Hair grooming and styling play an important role in our general appearance. We have all experienced the psychological uplift that walking out of the hairdressing salon with a great new hairstyle can bring.Like skin, hair is subject to the changes of ageing, which are especially obvious as greying and thinning hair. Hair products can successfully cover grey hairs, but there are no cosmetic products currently available which prevent hair loss.There has been a recent upsurge in the number of hair care products, many of which are of dubious value. Like skin care products, hair cosmetics are marketed with many exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims. Nonetheless, true advances have enabled people to perform more sophisticated hair styling, coloring and perming safely at home.Hair shampoos basically contain a cleansing agent, preservatives and usually perfume. There are several types of shampoos available for different hair types:- Cleansing shampoos. Most good cleansing shampoos contain a chemical called sodium laurel sulphate, which cleanses and degreases the hair and scalp. They tend to be quite drying, especially on hair which has been colored or permed.- Milder shampoos. Milder shampoos which contain sodium laureth sulphate are less cleansing but are also less drying. Because they are mild, they are suitable for permed or bleached hair but are not so good for people with very oily scalps.- Medicated shampoos. Medicated shampoos are useful for people with dandruff. These shampoos contain tar, salicylic acid and other ingredients which deep cleanse the scalp, removing any scaling.- Protein-containing shampoos. Protein-containing shampoos contain proteins such as keratin and collagen. They do not appear to have any real benefit but rather are a marketing gimmick.- Conditioning shampoos. Conditioning shampoos contain a shampoo and conditioner in one. The main problem with these preparations is that they are not particularly good shampoos or conditioners, although they can be useful for people with short hair. They tend to build up on the hair, making it limp and greasy. More recently, however, manufacturers have incorporated a silicone derivative into conditioning shampoos. This makes the hair glossy but less greasy. They are not suitable for bleached or permed hair.- Shampoos containing sunscreens. Both hair and skin are damaged by ultraviolet light, especially bleached hair. Hair bleaches often contain sunscreens to try and minimize fading of the color. Sunscreens, especially PABA, have also been incorporated into many shampoos. At the moment they seem to be of no value as they are washed out of the hair before sun exposure. In the future, shampoos containing sunscreens may be designed to bind to the hair so that they do not wash off.- Baby shampoos. Baby shampoos are designed to cause minimal eye irritation. In other respects they are the same as ordinary shampoos.A shampoo should be chosen according to the sort of hair you have and whether or not it is bleached or permed. If you have oily hair which is not chemically processed, a more cleansing shampoo is needed, that is, one containing sodium laurel sulphate. If you swim regularly in a chlorinated pool a good cleansing shampoo is also necessary. The best results can be achieved, however, by alternating between a very cleansing and a milder shampoo.At present, there is little to recommend conditioning shampoos, protein-containing shampoos and sunscreen-containing shampoos. There are many other gimmicks on the market such as shampoos which contain aloe vera and other ‘natural’ ingredients. These products are no more useful than other shampoos.Considering the number of shampoos on the market, the number of adverse reactions is very small. The main problem is eye irritation, which is not very likely in baby shampoos. As with cosmetics, allergic reactions can occur due to the perfumes or preservatives present in shampoos.
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Many women take the time to have their nails professionally manicured. Nail care is a very specialized field, however, and often manicurists have minimal training in nail products and nail problems. It can therefore be quite difficult to find a well-trained manicurist.
Cuticle removersFor some reason the cuticle is considered an ugly structure, yet its main function is to protect the nail growth plate from bacterial and fungal infection which will occur if the cuticle is damaged. It is far better to leave cuticles alone, as fifty per cent of nail problems would be avoided if cuticles were not removed or pushed back.
Nail hardenersMost nail hardeners contain formaldehyde which does not strengthen nails, and nail hardeners which contain formaldehyde have been banned in the United States. Formaldehyde can cause severe allergic reactions, so nail hardeners are best avoided.
Nail polishesMost nail polishes contain sulphonamide resin which gives the nails durability and gloss. It can, however, cause allergic reactions which, strangely enough, produce dermatitis on the eyelids. Some nail polishes, such as Almay, do not cause allergies but they chip easily and wear poorly. Nail polish can be made more durable by using a base coat and a top coat. Contrary to popular belief, nail polish does not harm the nails; in fact it protects them from wear and tear. Even if nail polish is not worn routinely, it is advantageous to use top coat nail polish to protect the nail from peeling.
Nail polish removersNail polish removers contain acetone and alcohol which are very drying. To minimize this effect, moisturizers and less drying chemicals are increasingly being used in nail polish removers.
Acrylic nailsAcrylic nails have become very popular because many women find it difficult to keep their own nails in good condition. Acrylic nails are very durable and hold nail polish well; however they can also cause a number of problems. An allergic reaction to the glue, called methylmethacrylate, can occur, producing severe dermatitis around the nails and even nail destruction.Fungal infections can also occur if moisture gets in between the artificial nail and the normal nail. This can be avoided by filing the nail regularly and by applying an anti-fungal agent to the nails before the artificial nails are put on.Artificial nails can also make your own nails softer, which is evident when the artificial ones are removed. Your own nails may also lift or be completely destroyed when the artificial nails are taken off. This is more likely if your cuticles have been pushed back or removed.Problems with artificial nails can be minimized by selecting a good manicurist with adequate training. Sculptured nails must be filled regularly, that is every two to three weeks, to minimize the risk of fungal infection, and are best kept short, as this will minimize the chances of your own nails and the artificial nails lifting off the nail bed. The cuticles should always be left intact.
Nail wrapsNail wraps are used for repairing broken nails, and are best applied by a trained manicurist. Either silk or fiberglass is used.
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DISEASES OF THE SKIN: ECZEMA AND ERYTHEMA
EczemaIn this complaint there is inflammation of the skin, with the formation of pustules, scales and crusts. It may be dry, or it may keep up a watery discharge. It may be found in persons of all ages, and is particularly troublesome when it attacks very young infants because of the intense irritation. It may be of the acute or the chronic kind, and it requires patience and persistence to get rid of it.The name, which is taken from the Greek, is interesting because it means “to boil out,” and this is a very good description of what goes on. There is no point in trying to suppress it; it has to be eliminated by the most careful adjustment to the environment and by treatment that will build better health. It would take a volume to describe the many forms through which the complaint may go, but this is of little consequence so far as the Nature Cure point of view is concerned. It is not a disease but a constantly varying symptom.
ErythemaThis is a term that is often used in connection with redness of the skin, involving the cutaneous circulation. It is generally supposed to be associated with the nervous mechanism of the system, or it may arise from contact with some external agency, such as, for example, the direct rays of the sun. It is not infrequently seen as a symptom of certain diseases, and a redness of this order, erythema nodosum, often accompanies rheumatic diseases. Drugs, also, may be the cause of this skin reaction. As with dermatitis it may take on many different forms, but there is no need here to enter into the names and descriptions of them.
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