Dry, brittle hair may be caused by many conditions, which either affects the growth of the individual hair follicle or maintenance of a healthy, strong follicle. Factors contributing to dry, brittle hair may vary between external or internal conditions and the hair often lacks luster (appears dull), is prone to split ends and may be thin or break easily. Healthy hair growth is dependent on a good blood supply to the follicle, adequate nutrition and oxygenation as well as oil (sebum) secreted by sebaceous glands on the scalp of the head.

Nails are made up of keratin plates and are designed to protect the tips of fingers although they function as useful tools as well. The main area of a nail is called the nail plate which contains no blood vessels or nerves. The nail root lies under the cuticle at the base of the nail and the hard translucent nail plate is made up of a compact form of protein known as keratin.

Dandruff is a common condition resulting dry and flaking of the skin on the head (scalp) and can affect any age group or gender.Apart from itching and shedding skin flakes, dandruff can usually be accompanied with pimples on the head (scalp pimples). Scalp pimples are usually caused by inflammation and sometimes infection of the hair follicle (folliculitis) characterized by itchy pustules on the affected area. These pimples usually dry up spontaneously and form a crust on the scalp. While scalp pimples may subside without any treatment, it can become a serious condition if the infection spreads.

The search for a youthful appearance often starts with simple cosmetic treatments like altering the hair color and hiding the grey with hair dyes. The popularity of hair dye is not isolated to those looking at masking the signs of aging and changing fashion trends very often involves changing the hair color. However hair dye allergies affect many who use dyes and can cause a host of symptoms ranging from skin rashes and ’scalp pimples’ to thinning and hair loss. Unfortunately the popularity of hair dye is unlikely to wane as coloring or tinting the hair is still a common practice.

Excessive facial hair on women is regarded as unattractive and unappealing among the trendy and fashionable. Although some individuals from various culture and race groups view hair growth as aesthetically acceptable and allow their hair to grow naturally, there is an increasing trend to remove facial hair even among these more conservative groups. Excessive facial hair usually occurs due to the genetic make-up of the individual, medication such as anabolic steroids which causes an increased in hair growth and hormonal imbalances during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. If the hair growth in a woman is thick (terminal hairs), then this may be a condition known as hirsutism. The male hormones in men causes thick facial hair growth after puberty and is seen as a natural part of manhood.