Archive for April, 2009
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Did you ever wonder why personal care and beauty product manufacturers make a separate shampoo for babies. Everybody with a newborn has some. Most babies don’t even have enough hair to warrant a shampoo until they are a few months old, but they definitely warrant having their own shampoo product lines.
Baby shampoos are much milder than the ones for adults. They only contain a small amount of soap, so they can be less irritating to a baby’s eyes. However, even shampoos made for babies have a long list of unpronounceable chemical ingredients that you might not want to expose a child to at a tender age.
The University of Washington, Seattle recently conducted research on phthalates, a synthetic fragrance stabilizer used in baby shampoos. High levels of some phthalates have been linked to reproductive system and endocrine problems. While some health and beauty products companies dispute the research results, the Centers for Disease Control suggests that further study is necessary.
Potential cancer causing ingredients have also turned up in popular baby bath products and adult shampoos. The Environmental Protection Agency has already listed 1,4-Dioxane as a probable human carcinogen. Yet the FDA has yet to ban its use in consumer beauty and personal care products, even those intended for children. Neither phthalates or 1,4-Dioxane is listed on any of the labels. They have been found as a result of independent laboratory testing.
Consumers can’t afford to wait for more research and indisputable proof about the safety of baby shampoos and bath products! Cleanliness is important we all agree. But most doctors say that babies don’t even need shampoo. You can clean their hair quite well with plain old H2O. Adults should reduce their exposure to these suspect shampoos and bath product ingredients too (while we wait for the final verdict).
Shampoo is really just soap, without these other mysterious chemical ingredients. Before the Industrial Revolution, soap making was almost always done at home. So, people must have shampooed their hair with the soaps that they made.
With modern soap making techniques at your disposal, it’s easy to make your own non-toxic herbal shampoo. If you’re pressed for time, but want to protect yourself and loved ones, buy a safer shampoo from organic cosmetics suppliers.
Tags: 1 4-Dioxane, baby shampoos, bath products, carcinogen, endocrine, Environmental Protection Agency, FDA, fragrance stabilizer, hair, herbal shampoo, liquid soap, organic, phthalates, reproductive system, safety, soap making, University of Washington
Posted in Natural Hair Growth | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Don’t be a captive of the shampoo culture. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has warned consumers that many shampoos on the market today contain harmful chemicals. Research shows that parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, and many coloring agents should be avoided. Recently, MSNBC took a closer look at the best and worst shampoos and shampoo alternatives in Ditching Shampoo.
One hotly debated trend is no shampoo at all, the “no-poo” movement. Maybe the environmentalists helped to move it to the forefront. Not only can consumers forgo those plastic bottles littering the landfills, but they can also possibly do themselves a favor by not washing every drop of oil off their scalp daily. Now that we’re in a recession, this movement might soon find followers among the millions of consumers who are motivated to save money. Why Daily Shampooing?
No one is sure when the daily shampoo trend started in America (Europeans don’t have the habit quite as badly as we do). Most believe though, that’s only been in the last 30 to 40 years. Perhaps the health and beauty industry has helped to fuel our passion for a daily dose of squeaky-clean hair. One thing is certain, before Indoor Plumbing, nobody except those born to the manor washed their hair more than once a week. Of course, bathing was only a once a week pleasure too, until the early part of the 20th century, as well.
The “no-poo” advocates cite not only history, but also modern science to defend their views. There is no scientific evidence that supports daily shampooing. The alternatives, which have been used for centuries (before Indoor Plumbing) clearly not only have a following, but they also worked well enough for the majority of people.
It’s too late to tell if people had less hair loss before they starting shampooing daily. But if you are concerned about hair loss, you should be concerned about shampooing your hair daily too. Make your own decision. You know you will at least get back the time you spend shampooing daily. You’ll also reduce your exposure to the chemicals in shampoos. Who knows, you might also save a few hairs on your head from early extinction.
Tags: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, chemicals, coloring agents, environmentalists, hair loss, no-poo, parabens, shampoo alternatives, shampooing, sodium laurel sulfate
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans is a skin disease that stems from a genetic defect that occurs on the X chromosome. It is an inherited disorder that mainly affects Caucasian males. This rare condition affects only a few people, compared to the other causes of hair loss. German dermatologist, Hermann Werner Siemens, was credited with being the first medical professional to recognize the symptoms of this disease. Siemens conducted research on skin diseases that led him to isolate the disease, in 1926. As a result, the disease is also called Siemens’ Syndrome 1. Because of its effect on the patient’s hair, some scientists describe it as woolly hair.
Symptoms/Diagnosis
The underlying symptoms of woolly hair start in infancy. Due to the nature of the genetic defect, they initially develop keratosis pilaris, bumps or rashes in and around the body’s hair follicles. Keratosis is an excess of keratin, a protein in skin. When people have keratosis pilaris, hair follicles get trapped in their pores. These skin abnormalities generally affect the back, forearms, thighs, and even one’s butt. The skin condition resembles goose bumps (usually a temporary reaction to external stimuli). Some people refer to this condition as chicken skin.
