Dubai Trichologist Feamle Hair loss Hair thinning Specialist
The Holy month of Ramadan is upon us again so quickly.
During this Holy month your eating habits are obviously going to change, this will most likely result in changes for your hair. If you experience hair fall during, or after the Holy month, this is quite normal but remember if it continues, then its not.
Check out previous posts on how best to look after your locks during this time.
Ramadan Kareem
Feeling unattractive: The moment a woman starts seeing some changes on her scalp, like thinning or bald spots, the first thing that comes to mind is her level of attractiveness. Women, who have a full head of hair or simply healthy hair, have a way of feeling content with their beauty because it is more a symbol of femininity. So when it starts to fall, every feeling of self-worth starts disappearing which can lead to mental health problems. Which is of the big emotional effects of hair loss among women.
Low self-esteem: The next thing to start disappearing with the hair is the person’s self-confidence. The beauty of hair adds on to someone’s self-esteem, and plays a big part in their entire personality. By losing hair, the self-worth also disappears and expressing herself becomes a big problem, leading to insecurities.
Embarrassment: Loss of hair also leads to one being embarrassed. Compared with a man in her position, a woman will not be very confident going out or meeting people because the hair loss she is going through brings shyness to her life. And the result is not wanting anyone to see her balding spots, for fear of it leading to stigmatization or people feeling sorry for her.
Frustration: Like I had mentioned above, hair loss might not seem like the end of the world but for those going through it, it surely feels like the end of the world. Being frustrated for not being able to have your hair in a particular style, or sticking to one style throughout so as to hide a hairless spot could feel more like emotional torture. This frustration is what can also easily drive a woman who is losing her hair into depression.
Feelings of envy: Although the green-eyed monster is a very negative feeling, losing hair can easily lead a person to such feelings. Hair is a sign of femininity and when you start losing it you feel like you have lost the feminine qualities as well. So when you see someone else with a beautiful flowing mane, the feelings of envy start eating away at you, which again adds more to your depressing feelings.
One week we’re led to believe we need to be eating goji berries and flax seeds, and the next we should be having kale smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But, this week, it’s caffeine that’s being hailed as the latest super food for hair growth.
A recent study by the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, Korea, has claimed that moderate caffeine consumption – around three to five cups a day – can lower the risk of illnesses from type 2 diabetes to Parkinson’s disease.
These results aside, previous lab research also shows that caffeine may be the espresso your hairs need to stimulate their growth, thus preventing hair loss.
In a study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, researchers found that caffeine encourages the hair shaft to grow by blocking the effects of DHT, a hormone known to damage follicle growth. However, you’d need to be drinking between 50 and 60 cups of coffee a day for your hair to receive an adequate dose!
These findings also echoed the results of an earlier study by the journal, which found that caffeine boosted the length of individual hairs by between 33 and 40 per cent.
However, until there’s robust clinical evidence that caffeine helps to avert hair loss, I’d advise people wanting to give their hair a kick to stick to increasing their intake of essential fatty acids, protein, iron and Vitamin C before they start drinking 50 cups of coffee a day.
There are also a range of hair care products from the likes of Tricomax, Revivogen, Garnier, Alpecin and Plantur 39, which contain caffeine, so it may be worth testing a couple of these before the more curious of you find yourself rubbing coffee on to your scalp!
When names appeared on Coca-Cola bottles last year, people crowded the shelves in search of their own. From Claire and Jess, to Adam and Ben, an array of names were available. But, we failed to notice any that said ‘hair’. Not surprising really, who would share a coke with their hair?! An array of famous models, that’s who!
There are many weird and wonderful shampoo alternatives that float around the market, from tea, mayonnaise and lemon juice, to beer, fabric softener and ketchup. But, last month, a model-of-the-moment revealed that she washes her hair in Coca-Cola – another thing to add to the shopping list!
She claims that, by pouring Coca-Cola over her hair in place of shampoo, she’s left with more textured, thicker feeling hair. So, is coke the new secret to the perfectly tousled, softer feeling and voluptuous locks?
Although I’d be very cautious about removing shampoo from your hair washing routine, there’s actually some science behind using Coca-Cola, albeit dubious. The drink has a very low pH level, making it acidic, which would cause the cuticles to contract, resulting in smoother and shinier hair. What’s more, those with hair prone to curling will see their natural curls enhanced – who knew that a little bit of fizz could tame a whole load of frizz!
Please note, however, it’s not advised to use a bottle of Coca-Cola straight from the fridge, there’s a risk of screaming as you pour the cold stuff over you!
With the beautiful weather that we are experiencing now in Dubai, some of you will no doubt be taking to days by the pool. Whilst you cream up and protect your delicate skin, remember that your scalp is skin also.
Sunburn on the scalp is very common, yet people may not connect the dots if and when their scalp gets a bit sensitive after a day or few in the sun. While we spend hours each summer slathering our body with appropriate SPFs, and meticulously checking our skin for signs of UV damage, our sensitive scalp is so often neglected – and it certainly shouldn’t be. After all, our scalp is really just skin, and is therefore prone to the same traumas. This can range from large, unsightly flakes to, more seriously, second degree burns and skin cancer.
Symptoms of Sunburn on the Scalp
Symptoms of sunburn on the scalp can vary depending on the severity of it. You may experience slight redness and soreness or, in the case of deeper burns, develop blisters. In milder cases, the scalp will usually be quite sensitive to the touch and within a few days large flakes will start to appear, shed, and show up attached to your hair shafts. This can lead to itching and irritation, and can be managed with Tarinol or a moisturizing shampoo. Severe cases, however, need to be addressed by a doctor as they can lead to secondary bacterial infection. Signs of deeper burns are blisters, bleeding, crusting, extreme discomfort and marked dark redness and inflammation that do not go away within a few days.
Prevention of Sunburn on the Scalp
The most reliable method of protecting your scalp from sunburn is to wear a hat. However, if this is inconvenient, you can either apply your own sunblock to your parting (and any other exposed areas of scalp), or use a waterproof UV protective cream. We now have Malibu sun products available in Dubai, which protects hair from the damaging effects of the sun, and salt and chlorinated water, while giving your hair an intensive moisturizing treatment at the same time. However, if you have already burnt your scalp, wear a head covering to prevent worsening of the burn.