HAIR DISORDERS (PART 1 OF 2)
1. SPLIT ENDS
Cause:
· Uncut hair can grow up to 80 cm in length.
· It is exposed to daily injuries like combing, brushing, perming and shampooing.
· Since the hair shaft is a dead structure, it cannot be repaired.
· The outer layers might get damaged at the tips, leading to split ends.
Cure:
· Hair-breaking can be prevented by avoiding rubber bands, sharp-toothed combs and brushes, and not combing wet hair.
· Get rid of split ends by trimming your hair, or make them less noticeable by using good conditioners.
2. DANDRUFF
Cause:
· Dandruff is a scalp issue and not a surface problem.
· It is caused by scalp fungus after excessive shedding of dead skin cells from oily or dry scalp.
· Excess production of sebum, the natural oil secreted from glands in the skin, fuels the growth of the dandruff-causing fungus.
· Dandruff is most frequent during the onset of puberty when there are extensive hormonal changes, and in people with an oily scalp.
· Also, disturbance in the body's natural metabolic process is a major cause for dandruff.
· It is usually triggered by a sudden change in climatic conditions, an imbalanced diet leading to dryness of scalp, emotional stress and infrequent shampooing.
Cure:
· A healthy diet high on proteins and regular exercise is crucial to cure dandruff.
· You should also check the effective ingredients of your shampoo like
o coal tar (medically proven to treat dandruff when massaged and left for three to five minutes),
o a combination of salicylic acid and sulphur (achieves a two-way action of clearing flakes and preventing fungal infection),
o ketoconazole (known to be effective in treating severe dandruff), and
o zinc pyrithione (an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, its gentle properties make it suitable for daily use) among others.
· For best results, stick to your anti-dandruff shampoo for a period of three months.
· Put a piece of camphor in coconut oil, place it in the sun for a while, and then massage on your hair to get relief from dandruff and itching.
· Women with a dandruff problem should avoid diets high on salt, sugar and spices.
· If nothing helps, see a dermatologist to check if it's seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis.
to be continued...