Hair care and cure for hair loss

Such a preparation, if it actually does what it is supposed to do, may endanger the endocrine gland system. There are some things that may be helpful in retarding ordinary bald- ness. Control of dandruff is one. Avoidance of excessive hair wetting is another. It can be helpful, too, to avoid lotions and tonics, to protect the general health of the body, and to give the hair proper, but not excessive, attention and care. Once baldness has arrived, it cannot be cured. If it should be particularly distressing because of your business or profession, we strongly urge that you do not waste money on "hair restorers" but rather spend it on a hairpiece which, if carefully made and fitted, cannot be distinguished from your own hair.  Other Hair and Scalp Problems The hair and the scalp may be affected by many of the same conditions that affect other parts of the skin. Protect your head from irritating chemicals. Don't remove growths of any kind on your own; these should have the attention of a physician. Scalp infections can become serious, affecting glands, even entering the blood to produce blood poisoning.

They can usually be avoided by proper care of scalp and hair, but if an infection does occur, let your physician see, diagnose, and treat it. Head lice (pediculosis capitis) are a common problem in children, readily transmitted from youngster to youngster. While there are many old methods of eliminating them, including laborious use of a fine-tooth comb, new medications are so effective that it is worthwhile having your physician prescribe one and direct you in its safe use. Care should be taken to avoid reinfection by keeping comb and brush clean through boiling or dipping in alcohol. Children also are quite susceptible to ring- worm infections of the scalp. Your physician can cure such infections with little difficulty after he has determined the fungus involved and the medication most suited to eradicating it.  

Hair care dandruff hair restorer

Non-neutralizing home permanent kits depend for their action on the oxidation that takes place when the waving lotion is exposed to air as it dries. So far there is no indication that this can cause any more damage to the hair than would occur if a neutralizer were used, but it may not produce so long-lasting a wave. Baldness we are sorry to have to report that there is no cure for ordinary bald- ness-at least, not thus far. Any miraculous cures you may hear about have nothing to do with ordinary baldness, only with special types. For example, in a condition called alopecia areata, the hair suddenly falls out, often unclamps.

The disease, not fully understood, appears to be connected with tension and other emotional factors. In many cases, the hair will grow back again after the illness has subsided; and if the sufferer has been using a "hair restorer," he may sign a testimonial in good faith crediting it with his new hair growth. Baldness can stem from general ill-health, scalp infections, emotional problems, and diseases such as typhoid fever. The ordinary baldness of men, however, is the result of a combination of being male, one's age, and inheritance and, in medical terms, it is called "male pattern alopecia." Frankly, we do not have available yet a full understanding of ordinary baldness.

We know well enough that the tendency to it runs in certain families; that certain racial groups are more susceptible than others; that it is often associated with aging, perhaps because the fat layer between scalp and skull tends to disappear in men with advancing years. We know that the male sex hormone has something to do with it, as it has with the growth of body hair. And here we think it important to warn you never to take or use any preparation containing hormones or any preparation supposed to stop the action of a body hormone without your physician's advice.

Hair care Hair loss hair growth

An important precaution; if you wish to have your hair dyed is to have a small lock tested first to find out whether the dye will irritate your scalp or cause a general illness; some people have been made seriously ill by hair dye. Always repeat the test process each time you have your hair dyed, because you can develop sensitivity as you go along. Henna is safe but produces only reddish tones and it may make the hair somewhat brittle. There are rinses and tints you can buy in reliable stores; they are generally satisfactory.

They do not wash off your hair should it get wet but do come off during shampooing-an advantage if you change your mind or decide that you like your hair gray after it has turned completely so. It is worth remembering, too, that in many cases white hair may make a person look younger rather than older. Never dye either eyelashes or eyebrows because of the extreme sensitivity of both the eyes and the skin about them. There have been cases of blindness due to eyelash dyeing. A temporary darkener such as mascara is relatively safe but should be used with caution because it may produce irritation.

