Personal Hygiene : Proper Care of Hair

CARE OF THE HAIR

Care of the hair is a part of daily hygiene. A person' s appearance and a feeling of well-being depend on the way the hair looks and feels, hair growth, distribution and pattern can be indicators of general health status.

Proper hair care:

            Frequent brushing helps keep hair clean and distributes oil evenly along hair shafts

             Short-tooth combs are adequate for short hairs

             Large-tooth combs are preferable for curly hair

             Avoid using combs with sharp and irregular teeth

Factors that affect the character of hair

            Hormonal changes

            Emotional and physical stress

            Ageing

            Infection

            Certain diseases like cancer

            Certain drugs like chemotherapy.

Common hair and scalp problems:

                 Dandruff: dandruff is the scaling of scalp accompanied by itching. In severe cases, dandruff is found on eye-brows

Pediculosis (lice): tiny grayish-white parasite insects infest human beings

            pediculosis capitis(head lice): parasite is found on scalp attached to hair strands

            pediculosis corporis(body lice): parasites cling to clothing and sucks blood

            pediculosis pubis(crab lice): parasites are found in pubic hair

                    Hair loss (alopecia)

Purposes

            To maintain cleanliness

            To prevent matting

            To promote comfort

            To remove dirt and dandruff by combing and brushing

            To give exercise to scalp

            To get an opportunity to examine the scalp and the hair of patients who are acutely ill

            To soothen the patient and to help induce sleep.

Equipment

A tray containing the following articles to be taken to the bedside.

            Brush and comb

            A little oil in a small bottle

            Kidney tray with 1 in 40 dettol solution

            Cotton swabs (wet)

            Ribbon

            Towel

Procedure

                  Arrange articles at the right side of the patient

                  Explain the procedure to the patient and get her co-operation

                  Get the patient to sit up if her condition permits

                  Place a towel around the shoulders to prevent soiling her bed clothes

                  Smear your finger with oil and apply on the scalp and hair

                  Massage scalp in a circular movement to promote good circulation

                  Brush and comb hair free from tangles. Take a few strands of hair at a time. Hold it with your left hand tightly at the root of the hair to prevent pulling of hair and comb it from top to downwards. Wipe the comb with a wet swab and examine for pediculi. Dispose of soiled swabs in a paper bag.

                  Braid the hair and tie with ribbon.

                  Keep patient comfortable and clean and put away the equipment.

ATTENDING HAIR CARE - WASHING

Purpose

            To keep the hair clean and healthy.

            To prevent itching , infection infestation.

            To  provide a  sense of well being.

            To destroy pediculi.

Supplies

            Combing - hair oil, comb and paper bag.

            Washing

a.  A tray containing

            Hot and cold water in jugs.

            A basin and a mug.

             Protective sheets- two, one large and one small.

·   A piece   of bandage.

             Soap/shampoo.

             Little cotton in bowl.

             Wash cloth.

             Bath towel.

            Hot water bottle with cover. b. Bucket - one

N.B. Make a trough of large protective sheet with a piece of bandage rolled in it.

            Treating pediculosis

            Pediculosis capits (Head louse)

             A gown for the nurse.

             A tray containing

           Fine tooth comb

             Parasiticide

               Antiseptic lotion in a kidney tray and paper bag.

               Supplies for washing hair in bed (as above) incase patient is bedridden.

            Pediculosis corporis or vestimenti(Body louse) - Refer Antiseptic Bath in procedure 'Appling Hot Applications'.

            Pediculosis pubis (Crab louse)

             A tray containing

           Protective sheet and towel.

             Bowl of warm water.

                Razor and blade.

               Soap and brush.

            Antiseptic lotion in a kidney tray and paper bag.

Forceps to pick up lice from eye brows and eyelashes.

Guidelines

            Combing Hair are combed and arranged in the style the patient prefers at least twice a day.

            When washing the hair, follow as under

            The patients are given hair wash at least once a week and bedridden patients are given hair wash in bed.

