Hervey Bay Local Health News

Dr Red’s Blueberry Punch was in the news again last week. It’s recently been undergoing some tests at the University of Sydney and preliminary results released last week show that it has some positive effects in the treatment of prostate cancer.

It seems that it’s the anti-oxidants in Blueberry Punch that provide the positive effects that have shown up in those university tests.

Blueberry Punch is made from ingredients that include turmeric, citrus and olive and the formula for Blueberry Punch combines those extracts with blueberry, red grape, white grape, elderberry, raspberry and other ingredients that are concentrated into a syrup

Now that may sound like a rather strange taste combination but the end result is a very pleasant tasting drink when diluted at a ratio of 1:6 with water, soda water or other mixer drink of your choice.

Blueberry Punch is available from both Beachside and Kawungan Pharmacies and our staff can provide you with more information about the full range of Dr Red products that can help you maintain your health.

Dandruff is a common scalp condition caused by too much shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Dandruff is an embarrassing condition that affects many people. Having dandruff may cause a lack of confidence and low self-esteem.

The good news is there are treatments and steps that can be taken to help prevent and control problem dandruff. Understanding what dandruff is and the factors that cause it are the first steps in self care treatment and prevention - talk to your pharmacist about which treatments are best for you.

What is dandruff
A normal scalp skin sheds old cells in a cycle once every month. These old cells usually go unnoticed as there are very few of them at any one time. In dandruff the shedding of the dead skin cells from the scalp occurs at an excessive rate. The skin cells cycle every week, or even every three to four days.

Dandruff can happen at any age, but is more common from 12 years of age, peaking at 20 years of age. A form of dandruff known as cradle cap can occur in newborn babies and infants. Dandruff tends to be seasonal. It is most severe during winter and mildest during the summer.

Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with small, round white to grey scales (flakes) on top of the head, which itch. Sometimes the flakes may appear yellow in colour and are waxy or greasy. Scales can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, in the beard, and can spread to the neck and shoulders.

Dandruff is not dangerous, does not cause balding and is not contagious. Dandruff is a natural process and it can not be eliminated or cured. However dandruff can be effectively managed and controlled with the right treatment and self care.

Causes   
Dandruff and the fungus theory
The exact cause of dandruff is unknown. However, today most skin specialists agree that dandruff is linked with the overgrowth of a tiny fungus present on the scalp called  Pityrosporutn ovale, P. ovale for short.

This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without causing any problems. Unfortunately, for some people, it can increase in number, leading to dandruff.

Another possible cause may be overactive oil glands on the scalp which cause an increase of the natural skin shedding process. Clogged oil glands on the scalp are also another possible cause. These clogged pores can lead to over-drying and flaking of the skin.
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