Everyone can experience greasy/oily hair or an oily scalp. When you have a healthy scalp, a little sebum (oil) is not bad at all. The production of sebum is natural and necessary, because it moisturizes the scalp and hair and balances the pH of the scalp. This ensures the protection and support of healthy hair. However, it can happen that you are dealing with excessive sebum production on the scalp, which makes the hair feel greasy or dirty all day long. If left untreated, it can lead to clogged hair follicles and accumulation of sebum, which can increase the risk of hair loss.
Sebum is a natural substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. These glands are found throughout the body (except the palms and soles of the feet) and regularly produce sebum (oil). However, when a person’s glands produce too much sebum, it leads to an overproduction of sebum (oil). This contributes to oily hair and an oily scalp and can also cause acne on the body or face.
What causes oily hair or an oily scalp?
Excessive sebum production on the scalp can have several causes, such as:
- Hormonal changes (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or menopause)
- Nutrition (too much sugar or saturated fat)
- Stress (production of cortisol leads to an increased sebum production)
- Using the wrong cosmetic products
- Heredity (genes can contribute to the amount of sebum (oil) your glands produce)
How do I get rid of this scalp problem?
Finding the right shampoo can make all the difference in treating the main cause of oily hair: an oily scalp. A good shampoo should clean and soothe the scalp without removing the essential fatty acids. In addition to using a shampoo, it is also important to neutralize the acidity (pH value) of the scalp by using a scalp conditioner.
Tips to take into account
The sebum production on the scalp can be increased by (often) brushing hair and/or touching the hair with your fingers, so try to do this as little as possible. In addition, it is important to use lukewarm water while showering, gently massage the shampoo or conditioner into the scalp and gently dry the hair with a towel. Always rinse the shampoo or conditioner thoroughly and do not use too much product. When purchasing a hair cosmetic product, make sure that it does not contain SLS.