Stinging nettle is a perennial weed found throughout North America and Europe. The leaves and stem of the nettle have a defensive mechanism of fine hairs that release the chemical formic acid when touched. Formic acid irritates the skin, causing it to become inflamed and creating the stinging sensation from which the nettle derives its name. Despite this adverse reaction, nettle has received recognition as a plant with a multitude of useful qualities.
Improperly adjusted plastic eyeglasses can be uncomfortable and cause eyestrain. Most of the time, you can find a nearby optician who will adjust your eyeglass frames at no charge; however, you can also adjust plastic eyeglass ...
At times, however, this cycle can be disrupted causing your hair to cease its growth. Many factors can contribute to stopping hair growth in humans, however most are not cause for medical concern. For more information on increa...
The brain contains billions of neurons that must communicate among each other and with the nerves throughout the body in order to control all bodily functions. Chemical substances, known as neurotransmitters, carry the signals ...
Dandruff and psoriasis are two of the most usual causes, affecting different areas of the scalp. While dandruff tends to affect the entire scalp, psoriasis, affects the back. Head lice and ringworm are the most common causes of...
Neuropathy is generally referred to as a disorder of the peripheral nerves, which includes motor, sensory and autonomic connections to the spinal cord, muscles and internal organs. Neuropathy symptoms occur as weakness in the a...
When you lose most of your melanin, your hair turns gray; when you lose all of it, your hair turns white. You will inevitably go gray--and eventually white--as you age, but there are other factors that may cause your hair to tu...
One common reason this can occur is due to exposure to certain chemicals. Some of these chemicals, such as those in hair dyes, women choose to expose themselves to, while others, such as hormones, women have less control ove
There are various conditions that can make it hard to distinguish the difference between certain colors. In some cases there is a complete loss of color vision, called color blindness. In other cases it becomes difficult to tel...
Harsh, chemical treatments are one cause of hair loss in women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Dyes, permanents, bleaches and hair relaxers—as well as overstyling using heated tools such as straightenin...
Most people's hair turns grey or white as they age, as the hair follicles cease to produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. But some people start seeing their first white hairs before they're even out o...
The majority of hair loss—about 90 percent—is genetic, according to Marie Claire, a popular women’s fashion magazine. The other 10 percent of hair loss is caused by a wide range of diseases, disorders and medi...
Overproduction of sebum glands can cause limp hair and an oily scalp. Sebum glands in the scalp are connected to the hair follicle, causing oil to coat the hair shaft and surrounding skin. Although sebum is often considered a n...
As you age, the pigment in your hair fades and the hair loses its original color, becoming white or gray. If the pigment fades in blended sections, creating a salt-and-pepper look, many people choose to color the white hair to ...
Many times, scalp and hair pain or tenderness is not serious and goes away on its own. If you have persistent scalp pain, hair loss, crusting or bleeding, see your doctor.
Among the myriad causes of hair loss is exposure to certain chemicals. There are chemicals specifically for hair loss, which people use to get rid of unwanted hair. Certain drugs also cause hair loss as a side effect. And even ...
In most cases, toddlers with little or no hair are perfectly healthy, but persistent baldness may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. A qualified health care provider should evaluate any toddler who is experiencing pe...
Anyone with wavy or curly hair knows what kind of effect changes in air humidity has on their hair. Increased amounts of moisture will cause curly hair to curly even more while decreased humidity will allow the hair to straight...
Understanding what causes hair to turn white--or gray or silver--involves taking a close look at the structure of the hair itself. According to an October 2007 article in Scientific American, there are two components to hair in...
People lose hair for many reasons. Androgenetic alopecia, which is simply another name for male-pattern hair loss, and hormone-related hair loss are fairly common. Stress induced and illness related hair loss happen less freque...
