Rarely do men complain about having too much hair-even if it grows dark and dense on arms, chest, and legs. But for women, the tendency of hair to crop up in places other than the scalp can be a decided cosmetic liability. For some women, it goes beyond a cosmetic problem; it is a serious psychological handicap that can result in extreme self-consciousness and social isolation.

Women with markedly abnormal hair growth in the same distribution as that of a normal postpubertal male are called hirsute. Some eight to ten percent of all adult women in the United States face this problem.

We’re not talking about vellus hair-the “peach fuzz,” or downy growth, present over most of the human body. Hirsutism refers to an excess of terminal hair-thick, pigmented hair that, before puberty, is present only on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. In a hirsute woman, once she becomes sexually mature, terminal hair grows in unwanted locations, such as the upper lip and chin.

In some cases, hirsutism may reflect an abnormality that can be medically corrected. Often, however, hirsutism is simply a matter of heredity, and a problem that can be controlled cosmetically.

Here are your choices:

Make up a solution. For a mild case of excess facial hair, a heavy base of cosmetics can cover up the problem. If your skin tends to be oily or is acne prone, look for foundations and blushes that are water based or noncomedogenic.

Try a close shave. The most obvious way to rid yourself of unwanted hair is to shave it away. It may not be the best choice for removing facial hair, however, since one wrong move can have you sporting a snippet of bathroom tissue over a bleeding nick. There’s another drawback to shaving facial hair. “Shaving mows the hairs down at skin level and may leave an unsightly dark line,” says Donald Rudikoff, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Still, shaving can be a viable option for removing hair on other parts of the body. It’s the easiest and cheapest method, says Rudikoff, and, contrary to popular belief, “shaving does not make hair coarser or cause it to grow faster.”

Use a little pluck. Tweezing works well if the overgrowth problem is confined to a specific area, such as a few errant hairs around the eyebrows or on the chin. “It is time consuming, uncomfortable, and impractical for areas like the legs and underarms,” notes Elizabeth Knobler, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.

Tweezing can hurt a bit and leave the area red and irritated for a time. New hairs may appear within 4 to 13 weeks. However, there is no medical basis for the belief that nine new hairs will grow in place of one that is plucked.

Lighten up. Bleaching to make hairs colorless and less prominent is probably the most common home treatment for unwanted facial hair. Several bleaches are sold in drugstores. Most involve mixing together a powder with a cream to activate the bleaching agent. Be sure to ask if the bleach is fresh, because it can lose strength if it has been on the shelf for several months. For women with very dark facial hair, the bleaching process may not be 100 percent successful on the first pass; a repeat bleaching will usually do the trick. As the hairs grow out, they’ll have to be bleached again.

Wax it away. One technique that is similar to plucking involves the use of wax to pull hairs out by the roots. Once the wax has been heated to a fluid state, it is spread on one swath of skin at a time, then stripped off a few seconds later, taking hundreds of hairs with it. Waxing is not without its sore spots, however. “As you can imagine, this method can be painful and time consuming,” says Bruce R. Carr, M.D., Paul C. MacDonald Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Surface skin can sometimes be pulled off in the bargain, and even if the skin remains intact, the waxing can create long-lasting irritation and redness. Indeed, as Carr points out, the skin can become so irritated that infection can develop. So if you want to try waxing, be sure to follow package instructions carefully.

Cream off the crop. Drugstores offer a variety of creams and lotions that chemically remove hair; these are generally as cheap and easy to use as bleach. “Depilatories take off all the hair on the leg or lip-the dark, terminal hair and the lighter vellus hair-so regrowth feels unusually thick and stubbly. But it still holds true that only one hair will grow back where a hair was removed,” says Carr. Depilatories come in different types for use on different parts of the body. Be sure you use the appropriate type for the body area you will be applying it to. Since a depilatory can irritate sensitive skin, always test it on a small patch of skin before using it on a larger area.

