Monday, February 13, 2012

Hair Breakage Causes


'I think I'm losing hair'

'Do you think I'm getting bald?'

'I swear there was more hair on this side of the head yesterday!'

Identify with any of these laments? I'm sure most of us do. Sometime or the other, somewhere or the other, we've all stood in front of the mirror and studied our reflection for signs of hair breakage. And it has always crept up on us, this hair breakage revelation. And then we've pondered over what the hair breakage causes are, what we did wrong, did we sleep in a particular way or was it the new shampoo that we started using. Then we wonder what is causing hair loss and why didn't we know of it earlier? For all of you out there, here's some relief - This article will tell you all about hair breakage causes and how to correct them. So stop pulling your hair out people and read the following article for some solutions.

Causes of Hair Breakage

What causes hair breakage in the first place? Why do some start losing hair as early as the 20s, while many others may have thick lustrous hair till their mid 40s or even longer? There are several reasons why this could happen. Listed below are the most common hair breakage causes:

Genetics
Hair loss is a given when it comes to the aging process. Just as we get older, we lose our hair as well. But there might be genetics involved in this one. Some males have 'baldness' in their families. Meaning that if your mother's father was bald, there are chances that you will be bald too (The hair gene is passed on from the mother, so it is your maternal grandfather and not your paternal grandfather.) This is called male pattern baldness or propecia, and affects a large section of society. Although very rare in females, yet there are cases of female baldness as well. And even though it might not cause baldness in females, it could definitely lead to thinning of hair and hair breakage.

Unhealthy Diet
The diet that we follow not only affects our body but is also responsible for the health of our hair. Consuming foods that do not lead to nutrition in the body, as well as not maintaining a healthy diet will have adverse effects on hair growth. So also having fatty, oily, spicy and processed food will cause a lot of damage to the hair and lead to hair breakage.

Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can be one of the main hair breakage causes. The production of hormones in the right balance is absolutely necessary. An excess or deficit of hormonal production, or sudden changes in the body which lead to a hormonal imbalance can cause hair breakage. Many women experience hair breakage during and after their pregnancies because of the excess production of hormones.

Scalp Health
Scalp health (the lack of it, that is) is one of the main hair breakage causes. Poor circulation of blood to the scalp and excess production of sebum which leads to the clogging of pores will lead to hair breakage.

Hair Treatments
Going in for a lot of hair treatments like coloring, hair straightening, perming and ironing as well as using harmful chemicals for the hair can cause hair breakage.

Life Changes
Stress, anxiety and tensions caused due to a number of reasons can lead to changes in the body and lead to hair breakage.

Diseases
There are certain skin diseases and skin disorders that serve as one of the main hair breakage causes. These diseases can include scleroderma, lichen planus, discoid lupus erythematosus or other autoimmune disorders which lead to loss of hair in patches.

Environmental Factors
External factors like pollution, over exposure to the sun and other such factors can lead to hair breakage as well.

Other Factors
Apart from these hair breakage causes, there are some more which are considered to be major factors in not only black hair breakage causes but all other types of hair as well. These are:

    Using hair care products that do not complement your hair.
    Tying your hair too tight can harm the hair by cutting out circulation and making it stretch out, thus making it brittle and leading to hair breakage.
    Handling your hair roughly - combing it with vigor when wet, using a nylon bristled comb, not taking care when disentangling the hair. All these lead to hair loss. Learn how to comb your hair the proper way.
    Not conditioning your hair properly.

How to Stop Hair Breakage

Here are some pointers on how to stop hair breakage and prevent it from happening:

    Find out your hair type and use hair products that are meant specifically for your hair type.
    Have a healthy diet that includes Vitamin E, iron, copper, zinc, vitamin B, whole grain cereal, green leafy vegetables.
    Condition your hair well after each wash and include a leave in conditioner into your hair wash regime as well.
    Do not go in for extensive hair treatments. Limit it to a minimum.
    Exercise and practice meditation techniques to get rid of the stress in your life.
    Make hair care a part of your regular routine. This includes oiling, deep conditioning and basically helping your hair bounce back. So visiting spas for hair treatment is essential.

These were some of the main hair breakage causes. Now that you know what they are and how to deal with them, start being good to your hair and taking care of it better! All the best!

How to Keep your Skin Clear and Healthy

Blood boils to see those women who never seem to age. Women who swank over the fashion magazine you just brought home. Despite every effort you made to put it back to sleep, the green-eyed monster in you finally woke up. Nope. Doesn't happen. There your heart melted, and eyes popped out in awe, when you saw the immaculate skin, perfectly tinted, that they carry. To show off? No. To mock at us? May be. Makes me wonder, does my skin really have a mind of its own? It disappoints me every time I do something good to it. In the hope to make it feel a little better, I tried a slew of beauty products, which worked, no really they worked, hundred percent - against my wallet. Left me with a handful of promises, that were made to be broken. No, to you too? Coincidence? Can't be.

