Hair damage from salon styling
There’s something about walking out of the salon with a fresh blowout, bouncing curls, or silky straight locks that feels empowering. However, many of us have also experienced the side effects of this indulgence: brittle strands, thinning hairlines, and even chronic hair loss after years of exposure to chemical treatments, heat styling, and dyes.
Over time, all this exposure strips hair of its natural oils, reduces elasticity, and can even cause long-term thinning or hair loss. The good news is that damage, even chronic hair loss, can be addressed with the right care and attention.
If you’re someone who frequents the salon, it’s important to recognize these signs.
● Persistent dryness and frizz that no amount of conditioner seems to fix
● Increased breakage or split ends
● Thinning patches or a widening part
● Hair that feels rough, brittle, or lifeless
These are red flags that your hair has endured too much stress. More worryingly, if hair loss becomes chronic, you could be dealing with conditions like telogen effluvium (temporary hair shedding) or, in more severe cases, traction alopecia, where the hair roots are damaged due to excessive pulling from tight hairstyles.
The first step to repairing damaged hair is to halt the damaging processes. This means taking a break from harsh treatments and giving your hair time to recover naturally. Opt for a more low-maintenance approach to styling—embrace your natural texture, reduce heat exposure, and let your hair breathe.
The health of your hair starts with what you put into your body. Ensure your diet is rich in vitamins and minerals that promote hair growth. Vitamins B7 (biotin), D, and E are known to support hair health, as are minerals like zinc and iron.
Adding omega-3 fatty acids from sources like fish, chia seeds, and walnuts can also strengthen hair follicles and improve shine. Hair, especially chemically treated hair, needs a balance of protein and moisture. Protein treatments work to rebuild the hair shaft, while deep conditioning helps restore much-needed hydration.
Incorporating weekly protein masks and moisturizing treatments can help mend the damage and prevent further breakage. Consul a dermatologist for expert guidance, rather than relying on salon treatments that may not address the root cause of hair issues.
They can assess the specific needs of your scalp and hair to rejuvenate and restore hair health from within.
Gentle hair care routine
Look for sulphate-free shampoos, as they strip away natural oils and exacerbate dryness. Consider hydrating shampoos and conditioners with ingredients like argan oil, keratin, or aloe vera, which offer soothing, restorative benefits. When towel-drying your hair, opt for a microfiber towel to reduce friction and prevent additional breakage.
Scalp care
Healthy hair starts at the scalp, and a dry, irritated scalp can hinder hair growth. Exfoliating treatments and scalp massages help boost circulation, unclog hair follicles, and remove product build-up that might be weighing your hair down. Oils such as rosemary and peppermint, known for stimulating hair growth, can also be beneficial.
Medical treatments
Medical grade treatments like QR678 can assist when regular care and simple solutions like the above do not help.It is a natural plant based hair strengthening and rejuvenation therapy that can treat as well as prevent hair damage and hair loss
The takeaway here is not to avoid salons altogether but to approach styling with moderation and mindfulness. Repairing the damage from chronic hair loss due to salon styling requires patience and a commitment to nurturing your hair back to health. With the right routine, and for some, advanced treatments, healthier, stronger hair is achievable. It’s time to rethink how we treat our tresses, finding a balance between fabulous styles and the care our hair truly deserves.
(Credit-Canva)
One must be very careful about what they consume. One of the easiest ways to get sick is by eating food or having beverages from unsafe and unsanitary places. That is why people are discouraged from eating at roadside stalls or food from street hawkers who do not follow the food safety protocol.
Many people do not know how unsafe tap water can be. While the tap water available at home goes through treatment, it is best to only drink it after boiling or opting for water from the filter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that these health issues can range from mild to serious, depending on what germs are being transmitted.
In a TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia who goes by Dr. Sooj, a practicing NHS GP and emergency doctor, issued a critical warning. urgent warning that if you use regular tap water to rinse your nose, you could be exposed to a very rare but dangerous "brain-eating amoeba." Even though tap water in the UK is perfectly safe to drink, it's a different story when it comes to cleaning out your nose.
Rinsing your nose is a common thing people do when they have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection. You usually flush water or salt water into your nose to wash away snot, dust, pollen, and anything else that might be irritating your nasal passages. But in a video, a doctor known online as Dr. Sooj, explained why tap water is risky for this. He said that "tap water has bacteria. It has amoeba, it has protozoa. There are tiny living things in the water." When you drink these, your stomach acid usually kills them, but when they go up your nose, it's a different story.
The main worry is a "brain-eating amoeba" called Naegleria fowleri. This tiny creature loves to live in warm fresh water, like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. The Cleveland Clinic explains water that contains this amoeba goes up your nose, it can travel to your brain. Once there, it causes a very serious and almost always deadly infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). While this infection is rare, it's not worth the risk.