Permanent Waving Because the intrinsic structure determines whether hair is curly or straight, its character cannot be changed permanently. But hair is pliable and can be stretched and made curly by hot iron or hair curlers. Too much heat dries it out or scorches it. Hair that is too curly can be stretched and straightened. Is permanent waving safe? In the process, chemicals are used to make the hair more pliable so it will take the shape of the curler; another chemical is used to make it hold the new shape. While these chemicals may do little harm to the hair, this is not the vital issue, since hair grows fairly regularly under ordinary circumstances. More important is allergy or sensitivity. Always have a "test curl" made first to be certain you will have no severe reaction. Extreme care should be taken to keep waving lotions from the eyes and from any cuts or sores, and to remove them promptly if they touch any sensitive areas. Don't have permanents more often than absolutely essential, and make certain your beauty parlor operator knows her business, since too strong a solution can injure the hair. Home permanents operate on much the same principle as those used in beauty parlors. There may be greater danger, however, in home permanents because too often a test curl is neglected and there may be some carelessness about keeping the lotion from the eyes and face and from the reach of children. All the lotions are potentially dangerous, so it's important not to grow careless even though you have not yet had any trouble. 

Hair care Hair bleeching dandruff

A moderate amount of sunlight is helpful. For mild dandruff, you can use a lotion which your druggist may have in stock or your physician can prescribe: Mercuric bichloride 0.26 gram Euresol 8.0 cc Spirit of formic acid 30.0 cc Castor oil 8.0 cc Alcohol sufficient to make 240 cc Apply the lotion two or three times a week, rubbing it into the scalp. For persistent dandruff, an ointment can be used, either Pragmatar, which is made by Smith, Kline & French Co., or one your druggist can compound: Sulfur 2 grams Salicylic acid 2 grams Water 10 grams Aquaphor sufficient to make 30 grams Massage a small amount of either ointment into the scalp at night and remove the following morning by shampooing and rinsing. Use only a small amount so the ointment will not cling to the hair and be difficult to remove.

Oily dandruff can be more difficult to clear up. Apply a pure oil such as olive oil a short time before shampooing, to help loosen scales. Add " drop or two (no more) of ammonia to the rinse water, and rub a little vegetable or mineral oil into the scalp afterward. Again, it is important to use great care to prevent re-infecting yourself with your comb and brush; cleanse them thoroughly and often. And be sure any beauty parlor or barber shop you visit uses only sterilized combs and brushes. Almost every type of dandruff, including the severe type accompanied by itching, crusting, or inflammation (seborrheic dermatitis), will improve when treated with a selenium sulfide preparation (Selsun). You will need a prescription from your physician to obtain it. Alboline, Sebulix, Silicare, and Silicote are useful non-greasy preparations, but no preparation we know of actually cures dandruff. The main value of an effective preparation is that it keeps the dandruff under control and makes you wash and brush your hair regularly. Some people like to finish up with a plain shampoo after using a medicated preparation.

Gray Hair Pigment, of course, determines hair color. And hair grays because, for some reason still not understood completely, air spaces form in the hair shaft replacing pigment-usually in middle age, though it may happen prematurely. Graying, despite the stories you may hear, does not happen overnight, although illness has been known to cause rapid onset of gray- ing. As yet, there is no solid evidence that vitamins or anything else can prevent graying or restore original color to hair which has turned gray.

Hair Bleaching Hair can be bleached by ordinary hydrogen peroxide to which a drop of ammonia has been added. Sodium perborate bleaches can be harmful. And all bleaching, in fact, tends to alter hair texture. It is to be expected that new hairs, and new portions of hair round the roots, will grow in with the original color. The Skin, Hair, and Nails / 183 Hair Dyes Hair can also be tinted or dyed. 

Hair and scalp, Hair care

HAIR AND SCALP 

Hair, which grows from the skin, can reflect, as the skin does, the general state of health. For example, dry, coarse hair may be an indication of under activity of the thyroid gland. While hair performs no indispensable function-and countless numbers of bald people live long and healthy lives-attractive, well-groomed hair can be psychologically important. Also, proper hair and scalp care can be important in the control of skin problems.

Care of the Hair

Hair, of course, should be kept clean. That requires a washing no less often than every ten days-more often if the hair tends to be oily. Plain toilet soap is excellent for the purpose, dissolved in a little water if you find it easier to use in liquid form. Good shampoos usually contain little, if anything, more of consequence than soap or detergent, along with some perfume to which you may happen to be allergic. Poor shampoos may contain an alkali or borax that may irritate the scalp. Washing removes both natural oil and dirt, and no shampoo we are aware of actually fulfills any claim that it restores oil while washing the hair. For oily hair, a tincture of green soap is satisfactory. For dry hair, a Castile shampoo is good. Don't forget to wash comb and brush at least as often as you wash your hair. After washing, rinse hair thoroughly. If your water supply is hard, soap is apt to leave a deposit on the hair. Some hard water can be softened by boiling; in other cases, distilling is necessary, but a nuisance. If you have very hard water and soap doesn't rinse off properly, you may want to use a soap less detergent.