Get to the root of the problem. There is only one method of permanent hair removal: electrolysis. In this procedure, a trained electrologist inserts a very fine probe into the hair follicle. A small amount of electrical current is then applied through the probe to destroy the hair root and render it useless for future growth. Does it hurt? “That’s relative to each individual being treated and the area being worked on,” says RudikotI “Typically, electrolysis on the upper lip and inner thigh are most uncomfortable, while treatment on the forearms and chest area hurt least.” If performed improperly, electrolysis can cause scarring and infection. When performed by a trained operator, there are generally few side effects. A slight swelling or redness may occur that should subside in a matter of hours. Occasionally, slight scabbing may appear two to four days after treatment; if left alone, it will fall off. This procedure is safe if performed by a trained operator; ask to see credentials-such as certification by the Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists.

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Hair Loss - How to Cope up with Hair Loss

A clump of hair in the shower drain or scattered .on the pillowcase can alarm anyone. For many folks, their mane is their crowning glory. When they’re having a “good hair day,” it adds extra zip their step. So anytime it looks like they may be losing their locks, they’re not happy.

In reality, it’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. That’s generally not a problem, since the typical head of hair has about 100,000 hairs. It’s simply part of the shedding phase that all hair goes through. Hair first goes through a growth stage, which lasts anywhere from months to ears. “Women with very long hair have long growing phases. It’s not an acquired trait; either you have it or you don’t,” says Alvin Solomon, M.D., associate professor of dermatology and pathology at Emory University School of medicine in Atlanta. Hair then moves into a resting phase for about three months. Finally, the shedding phase occurs, and the whole cycle starts over again with a new hair.

By far, the most common cause of hair loss for both men and women is pattern balding. In men, this hereditary condition affects the front and/or top of the head. “All men undergo this to some degree,” says Douglas Altchek, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai school of Medicine in New York. Pattern hair loss and women isn’t generally as severe as it is in men, and it’s more diffuse, with the thinnest patches of hair usually at the top of the head. Still, the number of women with pattern balding is “much more than most people think,” says Solomon. While there is no cure for pattern balding, there are treatments available (see “Help for Pattern Balding”).

Hair loss does occur for other reasons, some of which you can have control over if you know about them. In most of these instances, the hair loss is temporary, although you may have to wait six to eight months after the precipitating cause has been removed before you see the growth begin again. The following tips can help you prevent some of other situations that can cause hair loss:

Stay healthy. Easier said than done sometimes, but a whole host of diseases may have the unfortunate result of causing hair loss. “These diseases may have the effect of shortening or interrupting the growth phase of the hair cycle,” says Marty Sawaya, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology and biochemistry at the State University of New York at Brooklyn. Illnesses as diverse as measles, thyroid disease, lupus, pneumonia, anemia, diabetes, syphilis, polycystic ovaries, and tumors on the adrenal gland may all produce hair loss.

Watch your medications. “Literally hundreds of different medications can cause hair loss,” says Solomon. Chemotherapeutic drugs (medications used in the treatment of cancer) certainly affect the hair, but the list of offenders also includes some birth control pills, high blood pressure medications, certain types of steroids, diuretics, antidepressants, and even aspirin when taken chronically. Whether you will be affected by your medication in this way depends on your own sensitivity. Check with your doctor to see if the medications you are taking are associated with hair loss and whether there are alternative medications available, suggests Altchek. However, do not stop taking any prescription medication without first talking to your doctor about it.

Eat a balanced diet. People who eat a very-low ­protein or iron-deficient diet run the risk of shedding more than normal amounts of hair. This can happen, for instance, when someone eats a poor diet or tries crash dieting. This holds true especially for women. “We don’t understand it fully, but some investigators have been finding that in women, iron and iron metabolism have an effect on the hair cycle,” says Sawaya. On the other hand, going overboard with certain vitamins can harm hair, too. Taking Vitamin A or D in excess can cause hair loss. “People who are taking the so ­called mega vitamin regime should be very careful,” warns Altchek.

