Head Lice (Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment)

HEAD LICE

* Head lice are tiny, flat, wingless insects which often find their way
   into the scalp as parasites.
* They suck the blood by biting the skin, this results in an irritation.
   It causes thickening and pigmentation of the skin.
* Head lice occur more frequently in children than in adults.

SYMPTOMS

* Itching is the main symptom of head louse infection
* The adult female louse lays eggs, known as nits, close to the
   surface of the scalp.
* They hatch eggs before the hair has grown more than few
   millimeters (they are difficult to see).
* Their favorite haunts are on the scalp, around the ears
   or underneath hair grown at the back of the head.

CAUSES

* Head lice are very infectious and can be easily acquired by
   head-to-head contact with a person harboring the parasite.
* They are common in person who are crowded together and live
   in poor sanitary condition.
* They spread rapidly during disasters.

TREATMENT

* The first step towards treatment of head is thorough cleanliness.
* You should not share towels, pillows, combs, and hair-brushes.
* A special comb with close-knit, teeth, which is easily available
   should be used. This will help remove the lice from the hair.

EFFECTIVE METHOD TO DESTROY LICE

 Thoroughly cleanse the whole body from the scalp to the toes,
using pleanty of soap and water.  Next, five percent
benzyl benzoate emulsion should be applied to all the itching
areas.  This should be rubbed well into the scalp at night,
especially if the hair has been invaded by the parasites. 

PREVENTION

The condition can be prevented by the maintenance of personal cleanliness. The clothing of individuals suffering from pediculosis should be soaked in boiling water and washed. As children are more likely to suffer from this problem, it would be advisable to keep their hair short.

Good Sources of Vitamins and Minerals

VITAMIN A

Strengthens your cells and skin, protecting against cancer and premature aging.

Carrots, Apricots, Spinach, Eggs, Milk, Liver, Nectarines, Canteloupe melon.

VITAMIN B6

Aids the body in metabolizing amino acids and proteins.  It alleviates menstrual problems – women are often deficient in this Vitamin.

Wheatgerm, Bananas, Tuna, Wholegrain cereal, Brown rice.

VITAMIN B12

Needed for healthy nerve function and production of red blood cells.

Meat, Eggs, Milk, Vegetarians are advised to take supplements.

VITAMIN C

Used in the formation of collagen, vitamin C also has an important part to play as an antioxidant. Used for the absorption of iron and formation of antibodies.

Blackcurrants, Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit), Brussel sprouts, Green peppers.

VITAMIN D

Regulates the growth and repair of bones by controlling absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus.

Cod live oil, Herring, Mackerel, Sardines, Salmon, Milk fortified with vitamin D.

VITAMIN E

A vital antioxidant, it protects against free radicals, which promote aging.  It is also responsible for normal growth and development.

Sunflower seeds, Nuts, Milk, Wheatgerm, Vegetable oils. 

Perming Tips

Perming Process

Perming alters the hair’s chemical bonds so that new
links are forged around the curler.

After the perm has taken, the perming solution is rinsed out
with water and the curls are then locked into place with a

neutralizing lotion.

Pre-Perm Tips

* A skin allergy test and test curl are advisable if you are new
   to perming or if your hair is in bad condition.

* As perming is a complicated technical process, it is wise to
   have it done professionally.

Post-Perm Tips

* Once a perm has been neutralized properly it is fixed, so there
   is no need to avoid shampooing it for 24 hours.

* Avoid two-in-one shampoo and conditioner which can be too
   heavy.

* Have your hair trimmed every six weeks, as extra weight will
   pull the curl down.

* Curl reactivators are effective for restoring bounce.

* Avoid brusing permed hair as this will create static and separate
   the curls. Use a wide-toothed comb instead.

* Where a perm is too curly you can try setting it on large rollers,
   or gently blow-dry the curl out using a big round brush.

Boils - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Boils

The boils, known as furuncle in medical parlance, are tender
swelling in the skin surrounded by large red areas. They are
infections of the sweat glands or hair follicles of the skin.
They commonly occur during summer. 

Symptoms

* Boils can occur anywhere on the body, but they appear most
   often on the face, eyelids, back of the neck, upper back, and
   buttocks.

* Boils occurring round the eyes and nose are especially serious
   because their poisons can spread to the brain.

