Hair loss, no matter what the cause, creates enormous stress and fear of complete baldness. Initial reactions often include avoiding hair washing, changing hair products and taking vitamin or zinc tablets, none of which are successful. In most situations, the hair loss is temporary and new hair will re-grow after a few months without any treatment.If hair loss is caused by iron deficiency, a high iron diet and iron supplements should be taken. Red meat and liver are particularly good sources of iron and are better absorbed than vegetable sources or iron tablets. Vitamin С aids the absorption of iron, so it is wise to include foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and raw green vegetables which contain high amounts of vitamin С in your diet.Iron deficiency due to heavy menstrual losses may require gynecological treatment in the form of hormone therapy, curettage of the uterus or even hysterectomy in severe cases.Although hair loss is usually only temporary, a topical preparation called Minoxidil can be used to slow down hair fall and stimulate new hair growth until normal growth returns.People who experience genuine hair loss are generally frightened of dyeing or curling their hair, thinking this may aggravate the condition. On the contrary, it is often useful to have the hair gently dyed or permed to make it appear thicker. Over-conditioning should be avoided, however, as it can make the hair look limp and thin.
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The promotion of tanning has become big business. In our society a good sun tan is equated with health, success and sexual desirability. ‘Soft sun’, ‘Dr X’s Solarium’, and ‘Safe sun’ are just some of the reassuring terms used to describe the booming business of tanning bodies. Solarium franchises are currently the most successful and lucrative of all the franchise businesses in the United States and are booming in Australia as well. Unfortunately, however, these are probably the two countries whose people’s skin are least able to tolerate the extra radiation. In fact the UVA units originally came from Europe, and Germany in particular, where there is much less environmental sunshine and what there is, is of less intensity; furthermore in Europe these units are primarily promoted for private home use, not public use in tanning parlours, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, gymnasiums, etc. This means that in addition to their potential harmful effect being greatly diminished, far fewer people are at risk.

The artificial light sources used in the solariums are usually fluorescent tubes emitting UVA wavelengths predominantly. However it is impossible for them to be totally confined to this wavelength as a continuous spectrum is emitted, and at least 2 per cent of the wavelength will be in the UVB band. Tanning is usually carried out on a bed-like apparatus with either half or total body exposure possible; exposure times are long, therefore stand-up arrangements are less practical. Exposure of the average Caucasian skin to UVA solariums will produce tanning within about 10 minutes, with the maximum tanning being reached in about an hour. Burning, although certainly possible, is unlikely. The acquired tan is, however, short lived, and requires regular frequent exposures to maintain it. UVB solariums are much more likely to cause burning, but the tan they produce is the so-called ‘true or delayed tan’, which is associated with new melanin formation and consequently is longer lasting. It is, however, important to be aware that although a tan protects against UVB sunburn, it does not protect the skin from the cancer-producing or premature ageing effects of UVA radiation. This is because, in order to tan, some epidermal and dermal damage must occur.

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