Keep calm. Severe stress or a traumatic event like a death in the family can bring about heavy shedding of the hair. But moderate stress can leave its mark on your mane as well. “Gradual hair loss or thinning of the hair can be brought on by constant, low-grade stress,” says Altchek. Try to find a way to cope with stress and minimize its effects on your health-and your hair. Do whatever works for you, whether it’s exercising, practicing meditation or some form of relaxation technique, or making time for a hobby.

Don’t overprocess or overstyle your hair. We do many things to our hair to make it look beautiful, but some of them may not be good for our tresses. Cornrowing, tight braiding, bleaching, teasing, chemically straightening, and using hot rollers or hot combs can all cause hair breakage. “The rule of thumb here is the less you do to your scalp, the better,” advises Altchek. Whoever told women to brush their hair 100 times a night gave them “the worst possible advice,” he says. If you can’t forgo the styling and processing altogether, at least try to space them out a bit and give your hair a break from these treatments whenever possible.

Check out your supplements. Selenium supplements taken in excess and foreign herbs that contain heavy metals can cause hair loss. If you are taking any such supplement and notice hair loss, discontinue the supplement and see your doctor to be sure that the supplement has not caused other complications that may not be as readily apparent as the hair loss.

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Hair Loss – Remedies for the Treatment of Hair Loss

Aclump of hair in the shower drain or scattered .on the pillowcase can alarm anyone. For many folks, their mane is their crowning glory. When they’re having a “good hair day,” it adds extra zip their step. So anytime it looks like they may be losing their locks, they’re not happy.

In reality, it’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. That’s generally not a problem, since the typical head of hair has about 100,000 hairs. It’s simply part of the shedding phase that all hair goes through. Hair first goes through a growth stage, which lasts anywhere from months to ears. “Women with very long hair have long growing phases. It’s not an acquired trait; either you have it or you don’t,” says Alvin Solomon, M.D., associate professor of dermatology and pathology at Emory University School of medicine in Atlanta. Hair then moves into a resting phase for about three months. Finally, the shedding phase occurs, and the whole cycle starts over again with a new hair.

By far, the most common cause of hair loss for both men and women is pattern balding. In men, this hereditary condition affects the front and/or top of the head. “All men undergo this to some degree,” says Douglas Altchek, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai school of Medicine in New York. Pattern hair loss and women isn’t generally as severe as it is in men, and it’s more diffuse, with the thinnest patches of hair usually at the top of the head. Still, the number of women with pattern balding is “much more than most people think,” says Solomon. While there is no cure for pattern balding, there are treatments available (see “Help for Pattern Balding”).

Hair loss does occur for other reasons, some of which you can have control over if you know about them. In most of these instances, the hair loss is temporary, although you may have to wait six to eight months after the precipitating cause has been removed before you see the growth begin again. The following tips can help you prevent some of other situations that can cause hair loss:

Stay healthy. Easier said than done sometimes, but a whole host of diseases may have the unfortunate result of causing hair loss. “These diseases may have the effect of shortening or interrupting the growth phase of the hair cycle,” says Marty Sawaya, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology and biochemistry at the State University of New York at Brooklyn. Illnesses as diverse as measles, thyroid disease, lupus, pneumonia, anemia, diabetes, syphilis, polycystic ovaries, and tumors on the adrenal gland may all produce hair loss.

Watch your medications. “Literally hundreds of different medications can cause hair loss,” says Solomon. Chemotherapeutic drugs (medications used in the treatment of cancer) certainly affect the hair, but the list of offenders also includes some birth control pills, high blood pressure medications, certain types of steroids, diuretics, antidepressants, and even aspirin when taken chronically. Whether you will be affected by your medication in this way depends on your own sensitivity. Check with your doctor to see if the medications you are taking are associated with hair loss and whether there are alternative medications available, suggests Altchek. However, do not stop taking any prescription medication without first talking to your doctor about it.