            Avoid hair wash for the patient who has just taken meals atleast for an hour.

            Avoid exposure and chilling by

            Keeping the patient covered with top clothes.

            Closing the windows and doors of the room.

            Keeping the room warm.

            Finishing the hair wash quickly.

            If the patient is very sick, note pulse before and after the hair wash.

            Do not let the patient exert. Try to avoid exertion to the patient as far as possible.

            When treating pediculosis , nurse must have following information.

            The pediculi are small, grey coloured, blood sucking parasites which live for several days in the hair. The female lays about 50 eggs/nits which are grey or white in colour, cling to hair and hatch in about one week.

            The symptoms of  pediculi are

            Itching

            Scalp, neck and behind ears in head louse.

            All over the body in body louse.

            On and around the part affected in crab louse.

            Rash

            Neck and behind ears in head louse

            All over the body in body louse.

            On and around the part affected in crab louse.

            Sores

            Scalp in head louse.

            Body in body louse.

            On the part affected in crab louse.

            Restlessness and irritability c. The common parasiticides used are

            Mediker

            Cyban

Nursing Activity

        Wash your hands and put on gown.

            Take supplies to the bedside.

            Maintain privacy by using screen.

            Explain the procedure to the patient.

            Give hair care.

a.Combing

            Loosen the hair.

            Apply oil to hair if necessary.

            Comb and arrange the hair in the style the patient prefers.

            If hair are braided, secure the end of braid.

            Replace the supplies.

        Washing

            Position the patient bringing head on the edge of bed and shoulders raised on a pillow so that head is slightly down.

            Place the protective sheet and bath towel under the head.

            Place the trough in the patient' s neck and direct it into the bucket.

            Place cotton in patient' s ears and wash cloth over eyes.

            Loosen the hair and remove hair pins

            Mix hot and cold water and check the temperature of water at the back of hand.

            Wet the hair, apply soap and shampoo and work up the lather.

            Start cleaning at the hairline and work towards the back of the head and then to the front of head symmetrically. Message the scalp first and then the hair with the finger tips. Add water as necessary to work up the lather.

            Rinse thoroughly. Squeeze off water from the hair.

            Wrap bath towel around the hair.

            Remove the trough and slip the pillow under the head by raising head and shoulder. Place patients head on protective sheet over the pillow and rub the head gently with towel. Spread the hair out on bath towel with hot water bottle underneath to dry in winter.

            When it is dry, apply oil, comb it arrange in the style the patient prefers.

             Remove , clean ,dry, and replace the supplies. c. Treating pediculosiss

            Prediculsis capits (head louse)

             put on gown and follow first five steps a of washing.

Wet the hair , pour mediker on hair, massage the scalp first and then the hair with finger tips working from the hairline

towards the back and then the front of the head symmetrically. Add water as necessary to work up the lather. Leave the hair in lather for five minutes and rinse.

            Follow the procedure mentioned above.

            Repeat the treatment within few days.

            Remove the supplies, wash and boil the supplies . soak gown , clothes and linen in carbolic solution 1:20 for four hours before sending to laundary.

            Soak comb and protective sheet in above solution for hours, then wash and dry.

            Pediculosis corporis/ vestimenti

(Body louse)

            give a disinfectant bath.

            apply antiseptic ointment to heal any injuries produced by scatching.

            follow steps iv and v as above.

            Pediculosis pubes (crab louse)

            the hair of affected areas (pubes or axilllae) shaved and burnt.

            apply disinfectant into the areas and after some hours patient given bath.

            in case eyebrows and eyelashes are affected, pick up lice with forceps and apply two percent of yellow oxide of mercury.

            Follow step iii as above.

            wash your hands thoroughly.

Recording

Record in the nurse' s notes as under.

            Combing any dandruff, pediculosis or anyother abnormal condition regarding hair or scalp.

            Washing time of giving hair wash, soap, shampoo used, patients reaction.

            Treating pediculosis The time, parasisticide used and the effect of treatment.