kishor

It is a growing concern that today even kids as young as ten years old suffer from graying of hair.

It was a very rare phenomenon even a few years ago but it is increasing every day. While there are many reasons that cause early graying of hair, the most common reason is possibly pollution, lack of proper nutrition and stress.

Today even children are not out of bounds of stress and hence graying of hair starts as early as in a ten-year-old. But to prevent graying of hair you have to know about it a little.

Hence read on to know more:

• Every hair follicle has melanocytes, which are hair pigmentation producing cells. When a hair strand grows out of a hair follicle, melanocytes inject melanin into the strand that makes the hair colored.
• Usually, with age, the melanocytes slowly stop producing the melanin, thus making the hair strands turn the first grey and then white.
• But due to some reasons like some kinds of illness or stress or lack of nutrition, the melanocytes might stop producing enough melanin before time. This is what causes premature graying of hair.
• The kind of illnesses that might cause premature graying of hair includes hyperthyroidism, hormonal imbalances, hypothyroidism, and pernicious anemia and so on.
• It can also be caused by excessive damage to the hair that happens from the effect of using chemical dyes frequently, keeping the scalp unclean and effect of some high dosage drugs.
• Since the reasons of premature graying of hair are varied, it is suggested that for the treatment you consult a good trichologist first before trying anything for yourself.
• For one thing, using dyes that contain ammonia to color your hair would be a mistake that would further aggravate the problem. But unfortunately, that is what most people do.
• If you too are facing the problem of premature graying of hair, make sure you consult a good trichologist to find out the reason behind the problem.
• Once the reason is clear it would be much easier to find a solution too. If the only option you have is to color your hair, make sure you use a color that contains no ammonia.
• Hence using something natural like the henna would be a good idea.  And if you are fortunate to still have a mane of hair that has not started to gray yet, make sure you take proper care of it.

Dandruff is one of the most common chronic hair conditions. It is characterized by a white, flaky substance on the scalp. Dandruff is not a serious condition and neither is it contagious. However, people still want it gone so that their hair looks better. Here are the symptoms as well as the causes of dandruff.

Causes:

1. Skin drying up: Dry skin is the most common cause of dandruff. The flakes from dry skin are usually less oily and smaller than with other forms of dandruff.
2. Seborrhoeic dermatitis: Dandruff can also be caused by oily irritated skin. In this type of dandruff, red, greasy skin has flaky white or yellow scales covering it.
3. Infrequent shampooing: This is also a very common cause of dandruff. This is because oil and skin cells accumulate, thus resulting in dandruff.
4. Malassezia: Malassezia is a yeast like fungus. It is usually harmless and stays on the scalp of most adults. However, it is worth noting that sometimes the yeast may irritate the scalp and cause extra skin cells to grow. The skin cells then fall off and become flaky. 
5. Contact dermatitis: Contact dermatitis is a sensitivity to health care products and when you use too much shampoo, hair styling products or other chemicals, such as paraphenylenediamine, the red, itchy, scaly scalp associated with dandruff is caused.
6. Other skin conditions: There are many other skin conditions, which cause dandruff as well. These include eczema and psoriasis. Eczema is a chronic skin disease, which causes the skin to become inflamed. Psoriasis is another skin condition. It is characterized by thick scales forming resulting from rough, dry, dead skin cells which build up rapidly. 

These are just the causes of dandruff. Now you will see how to identify when you have dandruff by learning about the symptoms of dandruff.

Symptoms:

1. The symptoms of dandruff are pretty easy to spot. All that happens is that you will see white, flaky, dead skin cells in your hair.
2. It is sometimes accompanied by an itchy, scaly scalp. 
3. There is also a type of dandruff called cradle cap, which occurs in newborns. Just like dandruff, it is not dangerous and goes away when the baby is 3 years old.

People who suffer from arthritis are more likely to experience osteoarthritis symptoms. The intensity of the feeling of knee pain in winter is often linked to barometric pressure. In winter, there is a reduction in the pressure exerted by the air around us. This drop in pressure can cause the tissues around the joints to swell resulting in increased pain. The other possible cause of knee pain in winter can be explained from the influence of heat. Fluid in tissues becomes more viscous during winter. As a result of this increased viscosity, the elasticity of the muscles decreases, resulting in winter aches and pains. 

Some scientists believe that the higher pain intensity in winter is to be more of a psychological thing. Seasonal affective disorder is more during winter, and people suffering from mental depression seem to sense more pain during winter as the weather restricts outdoor activities. Improper intake of food also causes knee pain in winter due to undigested material. Even though winter arthritis is uncomfortable, the following tips help to make the joints work better and make you withstand the season easier.

Tips to Manage Joint Pain in Winters

1. Physical activity in winter can reduce winter aches and pains and enhance overall health benefits. Low impact activities like aerobics, swimming in a heated pool, weight training, and riding a stationary bicycle can reduce stiffness, increase the blood flow, and support the knees. Thus, winter arthritis can be well managed by doing exercises.
2. Diet also plays a vital role. Eating a balanced diet that comprised of low saturated fat, lean proteins, more fiber, and refined carbs helps to improve body functions during the winter. Drinking water throughout the day helps to reduce winter aches and pains. It is essential to consume easily digestible foods like vegetables. Consuming vegetables like carrots and cucumbers that have diuretic properties can help to eliminate waste products from the body.
3. Vitamin D deficiency may worsen osteoarthritis. It is necessary to take a supplement vitamin D or ensure to make your diet is vitamin-D rich. Fish oil is a potent source of omega 3 fatty acids. Increase your intake of milk, a rich source of protein and calcium that help to strengthen the bones. Exposing the body to sunlight help to obtain vitamin D.
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can be used to reduce inflammation and pain. Injecting a viscous substance can decrease the friction of the bones and ease the condition.

Home Remedies for Knee Pain in Winters

1. Wrap the inflamed knees with blanched cabbage leaves. This can cool down inflamed knees.  Aloe vera also helps to reduce inflammation.
2. Comfrey (symphytum officinale) can act as an anti-inflammatory agent. Create a compress using mashed root or comfrey tea soaked bandages can also be used to reduce inflammation.
3. Applying an ice-pack can help to reduce swelling and alleviate winter aches and pains. While applying ice-pack, ensure to cover the entire knee. Applying a bag of frozen peas to the area also works well. While using ice or heat therapy, make sure to do them carefully as over agressive and over doing it, can cause problems. 
4. Steam therapy also helps to reduce pain in your knees. Soak your knee in a steaming hot water for 15 minutes. Applying hot water bag also can relieve knee pain in winter effectively.
5. Winter aches and pains all over the body can be relieved by administrating massage therapy by a professional.
6. Avoid applying strain or pressure on your knees. Take adequate amount of rest to reduce pain and swelling.

These are basic guidelines to help you. Contact your doctor for further management.