Eat a balanced diet. People who eat a very-low­protein or iron-deficient diet run the risk of shedding more than normal amounts of hair. This can happen, for instance, when someone eats a poor diet or tries crash dieting. This holds true especially for women. “We don’t understand it fully, but some investigators have been finding that in women, iron and iron metabolism have an effect on the hair cycle,” says Sawaya. On the other hand, going overboard with certain vitamins can harm hair, too. Taking Vitamin A or D in excess can cause hair loss. “People who are taking the so­called megavitamin regime should be very careful,” warns Altchek.

Keep calm. Severe stress or a traumatic event like a death in the family can bring about heavy shedding of the hair. But moderate stress can leave its mark on your mane as well. “Gradual hair loss or thinning of the hair can be brought on by constant, low-grade stress,” says Altchek. Try to find a way to cope with stress and minimize its effects on your health-and your hair. Do whatever works for you, whether it’s exercising, practicing meditation or some form of relaxation technique, or making time for a hobby.

Don’t overprocess or overstyle your hair. We do many things to our hair to make it look beautiful, but some of them may not be good for our tresses. Cornrowing, tight braiding, bleaching, teasing, chemically straightening, and using hot rollers or hot combs can all cause hair breakage. “The rule of thumb here is the less you do to your scalp, the better,” advises Altchek. Whoever told women to brush their hair 100 times a night gave them “the worst possible advice,” he says. If you can’t forgo the styling and processing altogether, at least try to space them out a bit and give your hair a break from these treatments whenever possible.

Check out your supplements. Selenium supplements taken in excess and foreign herbs that contain heavy metals can cause hair loss. If you are taking any such supplement and notice hair loss, discontinue the supplement and see your doctor to be sure that the supplement has not caused other complications that may not be as readily apparent as the hair loss.

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Dandruff - Treatment and Remedies for Curing Diabetes

Don’t toss out all those dark suits. There’s a better way to deal with dandruff. As a matter of fact, you may be able to simply wash it away.

If you are like most people, you have always thought of those unsightly flakes as dry skin. In reality, though, dandruff is usually a condition of oily skin and an oily scalp.

The process that causes dandruff-the shedding of dead skin cells-is a natural one that goes on continu­ally all over your body. In fact, you get a whole new suit of skin about every 27 or 28 days. The old stuff just sort of flakes away. You simply may not no- notice the tiny skin cells dropping off your arms and legs.

You happen to see the skin cells that make up dandruff because your hair traps them before they can float off unnoticed. Then the oil from your hair and scalp clumps up the cells until they turn into those visible flakes that decorate your shoulders. Naturally, they are even more noticeable on first dates, job interviews, and other important occasions.

According to Joseph P. Bark, M.D., chairman of dermatology at 8t. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, you should be glad your scalp flakes away. “If you didn’t lose that skin progressively, everybody would be carrying their scalp around in a wheelbarrow,” he says. “It would be tremen­dously thick.”

Unfortunately, few of us are brave enough to shrug off dandruff, even if it reflects a normal and necessary process. Fortunately, you can take steps to sweep those flakes away once and for all.

Shampoo each day to keep it away. What easier way to get rid of dandruff than to wash it down the drain? Often, this is all that’s required, says Andrew Lazar, M.D., assistant professor of clinil dermatology at Northwestern University School shampoo Medicine in Chicago. Getting rid of excess oils anc flakes through daily shampooing may be the easiest way to tame your mane.

Switch shampoos. If your regular shampoo isn’t doing the trick, even with daily washing, it’s time to switch to an anti-dandruff shampoo. Check the ingredients for over-the-counter shampoos, says Fredric Haberman, M.D., author of The Doctor’s Beauty Hotline. Look for a dandruff shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, sulfur, or salicylic acid.

