Oily hair is a result of excessive sebum production from the sebaceous glands attached to the hair follicle. This results in hair becoming dull, lank, lacking volume and attracting dirt more easily. It is a problem that most people deal with at some point, for different reasons. The best way to get rid of your oily hair is to pinpoint the cause of your problem and treat your hair accordingly. Oily hair is difficult to manage, can be limp, and hard to style. A common misconception about oily hair is that it is caused by an oily scalp.
Having oily hair can cause a variety of hair and skin problems. For example, oily hair can increase your chances of acne formation on the scalp, forehead and neck, as skin oil (sebum) is a major contributing factor for the formation of acne plugs in the skin’s follicles. Oily hair may also contribute to production of dandruff on the scalp and hair, and it makes your hair look unhealthy and feel dirty. The problem can be treated, but it is important first to understand where it originates.
Oily Scalp
Oily hair originates from the scalp. Inside the skin tissue of the scalp resides sebaceous glands, which produce a substance known as sebum. Sebum is an essential part of skin and hair health, as it helps prevent the escape of moisture, leaving both hair and skin moisturized. When too much sebum is produced, the hair can absorb sebum oil off the scalp, leading to oily hair.
Hormones
Hormones can also play a role in oily hair. During times of hormonal imbalance, such as during puberty or pregnancy, hormone levels can cause the sebaceous glands to produce excess sebum. The more sebum produced by the scalp’s sebaceous glands, the oilier your hair may become. As your hormones become balanced again, sebum production drops, and problems with oily hair can decrease.
Disease
Certain diseases may also increase the production of sebum on the scalp, resulting in greater risk for developing oily hair. Any disease or disorder that affects the adrenal or pituitary gland, testicles or ovaries can result in an increase of sebum production.
Accor ding to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, Parkinson’s disease may also cause an excess of sebum to be produced by the sebaceous glands.
Combs and Brushes
If you consistently use a comb or brush on your hair, this may also contribute to oily hair. When you pass a comb or brush through hair, the brush or comb pick up sebum oil from the scalp and distribute it on the hair strands as you pass it across your head. This is more specifically a problem with people who already have an oily scalp.
Deficiencies in Diet
Both oily skin and hair can be exasperated by certain a lack of certain foods in a diet. Essential fatty acids–found in salmon, walnut and flaxseeds – help promote healthy skin and hair growth, and thus can be a factor in preventing excessive oiliness. Same for Vitamin A found in many dairy products which acts as an antioxidant. Finally, a high-level of water consumption allows for both plant and skin cells to remain hydrated, and thus help cleanse the skin of excessive oils.
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