Hair, Skin Care The Best Health Tips for Hair and Skin. Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles that produce thick terminal and fine vellus hair. The most common interest in hair is focused on hair growth, hair types, and hair care, but hair is also an important biomaterial primarily composed of protein, notably alpha-keratin.
Attitudes towards different hair, such as hairstyles and hair removal, vary widely across different cultures and historical periods, but it is often used to indicate a person’s personal beliefs or social position, such as their age, sex, or religion.
How you wash your hair and the products you use can go a long way toward maintaining smooth, shiny hair. Follow these simple tips from dermatologists to maintain healthy hair.
- Wash oily hair more frequently. How often you wash your hair should be based on how much oil your scalp produces.
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- If your scalp is oily, you may need to wash it as often as once a day.
- If you have chemically treated hair, your hair may be drier, so you may want to wash it less frequently.
- As you get older, your scalp makes less oil, so you may not need to shampoo as often. But if you see flakes in your hair, you may not be shampooing enough. This can lead to dandruff and other scalp diseases.
- Concentrate shampoo on the scalp. When washing your hair, concentrate on cleaning primarily the scalp, rather than washing the entire length of hair. Washing only your hair can create flyaway hair that is dull and coarse.
- Use conditioner- after every shampoo unless you use a “2-in-1” shampoo, which cleans and conditions hair. Using a conditioner can significantly improve the look of damaged or weathered hair by increasing shine, decreasing static electricity, improving strength and offering some protection from harmful UV rays.
- Concentrate conditioner on the tips of the hair. Because conditioners can make fine hair look limp, they only should be used on the tips of the hair and not on the scalp or length of the hair.
- Choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair type. For example, if you color your hair, use a shampoo designed for color-treated hair. If your hair is damaged or chemically treated, consider a “2-in-1” shampoo. Regardless of cost, many shampoos and conditioner brands provide the same benefits.
- Protect hair when swimming – Protect your hair from the damaging effects of chlorine by wetting and conditioning your hair before swimming. Wear a tight-fitting swim cap and use a specially formulated swimmers shampoo and deep conditioner after swimming to replace lost moisture.
- Choose your face wash smartly – an appropriate face wash meant for your skin type and wash twice a day. Go for cleansers. Use cleansers at night to remove make-up and dirt before using a face wash.
- Hold onto sunscreens – Use sunscreen every day even if you are indoors – the sun’s UVA rays come through windows too and contribute to aging, pigmenting and tanning. Ideally, sunscreen should be applied every three hours.
- But not just any – Sunscreen should have an SPF of 30 or more. SPF is the degree of protection against UVB rays, hence sunscreen must have UVA protection as well. The usual UVA protection ingredients are Avobenzone, Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide, Mexoryl and Tinosorb.
- Protect your skin from the sun – Make-up products like foundations, mineral powders and compacts do not have adequate sun protection.
- Tanning is not equal to pigmentation – Indian skin tends to tan and pigment easily and patchily. There is a very thin line between tanning and pigmentation. If your tan hasn’t gone in 4-6 weeks, see a dermatologist.It is advisable to use mild skin lightening creams as prevention. Look for botanical ingredients like Arbutin, Bearberry, Licorice, Mulberry, Ginseng, Gingko, Emblica, Turmeric – Curcuma, Grapeseed and vitamins like C and A, and Niacinamide.
- Delay your aging -aging can be intrinsic, i.e. genetic, and can be delayed by exercise and, to a lesser extent, through diet. Extrinsic factors include increased UV intensity, increased pollution as well as stress. All these factors tend to dry the skin and make it more prone to pigmentation and aging. Hence it is important to start caring for your skin in your teens.
- Go for antioxidants –Extrinsic factors produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are naughty oxygen molecules that damage the cells and make them age faster. Anti-oxidants neutralize these ROS.
- Night care – At night, use a moisturizer with an age-protecting agent to complete your ‘skin tips’ list.
- Antioxidants – For younger skin, look for ingredients with antioxidants like vitamins C, E or a whole range of botanicals like green tea, grapeseed or pomegranate extract, curcumin, etc. You might also like to look out for the following: Genistein, ECGC, Resveratrol, Idebenone and Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10.
- Skin care for older skin –For older skin, you cannot just follow any skin tips. Look for the following ingredients: peptides, vitamin A and derivatives like retinol and other retinoids, Alpha, beta and polyhydroxy acids.
