Dry Hair
Dry, brittle
& coarse hair is a common problem. It is seen
more often in adults than children and in most
cases the problem can be rectified with simple
steps.
Each hair follicle contains a sebaceous gland
which produces an oily substance known as sebum.
Sebum is the body's natural moisturiser, coating
the hair and skin to keep it shiny and soft,
protecting it from infection, preventing water
being lost from the skin while also serving to
weatherproof the skin, preventing water getting
in.
Dry hair causes:
The cause of
dry hair can be broken down into three main
categories.
Environmental (over use of hair dryers etc)-This
is the most common cause of dry hair and may be
caused by:
-
Over
use of appliances such as hair dryers &
straighteners.
-
Excessive washing, especially with
overly harsh shampoos strips hair of it's
natural oils (sebum), resulting in dryness.
-
Environmental such as air conditioning,
dry winter air.
Inadequate production of sebum-Very unlikely.
Medical
-
Poor/inadequate diet, vitamin deficiency
- Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C,
zinc
-
Thyroid
disorders (hypothyroidism),
hyperparathyroidism, Menkes syndrome
Dry hair treatment:
Finding out
the cause of dry hair goes a long way to solving
the problem. Some tips include;
-
Reducing
the use of hair dryers & straighteners.
If you do blow dry & straighten your hair,
chat to your hairdresser about sprays which
can be used on the hair prior to
drying/straightening which can help reduce
damage.
-
Switch to
a more gentle brand of shampoo which won't
strip the hair of natural oils.
-
Apply a
nourishing conditioner after shampooing.
-
Eat a
well balanced diet, including lots of fruit
& vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals &
omega-3 fatty acids.
If the above
methods fail to address the issue of dry hair
then visit your doctor as there could be a
medical cause that will need to be investigated.
Also see:
Itchy scalp
