Ewwwwww

Head lice

Head lice are small insects that live on the hair of your scalp and neck. They aren’t a serious health problem and rarely cause anything more than an itchy scalp. However, they can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, and should to be treated promptly.

Head lice (also known as Pediculus capitis) are small, wingless insects with six legs. They are greyish-white to black in colour and the legs have hook-like claws that hold onto your hair. Adult head lice are around 2mm to 4mm in length – about the size of a sesame seed.
Female head lice lay eggs, which are attached to your hair shaft. The eggs take about a week to hatch, after which an empty egg case often remains. These are known as a nits. Young lice are called nymphs – they take about six to 10 days to mature to adults and feed on blood from your scalp to survive. Adult lice can live for up to 30 days. A typical head lice infection is up to 10 live lice per head, but it can be up to thousands.
Head lice can be found anywhere on your scalp. They are most commonly found behind your ears and at the back of your neck. They can only live on human hair – you can’t catch head lice from animals. If you have nits, it doesn’t always mean that you have head lice. After hatching, the nits can stay stuck to your hair shaft. You only have head lice for sure, if you find a living, moving louse on your scalp.

 

Symptoms of head lice

You may have no symptoms at all if you have head lice. Itching can start if you become sensitive to louse saliva or faeces. This usually takes four to six weeks, but can it be up to three months before you have any itching. You might get a tickling feeling, or the feeling of something moving in your hair.
As well as itching, you may develop a rash behind your ears and at the back of your neck – this is caused by a reaction to the louse saliva or faeces. If you scratch a lot, you may develop skin sores, which can become infected. You might see nits stuck to your hair shafts.

Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have head lice. For example, an itchy scalp can be caused by other conditions, such as eczema or dandruff. Some people develop itching just by hearing that there are head lice within the school or community. It’s important that you don’t start any treatment until you have been diagnosed with head lice, or you find a living, moving louse on your scalp

Diagnosis of head lice

You can only be sure you have head lice if you can find a living louse on your scalp. They can be hard to spot, but you can comb your hair using a fine-toothed comb to find and remove them. This is called detection combing and it can be done when your hair is wet or dry. Applying conditioner to wet hair can be helpful because the lice can’t move as quickly so they are easier to see on the comb. After each stroke, check the comb for lice. It can take between five and 15 minutes to wet comb your hair, depending on how long and curly it is.
If you do dry detection combing and spot a louse on the comb, place your thumb on it before pulling the comb through and out of your hair. This will stop any lice being flicked off the comb. Check all members of your household with detection combing so you know who will need treatment.

Treatment of head lice

Head lice can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but are not a serious health problem. There are a number of effective treatments available. You can either use an insecticide treatment or do wet combing (‘bug-busting’).

Insecticide treatments

There are a number of insecticide treatments available over-the-counter at your pharmacist to treat head lice. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice. You should only treat head lice with an insecticide treatment if you find live lice. Apply the treatment twice, leaving seven days between the applications – this kills any new lice that may have hatched. All members of your household that have head lice should be treated at the same time.
Insecticides are usually well tolerated. Your skin might become slightly irritated from the treatment, but this is usually mild and clears up on its own. Treatments are likely to be successful when you apply the treatment correctly and all affected members of your family are treated on the same day.

Dimeticone 4% lotion (Hedrin)

This is a physical insecticide, which means that it doesn’t contain chemicals and kills the lice by coating them and blocking their breathing tubes. You should apply dimeticone to your hair and scalp, and leave it on for eight hours, or overnight. You then need to wash it out using shampoo. The lotion is suitable for all ages, however, check with your GP first if you need to use it on a child younger than six months. It can be used if you have asthma or skin conditions, such as eczema.

Dimeticone 92% spray (NYDA)

This is also a physical insecticide. This treatment involves applying the spray and then combing your hair with a fine-toothed comb 30 minutes later. The treatment is then left on your hair and scalp for eight hours, or overnight, and then washed out using shampoo. It isn’t suitable for children younger than two.

