If the hair is greasy and greasy, it will give people a feeling of being dirty and not fond of cleanliness.
(Source: Internet)
Why does other people’s hair last for two or three days, but my own hair gets oily so fast?
First, let’s take a look at the principle of oily scalp.
Our scalp, like skin elsewhere, is a complex ecological environment, containing a large number of skin appendages that secrete a variety of substances, including sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair follicles, and more.
The sebaceous glands secrete oil, which is discharged to the surface of the scalp. Together with the lipids produced by the disintegration of keratinocytes on the surface of the scalp, the two are mixed to form “scalp oil”.
The scalp secretes a certain amount of oil, which can ensure the moisture of the hair and make the hair shiny.
But if there is too much oil secretion, the hair will be very greasy, and it will be more likely to be stained with dust or something.
And if the oil clogs the scalp pores for a long time, it will also cause harmful bacteria to grow, destroy the ecological balance of the scalp, induce dermatitis and even hair loss.
So to sum up, it is normal for the scalp to be oily, as long as it is cleaned regularly, but it is not very good for the scalp to secrete strong oil.
There are several reasons for high oil secretion:
1. Inheritance
How much oil is secreted mainly depends on the unit density of sebaceous glands in different parts and the activity of sebaceous glands. These are innate decisions, and it depends on whether parents can compete.
In addition, even for the same person, the oil secretion in different parts of the scalp is different. For example, under normal circumstances, the oil secretion of the forehead is higher than that of the top of the head and the back of the head, so bangs are more prone to oil [1].
(Source: Internet)
2. Hormones
Hormones will affect the secretion of scalp oil, and what we often call androgenetic alopecia (androgenetic alopecia) is usually accompanied by the problem of excessive secretion of scalp oil (but oil is not the cause of hair loss) [2].
Most people’s hair loss problems belong to androgenic alopecia. Under the stimulation of male hormones, the volume and secretion of sebaceous glands in the scalp increase, resulting in hair follicle atrophy, shortening of hair growth period and hair loss. Thinning problem.
3. Dysbiosis
If the ecological environment of the facial skin is compared to a “plain”, the scalp environment can be said to be a “tropical rainforest” of microorganisms.
The scalp provides a suitable growth environment and a rich source of nutrients for microorganisms, and microorganisms can also help the scalp resist external damage and maintain environmental stability [3].
But if you are sick or damaged by external forces, the flora of the scalp is imbalanced, and the ecological balance is destroyed, and the sebaceous glands will be stimulated, resulting in abnormal oil secretion.
4. Diet and living habits
High-calorie foods (such as sweets, hot pot) will speed up the secretion of sebum, often staying up late or being stressed will also increase the secretion of sebaceous glands.
(Source: giphy)
5. Disease
Increased sebum secretion is one of the important causes and manifestations of acne and seborrheic dermatitis.
In addition, seborrhea often occurs in neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, especially in the advanced stage of the disease, the secretion level of sebaceous glands can be 2 times higher than normal [4], some arteries Sclerosis, diabetes, adrenal tumors, some breast cancer patients and epilepsy patients also have increased sebum secretion [5].
1. Quit smoking, quit drinking, eat more fruits, whole grains, vegetables, less oil, less salt and less sugar, eat a light diet, keep the spirit soothed, and stay up late will greatly reduce the secretion of sebum.
2. It is not recommended to use oil-control shampoos and various shampoo soaps. These products are alkaline and have a strong cleaning effect, but they will remove normal sebum together and change the scalp. The acid-alkaline environment causes the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil, and the oil is released faster and faster.
3. Control the frequency of shampooing, generally 2~3 times a week in spring and summer and 1~2 times in autumn and winter. Frequent cleaning will reduce the scalp oil, and the skin will compensatory increase the oil secretion, making the local area more greasy, which will lead to a vicious circle.
4. You can use ketoconazole lotion and selenium sulfide lotion to wash your hair twice a week, which can effectively remove the greasy scalp [6,7]. In addition, when some people use shampoo containing silicone oil (the ingredient list has “polydimethylsiloxane”), they will find that the hair tends to stick to strands and is not fluffy enough. This is not because of the oil, but the silicone oil shampoo removes the static electricity between the hair to achieve a smooth effect. In this case, it is recommended to use a silicone-free shampoo instead.
5. If there is other discomfort in the body (including but not limited to rash, chest tightness and pain, difficulty breathing, changes in stool characteristics, repeated diarrhea, etc.) You may need to go to the hospital for a check up.
(Source: giphy)
Concluding remarks:
The oily scalp is a normal physiological reaction of the human body.
If the scalp oil secretion is really too much, you can first improve your life, diet, and try another brand of shampoo.
However, if the scalp oil is suddenly secreted too much and other discomfort occurs, you should go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.
*The content of this article is for the popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment suggestion, nor can it replace the face-to-face consultation of a licensed physician, and is for reference only.
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