Prognosis
In people with keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans, the skin around the hair follicles hardens and gets stiff. Hair is not able to grow through the affected follicles. Somtimes hair breaks off in the follicle (ingrown hairs). Most people have tufted (woolly) hair. This may result from the abrasion that the hair suffers when pushing through the keratin plugs in the hair follicles. The condition affects scalp hair, eyebrows, beards and eyelashes. Scarring alopecia is the primary cause of hair loss, often complete baldness. People who have the genetic defect also report sensitivity to light, eyelid thickening, and itching. Medical examinations also reveal that some patients have abnormal development of the lower jaw and corneal abnormalities.
Treatment
Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans is treatable, but no cure is available at this time. Some people have successfully relieved symptoms with application of topical corticosteroids and injections of triamcinolone acetonide, when used for sustained periods. Retinoids taken orally seem to be most effective when hair loss is in progress. However, the medical community does not recommend prolonged use of retinoids for children. Recurring infections are often treated with antibacterial or anti staphylococcal drugs. Diagnosis and treatment requires testing by a competent dermatologist.
Tags: antibacterial, baldness, bumps, Caucasian, chicken skin, corticosteroids, dermatologist, dermatologists, eyelid thickening, goose bumps, growth, hair follicles, Hermann Werner Siemens, ingrown hairs, itching, keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans, keratosis pilaris, protein, rashes, retinoids, scalp, scarring, skin disease, triamcinolone acetonide, woolly hair, X chromosome
Posted in Natural Hair Growth | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
You have lost enough hair to consider taking the plunge! If your dermatologist is not giving you any hope for hair regrowth, what other options can you pursue? Baldness is a hard pill to swallow for some people. Comb-overs draw attention to your hair loss. Wigs and toupees, well most of them look like what they are – hairpieces, unless you spend a small fortune get one that really looks natural. Besides, this option always has one little drawback. You must eventually remove your bought hair, hopefully in private. Then you will have no choice but to face reality of your hair loss.
One alternative that is gaining popularity is hair replacement surgery. Only a competent plastic surgeon can tell you whether you are a good candidate for surgical hair replacement. The first factors that must be considered are your age and health conditions that might affect your ability to endure this kind of treatment. Next, the surgeon will evaluate the extent of hair loss, along with the kind of hair loss. Male (androgenetic alopecia) and female (androgenic alopecia) pattern baldness are conditions that usually do not leave the skin of the scalp damaged. Hair loss that results from medical conditions is more likely to have affected the skin. Some medical hair loss may cause scalp scarring, cicatricial alopecia. Scarring can reduce the potential for successful hair transplantation.
Potential surgical hair replacement patients need to make several inquiries to get opinions from more than one practitioner about the possibility of a successful outcome. The American Hair Loss Council suggests that you check any hair replacement surgeon’s references with the Better Business Bureau, your personal care physician, and your local medical association or licensing board. If you need recommendations or want to confirm claims that hair replacement surgeons or clinics make, you can also consult your barber or hairstylist. Once you narrow your choices down, ask the surgeon to give you the names and contact information for one or two former patients. Do not rely on before and after pictures to help you make this important decision.
Tags: alternative, American Hair Loss Council, androgenetic alopecia, androgenic alopecia, baldness, cicatricial alopecia, dermatologist, hair loss, hair regrowth, hair replacement surgeons, hair replacement surgery, hair transplantation, hairpieces, medical association, pattern baldness
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Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects many younger women, more so than men. The symptoms are vague and may be misdiagnosed initially. Most lupus patients experience tiredness, rashes, and joint pains. Many also have kidney disease. Lupus is treatable, but both the medication used to treat it and the condition can cause thinning hair. Lupus patients’ hair usually breaks off at the hairline and falls out easily when combed or styled.
Lupus patients often have skin inflammation and frequent unexplained fevers. The inflammation can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp. One form, cutaneous lupus, may result in scarring or cicatricial alopecia. If scarring is widespread on the scalp, the hair loss will be permanent. Most lupus hair loss is temporary. Normal hair growth should resume after successful treatment of the disease. Once lupus goes into remission, the patient’s hair follicles and skin will no longer be inflamed. However, constant care is necessary to minimize thinning hair and to protect the hair follicles, during the course of treatment.
Lupus patients should consult a dermatologist as soon as hair loss begins. If the patient waits too long to get assistance from a dermatologist, additional damage to the scalp can occur. In addition, the presence of inflammation and the resulting hair loss are indicators that the patient’s medication is not controlling the immune system well enough to prevent flare-ups and rashes.
Lupus patients should also inform their hairdresser that they are being treated for this condition. Hairdressers may be able to suggest styling tips that reduce friction and stress on the hair. The patient and the hairdresser should discuss potential hair damage and scalp irritation from hair dyes, chemical treatments and styling techniques that use heat, such as blow-drying and curling irons.
