Does Having an Oily Scalp Influence Hair Loss
For most of us, we were never told about the connection between oily hair and hair loss. Our hygiene habits are something that we learned from our parents. When you’re a kid you were probably told to “wash your hands” before dinner, and “wash your hair” when it got dirty. As we got into our adolescence years and our hair was oily and stringy we were instructed to wash it and run a comb through it. However, they were probably unaware of the connection between oily hair and hair loss.
Causes for an Oily Scalp
Sebum – This is a medical term that means skin oils. Sebum is secreted from sebaceous glands which cover your entire body. These glands have only one function which is to produce oil. We have two places on our body without sebaceous glands and those are on our palms of our hands and the bottom of our feet. When you have too much sebum production on your face, you are more prone to have acne. The same is true if you have excessive sebum on your scalp, it causes oily hair. We all need a certain amount of sebum on areas like our face to help keep it from drying out and having the skin cells flaking. The oils on our hair help to keep your hair from also drying out and becoming brittle.
Your Diet – If you have oily hair you want to stay away from excessive fatty foods. Foods we all love like hamburgers, potato chips and milkshakes may taste great but should only be consumed once in a while. The fat build up doesn’t just go to your waist, but it also ends up in your scalp which increases the oil on your scalp. Eating more nutritious, healthy foods are not only better for your body, but better for your hair as well. We have all heard the old saying, you are what you eat. What we put in our bodies influences our body.
Hormones – Our bodies have chemical messengers that help regulate and control body functions. When we feel a sense of hunger that is caused by Hypothalamus. Our Thyroid is associated with calories and fat burning. DHT is a primarily a male hormone and is also a form of testosterone. It is something that women only have a small amount of, but if there is an increase of DHT for women, it can cause hair loss.
When hair follicles become overwhelmed by this oily substance they can get clogged. When this happens it can affect the normal hair growth cycle. So not only does your hair stop growing properly, your scalp can easily get inflamed and infected. You are also in danger of getting a yeast fungus that can cause dandruff and possibly a serious form of dandruff called seborrheic dermatitis.
To help your hair and scalp you should wash your hair on a regular basis. Use a gentle shampoo and scrub with your fingertips, but not fingernails. If your scalp is inflamed and more fragile than usual, your fingernails can cause open wounds that can lead to getting infected. Be mindful of your diet and remember all foods and snacks affect all parts of your body. If you have done the above and feel you need to seek medical care, go to a doctor or an endocrinologist. It may be necessary to have your body checked out for a chemical imbalance.
If you are experiencing hair loss, we at Studio 5 Hair Salon want to help you feel more like yourself again. We have a variety of hair loss solutions and treatments for men and women that can give you back your hair and help you regain your confidence.
