Monday 22 April 2013

Head Lice Treatments – Eradicate the menace for good












Lice are menacingly contagious and disgusting. Battling them with the right kind of weapon is extremely necessary to get rid of them. Here are a few effective head lice treatments you can apply.

Medicated shampoos are the most commonly used for lice problems. There are several brands available over-the-counter without any prescription, or it may be prescribed by the doctor as well. Read the direction and use it sparsely according to the length of the hair. After the bath, remove the dead lice with the nit comb that comes with the kit. Please do not use the product on kids under two years. Depending on the severity of infestation, the doctor will recommend the treatment for two or three days in a week.

If you prefer home-remedy, then massage the head either with mayonnaise or olive oil and leave for some time. Since the nits or the eggs need breathing space to survive, use of oil or the mayonnaise will make it difficult for the nits to breathe and the dead ones can be removed with a comb.

There are no particular head lice treatments. The ones that will suit you the most can be judged only after analyzing your problem. So, consult the doctor before jump-starting any medical cure.

Monday 25 March 2013

Key Ingredients in Dandruff Shampoo



Dandruff is a common scalp condition found in almost all age groups. It may cause irritation due to an itchy and flaky scalp. It is caused due to a yeast infection and other fungi. There are several brands on the market which work differently on various types of dandruff. The difference lies in the key ingredient or the active ingredient present in these, otherwise ordinary shampoos.

All dandruff shampoos contain a basic scalp cleanser i.e. sodium laureth sulfate or ammonium laureth sulfate which creates a lather when mixed with water. Some manufacturers use ketoconazole, or salicylic acid as a key ingredient in dandruff shampoos. These chemical derivatives regulate the keratinization. They act tough on the fungal growth on scalp and are effective in physically removing dandruff. However, the effectiveness of these shampoos depends on the amount of active ingredient added in the shampoo.

Another active compound found in major dandruff shampoo brands is zinc pyrithione which is popularly known as ZPT. It acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is effective in healing most common forms of dandruff. Other than chemical compounds, some dandruff shampoos come with natural derivatives such as Neem and sandalwood oil which may be effective in healing dandruff and also have a soothing effect on the scalp after a wash.