Damaging
Conditions of the hair and their Treatment
Graying of hair | Split
ends | Dull hair | Dry Hair | Hair
loss | Dry Scalp
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
-
Poor blood circulation
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Improper diet
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Un-cleanliness
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Use of strong shampoo
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Insufficient rinsing of hair
after shampooing
Types of Dandruff
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Dry type
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Greasy or waxy type
Cause for dry dandruff
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Poor blood circulation
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Lack of nerve stimulation
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Emotional disturbance
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Glandular disturbance
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Not producing sufficient oil
Treatment of dry dandruff
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.
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Causes of Graying hair
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.
What can be done
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.
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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.
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Dull Hair
Cause:- 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
Cause :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.
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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. Cause:
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.
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Dry Scalp
Cause: 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.
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