Easy Ways To Avoid Dandruff

(CBS) Dandruff is a very common condition of the scalp, reports medical contributor Dr. Emily Senay. It's estimated that it affects about one in three people. The skin on your head renews itself by shedding old skin. And that typically happens about every four weeks or so. But with dandruff, the process is sped up and there is an overgrowth of cells. These cells tend to clump together and absorb the oils produced in the hair follicle which can make the flakes even larger.

TRIGGERS FOR DANDRUFF

· OILY SCALP
Many people wrongly assume that it's a dry scalp that promotes dandruff but in fact, it's an oily scalp that's actually is a major trigger for dandruff.

· MICROORGANISMS
You may not want to hear this, but you have many microorganisms on your head. And your skin's secretions usually keep them in check. But if you have too many of them, it can lead to flaking.

· STRESS
This may surprise a lot of people but stress can actually contribute to dandruff. The reason is, is that when you are feeling anxious
your skin's secretions increase which impairs resistance to the microorganisms that we just spoke about.

· COLD WEATHER
Cold, dry weather can often make dandruff worse.

TIPS ON FIGHTING DANDRUFF

· SHAMPOO FREQUENTLY
For many people, just washing your hair more often with regular shampoo can decrease flakes. And be sure to rinse well.

· USE MEDICATED SHAMPOOS
There are several popular and very effective dandruff fighting shampoos on the market such as X-Seb -T , Selsun Blue, Head & Shoulders, Neutrogena T-Gel and Nizoral A-D. Now each of these shampoos contain a different active ingredient. For instance T-Gel contains Tar. Many people find relief from Tar based products but others don't. So if after using one brand of shampoo you find that the flakes aren't going away, try another brand.

· USE HAIR PRODUCTS SPARINGLY
An overuse of products such as mousses, gels and hairsprays can lead to the accumulation of oils on the hair and scalp.

· EXPOSE HAIR TO SUN
We are only talking about moderate exposure here, because as we all know, too much sun can lead to skin cancer. But what happens is that exposure to the sunlight may produce an anti-inflammatory effect, making your scalp less sensitive.

WHEN TO CONSULT A DOCTOR
If all of the above methods have failed, you'll want to contact your physician. He or she can prescribe shampoos that contain higher doses of dandruff fighting ingredients as well as topical solutions that contain cortisone.