Malathion (eg Derbac-M, Prioderm)

This is a chemical insecticide. You apply it to your hair and scalp, and leave it for 12 hours or overnight, then wash it out using shampoo. Some preparations are not recommended for children who have severe eczema or asthma. Check with your GP if you wish to use it on children under six months, as you may need a prescription.

Wet combing or 'bug busting'

This treatment involves removing lice by regularly combing wet hair with a plastic, fine-toothed comb (‘Bug Buster’ comb). You need to do this every four days for a minimum of two weeks, spending around 30 minutes each time combing through your entire head. It’s important that you keep wet combing your hair until you haven’t seen any full-grown lice for three consecutive sessions. You might find wet combing easier to do by applying a few drops of vegetable oil or conditioner to your hair – this stops the lice moving so rapidly.
You may prefer wet combing to insecticides, as it doesn’t involve using strong chemicals and it’s suitable to use if you have asthma or a skin condition, and for all ages. The Bug Buster comb is also reusable, so one comb can be used to treat all members of your family that are affected. However, wet combing isn’t as effective as using an insecticide treatment and it can be time consuming if you have many members of your family to treat.
There are also electronic nit combs available, but there isn’t any good evidence that they are effective so they aren’t currently recommended for treating head lice.

After treatment

Whatever treatment you use, you should check if it’s worked by detection combing two or three days after you have completed the treatment. Repeat this again after seven days. If you find any nits, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the treatment hasn’t worked – they may just be empty egg cases. If you find live lice, the treatment may not have been successful or you might have caught them again. You will need to repeat the treatment on your whole household. Lice can also become resistant to one or more insecticides, so you may need to switch to a different treatment.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should treat head lice with wet combing or dimeticone 4% lotion. If these options don’t work, you might need to use a chemical insecticide. Always speak to your pharmacist or GP before using any insecticides.

How To Hide It....Or Get Rid Of It...

 

How to Get Rid of Dandruff: 11 Natural Treatments

Skip the dandruff shampoo and try these homemade dandruff treatments to banish those pesky white flakes.

 

What gets rid of dandruff?

Dandruff may be the result of a dry scalp, or a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. It could also be caused by eczema, psoriasis, or, very commonly, an overgrowth of a yeastlike fungus called malassezia. Drugstore remedies might include shampoos with zinc pyrithione, which targets fungus and bacteria; ketoconazole, which also fights fungus; coal tar and selenium sulfide, which slow the growth and die-off of skin cells on your scalp; and salicylic acid, which loosens flakes so they can be washed away. For natural treatments, read on.

Aspirin

Aspirin contains the same active ingredient (salicylic acid) as many medicated dandruff shampoos. Keep flaking in check by crushing two aspirins to a fine powder and adding it to the normal amount of shampoo you use each time you wash your hair. Leave the mixture on your hair for 1-2 minutes, then rinse well and wash again with plain shampoo.

 

Tea tree oil

One study showed that shampoos with just 5 percent tea tree oil significantly improves the severity of dandruff. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your favorite shampoo as you wash normally.

Baking soda

Your kitchen could hold the key to an itch-free, flake-free scalp. Wet your hair and then rub a handful of baking soda vigorously into your scalp. Skip the shampoo and go right to rinsing. Baking soda reduces overactive fungi that can cause dandruff. Your hair may get dried out at first, but after a few weeks your scalp will start producing natural oils, leaving your hair softer and free of flakes.

Apple cider vinegar

Dr. Mehmet Oz swears by apple cider vinegar as a dandruff treatment, as the acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, making it harder for yeast to grow. Mix a quarter cup apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup water in a spray bottle and spritz on your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and let sit for 15 minutes to an hour, then wash your hair as usual. Do this twice a week.

