving: Two-thirds of men face hair loss by age 35, and a bad genetic hand is often to blame. Male-pattern baldness is an inherited sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT, a by-product of testosterone), which leads to finer hair, a receding hairline, and finally a deserted scalp.

That’s why scientists—who may be thinning up top themselves—have put balding in their crosshairs. Read on for new ways to save what’s there, regain what’s gone, or—if it comes to it—learn that you can lose and still win.

1. FIND THE CAUSE OF BALDNESS

Doctors often diagnose balding by sight alone: If your hair is only on the sides and middle top of your head, the bare areas form the letter M (as in male-pattern baldness). But thinning that spreads across your scalp and not to your crown or temples often indicates an underlying health issue.
“Hormonal or nutritional deficiencies, such as thyroid problems, low iron, or low protein, can cause shedding,” says Carolyn Jacob, M.D., the founder of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.
In other words, “don’t assume it’s genetic,” says Marc Avram, M.D., a clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
One hitch: A discernible pattern may take years to emerge, so pinpointing the cause simply by the look of your locks may be difficult.
That’s why Dr. Avram suggests seeing a dermatologist as soon as thinning begins so you can have a scalp biopsy to rule out worrisome triggers. To find a dermatologist specializing in hair loss, go to aad.org/find-a-derm, enter your zip code, and select “hair disorders” as the specialty.

2. SIDE WITH THE SCIENCE ON BALDNESS

Late-night TV ads offer legit fixes for many problems—stains, clogged gutters, subpar pancakes—but balding isn’t one of them.
“Be wary of infomercials or Internet ads touting hair-growing shampoos or pills,” warns Marc Glashofer, M.D., a dermatologist in Long Beach, New York, who specializes in hair loss. “Most haven’t been clinically studied and are usually a waste of your money.”
Stick with the drugs that have been green-lighted by the FDA: finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine).
“Both are better at maintaining what you have than regrowing what you lost,” says George Cotsarelis, M.D., a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Propecia works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but there’s a major side effect to consider: It could mess with nerve-signaling pathways to your penis, resulting in ED and a loused-up libido, a study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found.
Dr. Cotsarelis says most men don’t experience these side effects, but if you’re uneasy about the ED risk, skip the Propecia.
(To learn more about the popular baldness remedy’s side effects, discover The Truth About Propecia.)
As for Rogaine, it’s thought to stimulate hair growth, although scientists aren’t sure how.
“Rogaine often gets a bad rap because people don’t use it correctly,” Dr. Cotsarelis says. “You have to use Rogaine at least twice a day and for at least six months before you see any results. It can actually cause shedding in the first month or two.”
In other words, don’t give up after just a week of slathering it on your scalp.

3. SWITCH SHAMPOOS TO PREVENT BALDNESS

Dozens of shampoos claim to make your hair look thicker, but only one ingredient has been shown to truly preserve your pate: Ketoconazole, an antifungal used to fight dandruff, may save your mane by reducing production of testosterone (and therefore DHT) in hair follicles, say scientists at the University of British Columbia.
In fact, in a Belgian study, balding men who used a 1 percent ketoconazole shampoo two or three times a week for six months saw a 17 percent reduction in hair shedding.

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Time to know about LaoFoYe’s Hair Loss/Genetic Hair Loss Treatment.