February 27th, 2010
Itchy scalp can be due to various scalp conditions. Itchy scalp is experienced by most people at different points in their lives. Three of the typical conditions that tend to cause itching are dandruff, contact dermatitis, and psoriasis.
You are probably pretty familiar with the condition of dandruff. It is all too common. Typically dandruff is a relatively mild and consists of small white flakes and moderate itching. Sometimes however, it can be more severe. Flakes can become stuck together in clumps to form larger white mounds on the scalp. Even when it is mild, dandruff can be itchy and many people find the flaking to be embarrassing.
Contact dermatitis starts with an irritant in the environment that causes irritation or an allergic reaction. One of the main things that makes contact dermatitis appear is chemical ingredients in various products used on the hair. Chemicals can be found in many hair products including shampoos, conditioners, and stylers. It is too bad that so many of the hair products that are available at your locally drug store contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals will dry the head and hair and can cause itching. Contact dermatitis can also be caused by other things in the environment or in and some foods.
Psoriasis is another skin condition that can also cause itching on the scalp. When present on the scalp, psoriasis tends to also be found on other parts of the body as well. Elbows and knees as well as creases in skin tend to make good breading grounds for psoriasis. In some people it also attacks the joints. When psoriasis appears on the scalp, it is characterized by dry scaly patches that can look powdery or white. Sometimes the entire scalp can be covered with these bothersome patches.
Balance is the only way to maintain a healthy scalp. Balance in the scalp means that it does not have too much or too little oil. Many of the hair products, even those designed to help with scalp problems, actually contain chemicals that work to irritate the scalp. By using the right natural ingredients that balance and restore the scalp uncomfortable itching can be halted. Zinc is an all around great natural scalp ingredient. It is mostly used to regulate the production of sebum. Emu oil and jojoba oil mimic the sebum naturally produced on the scalp. Sometimes this helps the scalp produce more sebum naturally on its own. Thyme and rosemary are used to detoxify and purify the scalp. The scalp can be balanced and restored with a natural shampoo that has the right ingredients.
Tags: Itchy Scalp, natural shampoo, scalp itch, scalp treatments, zinc
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February 27th, 2010
People who eat more fiber have been shown to weigh less. Diets high in fiber also help to lower cholesterol and fight heart disease. In fact, adding more fiber to your diet is one of the easiest way to loose weight and increase your overall health. Most of us do not get enough fiber. Here are some simple ways fiber can be added to your daily food intake.
- Breakfast- The first meal of the day is often the most important. It gets your metabolism going. There are numerous cereals that are low in fat and carbohydrates but high in fiber. Look for ones with five grams of dietary fiber or more. You can also add unprocessed wheat bran to any cereal. Oatmeal is another good choice for breakfast as well as fruit.
- Eat More Whole Grains- Switching from refined breads to whole grains makes a huge difference. Pick brown or wild rice and whole-wheat pastas.
- Vegetables- Eat more vegetables. Fresh or frozen vegetables can be added to soups and pastas. Snacking on raw vegetables instead of cracker and chips is definitely a positive change.
- Legumes- Beans and peas are both an excellent source of fiber.
- Fruits- Fruits and smoothies taste great. They are naturally sweet and make a good healthy high fiber snack or meal addition.
- Nuts- Nuts are a good high fiber snack. Keep portions small because nuts are higher in fat than other snacks.
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February 27th, 2010
Tea tree oil has many medical and beauty applications. It is both antibacterial and disinfectant. It comes from the leaves of the tea tree. People have been using this versatile oil for centuries. Recently, it has gotten plenty of attention as studies have shown that it indeed does have healthy benefits for skin and hair.
Tea tree oil is used to remove the three types of infectious organisms: bacteria, fungus, and virus. It is also known to work against some infections that are antibiotic resistant. For these reasons it is commonly used as a natural remedy for skin ailments like acne, sun burn, and oily skin to name a few.