If the amoeba gets into the brain through the nose, it can cause a severe infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Early signs of PAM can be a headache, fever, feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), and throwing up (vomiting). This infection moves incredibly fast. Most people who get PAM unfortunately die within just 1 to 18 days after they start showing symptoms, often falling into a coma before death. Other symptoms can include a stiff neck, feeling confused, not paying attention to people around you, losing your balance, and seeing things that aren't real (hallucinations).
Health experts like the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree with this advice. They also warn about another amoeba called Acanthamoeba. If you or someone you know starts to have a headache, fever, confusion, or vomiting soon after rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages, it's crucial to get medical help right away.
Credits: Canva
A new study has revealed a sharp rise in cases of a rare cancer—appendiceal adenocarcinoma—particularly among younger generations. Generation X and millennials are seeing significantly higher rates of this cancer than previous generations, prompting concern among experts.
Appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) is a rare form of cancer that originates in the appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine. While appendix cancers are not commonly diagnosed—about 3,000 new cases per year in the U.S.—they appear to be rising at an alarming rate among younger adults.
According to a new paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the rate of AA has tripled among Generation X and quadrupled among millennials compared to those born in the mid-20th century. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center used data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, which tracked cancer cases from 1975 to 2019.
The numbers are telling: the study found that for people born in 1985, the incidence of appendix cancer is four times higher than for those born in 1945. For individuals born in 1980, it is about three times higher.
Experts say this rise mirrors trends in other gastrointestinal cancers—such as colorectal and stomach cancer—which are also being diagnosed more frequently in adults under 50. Between 1975 and 2019, the researchers recorded 4,858 cases of appendix cancer, with a noticeable uptick in recent decades.
Although the exact reasons for this generational increase remain unclear, researchers suggest that lifestyle and environmental factors may be playing a major role. The consumption of ultra-processed foods, sugary beverages, and processed meats has increased sharply in recent decades. Additionally, obesity and metabolic syndrome—both risk factors for various cancers—are more prevalent among younger people today than in past generations.
Lead researcher Dr. Andreana Holowatyji highlighted that the increase in cases is not due to more appendectomies being performed. Surgical removal rates of the appendix have remained largely stable over time, suggesting that other factors, possibly related to diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure, are contributing to the spike in cases.
One of the major hurdles in combating appendiceal adenocarcinoma is the lack of clear early symptoms. Many of the signs—such as bloating, appetite loss, and changes in bowel habits—are vague and can easily be mistaken for more common digestive issues. This often leads to delayed diagnoses and limited treatment options.
With no definitive causes identified, scientists are calling for more research into environmental exposures, genetic factors, and molecular changes that might contribute to the development of appendix cancer. Understanding these elements could help in early detection and potentially lower the rising risk among younger populations.
Credits: Canva
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 1.2 billion people ages 30 to 79 have hypertension. The number has increased from 650 million in 1990 to 1.2 billion in 2021. This increase is attributed to many factors, including lifestyle factors, which include salty indulgence, stress, and screen time which has been increased. These three impact your blood pressure levels, know how.
As per the Harvard Heart Publishing, an average American consumes the equivalent of about 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day, which is 50% more than the recommended amount.
About a third of healthy people and about 60% of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive.
How does salt affects blood pressure?
When you consume too much sodium, your body holds on to extra water to balance the sodium levels. This added fluid increases the volume of blood in your vessels, which in turn raises your blood pressure and forces your heart to work harder. High sodium intake can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications. For example, diuretics help eliminate excess sodium and water, while vasodilators work by relaxing the blood vessels. However, a high-sodium diet makes your body retain fluid again, refilling those relaxed vessels and undoing the medication's effects.
As per the official publication of State Medical Society of Wisconsin, stress can cause hypertension through repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by stimulation of the nervous system to produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones that increase blood pressure. Factors affecting blood pressure through stress include white coat hypertension, job strain, race, social environment, and emotional distress.
As per National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, around 50 million American adults live with hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure over 139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 89 mm Hg. In about 95% of these cases, the condition is classified as "essential" hypertension, meaning there’s no single identifiable cause. However, experts agree that multiple factors—including stress—can contribute to rising blood pressure in these individuals.
As per a 2024 study published in Cureus, hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study links the increased accessibility of smartphones with the increasing hypertension.
This study explored the relationship between screen time and blood pressure (BP) among young adults.
The study also noted that higher screen time was more common among individuals using multiple devices. The prevalence of elevated BP in the sample was 35.8%, aligning with national data and raising concerns about the cardiovascular health of young adults.
Previous studies support these concerns. For instance, Nang et al. and Martinez-Gomez et al. linked prolonged TV viewing to higher BP and an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in adolescents. However, these relied on self-reported data. Other risk factors, such as age, gender, obesity, inactivity, and substance use, have also been linked to hypertension.
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