While dandruff is not a serious health threat, it can cause you embarrassment to the people around you.

Oftentimes, it can be annoying to see white flakes, falling from your hair and sticking the same on your shoulder. Socially, such condition can directly affect your self esteem as a person. Don’t wait that this will happen to you without doing something to avert such a situation.

In some serious cases, dandruff if left unattended, may result to baldness because it can obstruct hair nutrition and the ability of fungi to destroy the roots of the hair.

Dandruff is usually a scaly dry white flakes that are concentrated within the hairy area of the scalp, sometimes also appears in the eyebrows.The shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp in large and oily cluster, is an inflammatory skin disorder that makes the skin greasy and scaly. It is also described by a serious flaking inflammation which is commonly seen in the scalp as red, scaly and itchy rash.

There are other causes of dandruff to contend with like hormonal changes in your body, excessive perspiration , oily skin and often exposure to weather changes like extreme heat or cold.

Dandruff sometimes is a symptom of an allergic reaction to ingredients found in shampoo and conditioner, gel, hair spray, hair dye, and hair oils, and some straightening chemical products.

Its severity sometimes depends on the season, though, it is observed to heighten during wet season. It can also depend on your tolerance to the fungus when it is caused by fungal infection.
It is usual that the skin dies and flakes off in a trickle but not in large amount. The skin sheds off only once a month but some microorganisms cause the speedy shedding of the skin and result to dandruff.

There are glands in your body that secrete the natural oils of the skin through the hair follicles. When dandruff is caused by a normal skin inhabitant like yeast, it uses the skins’ natural oils as food. In the process, the yeast creates toxic substances that cause irritation and shedding of the skin which is dandruff.

The situation can be worsened or chronic when not treated immediately especially when it is very itchy and shows redness.

There are some remedies in treating dandruff. In mild cases, daily shampoo by gently rubbing the shampoo into your hair and scalp will do. Stubborn flakes can be treated with medicated or dandruff shampoo products.

Raw honey can be used in treating the scaling and itching dandruff. Its bacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant components can relieve and treat redness and itching by using it as a shampoo.

Hot oil treatment can alleviate dandruff. A pre-made hot oil treatment using coconut or olive oil is a better alternative in treating dandruff. Simply, heat up coconut or olive oil in a container by placing it in a pan of hot water or heat coconut or olive oil in a container directly to a stove.

Apply a light massage on the scalp using hot, pure coconut or olive oil. Wrap your hair with towel or put a shower cap. Let it stand for 30 minutes, shampoo and rinse it. This process maybe repeated once a week or done on a regular basis to maintain its effectiveness.

Or you may allow the oil on your scalp to stay overnight to maximize the effect. If coconut or olive oil is not available, use light oil. Be sure to massage gently to avoid damaging the hair roots. The next day, squeeze out some calamansi juice and apply it on the hair before shampooing.

Lastly, be selective in using combs, towels and pillow cases to avoid getting infection. While there is no cure yet for dandruff, proper washing of the hair with the right shampoo is still the best remedy to alleviate such condition.

Sweat, generally an odorless body secretion. When bacteria multiply on the skin and breakdown these secretions, the resulting by product, however, may have a strong and disagreeable odor.

Generally, bromhidrosis happens at puberty because of increasing hormones called androgen. These hormones are not active until puberty, which is why body odor is not a problem among children.

Our body produces sweats that are classified into two, eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine sweat glands are concentrated in the armpits, the palm of the hands, the soles of the feet and the forehead. Eccrine sweat glands secrete a mixture of water, salt, urea and lactic acid onto the skin.

When you are overheated, sweet seeps over your body, especially where the eccerine glands are numerous. As the sweat dries off, the skin is cooled by the surrounding air. Eccrine glands do not release any tissue cells or cell contents into their watery secretions.

In contrast, apocrine sweat is a heavier liquid containing various organic substances, including pheromone hormones. These glands are found mostly under the arms and around the groin. They develop during puberty, and are thought to serve a biological function in sexual attraction.

Oftentimes, bromhidrosis is due to poor personal hygiene. As such experts have suggested a program of daily bathing, changes in diet, and changes in clothing. Bathe daily to remove bacteria from your skin, especially the arm pits and the groin area where the bacteria are most prevalent.

Dietary changes by eliminating various sources of odor such as fatty foods that may contain rancid fats and oils that lead to body odor. Strong smelling foods like onions, garlics and other exotic spices can seep through the pores and cause body odor.

Wear loosely fitting clothes, allow the body to breathe than tight clothes. Don’t use synthetic fabrics that don’t allow our body to breath and instead use the natural ones such as cotton. Most, importantly change your clothes with clean ones regularly.

According to medical experts, there are several factors that may contribute to chronic body odor aside from poor hygiene, these may include coffee and other stimulants which increases apocrine gland secretion and increasing the possibility of unpleasant body odors.

States of high anxiety and stress these can stimulate perspiration and may increase the risk of body odors. Chain smoking and heavy drinking, alcohol and nicotine increase the rate of perspiration.

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It is sometimes inherited,but in most cases no genetic link can be established. Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis can be secondary to a medical condition like menopause or hyperthyroidism and usually occurs with one any precipitating medical condition.

It rarely causes problems in other parts of the body because excessive although mildly embarrassing, at times it is often just an inconvenience.

Excessive sweating of the armpits can affect on ones social life and may lead to emotional problems because it can produce or aggravate disagreeable armpit odor.

Unlike most types of the body where there is only one type of sweat gland, called eccrine that produces clear and watery sweat while the armpit has a second type of sweat gland called the apocrine which produces a stickier form of sweat.

Sweat from eccrine glands remains odorless but apocrine sweat although initially odorless, is promptly broken down by bacteria, a process which releases chemicals with disagreeable odor.

