Madeeha Syed

Combat dry skin, dermatitis, and dandruff in cold weather. Get expert tips for a healthy winter complexion.

Winter Skin Woes: Managing Dermatitis And Dandruff In Cold Weather

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Five Protein Masks For Your Hair

Overview

Does your hair feel dry and brittle? The shine&rsquo;s missing, too. It&rsquo;s not just a bad hair day. Every day, it&rsquo;s the same. Whoever heard of flipping unhealthy hair? It&rsquo;s a nightmare to even imagine it. Especially if there&rsquo;s breakage or maybe dandruff. Ugh!

It&rsquo;s high time you take back control and bring back that luster, softness, and strength. It should always have been sleek, silky hair or, you know, bouncy curls. That&rsquo;s what you want, too. You want to feel that confidence that comes with healthy hair.

But before you go ahead with expensive experiments at your salon, why not try some remedies at home? The nourishment your hair needs is in your kitchen. 
&nbsp;

Protein hair masks

Of all of the types of hair masks that you could use, protein hair masks are among the best. This is because these types of masks stimulate the production and strengthening of keratin, the protein component of hair and nails.&nbsp;

Some of the protein-rich foods that are easily available and that you can source locally are:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Eggs</li>
	<li>Yogurt</li>
	<li><a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/milk-a-nutritional-powerhouse" target="_blank">Milk</a></li>
	<li>Cheese</li>
	<li>Nuts and seeds&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Legumes and beans&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Coconut milk</li>
</ul>

Now, you can use all of these ingredients to make an incredible protein pack for your hair, along with a combination of natural conditioners, such as olive and coconut oil, banana puree, and honey. Or you can squeeze in some citrus fruit juices, such as those of lemons and oranges for cleansing your scalp and further stimulating collagen production. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;You can easily whip up these in your kitchen today: 
&nbsp;

<h5>&nbsp;1. The Regular</h5>

Ingredients

<ul>
	<li>1 egg yolk</li>
	<li>2 tablespoon yogurt</li>
	<li>1 tablespoon lemon juice</li>
	<li>1/2 tablespoon olive oil&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Components: Folate, vitamins A &amp; E, biotin, whey and casein proteins, squalene, lactic acid, oleic acid, and citric acid.&nbsp;

Directions: If you&rsquo;ve grown up desi, chances are you&rsquo;ve already tried this mask at least once in your life. You&rsquo;d want to mix these ingredients together and apply the paste directly onto your roots while progressing outwardly with your fingers to the tips of your hair.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

How This works

<ul>
	<li>The biotin, whey, and casein proteins replenish your hair.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The squalene and oleic acid moisturise and lock collagen into the strands.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Vitamins A &amp; E supports scalp health by producing sebum and then preserving the protective lipid layer on a follicular level.</li>
	<li>Citric and lactic acids fight off dandruff and promote hair growth by strengthening the follicles with a protective coating.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Word Of Caution: Be careful not to add over half a tablespoon of olive oil to this concoction. This is because olive oil is extremely dense and washing it out might become difficult afterwards.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<h5>2. The &lsquo;Aha!&rsquo; Mask</h5>

Ingredients

<ul>
	<li>2 tablespoon coconut milk</li>
	<li>1 egg</li>
	<li>1 teaspoon white sugar</li>
</ul>

Components: Globulin and albumin proteins, biotin, folate, lauric acid, vitamins C &amp; E, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).&nbsp;

Directions: Mix the sugar into the coconut milk until it&rsquo;s partially dissolved and then add in the egg. Apply directly onto your roots while progressing outward. Cover with a shower cap and wash away after two hours.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

How this works

<ul>
	<li>The sugar inside this mask contains alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which removes dead skin cells. This ensures that the conditioning from other ingredients is more effective.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Coconut milk is an excellent source of multiple vitamins, such as C and E as well as variations of the vitamin B. It also contains protein and fat, and will both replenish, condition, and protect your hair strands.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The egg yolk provides an additional dose of protein whereas its whites clean the scalp of excess oil.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Word Of Caution: If you have dry hair, it might be best to skip the egg whites and stick only to the egg yolk. This is because egg whites remove excess <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/how-to-oil-your-hair" target="_blank">oil from hair</a> and can have a counterproductive effect on your conditioning efforts. 
&nbsp;

<h5>3. The Breakfast Smoothie</h5>

Ingredients

<ul>
	<li>1 tablespoon of any nut butter (peanut, almond, or mixed nut and seed)</li>
	<li>3 tablespoons milk</li>
	<li>2 tablespoons coconut oil</li>
	<li>1 tablespoon honey 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Components: Casein, whey, and vegetable protein, B vitamins, phosphorus, zinc, and lauric and lactic acid.