Mouthwash

To treat a bad case of dandruff, wash your hair with your regular shampoo, then rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash. Follow with your regular conditioner. Mouthwash's anti-fungal properties help prevent dandruff-causing yeast from growing.

Coconut oil

Crunchybetty.com says coconut oil is a "tried and true" dandruff treatment, and it smells nice too. Before showering, massage 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil into your scalp and let sit for about an hour. Shampoo normally. You can also look for a shampoo that already contains coconut oil.

Lemon

Dandruff relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just massage 2 tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. Lemon's acidity helps balance the pH of your scalp, which helps keeps dandruff at bay.

Salt

The abrasiveness of ordinary table salt works great for scrubbing out dandruff flakes before you shampoo. Grab a saltshaker and shake some salt onto your dry scalp. Then work it through your hair, giving your scalp a massage. You'll find you've worked out the dry, flaky skin and are ready for a shampoo.

Aloe vera

Stop yourself from scratching by massaging aloe vera into your scalp before shampooing. The cooling effects of aloe vera will soothe the itch.

Garlic

Garlic's anti-fungal properties are perfect for eliminating dandruff-causing bacteria. Crush garlic and rub it into your scalp. To avoid that potent smell, healwithfood.org suggests mixing crushed garlic with honey and massaging into the scalp before washing as usual.

Olive oil

An overnight olive oil soak is a folk remedy for dandruff. Massage about 10 drops into your scalp and cover with a shower cap overnight. Follow your regular shampoo routine in the morning. For a quicker cure, look for a shampoo that contains olive oil.

Where Did I Go Wrong.....

Causes of Cracked Feet

The important causes that lead to cracked feet are

• Naturally dry skin - excessive feet activity cause the naturally dry skin to crack
• Standing for a long time- standing on hard floors for a long time cause cracked heels
• Being overweight- excess weight cause pressure on the feet and cause the feet to expand leading to cracked heels
• Medical conditions- diseases such as diabetes and thyroid problems and skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, and athlete’s foot cause cracked feet.
• Aging- aging cause the loss of natural oils from the skin resulting in dry skin which tends to crack
• Continuous exposure to water- keeping the feet in water for a long time while bathing or doing any other work standing in water or wet areas remove the natural oils from the skin of the feet. This will leave the skin dry and rough
• Low humidity levels- during cold weather the humidity will be less causing the drying up of the exposed skin. The heating systems also make the skin to dry up.
• Non-moisturizing soap- Non- moisturizing soaps when used will not replenish the moisture of the skin causing cracks or fissures of the skin.
• What Can I Do Now ?

  Complications Associated With Cracked Feet

  It is necessary for people suffering from mild or moderate cracked feet to be aware of the complications associated with the condition.  If the mild or moderate cracked feet are not treated properly, there can lead to severe conditions of cracked feet. The symptoms which are mild at first can become difficult to manage if it is left untreated. Severe or deep cracks will be painful and there are additional complications such as
  
• Difficulty in walking
• Infections of the cracked feet
• You cannot spend more time on feet, which will affect your working ability
• Increased itchiness and burning sensation
• Require expensive treatment instead of cheaper home remedies to get rid of cracked feet

Did You Know Why It Happens.....

Symptoms Of Cracked Feet

The signs and symptoms of cracked heels indicate the external abuse of the feet or faulty internal activity.

• Rough skin on the feet- this is one of the first signs that indicate you are going to develop cracked feet. The callus skin around the heels will lead to cracks
• Red, flaky patches- red and flaky skin on the feet shows that your feet need more care. If you ignore the flaky skin the condition will worsen
• Cracks on the underside of the feet or fissures- this symptom follows the red, flaky skin. Cracks on the feet are a definite sign of cracked feet and immediate remedy is required to improve the condition of the skin. Do not pull out the pieces of dry skin. Clip away the dead skin using small scissors.
• Itchiness- The shrinking of the upper layers of the skin causes stretching of the skin below and this result in itching.
• Rash caused by itching- the itching if left untreated can lead to rash which may be painful. Get rid of the upper layers of the skin before you start any treatment for dry and cracked feet.
• Bleeding or discharge from the cracks- when the cracks affect the deeper layers of the skin bleeding or discharge from the cracks occurs. This increases the chances of infection of the cracked skin.
• Symptoms worsening during winter- The symptoms like dryness, itchiness and rash increases during cold climate.