Switch, and switch again. Your favorite dandruff shampoo may stop working after a while. To your dismay, those little white flakes may take up residence on your shoulders again. It’s not the fault of the shampoo, says Haberman. You simply may build up a resistance to the shampoo’s active ingredient. Haberman recommends rotating three brands of dandruff shampoo (each with a different formulation), using each for a month. In other words, use one shampoo for a month, then switch to a second brand for a month, then to a third brand for a month, then back to the original shampoo for a month, and so on.

Lather twice. The first lathering and rinsing gets rid of the loose flakes and the oily buildup on you hair and scalp. It sort of clears the area so the second lathering can get to work. Leave the lathered shampoo on your hair at least five minutes before rinsing it off, advises Haberman. That gives the shampoo a chance to penetrate the skin cells and do what it’s supposed to do.

Try tar. If the antidandruff shampoos aren’t working, it’s time to bring out the big guns, name( the tar shampoos. Tar shampoos have been a proven remedy for more than 200 years, says Bark.

The tar decreases cell turnover quite effectively. However, there are some drawbacks. Tar shampoos rong odor, may stain the shaft of lighter colored hair (it can take weeks of using a milder shampoo to get rid of the discoloration), and may irritate the skin.

Rinse. If you decide to go with a tar shampoo, rinse your hair with lemon juice, a conditioner, or creme rinse to get rid of any odor lingering from the shampoo, according to Paul S. Russell, M.D., professor of dermatology at Oregon Health University in Portland. Russell says that using a conditioner after washing with an anti-dandruff shampoo is a good idea anyway, because the medicated shampoos tend to stiffen hair and make it less manageable.

Be sensitive to your sensitivity. There are some People who just plain shouldn’t use a tar shampoo.Why? because they’re so sensitive. Rather, their. Bark says the shampoo can irritate and the hair follicles of some people”and can condition called folliculitis. The cure? switch to a milder shampoo.

Stop those itchy fingers. Try to resist the temptation to go after those itchy patches like a dog chasing fleas. You may end up with wounds your scalp, caused by your fingernails. If you break the skin on your scalp, discontinue use of medicated shampoo for a while. Switch to a mild 100, such as a baby shampoo, advises I, and use it daily until the scratches are healed.

Shower away sweat. After exercise or strenuous work that makes you perspire, shower and shampoo as soon as possible. Sweat irritates the scalp and speeds up the flaking of skin cells, says Lazar

Go easy on the sticky stuff. Although you needn’t give up the various mousses, sprays, and gels that hold your hairstyle in place, try to use them less often, says Lazar. These hair products can contribute to oily buildup.

Be kind to yourself. People who are under a great deal of stress seem to have more dandruff, observes Haberman. He says that stress somehow contributes to the proliferation of skin cells. Although there is no known diet connection to dandruff, “poor diet can stress you out and contribute to any dermatitis condition,” says Haberman. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and finding ways to relax or let off steam can make a difference.

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Dry Hair - Treating Dry Hair with so many Available Remedies

Your hair feels like straw-dry, fly-away, unmanageable. How could you have been cursed with such a mane? You probably weren’t, according to Frank Parker, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. “While some people are born with hair that tends to be more dry, most dry hair problems aren’t organic or genetic problems at all. They’re instead due to what you’re doing to your hair,” he says. That’s right. Those dry locks are most likely your own fault. Exposing your hair to harsh chemicals such as hair dyes, permanent-wave solutions, and the chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs dries out the hair. So does shampooing too often and using styling tools such as hot combs, hot rollers, and blow dryers. Even too much sun and wind can dry out your tresses. You can learn to treat your dry hair with T.L.e. and teach it to be more manageable. Here’s how:

Don’t overdo the shampoo. Overshampooing is one of the most common causes of dry hair, according to Parker. “Too often, people think they have to shampoo their hair every day with harsh shampoos,” he says. “It just strips away the natural oils.”

On the other hand, you shouldn’t go too long without a good lather. “Shampoo at least every three days,” says barber, cosmetologist, and hair­ care instructor Rose Dygart, owner of Le Rose Salon of Beauty in Lake Oswego, Oregon. “Gentle shampooing stimulates the oil glands.”

