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Living in a hot climate where you sweat, you might think that having an oily scalp is a normal issue. Though many people suffer from it, it shouldn’t be considered a norm. In fact, the hot weather isn’t an actual cause for scalps becoming greasy—they merely make your scalp oily a bit faster than usual.
So, what are the actual causes of this head-scratching phenomenon? Here are a few possible causes for you:
#1 Seborrheic dermatitis a.k.a dandruff
This common scalp issue is one of the leading causes for your scalp creating extra sebum. This is because it irritates and inflames your skin causing scaly areas to develop in areas with a lot of oil glands.
Dandruff could be caused by an allergic reaction or it might be a symptom of an autoimmune condition, though it’s not anything particularly serious.
#2 Other skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis
Much like dandruff, eczema and psoriasis around your scalp area can also cause inflammation, and subsequently triggering your oil glands to excrete more sebum than necessary.
#3 Acne around your face, neck and scalp
Acne is caused by excessive oil production in the skin, and if the areas affected are near the scalp, it’ll make your whole head greasy as well.
#4 Getting the short end of the genetics stick
Your genes dictate the thickness of your hair and also how much oil your glands produce. Besides that, hormonal imbalance or major shifts in hormones are another reason. For example, during pregnancy, menopause or puberty.
#5 It’s tempting to scratch your skin, but don’t.
Trauma to your skin in general can trigger excessive oil secretion. Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dandruff can be very itchy. Scratching your head a lot can also be another trigger to making it worse.
Besides that, over-combing it, using too many heat tools to style your hair or standing in the sun for too long also make everything worse.
So, how can you overcome this problem?
Nobody wants their head to be the next oil rig, but you don’t need to tear your hair out to get to the root of this problem.
There are several home remedies you can try out:
- Wash your hair about 3 times a week. Over and under washing can also cause oiliness and other hair problems.
- Shampoo properly. Make sure to gently massage your scalp to get rid of all impurities. You can use dandruff shampoo too if necessary.
- Make sure you don’t put any conditioner on the scalp!
- Avoid oily foods because you don’t need more grease in your system.
- Put on hair mask regularly. You can try using store-bought ones or DIY recipes such as the egg yolk hair mask or baking soda mask.
If the problems still persist or you just don’t wanna take a risk, it’s always great to consult professionals such as hair stylists, dermatologists (skin doctors), or trichologists (hair and scalp specialists).
