November 20th, 2009
Common Scalp Conditions
Many people suffer from itchy scalp conditions. While most of them are not extremely serious, they are non-the-less annoying and uncomfortable. Some conditions tend to be really itchy and flaking can tend to be embarrassing for some people. Some of the most common conditions are scalp dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrhea.
Dandruff is usually the first scalp condition that one thinks of. Most of the time, it is relatively mild with white flakes and an itchy scalp. It can be present in a more severe form as well. Flakes sometimes stick together and form mounds on the scalp.
Seborrheic dermatitis is sometimes confused with dandruff but it is usually a bit worse with yellowish colored scales that tend to be greasy. It tends to be extremely itchy. Scratching might cause the area to become red and inflamed. In infants it is know as cradle cap. Other areas such as the ears and face may also be affected.
A skin condition called psoriasis is often present on the scalp. Psoriasis is characterized by dry scaly patches that may look white or powdery. It often appears on other parts of the body. Elbows, knees and creases in the skin are common targets. In some people psoriasis may even affect the joints.
Seborrhea occurs when the sebum gland produces too much oil on the scalp. Both hair and scalp become very oily causing the hair follicles to become clogged. This happens often in adolescence than in older adults.
Even though the majority of scalp conditions are chronic they can be treated effectively and naturally. Many hair treatments contain chemical ingredients that will make the scalp too dry and worsen many problems. Zinc, jojoba oil, emu oil, sage and thyme are natural ingredients that work well in scalp shampoos. Zinc works to clean the scalp and regulate the sebum gland. Jojoba oil and emu oil both provide conditioning for scalp and hair. And sage and thyme are good natural detoxifying ingredients.
Tags: dandruff, itchy scalp, oily scalp, seborrheic dermatitis
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November 17th, 2009
Stretch Marks and Pregnancy
Anyone can get stretch marks. They can occur on any part of the body where rapid weight gain occurs. Body builders and athletes often get them from muscle gain in the legs and arms. Adolescents often get stretch marks when they experience rapid growth spurts. But the group that is affected most by stretch marks is pregnant women. Over fifty percent of women get them after childbirth.
Rapid weight gain causes collagen deposits deep in skin tissue to tear and break apart. Healing tears cause scar tissue to form. This scar tissue is what we see on the skin surface as stretch marks. They usually start out as red or pink depressed streaks. They can be less than ½ inch long up to 4 inches long. In time stretch marks loose their color and turn white or gray.
Avoiding rapid weight gain is the best way to prevent stretch marks. For pregnant women this is not usually possible. Genetics also play a big part in a persons risk for stretch marks. Fair-skinned women tend to get more marks. Dry skin also tends to be less elastic and be more prone to stretch marks.
There are a few steps expecting women can take than can help reduce or even prevent stretch marks. First of all try to stay within the recommended amount of weight gain. Next skin should be kept well moisturized. A daily cream should be applied starting in the first trimester before skin has begun to stretch. Some ingredients that are helpful in moisture retention are Vitamin E, Vitamin A, emu oil, lanolin, and cocoa butter.
Expecting mothers should also follow a healthy diet with plenty of fruits vegetable and greens. Foods that are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, silica and zinc will help skins elasticity and its ability to bounce back after birth. Staying hydrated is also important as are proper prenatal vitamins.
If stretch marks do occur there are ingredients that can be helpful after pregnancy to fade them. Matrixyl is on that has been shown to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. When used in conjunction with aloe, emu oil and vitamin E its effectiveness is increased. A cream with these ingredients must be used regularly over a period of time for results to be seen.
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November 12th, 2009
Scalp Shampoos
Most people think only about hair when choosing a shampoo. But healthy hair actually starts with a healthy scalp. A healthy scalp creates a good foundation for beautiful hair.
The scalp is often overlooked until a problem occurs. When a scalp condition like dandruff, seborrhea, contact dermatitis, or seborrheic dermatitis takes hold of the scalp people begin to look for scalp shampoos and treatments. If the scalp is cared for on a regular basis it is possible to avoid many of these scalp problems.
The key to scalp health is getting the correct oil and Ph balance on the scalp. Oil on the scalp is created by the sebum gland. If the sebum gland is not working correctly, the result will be either an overly oily scalp or a scalp that is too dry. Once the scalp is imbalanced all sorts it becomes susceptible to all sorts of scalp issues. An extremely oil scalp leads to problems such as seborrhea and scalp acne. An overly dry scalp is just as bad and causes other problems such as folliculitis and dandruff.
Most shampoos, even those that say they are designed to stop many scalp conditions, actually contain harsh chemicals. They may remove oil and even help temporarily, but they tend to over dry the scalp. In the long run this will make problems worse and continue to keep the scalp out of balance. Be sure to read ingredients labels. If 70% of a shampoos ingredients are organic it can be labeled as organic, even if the other 30% of ingredients are man made chemicals.
A good scalp shampoo or hair shampoo will deep clean the scalp to remove buildup of dead skin, sebum, oils, and bacteria. It needs to clean both hair and follicle. Even though the follicle needs to be deep cleaned it must not be stripped of oil. There are natural ingredients that work to clean and regulated the sebum gland. Zinc PCA work very well to do this. Other natural ingredients like thyme and sage help detoxify the scalp. Jojoba oil and emu oil are also very helpful in creating a healthy scalp and healthy hair. Learn more about the benefits of jojoba oil by click here.
Tags: hair products, healthy scalp, jojoba oil benefits, scalp shampoo
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November 11th, 2009
Welcome to the World Of Hair Blog. Here we will post articles, review products, discuss new products and offer beauty coupons and specials – co check back often!
Tags: beauty, beauty blog, beauty coupon, hair blog, hair care, skin care
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