A lupus patient should use a mild baby shampoo, when caring for hair at home. Buy a comb with widely spaced teeth and a brush with rubber tips instead of nylon bristles. Minimize all handling of your hair while it is wet. Use the comb to gently remove tangles. Try to avoid using blow dryers until the dermatologist says it is safe.
Tags: autoimmune disease, blow dryers, brush, chemical treatments, cicatricial alopecia, dermatologists, friction, hair dyes curling irons, hair follicles, hairline, inflammation, medication, scalp, scarring, styling tips, temporary
Posted in Natural Hair Growth | 3 Comments »
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
We all know that chemotherapy is a cause of hair loss that is related to a disease or health challenge. Both adults and children receive support from numerous organizations to help them cope with the hair loss that is inevitable during prescribed cancer treatments.
Fewer people are aware of the suffering of victims of other forms of medical hair loss because they don’t receive as national attention as cancer does. In some cases, these victims have temporary hair loss that is related to a medical condition that is not life threatening. In others, the health challenge that the hair loss victims face is as serious as cancer. The additional trauma of losing one’s hair only adds to the misery of medically related hair loss.
An iron deficiency is certainly less serious than cancer. However, if left untreated, it can result is significant hair loss, in addition to damage to overtaxed internal organs like the heart. Women suffer from iron deficiencies, commonly known as anemia, much more often than men do. The chief culprit for women is often a prolonged menstrual cycle. This can have several treatable causes, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. It may also be genetic or a result of poor eating habits. In this situation, the body’s survival mechanism limits the resources that it allocates to nourishing your hair follicles until the iron deficiency is corrected. If you correct the anemia, your normal hair growth will usually resume.
Many people with diabetes also experience hair loss. Since diabetes is treatable and preventable in many cases, it is a good idea to be aware of the possibility of developing persistent high blood sugar, which may become diabetes. Mayo Clinic has concluded that the near epidemic rise in diabetes in America is directly related to obesity. Changing your diet may help you lose weight diabetes and avoid medication.
Most people assume that excessive sugar intake is the only culprit in adult onset diabetes. However, research has shown that an excessive intake of calories, fats, and carbohydrates also contributes to the onset on diabetes in adults. Losing weight, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, along with lean proteins and unsaturated fats is a proactive strategy that can lower your blood sugar. Normally, once your blood sugar is under control, you can expect your hair growth to return to normal.
Tags: anemia, blood sugar, calories, carbohydrates, chemotherapy, diabetes, Diet, fats, fibroids, hair follicles, hair loss, health, iron deficiency, medication, menstrual cycle, normal hair growth, obesity, sugar, treatable, weight
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Natural Hair Growth | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
After taking time off from her movie career for her pregnancy, Halle Berry is getting ready to go back to work. She didn’t have pregnancy–related hair loss that affects many women. Apparently, she isn’t suffering from undue stress of being a new parent. During her pregnancy and after, she’s been just as gorgeous as ever.
So why is Halle going bald? The truth is, she voluntarily decided to cut her hair for her next movie role. The film won’t be released until 2010. This movie is currently called “Nappily Ever After,” according to the Internet Movie Database. The title and the movie are based on a Trisha Thomas’ novel by that name.
Berry’s character is a young single female, Venus Johnston, who has hair problems and relationship issues. Which came first isn’t clear. However, in the movie, Venus is so frustrated by her hair falling out that she preempts Mother Nature and shaves her head.
The rest of the movie explores themes about hair, perceptions of beauty, and cultural norms. This is done by chronicling people’s reactions to Venus and her quest to establish a different foundation for her self-esteem. These themes look directly at the subject that many people politely avoid when confronted with another person’s permanent or temporary hair loss.
The special emphasis that many cultures put on hair make hair loss a painful, traumatic experience. The fact that most people move on or “get over it” doesn’t change the fact that baldness is a blow to your self-esteem. In addition, it does alter other people’s perceptions of your virility, fertility, and more. In polite society, no politically correct person would ever mock or insult a differently abled person who is deaf or physically deformed. Yet baldness, voluntary or involuntary, is still quite a spectator sport. Any slang dictionary has numerous popular expressions that are used without forethought in our culture.
The director, Patricia Cardoso, didn’t ask Berry to shave her head. She could have opted for a bald cap and kept her own tresses untouched. Halle wants to have the complete experience so that she can give moviegoers a better performance. She expects her hair to grow back, at least she hopes it will. If it doesn’t, she will already be prepared for a starring role in a new life without hair. Imagine that!
Tags: bald, baldness, cultural norms, fertility, hair loss, Halle Berry, movie, Nappily Ever After, novel, Patricia Cardoso, pregnancy–related hair loss, self-esteem, temporary hair loss, tresses, Trisha Thomas, undue stress, Venus Johnston, virility
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Natural Hair Growth, Vitamins | 2 Comments »
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