About Marital Relationships

About Relationships


1. It starts with you
The happier you are with yourself and your life, the more attractive you are to your partner. Another way to look at this is: if you were someone else, would you marry you? Start today to work on being the kind of person you would want to know, date, and marry. If you're not that kind of person, how can you expect your spouse to stay attracted or stay passionate?
2. There's you, there's him/her, and then there's we.
You don't have to give up your identity or be known as your spouse's partner.
It also doesn't work when two people each do their own thing without regard to their partner's wishes and feelings. Marriage is, and should be, more than cohabitation. As the marriage vows state, "two shall be as one". That "one" is neither you nor him. The "one" is a third entity: the relationship, the marriage, the "we".
The "we" is what you share, what you have in common, the nurturing that cannot be provided on your own. Think companionship, intimacy, and sharing.
3. Leave behind your emotional baggage
Are you really over your previous relationship? If not, you can't fully commit to your spouse. Likewise, if you are still Daddy's little girl or Mommy's boy, you are not in control of your own life. Therefore, you cannot fully enter into an adult relationship of mutual sharing and support. You can't be accountable to your spouse if you have to keep pleasing Mommy or Daddy.
4. Your marriage comes first
Marriage is the strongest bond between two people. Parents are here and one day they are gone. Children grow into adults and leave to start their own lives. Your spouse is only person who is meant to stay with you the rest of your time on this planet.
Women who say their children come first are usually unable to let their children grow up and become independent adults. Instead of a mature adult-adult relationship, the roles are forever adult-child. So the children never emotionally leave home and are forever dependent on the parent.
These women are always surprised when their mates get tired of being number two, and decide to leave for someone else who WILL put them first.
5. Your marriage is your top priority.
You didn't get married to commute two hours a day, work at the office 60 hours a week, and pay on a mortgage for 30 years. You probably got married to share your life, your hopes, your dreams-not your bills-with that special someone. During life's ups and especially during life's downs, keep in mind why you married in the first place. Not jobs, nor cars, nor your favorite sports team. At one time, your partner was the most important thing in this world to you. Act like it today and every day.
6. Don't compare
This holds true in your life as well as in your marriage. There will always be a couple that seems happier, wealthier, sexier, and more perfect than you two are. So what? Their happiness doesn't increase or diminish your happiness. Neither does their money, their jobs, their house, or their glamour. All that matters is whether you and your spouse have created a relationship that works for you.
7. Don't wonder "what if?"
Wondering what it would be like to be with another person-for a night or for a lifetime-is self-delusion and is really unfair to your spouse. You see other people socially when they are at their best. You see your spouse when he/she is at his best, her average, and sometimes at her worst. If you could swap mates, guess what? You'd see that person at his/her worst, and you probably wouldn't like what you see.
8. Realize that love can grow.
As much as you were in love when you got married, your love and commitment to each other can grow over the years. Marriage can get better, not worse, with time. The longer you've been married, the more history you have together.The triumphs and disappointments, the successes and the failures, all are part of sharing a life together. And that history is unique to you. No one else has that or can duplicate it. This is why a man who leaves his middle aged wife for a younger woman eventually wants to come back. With his wife he has a history-a shared past. With the new woman there is only the present.
9. Commitment means no matter what.
It's as simple as making the decision to be totally committed to your spouse and to the relationship. No matter what happens financially, or health wise, or otherwise. No matter what. Once the two of you have decided to stay "no matter what", there is no question of stay or go, yes or no. Now the emphasis is on problem solving. Write this down: all couples have problems. Happy couples learn to deal with their problems. Unhappy couples eventually just run away.
10. Believe that a happy marriage is not only possible, it's yours for the making.
It won't happen by itself. It takes intention, commitment, and practice. But the couples who have happy, blissful, and satisfying marriages are proof that it is possible. Just choose to be happy, and choose to be happily married.

About The Author
Alan Stafford, Certified Coach. "Helping Singles and Couples Find Love that Lasts a Lifetime". Subscribe to our newsletter at http://www.relationshipsuccessexperts.com for relationship tips and advice.

Flying and the ear (factsheet)