Directions: Gently warm the milk and add to a bowl. Mix in nut butter until dissolved and then add coconut oil. Apply paste onto roots and in outward directions towards the ends until all strands are covered. 
&nbsp;

How This Works

<ul>
	<li>Vegetable protein is easier than animal protein for the hair to absorb and retain.</li>
	<li>Nut butter also contains phosphorus and zinc, which strengthen, repairs, and promotes the growth of hair cells.</li>
	<li>Milk provides an additional dose of protein that is locked in by the lauric acid in coconut oil.</li>
	<li>The coconut oil also conditions the hair, an action that is then reinforced by the emollients in honey.</li>
	<li>Honey also acts as a humectant, which means that it locks moisture into the hair. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Word Of Caution: There&rsquo;s nothing really to watch out for here, but you can replace animal milk with nut milk if you like. 
&nbsp;

<h5>4.Ghar Ki Murghi</h5>

Ingredients

<ul>
	<li>&frac12; cup lentils</li>
	<li>1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds</li>
	<li>1 teaspoon honey</li>
</ul>

Components: Vegetable protein, iron, folate, phosphorus, flavonoids, and saponins.&nbsp;

Directions: Soak the lentils and fenugreek seeds in equal parts water overnight. Blend into a paste, mix in honey, and apply to the hair. Cover with a shower cap for a couple of hours.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

How This Works

<ul>
	<li>Lentils contain high quantities of vegetable protein as well as iron, folate, and phosphorus. The iron oxidizes the blood cells and, in turn, rejuvenates hair follicles.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fenugreek seeds have a similar impact.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Flavonoids truncate the transition phase from hair cell resting to growth stage.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Saponins cleanse and thicken hair, making them feel silkier and softer.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Word Of Caution: There&rsquo;s nothing to watch out for here either, but you can use either legume or seed if you like.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<h5>5.&nbsp; Banana Sundae</h5>

Ingredients

<ul>
	<li>1 medium-sized banana</li>
	<li>2 tablespoons coconut oil</li>
	<li>1 tablespoon honey</li>
	<li>1 tablespoon yogurt</li>
</ul>

Components: Silica, isopentyl acetate, casein and whey protein, and lauric acid.

Directions: Mash the banana until it reaches a uniform consistency. Then add the remaining ingredients and apply. 
&nbsp;

How This Works

<ul>
	<li>The silica in bananas boosts hair texture from within. It also contains isopentyl acetate, which is a natural oil that deeply conditions the hair.</li>
	<li>Lauric acid has a similar impact.</li>
	<li>The honey helps preserve this improved texture. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Bottom Line

You can mix and match the ingredients listed above to find a hair pack that works best for you. Ideally, apply it once a week and keep on for a maximum of two hours at a time.

Zuha Malik

For those of us living in warm climates, winter can be a welcome respite from the sweltering heat we face for most of the year. We relish in the coziness of warm sweaters and relish the opportunity to pursue outdoor activities without drowning in sweat. However, for some individuals, the onset of winter brings about <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/a-basic-skincare-guide-for-men">skin </a>problems such as dermatitis and dandruff. 
&nbsp;

dermatitis and dandruff

<h5>Winter Skin Conditions: Dermatitis And Dandruff</h5>

Dermatitis is an umbrella term for a range of skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) and seborrheic dermatitis, amongst others. Different types of dermatitis can manifest in various ways such as redness, itchy skin, dry scaly patches of skin, inflamed skin that feels raw and sensitive, dead skin falling off in flakes, or small bumps that leak fluid and scab over if scratched. It can affect any part of the body and is most commonly found in areas that are exposed to air such as the head, face, arms, and hands. Symptoms can range from being mildly inconvenient to being painful enough to interfere with everyday life.

Dandruff, on the other hand, is specific to the scalp and manifests in dead skin flakes that stick to our head and fall off our hair. Dandruff may cause mild itching but, unlike dermatitis, is not particularly painful and does not lead to dry patches or bumps. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Dermatitis: Symptoms And Causes</h5>

Some forms of dermatitis, such as seborrheic dermatitis, are caused by excess oil production in the skin. This leads to overproduction of the Malassezia fungus, a species of yeast that is part of our skin&#39;s natural microbiome. The Malassezia fungus feeds off oil and thus thrives when our skin is producing oil in excess.

In the process of breaking down oil, Malassezia releases oleic acid, which may lead to inflammation. In an effort to shed this irritant, the body begins to renew skin cells on the scalp at a faster rate. In doing so, it also discharges dead skin cells faster than usual. These are the flakes that we then find sticking to our clothes and falling off our hair. While it is possible that the Malassezia fungus may lead to some forms of dermatitis, this has not been conclusively proven. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Dandruff: Symptoms and Causes</h5>

Excess oil is the skin&#39;s response to dryness. This is why the onset of winter aggravates these conditions. Cold, dry air dries out the skin and also weakens the skin&#39;s barrier, leading to more sensitive skin. Thus, while it might seem counterintuitive, the best way to manage oil production is to keep the skin well moisturized. Use oils, creams, and lotions regularly throughout the day, especially after washing your hands and showering. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Managing Skin Conditions</h5>

When choosing products, try to avoid those that contain harsh chemicals such as alcohols, parabens, fragrances, and artificial dyes. If you prefer to go the route of home remedies, consider using extra virgin coconut oil and aloe vera gel. Rinsing your scalp with apple cider vinegar may also help with dandruff. If your skin is raw and sensitive, look for products with antioxidants as these will mitigate the inflammation.

While the warmth of a heater can be pure bliss on a cold night, be mindful of using electronic heating devices as these tend to suck the moisture out of the air. Similarly, be wary of taking baths and showers with excessively hot water, no matter how tempting it may be. 
&nbsp;

Conclusion

Dermatitis and dandruff can be annoying during the summer months, but they can become a serious problem during the winter. Cold, dry air leads to excess oil production in the skin, exacerbating these conditions. However, there are several practical steps that can be taken to mitigate these symptoms, including using gentle moisturizers, avoiding harsh chemicals, and investing in a humidifier. By taking care of our skin and managing our lifestyle choices, we can reduce the impact of dermatitis and dandruff and enjoy the winter months without the discomfort they can cause. 
&nbsp;