Ouch Don't Those Cracks Hurt.....?

 Are Your Feet Cracked.....?

 Cracked feet, also known as heel fissures, are a common problem for people of all ages, mostly caused by lack of moisture.
Other causes include, standing for long hours, using harsh soaps, cold weather, continuous exposure to water, being overweight, and wearing improper footwear. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, thyroid disease and diabetes can also contribute to this problem.
Some of the signs and symptoms of cracked feet are red or flaky patches, peeling skin, itchiness, bleeding from the cracks and pain.
Cracked feet look unattractive and, in some cases can lead to infection and extreme pain. The problem can be taken care of with some simple home remedies.

1. Scrubbing

Scrubbing the hard, dead skin away helps a great deal in getting rid of cracked feet. Before scrubbing, soak your feet in warm soapy water to help soften the skin and make it easier to scrub.

1. Before going to bed, mix some liquid soap in a foot tub filled with warm water.
2. Soak your feet in this warm soapy water for about 20 minutes.
3. Use a pumice stone to gently scrub off the loosened dead skin cells.
4. Rinse off your feet with clean water and pat dry with a soft towel.
5. Apply some foot cream or moisturizer and wear a pair of clean cotton socks overnight.
6. Follow this remedy daily until your cracked feet are healed completely.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another incredible remedy for dry, cracked feet. It helps moisturize your feet and also fights fungal and bacterial infections, thanks to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

1. Before going to sleep, soak your feet in warm water and scrub with a loofah.
2. Dry your feet thoroughly and then apply coconut oil generously on your feet.
3. Put on a pair of clean, cotton socks for the night.
4. The next morning, remove the socks and wash your feet.
5. Do this daily for several days until you are satisfied with the results.

You can also use olive oil in the same way.

3. Mentholated Rub

This is another popular home remedy for cracked heels because of the many essential oils that it contains. It also helps heal toenail fungus.

1. Apply some mentholated rub on clean, dry feet before going to bed.
2. Put on a pair of socks and leave it on overnight.
3. The next morning, remove your socks and wash your feet with warm water.
4. Repeat daily for a few days until the rough skin peels off.

4. Paraffin Wax

You can also use paraffin wax to remove the dead, dry skin and cure cracked feet. It will also work as a natural emollient to soften the skin and retain the natural oils on the skin.

1. Heat some paraffin wax in a microwave or double-boiler and add an equal amount of mustard oil or coconut oil to it.
2. Apply this thick creamy paste on the cracks and put on a pair of socks.
3. Leave it on overnight and wash your feet thoroughly in the morning.
4. Follow this remedy daily for one or two weeks.

5. Glycerin

Due to its moisturizing and humectant properties, glycerin works as a great remedy to get rid of cracked feet.

1. Make a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and lemon juice. You can also add some rose water.
2. Apply it on your feet.
3. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off with water.
4. Follow this remedy daily for about two weeks.

6. Epsom Salt

Epsom facilitates the process of healing cracked feet as it promotes circulation. Plus, the magnesium in Epsom salt promotes skin health and draws out toxins.

1. Add one-half cup of Epsom salt in a foot tub filled with warm water.
2. Soak your feet in it for 10 minutes.
3. Gently rub your feet with a pumice stone for a few minutes.
4. Put your feet back in the Epsom salt soak for another 10 minutes.
5. Finally, dry your feet thoroughly and apply a moisturizer or petroleum jelly.
6. Repeat daily for two or three days.