Be kind to your hair. Dygart says dry hair is the most fragile type of hair and is subject to breakage, so it must be handled with care. “Learn to shampoo your hair very gently,” she says. “Try not to pull the hair or put any tension on the hair shafts. ”

When lathering, avoid scrubbing with your fingernails, which can not only break the hair but can irritate your scalp. Work up a lather using your fingertips, instead.

Use a gentle shampoo. Dry hair needs a gentle, acidic cleanser, says Dygart. “Use a shampoo with a pH of between 4.5 and 6.7 for dry hair. Use a gentle cleanser you wouldn’t be afraid to put on your face,” she says. Some people recommend baby shampoos, but Dygart says their pH is far too high, and alkaline shampoos dry out the hair. Instead, she recommends acidic shampoos.

Pour on the conditioner.Dry hair needs conditioning, says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. “Find a conditioner that has as little alcohol as possible in it, because alcohol is drying,” he says. “Products that have little or no fragrance usually have less alcohol. For really dry hair, try an overnight conditioner that you put on and wear a shower cap over and rinse off the next day.”

For severely dry, damaged hair, Novick recommends using Moisturel, a body lotion that contains petrolatum and glycerin, instead of a conditioner. Apply the moisturizer to damp hair, and leave it on overnight beneath a shower cap. Rinse it out thoroughly in the morning.

Pour the hot oil. “Hot oil treatments are excellent for restoring dry hair,” says Dygart. She recommends using over-the-counter hot oil products that you heat and place on the hair for 5 to 20 minutes (according to package instructions). Wear a plastic bag or shower cap over your hair while the hot oil is on. Then, wash the hair thoroughly with a gentle shampoo.

Slather on the mayo. Mayonnaise is another excellent moisturizing treatment for dry hair, says Dygart. “Use old-fashioned mayonnaise, not diet or low-cholesterol types,” she says. “First, shampoo your hair, then apply about a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Wrap the hair in a plastic bag for 20 to 30 minutes. Then shampoo and rinse thoroughly. ”

Nix the 100 strokes. Novick says that because dry hair is so fragile, too much brushing can actually fracture the hair, causing hair fall. He suggests brushing gently and never brushing the hair when it is wet.

Dygart says the type of hairbrush you use is important. She recommends boar-bristle brushes or “vent” brushes, ones with rubberized tips, that don’t pull the hair excessively.

Give yourself a scalp massage. One way to stimulate the oil glands on the scalp is to gently massage the scalp during shampoos, says Dygart. “Use the tips of your fingers to very gently massage all over your scalp,” she says. “It not only stimulates the oil glands, it also feels great.”

Be an egghead. Dygart suggests beating an egg in a cup and, with tepid water (not hot-it cooks the egg!), lathering the egg into the hair and then rinsing it out with tepid water. There’s no need to shampoo afterWard. The egg not only cleans the hair but gives it a lovely shine.

Pace your hair treatments. If you perm on Tuesday, dye your hair on Thursday, and put it in hot rollers on Saturday, your hair is destined to be dry and damaged. “Think about your hair like a sweater,” says Novick. “How many times can you dye it repeatedly before it begins to look terrible?” Novick says people with dry hair don’t necessarily have to abandon styling practices like dyes, permanent waves, or hair straightening, but he says it’s important to space those treatments out.

Hold the heat. Using hot combs, hot rollers, and blow dryers is asking for dry hair trouble, says Paul Contorer, M.D., chief of dermatology for Kaiser Permanente in Beaverton, Oregon, and clinical professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. Hot rollers are the worst because they stretch the hair while the heat shrinks it. Hot combs also tend to stretch the hair and expose hair to heat for long periods of time.

If you must use artificial heat on your hair, Dygart suggests that you use a blow dryer on a low setting and avoid pulling or stretching the hair while drying.

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