The most important beauty foods
Deficiency in any nutrient will cause changes in the skin, hair, and nails, as well as in blood circulation, which supplies nutrients to the skin and removes toxic waste products, Somer explains. Here are the most important things we need and what happens when we don’t get enough
- Antioxidants: This help protect the skin from free-radical damage (which can cause rough texture, wrinkles and sunspots), but frequent sun exposure and smog deplete them. Since it takes up to three months to accumulate antioxidants in the skin, load up on colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
- Zinc: This trace mineral helps maintain collagen and elastin fibers that give skin its firmness and help prevent sagging and wrinkles. Zinc is important in healing cuts and scrapes, while a deficiency causes dry, rough skin.
- B vitamins: Poor intake of almost any B vitamin can cause dry or scaly skin, itching and a burning sensation. Vitamins B2 and B6 also are important in maintaining the oil-producing glands, which keep skin moist and smooth.
- Vitamin A: This fat-soluble vitamin is essential for maintaining epithelial tissues, and skin is the largest epithelial tissue you have. Skimp on this vitamin and your skin might be dry, scaly and rough.
Why vegetables are so crucial
According to popular registered dietitians and personal trainers, The Nutrition Twins, veggies are naturally rich in water, so they create moisture within your skin, plumping the cells and filling the crevices. “Think of them as your body’s natural lotion, plus a whole lot more.”
Here’s what else they’ve got
- Vitamin C – Keeps skin youthful and elastic by aiding in collagen formation. Think tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli, and potatoes.
- Beta-carotene – Helps give a healthy glow and hue, while protecting skin from sun damage. Go for: carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and other orange and green-colored produce.
- Aantioxidants – Guard against premature aging by helping to prevent cell damage. They mop up free radicals, including those caused by pollution and other environmental toxins, stress and the sun. Eat up: most veggies.
- Omega-3s – Contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that give skin a smoother appearance. Great source: cabbage.
Water and potassium-rich: Keeps skin hydrated and restores fluid balance so it doesn’t look wrinkled and withered. Indulge in: most veggies.
Improve Your Diet
Step 1
Remove refined sugar from your diet to prevent yeast infections on your skin and nails. Choose whole grains such as brown rice and oats over processed white flour to improve the health of your skin.
Step 2
Limit the amount of fats you get from animal sources such as red meat and dairy. Saturated fat can cause inflammation of the skin. Instead, add healthy fats from pumpkin seeds and fish to your diet to moisturize your hair, skin and nails and prevent dryness and flaky skin.
Step 3
Get your protein from lean sources, such as white meat poultry, fish, and beans. Beans are an especially good source of fiber, a substance that promotes intestinal health, leading to healthy, glowing skin.
Step 4
Drink plenty of water. The Food Doctor website recommends drinking 8 cups of plain water per day. Drinking extra water promotes kidney health and flushes toxins from the body, resulting in healthy skin, hair and nails.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Step 1
Relieve anxiety and minimize stress. Reducing stress in your life can help your skin appear healthier, according to the Food Doctor website. Consider doing some meditation and deep breathing to promote health skin.
Step 2
Engage in moderate exercise. Aerobic exercise increases blood flow throughout your body, bringing better circulation to your scalp, fingers and skin.
Step 3
Avoid toxins whenever possible. Choose organic foods when you can to improve your overall health.
Step 4
Stop smoking. If you are a smoker, quitting can greatly improve the health of your hair, skin and fingernails. Exposure to smoke prematurely ages your skin, makes your hair dull and destroys your fingernails.
Step 5
Protect your hair, skin and nails to keep them healthy. Apply moisturizer daily to combat dryness. The Science Daily website recommends using sunblock when you go outside to prevent wrinkles.
Tips
- Don’t use too many products on your hair, as they can weigh it down with oil.
- When applying conditioner, put on a shower cap and leave it in for a few minutes to keep your hair shiny and smooth.
- Hot oil treatments can be done at home by simply heating some olive oil over the stove, and applying it to the scalp and hair in massaging motions. Leave on for 24 hours and then wash out. Your locks will be well moisturized, and much stronger.
- Home remedies can keep your hair and skin free from harsh chemicals and really improve their condition.
- If you dye your hair, use a moisturizing shampoo or conditioner. Dyeing your hair can strip it of it’s natural oils which causes strands to be dry.
- Go for haircuts regularly to avoid split ends and abnormal hair growth.
- If you can’t manage to get much fish in, try eating fish oil tablets.
- Trim split ends quickly before they grow up the hair shaft.
Warnings
- Do not use too much Shampoo it can dry out hair.
- Stop using lotion if it burns or causes an allergic reaction. Always test them on your wrist beforehand, and leave for 24 hours before applying properly.
- Frequent heat styling can damage hair.
- Stop the use of hair colors if hair fall increases.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266803/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5172479/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5903487/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279208/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/