There are a variety of proprietary preparations and medical or surgical procedures that are being used for hyperhidrosis. The former are either applied topically (externally) or taken systemically in the form of tablet or capsule while the latter includes botox injection and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy .

Most topical preparations used to control sweaty armpits containing antiperspirants and deodorants. They generally are well tolerated but in most cases control of sweating and odor is not complete.

The antiperspirants like aluminum chloride, aluminum hydroxide and aluminum potassium sulfate control sweating by plugging the sweat glands. The deodorants on the other hand, mask the odor released by the bacteria, but they only work if the armpits are washed frequently.

Systemic preparations used to combat excessive sweating include anticholinergics, sedatives, tranquilizers and calcium channel blockers.

The use of any of these preparations, however, had not gained popular support because of their numerous side effects and adverse reactions. Botulinum toxin (botox) injection is the procedure that was approved by the USFDA in 2004 for the treatment of severe underarm sweating.

Small dose of the toxin, when injected in the armpits, block the nerves that stimulate sweating. Botox, however, does not cure hyperhidrosis, and its effect is temporary.

The symptoms gradually return over a period of weeks and the procedure has to be repeated at intervals of seven to sixteen months to maintain dryness. Side effects of botox include injection site pain and flu like symptoms.

A surgical procedure that is being performed for hyperhidrosis is endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). This procedure is very effective (ninety to a hundred percent) for sweaty palms but is not as effective for sweaty armpits.

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Dry mouth, tooth decay, certain prescription drugs, sinus problems and even diseases like diabetes can cause bad breath and ninety percent of the smell comes from the tongue.

With regular brushing and flossing, a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from the tongue and with antibacterial mouth wash rinsing, it is one way of alleviating the problem.

While most of the people which has the problem seek remedies ranging from chewing gums, mouth wash to breath strips and drops, researchers are just began to understand the science of bad breath. If a person has it, it’s a taboo and be typecast as the smelly person.

Nearly two hundred scientists had attended the International Conference on Breath Odor Research in Chicago. Attendees range from dentists, chemists and microbiologists to psychologists and even flavor researches.

Their research is consonant from studies on the most effective natural flavors for treating bad breath. From cinnamon which is the good choice up to the development of an artificial nose for sniffing out oral malodor and the links between exhaled air and diseases.

The conference objective is to advance the science of halitosis and fully understand it. Anywhere from four percent to seventeen percent of the people who seek treatment for breath odor are convinced that they have bad breath even though they don’t have.

It is a condition some refer to as haliphobia, or fear of bad breath, and it can interfere with daily life.

Bad breath or halitosis, is characterized by an offensive smell emanating from the mouth when you breathe or speak.

Halitosis is usually a sign of some deep health problem. It is recommended to consult a doctor or a dentist before solving the problem of your own. Major causes of bad breath that are not associated with some form of diseases which experts agree on the following:

a) Mouth bacteria – similar to foot or underarm odor, bad breath is created by bacteria.

b) Poor oral hygiene – Plaque on the teeth, is a source of bad breath.

c) Stagnated saliva – Flow of saliva practically stops when we are asleep, thus allowing the growth of bacteria that produce odorous gas.

d) Mouth accessories – Dentures, removable bridges, braces, partial plates and orthodontic accessories can accumulate food particles, it should be clean once daily or as recommended by the dentist.

e) Age – The quality of breath odor changes as a person grow older, this is because our salivary glands change, too much or too little saliva is sometimes produced. As the person age, his breath becomes pungent even with good brushing habits.

f) Tobacco – Definitely, smoking causes bad breath.

g) Food – Onion, garlic meat and alcohol are sources of bad breath.

h) Some drugs – There are medications that dry the oral cavity which eventually can cause halitosis.

Among the reasons are:

1) tar and nicotine build up on the mouth such as teeth, tongue and sides of cheeks.

2) Smoking dries the mouth by inhibiting saliva flow, thus in turn leads to the growth of bacteria causing bad breath.

3) Smoking can exacerbate gum disease and sinus conditions, two important bad breath risks.

Treating Bad Breath: Be informed that halitosis is not a simple problem. Treatment involves a commitment to proper hygiene, good eating habits and being health conscious. A regular visit to your dentist at least once a year is advised. A thorough inspection of the mouth, teeth, tongue, tonsils and lips for any infections is recommended.

What you need to get rid of bad breath is a need to decrease bacterial population is by the use of a tongue scraper first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Make sure to floss and brush your teeth regularly. Cavities can be a habitat by bacteria that cause bad breath.

Herewith, are some more tips in eliminating or preventing the occurrence of halitosis.

1) Take note of your diet – Watch out for the following:

a)Foods and beverages that have strong odors (onions, garlic, black tea, coffee)
b) Sugary foods which help to feed the bacteria in the mouth.
c) Liquors which dries the mouth causing more odor.
d) Dehydration – drinking 8 glasses of water per day is recommended.
e) Changing to a low fat and vegetarian diet, especially fresh fruits which may reduce halitosis.

2) Take food with anti-bacterial properties which moisten the mouth, like cranberries, wasabi, green tea and sugarless gum. It helps keep the mouth wet and wash the bacteria away.

3) Try natural remedies – Avoid mints and gums that contain sugar and chew instead a few fennel or anise seeds, or a small slice of ginger root or fresh parsley to freshen your breath.

4) Rinse your mouth thoroughly, with water after eating if you can’t brush your teeth after every meal.

5) Bacteria can accumulate on your toothbrush and can transfer back to your mouth which worsen bad breath, hence it is recommended to regularly change your toothbrush every three months.

6) Take a deep breath and relax – stress and nervous tension make bad breath worse because they tend to cause the mouth dry.

7) Make the removal of plaque and teeth cleaning regularly with your dentist.