COMMON MEDICINE

The flakes that we call dandruff, or scruf, are actually an accumulation of dead skin cells. When the cells of the scalp grow too fast, they clump together noticeably in the hair. Static electricity and sticky, oily hair surfaces keep the scales from falling. Any scaling may be called dandruff; but most cases are probably justa a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis The actual cause of this condition is not known, but it seems to be determined by genetic and hormonal factors. If your dandruff is unmanageable or spreads to your eyebrows or other parts of the body, consult a dermatologist, as the condition could be due to severe seborrhoeic dermatitis, blephatitis or psoriasis.

As a rule, dandruff doesn’t go away and must be controlled with regular treatment. There are several shampoos designed for that purpose: tar shampoos and those containing selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione and salicylic acid work best, so its worth checking the list of ingredients. If such shampoo doesn’t provide relif, your doctor will be able to prescribe a more effective treatment.

A split end begins as a tiny lengthwise crack in the outer layer of the hair shaft; the crack eventually penetrates deeper into the shaft, splitting it completely.

There are numerous protein conditioners on the market that can provisionally repair hair that can provisionally repair hair that has split or frayed at the ends. These products contain proteins that are sticky, and they act like a temporary adhesive, holding the split ends together for a few hours. In addition, the proteins in these conditioners  help to coat the individual hair shafts and fill in damages areas. The only way to eliminate split ends altogether, however, is to have them cut off. Read the rest of this entry »