Tea tree oil is popular for hair care as well. It is often used in shampoos and conditioners. It can treat scalp problems that stem from fungus or infection such as scalp acne and dandruff. Tea tree oil is also used as a natural treatment for lice. It has been shown to be a good deterrent for these bothersome pests.
Some studies have even shown that tea tree oil can work as a treatment for respiratory problems including sore throats, congestion, and coughing. It has been used successfully with more severe respiratory problems as well like asthma and bronchitis.
Tea tree oil can be used for oral problems as well. It is a good natural cure for bad breath because it removes the bacteria that creates bad breath. Rinsing with tea tree oil can also help reduce plaque and heal gingivitis and swollen gums. Tea tree oil is a good treatment for canker sores and laryngitis. It is safe to ingest small amounts of tea tree oil, but ingesting large amounts can cause sickness.
Tags: natural cures, scalp care, shampoo, skin care, Tea Tree Oil
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February 20th, 2010
When grey hair starts to show up most of realize we are getting older. For many folks grey hair starts to appear in their later thirties. But premature graying can start as the teens and twenties. The majority of us will find that about half of our hair will be gray at fifty. No matter when it starts most of us would choose not turn grey if were possible.
What does cause hair to loose its color? The hair follicles are surrounded by cells that contain melanin, the pigment that creates color in the hair. Depending on how much melanin is present the hair will be various shades of color, either blond, brown, red or black. The cells that contain the melanin die slowly as we get older. As the hair looses melanin it also looses its color and turns grey or sometimes white.
Fortunately hair doesn’t turn grey instantly. This gradual process takes time. When you first start to notice grey hair it can take ten years or so for the entire head to turn. Gray hair starts at the temples and spreads to the crown. It eventually moves around to the back side of the head.
Everyone will eventually get grey hair, but it is sometimes possible to slow down the process a little bit. The proper amount of vitamins and minerals may actually help the cells stay alive longer. This means that melanin will be there and the hair will keep its color longer. Some vitamins supplements that help keep the cells alive are Vitamin B, PABA and Vitamin B12. Folic acid is also a good hair vitamin and helpful in keeping grey away.
Grey hair is also dry and coarse. It can sometimes pretty wiry as well. Vitamins can help as well as natural ingredients like jojoba oil and emu oil. These ingredients can work to deeply moisturize and rejuvenate even the driest hair.
Tags: gray hair, grey hair, greying, hair vitamins, white hair
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January 24th, 2010
What Causes Crusty Scalp
Certain conditions may cause the scalp to crust and itch. This is an uncomfortable condition. Some of the most common causes are psoriasis, seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis and need special scalp treatments
Psoriasis is an itchy chronic condition that causes crusty scales to form on the scalp and other areas of the body. These scales are usually thick and may look powdery white or silvery. Sufferers will also often find them on other areas such as the elbows or behind the knees. This can be a serious condition and may even affect a person joints.
Seborrhea is another scalp problem that causes crusting as well as bumps to appear on the scalp. People with seborrhea will experience extremely oily scalp and greasy scalp. The hair will most likely be greasy as well. Seborrhea occurs when the sebum gland over produces oil. This abundance of oil builds up on the scalp and causes yeast to grow. The scalp then becomes enflamed with rash, redness, and crusting.
Seborrheic dermatitis causes the scalp to become very flaky and to get crusty patches. These areas tend to be yellowish and are usually covering inflamed red skin. This condition is also known as seborrheic eczema. Infants tend to get suffer from this and it is called cradle cap. Cradle cap in infant’s usually only lasts a few months. Unfortunately when adults suffer from seborrheic dermatitis it tends to be chronic and may come and go for years.
The one thing all of these conditions have in common is that they are causes or result in an imbalance of oil on the scalp. A healthy scalp is a balanced scalp. Many of the products we use on our hair contain chemicals that dry out the scalp and make these problems worse. Natural ingredients like zinc, emu oil, and thyme and jojoba oil help create a healthy scalp by regulating the oil production of the sebum gland while cleaning and moisturizing the scalp.
Tags: crusty scalp, oily scalp, scalp problems, scalp treatments
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