Causes

* Boils are mainly caused by stapphylococcus germs which enter
   the sweat glands or hair follicles.

* They can be transmitted from one person to another .

* The essential cause of this disorder is thus bacterial.

Treatment

* A thorough cleansing of the system is essential to the treatment
   of boils.

* Take exclusive diet of fresh juicy fruits for two or three days.

* A warm-water enema should be administered daily, if possible,
   during this period to cleanse the bowels.

* Avoid tea, coffee, starchy, and sugary foods especially, cakes,
   pastries, sweets, chocolates, white sugar, and white bread.

Home Remedies For Boils

* The use of garlic and onion has proved most effective among
   the several home remedies found beneficial in the treatment of
   boils.

* The juice of garlic or onion may be applied externally on the boils
   to help ripen them and also to break them and evacuate the pus.

* Bitter Gourd is an efficient home remedy for boils.  A cupful of fresh
   juice of this vegetable, mixed with a teaspoon of lime juice,
   should be taken, sip by sip, on an empty stomach daily for
   few days in treating this condition.

* Cumin seeds (jeera) are beneficial in the treatment of boils. The seeds
   of black cumin should be ground in water and made into a paste.
   This paste can be applied to boils with beneficial results.

Top 10 Healthiest Fruits

Fruits provide lots of vitamins and carbohydrates to nourish
the body and also add variety to the diet.
 
* Apples are a great source of vitamin C, they prevent the
   growth of harmful bacteria and help fight cancer.

* Bananas are handy for problems like constipation and diarrhea.
 
* Blueberries have a number of health benefits including
  anti-cancerous, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
 
* Mangoes are other sources of vitamin C. Research has also
   indicated that these fruits are beneficial for arthritis
   and other anti-inflammatory conditions because they have a
   cooling affect on the body.

Here are top ten healthiest fruits to keep you fresh, healthy
and full of life:

* Strawberries have high levels of ellagic acid and anthocyanins,
   and are rich in vitamin C (95 mg per cup) and fiber
   (3.8 g per cup).

* An apple’s 3 g of fiber help you meet your fiber goal of 20 g
   to 30 g daily. High-fiber diets can lower heart disease risk

* Bananas are a great source of potassium, which plays a key role
   in heart health and muscle function. Plus each one has 2 g of fiber.

* Cherries: A good source of perillyl alcohol, which helps prevent cancer
  in animals. Heart-protective anthocyanins give cherries their color.

* Blueberries help prevent and treat bladder infections by making it
  hard for bacteria to stick to urinary tract walls.

* A single mango has enough beta-carotene to cover your RDA for
  vitamin A while racking up 57 mg of vitamin C.

* One orange provides an impressive 50 mg to 70 mg of vitamin C,
  40 mcg of folic acid and 52 mg of calcium.

* Purple grapes offer three heart-guarding compounds: flavonoids,
  anthocyanins and resveratrol (green grapes are not rich in them).
 
* Raspberries: Teeming with 8 g of fiber per cup, they also boost
  vitamin C, ellagic acid and anthocyanins.

Make-Up Tips For Perfect Complexion

Foundation

This has several beauty benefits. It evens out skin tones,

smoothens the skin’s texture, provides a base for other

make-up, and keeps colors true.

Color Check

* Do not use the back of your hand to check the color
   because it is darker. Apply a little on your jaw-line
   and check.

* Check this in daylight.

Foundation Mixes

Foundation and powder in one handy ready-mixed compact
are the short-cut to a natural-looking complexion. They are
smoothed on with a sponge and suit most skin types, except
very dry skins.

FOUNDATION TIPS

* Keep in mind your skin type and needs when buying your
   foundation. It should not look uncomfortable.

* If you have dry skin, look for a creamy, moisturizing
   formula.   

* For oily and combination skin, an oil-free or water-based
   make-up is best.

* Water-based foundations give a matte finish.

EYESHADOW TIPS

* Pressed powder eyeshadows give excellent coverage and are
  useful for building up color intensity; the colors also keep true
  during wear.

* Loose eyeshadow powders tend to be pearly and slightly finer
   textures than pressed and are best used as highlights or for a
   soft sheen.

* Cream eyeshadowis by far the most difficult to use and it tends
   to sink into the crease of the socker-line after few hours.