HEALTH HINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 11

HEALTH HINTS.

HAIR TROUBLES

In dealing with the condition ana state of the hair we have to take into consideration the state of the skin itself to which fhe hairs bear such a close relationship. We must remember that imbedded in the skin we find certain little glands called sebaceous glands. They often open into the roots of the hairs, and at other times pass directly upwards to the surface of the skin. These glands secrete or manufacture an oily substance which serves to keep the skin supple, and they may be presumed to supply a kind of natural pomade for the hair. When this secretion is poured out from its little sac in too great quantity, we "find a. scurfy condition very liable to be produced". The matter thrown out in times dries on the scalp and clogs the roots of the hair, so that their growth is impeded, and' considerable irritation of the skin of the head is in this case set up. Scurf on other occasions seems to be produced by some irritation or overgrowth of the horny cells which form the upper layer of the scalp itself. Iα either ease, however, we find t'lic hair is weakened through the over-development of the fatty secretion of the skin and hair troubles in consequence, with loosening of the hairs, ensue. A COMMON CASE. Hairs are also subject to certain diseases of their own. Microbes, or living organisms related to germs, are found to attack not merely the hair itself, but also the papilla from which we have seen the hair to grow. The result is that the hair falls out and bald patches are left. As a consequence of certain diseases, and also in general weakly states of the system, it is no uncommon thing to find bald patches on the soilp. These patches are indicative of a disease known as "alopecia areata," and this condition, it may be added, is one extremely difficult of cure. Sometimes hair weakness shows icself in a wellknown condition—namely, the splitting of the ends of the hairs, this condition being due to want of cohesion in th.j cells or the hair, and undoubtedly denotes the fact that the hair itself has not been properly formed, and that some condition or other is interfering with its proper growth. TREATMENT. As soon as any hair weakness is perceived it must be noted and treated at once if any good results are to follow from attention being paid to thsjnatter. Too frequently persons will suffer loss of hair I'or a lengthened period before applying to the doctor for relief, 'lhis is neither fair to the patient nor the adviser he consults, because he does not give the 1-attei a chance to arrest the disease at -an early stage of its appearance. Where the hair is noticed to grow thin, ths sufferer will be well advised if he ceases wetting the head, and in this connection it is of gre-at importance to note that many eases of baldness are undoubtedly due to the habit people have of wetting the he.id daily in the course of the morning bath. The constant wetting of the head dries up the natural oil of the skin, and tends to render hairs less properly nourished than they should be, and to prcternaturallv dry the scalp. The general advice which may be given in the way of treatment for weak hair would be to keep the hair for a time as short ns possible, or at least to have it trimmed fairly frequently. Many persons boast that they have never used an 3* sort of poniade for the hair, but these persons are very frequently found to be those who, sooner or later, come to exhibit baldness in all its typical development. AN EXCELLENT APPLICATION. Whei-e there is any actual disease of the hair to be suspected, an excellent application, a little of which should be rubbed into the hair each morning, may be prepared as follows:—Four drachms of ,castor -oii, 28 drachms bf olive oil, 12 dra-ehms of glycerine, 4 drachms of rectified spirit-, 8 drachms of scant, and 2 drachms of tincture of eantharidea. The persistent use of this application well rubbed into the scalp each morning, the hair being well brushed with soft brushes, and the use of small combs and lvard combs avoided, will have the effect of promoting the hair growth in a satisfactory manner. When a case of falling hair has to be encountered, apaTt from thinness of the hair, the following lotion may do good: Eau de Cologne 2 ounces, tincture of canth-arides, 2 drachms, 20 drops each of oil of rosemary and oil of lavender, and 1 drachm of castor oil. A little of this lotion should be applied night and morning after the hair has been well brushed. SOME OTHER HINTS. Occasionally where baldness is encountered of pomade composed of balsam of Tolu 2 dra-ebms, oil of rosemary 20 drops, tincture of cantharides *one ounce, castor oil half an ounce, and prepared lard one ounce and a half is useful. A little of this should be rubbed iato the bald patches night and morning. It will be well that the hair should be washed once every ten days, or once every fortnight, with soft soa-p and tepid water, cold water being afterwards used, and brisk fric-tion with the towel carried out. These latter remedies, it may be mentioned, are more applicable to the case of those who suffer from scurf.