While drying the hair, do not rub too hard. Sunlight or a hair dryer that blows air on the hair is good. So is gentle brushing during the drying. A little massage is helpful-but don't be too rough; just press the scalp with your fingers and move it about a little to stimulate the fatty tissue under the scalp. Do this once a day. One hundred daily strokes with a hairbrush is an old custom that deserves continuing; it is excellent for the hair, giving it a sleek and glossy look, and stimulating the glands that supply the natural oil. If your hair is dry, rub in a little pure olive oil or other oil after shampooing, or more often if necessary. Lanolin, somewhat overrated, works no magic. 

EXCESS HAIR IN WOMEN - How to remove it?

EXCESS HAIR IN WOMEN

Excess hair can be unattractive and it is certainly understandable to want to be rid of it. But consider trying bleach first, using ordinary peroxide to which a drop of ammonia has been added. Avoid bleaches containing sodium perborate. If you still find that the excess hair must be removed, the simplest method is to shave. An electric razor-and there are some, of course, made especially for women-will not toughen the skin. And despite what you may have heard, shaving does not encourage growth of hair or make the hair coarse.

It is easier and better to shave than to rub hair off with an abrasive such as pumice, and far less painful than pulling out many hairs with tweezers. Be careful about use of a chemical depilatory on the face. Waxes, though painful, are safer. If you do use a chemical depilatory on the body, be careful not to get it in the eyes; and always try it on a small spot of skin to make certain that it is not irritating for you. Don't use a chemical depilatory more often than once every two weeks, and discontinue promptly if the skin itches or becomes inflamed.

No depilatory removes hair permanently. The only permanent hair removal method is electrolysis, which involves insertion of a tiny needle The Skin, Hair, and Nails / 167 into the hair follicle and passing an electric current through the needle to destroy the root. This is a tedious, difficult method and is useful only for removal of hair from small areas. Some women have had hair successfully removed this way from upper lip or cheek. Keep away from quacks or people who advertise miraculous methods of hair removal. Your physician can help you find an expert who can do the work well and safely, avoiding scarring and pitting. 

Care for The Skin, HAir And Nails - How to save from infection

THE SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS 

THE SKIN is the body's largest organ, having an area in an average 150- pound person of 17 to 20 square feet and weighing about 6 pounds, twice as much as either liver or brain. It extends into the nose and other body cavities in the form of thin mucous membrane which secretes lubricating fluids. The skin is an enormously versatile and protective organ. It serves to keep body fluids in and foreign agents out, to shield against harmful rays, to help regulate body temperature.

It forms the body's shape, contains the sense of touch, is a main organ of sexual attraction. The skin even reflects much about the state of health of the body, as you may have noticed in sick people, and also about the state of mind, as is evident when someone blushes with embarrassment or pales with fear. And although beauty is a composite of many things, physical and mental, there is no doubt that an attractive, healthy skin contributes greatly to beauty.

The more knowledge you have about the skin, the better able will you prevent disturbances to it and maintain its integrity, beauty, and positive values. although it appears to be just a simple covering, a single square inch may contain some 70 feet of nerves, 650 sweat glands, blood vessels, 65 to 75 hairs and associated muscles, and hundreds of nerve endings for detecting pressure, pain, heat,   layers of tissue form the skin: epidermis, dermis, and sub- The Skin, Hair, and Nails cutaneous layer. The epidermis is the outer layer, and because living cells cannot survive exposure to air, the outermost portion of the epidermis, the visible surface, is actually made up of dead rather than living cells.

Microscopic layers of cells from the outer epidermis are constantly being lost through bathing and rubbing against clothing. They are re- placed from underneath by new cells formed in the malpighian layer of the epidermis. Here, in this deeper layer, where new cells are formed, the skin may be colored by a pigment called melanin, which has as its purpose the prevention of tissue damage from the more dangerous rays of the sun. Skin color is also influenced by another pigment which is yellow and by the presence of blood vessels in the dermal layer. Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, sometimes called the "true skin." At the top of the dermis is a layer of tiny, rounded ridges called papillae, which project outward, perhaps 150 million of them throughout the body.