The effects of flying on your ears and hearing
Many people, whether they are hearing or deaf, or they have tinnitus, find that flying can cause pain or discomfort in their ears, and temporary hearing loss. These side effects usually last only while you are flying and should get back to what is normal for you after a short time.
What causes pain and discomfort?
Pain or discomfort in your ears and temporary hearing loss during flying results from a difference between the air pressure in the part of your ear called the 'middle ear' and the atmospheric pressure of the plane. The middle ear is behind your eardrum, or tympanic membrane, and it contains the ossicles that conduct sound to the inner ear and nerve of hearing.
The space in the middle ear is normally filled with air at the same pressure as the surrounding air. Air reaches the middle ear through the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. The eustachian tube is closed for 95% of the time and only opens when you swallow or yawn: when this happens the air pressure on either side of the eardrum evens out.
After an aeroplane takes off, the pressure inside slowly drops. Usually this does not cause a problem as the air in the middle ear is at a relatively high pressure and gets blown down the eustachian tube.
You are most likely to get pain or discomfort, or hearing loss, when the plane comes down to land. During landing, the air in the middle ear is at a lower pressure than that in the plane. The eustachian tube may become blocked and the small muscles in the throat may not be able to open it. The resulting low pressure in the middle ear causes the eardrum to press inward, causing discomfort or pain, and temporary hearing loss. This small temporary reduction in your hearing may make a huge difference in your ability to understand speech if you already have a hearing loss. However, the blockage usually clears up by itself after a short time.
The inner ear and flying
Very occasionally, sudden decompression - a drop in air pressure - occurs in the plane. This can affect the inner ear and cause a sudden disturbance in your balance and hearing. Though this is extremely rare, if it happens to you, you should go to the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital as quickly as possible to check for any damage and to get treatment.
If you develop any ear problems or conditions during or following a flight which do not clear up after a few hours, you should see your GP.
Reducing the effects of flying on your ear
You can do a number of things to reduce the effects of flying on your ear. Most of these help to help keep your eustachian tube open.
The eustachian tube does not open effectively when you are sleeping. Make sure you are awake before the plane begins its descent, which may start up to an hour before it lands.
Yawn, chew gum or suck on a hard sweet to encourage your eustachian tube to open.
Keep swallowing, using a glass of water or another drink, but not alcohol. Do this regularly; every 15 to 30 seconds if you need to. If this does not clear your ears, carry out the 'Valsalva manoeuvre': pinch your nose between your finger and thumb, and gently blow air down it with your mouth closed, without releasing the air. If you hear or feel air going into your ears then your eustachian tube is working well.
Make sure you are not dehydrated and that you have had plenty to drink. Do not drink alcohol.
Flying may be uncomfortable if you have a cold. When you get a cold or other infection around the nose and throat, the lining of the eustachian tube is swollen and gets blocked more easily. If you have to travel, ask your GP (family doctor) or local pharmacist for advice and ask about decongestants you can use. Decongestants reduce inflammation and relieve the blocked sensation. Many GPs recommend you use a decongestant spray about 20 minutes before you land. It is important not to use the spray for more than five days in a row.
Some people have reported that earplugs called EarPlanes® have helped them to fly comfortably. EarPlanes® are earplugs designed for flying. They have a small ventilation tube down the middle, which slows down the pressure change in the eardrum when the plane is pressurised and depressurised. However, so far, there has been no medical study to prove that EarPlanes® help people who normally get severe ear pain when flying. The use of ordinary soft earplugs is not recommended. You can buy EarPlanes® from RNID Sound Advantage (see "Buying equipment from RNID" for contact details) or try your high street pharmacy.
Tinnitus and flying
If you have tinnitus, you may find that flying is the one time when you are usually completely free of tinnitus because of the noise made by the engines and airflow around the plane. However, if your eustachian tubes are blocked, your tinnitus may seem temporarily louder. It should return to its previous level when your eustachian tubes become unblocked.
If you have tinnitus and hearing loss, you will find that it is often the 'straining to hear' that makes your tinnitus louder when on a plane. If you normally wear hearing aids, you should keep them on during your flight as removing them may make your tinnitus louder and more noticeable. Being anxious about flying may make your tinnitus worse: basic relaxation exercises during the flight may help you. For further information about relaxation exercises, see our factsheet "Tinnitus and relaxation".
Very rarely, the sound of plane engines can make your tinnitus worse.
If you are worried about the noise of the plane engines, book ahead and try and get a seat near the front of the plane, away from the engines. Sound generators that you wear can help to reduce any discomfort due to loud sounds such as engine noise. For more information about sound generators, see our factsheet "Equipment, sound therapy and tinnitus".
Grommets and flying
Flying is less likely to cause discomfort in a child or adult with a grommet in their ear. The grommet allows air in and out of the ear and reduces the stress on the eardrum that is caused by changes in air pressure in the plane. However, children who have a history of frequent ear infections or have had grommets in the past (but no longer have them) are occasionally at risk of perforation of the eardrum when flying. If you are worried about this, ask your GP.
If you have perforated eardrums as a result of infection or injury, flying is also less likely to cause discomfort. This is because any change in pressure can even out across the eardrum and does not depend on the eustachian tube working normally.
Flying after ear surgery
If you have any kind of ear surgery, always check first with your ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant when it would be safe for you to fly.
Flying and anxiety
If you are anxious about the effects of flying on your ears and worried about flying generally, discuss your fears with your GP. Very rarely they may prescribe tranquillisers. Relaxation and breathing exercises can also be helpful for anxiety in general.
If your only worry is that flying may be harmful to your ears, in almost all cases you can go ahead and enjoy your flight. If your reason for flying is to take a holiday, you have something enjoyable and relaxing to look forward to!