Heathy 365 Newsletter from Dr Weaver-Summer Hair Care Tips

 

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here   "HEALTHY 365 NEWSLETTER"   Issues of this newsletter include tips for healthy skin and hair, plus wellness information and updates about Dr. Weaver in his pursuits as your wellness consultant.     Read the information over the next few minutes and feel free to provide feedback or let us know of topics you would like to have covered.  Also, feel free to forward it to a friend. What's New with Dr. W?   This past week one of the patients who came in for a visit was a 69 year old female with a history of hair loss and soreness for the past 3 months. She reported that she had used a medication on the scalp prescribed by her family physician and the problem did not go away, so she subsequently went to a dermatologist.  Again, the medication prescribed did not work, so one of her church members referred her to me and during the course of her examination, I noticed the presence of scaly areas and broken off hair.  Upon microscopic evaluation of her hair, I was able to diagnose her problem as a fungal infection of the scalp. However, this was somewhat unusual since it would be more common to see this problem in a 6 year old or 9 year old rather than a 69 year old individual. It was a reminder to always be on the alert and expect the unexpected.  This is a regular part of dermatology.  I can remember back to when I first started practice and attended a dermatology society meeting where unusual cases were presented in a group setting, and one of the dermatologists there made the statement, "I have been in practice for forty years and I have never seen this before". Well, now I have been practicing for close to 30 years and I know to still be on the lookout for the unexpected. Healthy 365 Tip of The Week - Summer Hair Care Tips Recently I was asked, "Which products can you recommend for dry hair in this long, hot Houston summer?" That is a very good question and one that not many people think to ask. While we all know how important it is to use sunscreen to protect our skin, we do not often think about the effects of the sun on our hair. The summer heat can dry the hair much the same way that blow dryers and curling irons do. The stronger UV rays also penetrate the hair shaft and damage the melanin or pigment of your hair. This is visible in the "sun bleached" effect you see as your hair becomes lighter with prolonged exposure to the sun. Unless you take precautions to protect your hair, it can become dry, frizzy,  brittle and harder to manage. The most obvious way to protect your hair is to decrease the amount of time it is exposed to damaging UV rays by wearing a hat as much as possible. This is especially helpful mid-day when the sun is the hottest. For times when it is not possible to keep your hair covered, using an SPF sunscreen for your hair is recommended. Although there are some shampoos and conditioners that claim to have SPF properties, they are not as effective because you must rinse them off. The best products are leave in conditioners that contain sunscreen. Quintessence Q-Sunshade Leave In Hair Conditioner and Scalp Protectant SPF 30 has one of the highest SPF ratings of any of the prepared hair care products I have found. Alternatively, you can make your own sunscreen for your hair and scalp. Simply dilute a couple of teaspoons of your favourite sunscreen product with water in a spray bottle. Spritz it into your freshly washed hair before styling. Carry a small misting bottle of this mixture with you and apply another light spray to your hair if you plan to be in the sun for an extended period of time the same way you would apply additional sunscreen to your skin. Once per week you should use a clarifying shampoo to remove any build up of sunscreen from your hair. At this time, it is also a good idea to do a deep conditioning treatment to replenish some of the moisture lost. One of the best deep conditioning treatments for your hair is a hot oil treatment. You can make your own using olive oil, jasmine oil or jojoba oil and vitamin E. Just poke a couple of vitamin E tablets with a pin and squeeze them into a ¼ or ½ cup of oil and mix with a small amount of very hot water in a jar. Put on the lid and shake to emulsify the oil. Place on your hair while still warm. Place a plastic cap or plastic wrap around your hair and leave in for a minimum of 30 minutes. If you can leave this on your hair overnight it is even better. After the treatment, wash your hair and style as usual. You will find your hair to be smooth and shiny and appear full of life again.  It is important to understand that you cannot completely repair hair once it is damaged. All you can do is prevent further damage and help to make the damaged hair more manageable. Hair has a top layer that resembles scales. In healthy hair the scales lay flat and the hair strands appear smooth and shiny. In damaged hair these scales will curl making the hair appear frizzy and brittle and full of split ends. Deep conditioners can help to coat the hair to make it appear smooth again, but it cannot fully cure the damage. Only cutting the hair to remove the damage will completely get rid of it. Therefore, using the sunscreen and keeping your hair covered whenever possible is the only way to prevent the damage from happening in the first place. One last recommendation that was passed along to me from a chemist who has formulated dozens of hair products over the years is to use a dime sized amount of "Downy Fabric Softener" twice a week to condition the hair.  You will be amazed with the results.  Try it for yourself and you will see. Recent Articles - Click on The Topics Below to Read More   What Does Sleep Have to do With Weight Loss?   Seymour M. Weaver, III, M.D. Board Certified Dermatologist www.DrSeymourWeaver.com If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below:  Unsubscribe Weaver P O Box 300322 Houston, Texas 77230-0322 United States

Recommended Hair Products to Protect Your Hair from the Damaging Heat of Summer