Having a bad hair day again? Dandruff? Excess hair? That doesn't have to happen. Here are some easy tips for you and your family to follow to have great-looking hair. If you want more skin-care tips and facts, click on www.dermatologycare.ca.

• Too much breakage?
Does your hair break easily? Chemical treatments like perms, straighteners and dyes can weaken the hair shaft and cause it to break. Specially formulated shampoos and conditioners for chemically treated hair may help.

• Are you pregnant and have thinning hair?
During pregnancy, your waistline is not the only thing getting thicker. Your hair will, too. However, it's not permanent -- many women find that they lose a significant amount of hair a few months after delivery.

• How much time will it take to grow in that bad haircut?
Growing out your hair? Be patient. Each hair on your head grows for two to six years at a rate of only about 1.5 centimetres a month.

• What causes dandruff?
An elevated amount of certain yeasts on the skin can lead to dandruff. Stress is also a factor, as are certain drugs and alcohol consumption. Dandruff isn't infectious, so it can't be spread from person to person.

• Itchy and flaky scalp?
There are a number of medicated shampoos on the market that can help you control your dandruff. Look for shampoos containing selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid or coal tar. Used two or three times a week, these shampoos will usually keep the itching and dandruff under control.

• Can I use my dandruff shampoo on my face?
If you have red, scaly skin on your eyebrows or the side of your nose, you may want to try a medicated shampoo. Shampoos that contain zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole inhibit the yeast that causes dandruff -- a skin condition that can also show up on the face. This is called seborrheic dermatitis and is a kind of inflamed dandruff.

• Unwanted hair?
Many women have unwanted hair on the upper lip, face or elsewhere on the body. Often caused by overproduction or oversensitivity of the hormones called androgen, this excessive hair growth (hirsutism) can be treated in a variety of ways. There are treatments available (e.g., Vaniqa), so see your doctor for more information.

For more tips on healthy and beautiful skin, visit www.dermatologycare.ca.

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