From now on, look beautiful we shall, but only by means of the miracles of mother Nature, and more importantly, without breaking the bank. You know, I have no clue as to what happened to the tenderness, the glow, and the youthfulness your skin once had. However, there's one thing I can tell you right in the beginning, start listening to your skin before it stops listening to you. With that said, allow me to help you figure out how to keep your skin clear and healthy so that acne doesn't break out on the very day you have to go for a party, and so that you don't have to wage a daily battle against the blemishes on your skin with a gamut of foundations and concealers. So here they are...

Tips to Keep your Skin Clear and Healthy

A clear and healthy skin will seem a distant reality if you do not maintain personal hygiene. Washing your face at least twice a day, refusing to share towels, protecting your skin from dirt, are some basic measures you need to follow. In addition, keeping your skin always moisturized, protecting it from the harsh UV rays, and cleansing your skin regularly can help you attain that goal of an immaculate skin. While makeup is definitely a mantra to be followed, experimenting should always be minimal, for less is always more when it comes to cosmetics. The most important ways to keep your skin healthy and glowing go as follows:

Drink: Water, Juices, Herbal Teas
The world diets, and they lose the charm and glow their skin once had. We, on the other hand, gain more and more of it, and lose weight too. How? Let me explain. Water is your key to an immaculate skin, for it flushes out all the toxins in your body, and renders glow to your face. The more water you drink, the more quickly it works on your skin by keeping it hydrated. In addition, a glass of fruit juice a day is always an added advantage because fruits contain vitamins that are highly essential for the skin. Make it a habit to drink a glass of orange or apple juice everyday. Not to miss, herbal tea is a globally acknowledged remedy for treating skin disorders, along with helping in cutting down fat too. Replace a cup of normal tea, or coffee with a cup of herbal tea, and start noticing a difference within a week itself.

Eat: Vegetables, Fruits, Anything that's not Junk
You may have tried a gamut of face creams and cosmetic products. However, there is no substitute to the vitamins you get from eating fruits and vegetables. Eating a bowl of fruits on a daily basis will make your skin glow like none other. On the other hand, including lots of green leafy vegetables can go a long way towards giving you that clear complexion you always wanted. Among foods to eat for clear skin, there's always a mention of cereals. Instead of having a burger in breakfast, go for a bowl of cereals and milk. Even better, team it up with brown bread. Not only would it help you include vitamins and proteins in your meal, but would also help you shed those extra pounds that keep you from staying healthy, hence, looking unhealthy. As an important clear skin tip, there's one thing I need to say - stop surviving on junk food. The saturated fats and the oil they have will wash away all your efforts of maintaining a clear and healthy skin.

Apply: Moisturizers, Sunscreens, Massage Oils
Here comes your favorite section. Beauty products. Well, to start with, always keep your skin hydrated by applying a moisturizer. A face moisturizer need not be an expensive one - you could always use natural face moisturizers to hydrate your skin. Skin that is dry most of the time soon loses all its sheen, and automatically looks unhealthy. What's more, in order to sustain that clarity and glow on your skin, never… I repeat, never step out of your house without applying a sunscreen lotion. Experts state, the best way to keep your skin clear and healthy is to apply a sunscreen, whether or not you step out in the sun. It will remove all the tanned and dead cells from your skin, and prevent them from any further damage from the sun. In addition, whenever you get time at home, massage your skin with olive oil or jojoba oil, which will naturally get you a glowing skin by keeping it moisturized, wrinkle-free, and youthful.

Avoid: Cigarettes, Alcohol, Stress
You really wouldn't want toxins to make your skin miserable, would you? It's high time you gave up on smoking and drinking, for they have toxins that automatically affect healthy blood circulation in your body, leading it to deteriorate. Excessive smoking will damage your skin cells, create dark-circles under your eyes, and make you look much older than you actually are. Clear, youthful skin will soon be a thing of the past. Needless to mention, alcohol has its own set of effects on skin - acne eruptions being the most common. Forget a healthy skin if you can't give up on drinking. Moreover, it is medically proven that stress and depression aggravate every skin problem that you can think of! It makes your body vulnerable to diseases, and undermines your mind, emotions, and soul. Well, who said it wouldn't show on your skin? Sure it does, and it does bad.

The above instanced ways that tell you how to keep your skin clear and healthy will only give you a nudge in the right direction. It is, eventually, upon you to decide, what to give up. A glowing skin or alcohol? As though life isn't fraught with enough problems, there's more to add in the name of skin problems. Jealousy, anger, and frustration come handy. It's a tough world out there, and it just gets tougher. In the meanwhile, stay happy, feel like a supermodel, experience the beauty within you, and put that green-eyed monster within you to snore. Forever. A clear and healthy skin is just a bonus. Trust me.